Weekly Bet Ya Didn't Know: Home Remedies That Work!

So I've been slacking on the "weekly" part.  Well, I'm back on track.  I was sick for the past two weeks and my mom pulled out her book of home remedies.  My first thought is "Oh, goodness.  What is she going to make me drink now?"  But, surprisingly, some of them actually work.  So this week, I look at what home remedies fix common problems.  These tricks also save you money!  After all, the name of the blog is Flirting with Frugality.  Here's a few that really do work.

Photo: www.herdaily.com

This Strange Concoction Helps Laryngitis.  My mom swears by this and I had always thought she was crazy.  Well, I was wrong.  This odd mix really does the trick.  I have to give props to "Food Your Miracle Medicine" by Jean Carper.  (Fantastic book with other ideas).  Pineapple juice, ginger, nutmeg, rosemary, spearmint and you can add a little licorice as a sweetener.  I didn't add the licorice, that's too weird for me. Try it the next time you have a sore throat and are losing your voice. 

What Should Really be in "Goo Gone."  Skin So Soft by Avon is like a miracle liquid.  Goo Gone has nothing on this stuff.  Use it to get gum, stickers and other gooey business off of anything.  I've also seen my mom use it to clean the inside of her car and polish furniture.  I swear! Just be sure to do a stain check first if you are using it for the first time.  You'll save money buying just one bottle of Skin So Soft for all these different purposes.  You can order this magic potion from anyone that sells Avon or on the website avon.com. 

Here's How to Get Oil and Transmission Fluid out of Your Driveway or Garage Floor.   There are certain products you can buy at the store for this, but why waste your money when you can use things you already have at home.  My car was leaking transmission fluid all over the garage.  Not good.  So I tried a few different things and this is what worked best:  Pour down some Cat Litter and stomp around on it to soak up the access, then scrub with Dawn dish soap.   Voila!  I've heard you can also use saw dust or sand in place of cat litter, but I didn't try those myself.  What didn't work: Baking Soda, Green Works Cleaner and Palmolive.

There's plenty more.  We'll save those for another day...I'm off to Vegas!

 

Extreme Couponing Update...I'm tired

Photo: http://consumerist.com

It's been one week since my trial run of couponing.  I have spent a total of 4.5 hours clipping coupons, looking up store prices and organizing.  It's exhausting.  Here is what I've noticed so far:

This is so Freakin' Time Consuming:  This process takes so much work and so much time that I wonder how the people on the the show "Extreme Couponing" do it.  They must not have full time jobs.

Sometimes There are Better Deals Than Using a Coupon:  So you spend all this time getting the coupons together and then you realize that a generic brand at Walmart or Target is cheaper than a name brand with a coupon..lame.  So it can feel like you do all this work for no reason.

Buying Large Quantities is the Best Deal.  Most of the time, you get the best deal when you buy large amounts.  For example, if something is 10  for $10 at the store and then you have a coupon on top of that, you're going to pay next to nothing.  But I am one person and in a small home.  I don't have the need or space for large amounts of anything.  Fail.

On the Bright Side....  OK, so it may not be possible for me to ever be the extreme of couponers, but I'm still saving myself a lot of money.  Yesterday, I used $7.75 worth of coupons at Walmart and spent $63 (I should mention that pets are really expensive).  At Target, I saved $3.27 and spent $8.58.

Dominick's is My New Best Friend:  My biggest savings of all came from Dominick's, where I saved $15.12 and spent $12.39.  Saving more than I spent was quite exciting.  Dominick's has a program online so you can put the coupons on your Fresh Values card, and they also have special deals that are only online for you.  I got a free carton of eggs for no apparent reason.  They also honor other store prices and you can load those deals onto your card, too.  I printed out my shopping list from their site, didn't have to carry any coupons with me and saved a bunch of money.  Yay!    

One week down and 7 weeks to go.  Maybe I'll get better at it by then.  Happy shopping!

Is Extreme Couponing "Worth" It? A Trial Run.

www.smythapples.com

OK.  So I have my own blog on saving money, yet I have never attempted "extreme couponing."  That's a problem.  Sure, I use coupons whenever I think about it and I've seen portions of the television show, but I've never actually tried the real deal.  Yesterday, I decided to start.  Now, I will not be able to be a full fledged extreme couponer, as I essentially live alone and will never have space for 25 bottles of Gatorade just because they are 10 cents each.  However, I am going to do a scaled back version.  The Goal?  To determine if extreme couponing is really "worth" it.

The Trial Run.  I decided to first do a trial run.  This way I can figure out what sort of things I need to keep track of in order to assess the worth of extreme couponing.  The first step was finding coupons.  I opened up the Chicago Tribune and pulled out all of goodies inside.  I spent approximately 15 minutes going through all of the booklets, tearing out coupons that seemed like really good deals and for items that were already on my shopping list.  This leads to the first 2 things to assess:

• Time spent gathering and organizing coupons.

• Whether to buy something just because you have a coupon even though it's not something you need and/or the brand you prefer.

Next, I gathered my coupons and decided to go to Walmart because it is usually the cheapest, but not always.  This lead to my realization of what else needs to be assessed. 

• Time spent determining which store has the each item for the least amount before you add the coupon in order to get the best deal.  
• Time spent going to multiple stores in order to get the best deal on each item.
• Cost of gas spent going from store to store.

My head started spinning at that point.  For this trial run, I decided to just stick with Walmart.  Later on I can decide whether to spend all the time necessary to find out which store has each individual item for the least amount of money.  Off to the store.  As I was shopping, I took note on each coupon of what the limit was on number of items you can use the coupon for. There's another factor to think about.

• Whether to buy the maximum number of items allowed just because it's so cheap.  In other words, do I really want to store all this crap?

Then I was off to the check-out.  I present all my coupons and one of them won't work.  Oh great, here we go.  I didn't want to waste everyone's time that was behind me, so I just skipped using the coupon.  That meant I had to then go to Customer Service and wait for them to fix the issue.  This all for one dollar. That leads us to the last factors to consider. 

• Time spent and frustration created dealing with all the issues using coupons creates.
• Finally, how much you end up saving versus all the time and effort put into it.

I don't have the space for this.  (Photo: newzofday.com)

Cost/Benefit alaysis:  In order to determine whether extreme couponing is really worth it, I will attempt extreme couponing for two months and keep track of all the above listed factors.  Then I will report back as to whether I think becoming an extreme couponer is really a good idea.  I'm exhausted already. 

Trial Run Outcome:  In my trial run yesterday, I spent 15 minutes organizing coupons, only drove to one store, which was 3.5 miles each way.  I had to wait in two lines and ended up spending $16.66 after saving $5.65 in coupons.  Therefore, 15 minutes of work saved me $5.65.  Clearly, this does not put me at extreme couponing status quite yet. 

When you SHOULD pay full price.

Shocker.  There are times when paying full price or paying more may be in your best interest.  Here's when:

When you are paying for better quality.  Now, just because something costs more that does not mean it is better quality.  But there are times when paying more may save you money in the end because it was good quality.  For example, paying more to have a decent winter coat while living in the city of Chicago makes perfect sense.  If you pay less to have a coat that isn't going to keep you as warm or stand up to the weather and fall apart after a few weeks, it is not worth the money you saved because you'll have to buy another one.  If something will last longer and make your life easier...spend away!  But don't waste your money on name brands unless you know for sure that it is actually better quality.  After all, no one is going to care about your fancy Ralph Lauren jacket in the dead of winter as you're freezing your behind off.

Perfect example.  (Photo: http://www.foreignperspectives.com)

When you are spending for a good cause.  Anytime you can spend money and some of the proceeds go to a good cause, I think it's worth it...as long as you have the few extra bucks.  It's when those extra few bucks are going to a large corporation instead of staying in your wallet that we have a problem.

Not tempting enough.

Photo: http://www.google.com

When you will get something free that you actually need.  Lots of places offer you a future discount at their store or some free cheap gift to go along with your purchase.  Most of the time, it's not worth the money because either a) you had no intention of returning to that store; or b) the free gift is something useless that you will never use.  However, there are those few times when a store is offering a very nice and useful gift along with a purchase. I have found this to be the case when I buy perfumes from department stores.  Often times, they will give you a makeup or travel bag with items in it that you will actually use.  So instead of going to Kohls to get your perfume for just a couple dollars less, check out Macy's or other department stores to see if your brand has any free gifts or specials at the time.  Office supply places often have deals like this too.  You can get a free office chair with the purchase of a good quality desk or free office supplies with a purchase of electronics.  So be sure to do your research first before just running to the cheapest store possible.  You never know what you could be missing out on.

Halloween Saver Alert!!

As Halloween fast approaches we're all looking for that perfect costume, but damn, they are expensive.  Well today http://www.buycostumes.com/ is having a sale.  25% off all costumes today, just use the code "25oneday" and you're good to go.  Just don't be Strawberry Shortcake, that was my idea first. 

Happy Halloween!  (Thanks for the tip, Gina)

Dumbest Costume Idea...Ever.  (Photo: viphalloweencostumes.com)

Fun Things to do for Free.

Even NY has free stuff (Photo: nycdailydeals.com)

You can still have fun and not go broke.  I promise.  Here's some ideas of fun things you can do for free.  We all like free.

1.  Go to Free Concerts.  There are plenty of parks and even venues that have free concerts.  In Chicago, Millennium Park and Grant Park have plenty of free fests and concerts going, you can get the lineups online.  Many suburbs and other cities have concerts once a week during the summer.  My friends and I just got free tickets to see Bush and Chevelle at the Congress Theater.  Like I've said before, create an email account for "junk" and sign up for all the sites that send notifications out about deals in your area.  The FreeThingstoDoinChicago facebook page is great for getting updates on Chicago deals. 

2. Use the Library for Movies, Books and Magazines.  How often do you read a book, magazine or watch a movie more than once?  Ok, maybe we watch movies multiple times, but even so, most movies end up on t.v. at some point anyway.  There is no need to pay for all of these things when you can either rent them from the library or read them at the library for free. 

3.  Go to the Park, Beach or Zoo.  Essentially all parks and beaches are free to go to.  The Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is free or you can get memberships and have a few visits you will be going there for free.  Don't forget to bring drinks or snacks from home so you won't be tempted to spend any money while you're there.

4.   Go to the Mall...Without your Wallet.  When it's cold out and the beach and zoo aren't really possible, I go "shopping."  First of all, there is amazing people watching to do at a mall.  Secondly, when I go to a store and look around without spending any money, I still get that shopping therapy that us ladies need.  I go into stores all the time and look without buying and it keeps me from feeling broke and like a loser, whether I am or not.  Try it.  Just don't bring your wallet or you'll be tempted to spend.

5.  Get a Sugar Daddy or Sugar Mama.  Need I say more?  Didn't think so.  :)

Weekly Bet Ya Didn't Know: Smoking Actually Makes a Hangover Worse?

(Photo: poolxpertsusa.com)

Yay!  Another reason to stop smoking!  Totally not biased...I, uh, swear.  Anyway, we all know that smoking is terrible for you and that it's a stimulant, so it doesn't actually relax you, that's all in your head.  But now, there's even another reason why smoking is bad.  Smoking cigarettes while drinking actually makes your hangover worse.  This whole issue came up over the weekend when the b/f and I were out with two friends that had recently stopped smoking.  They said that they noticed that they don't really get hangovers now that they stopped smoking cigarettes.  I had to get to the bottom of this and see if they were just delusional!  Well, it looks like they are right.  Here's the deal.

Smoking increases the toxic effect of alcohol.  While it makes sense that this would happen, I never really thought of it this way.  Smoking deprives the blood stream and brain of oxygen, by constricting the lungs, so that intensifies the toxic effect that alcohol has.  Therefore, it is going to make the next morning a little more painful.  This explains why nonsmokers are fineby 9am the next day smokers feel like crap all day long.  Who knew?!   



Sources: http://www.hackwriters.com/quitnow.htm,http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/student_life/hangover_cures.shtml, http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-a-Hangover

Business Cards: Great For More Than Just Networking!

(Photo: Military.com)

Everyone should have business cards for networking, no matter what field they are in.  But, beyond networking, having business cards can get you free stuff!  We all love free things, don't we? So here's my sales pitch as to why you should order some today and take them with you EVERYWHERE you go. 

1.  People are going to remember you if they have something to remind them.  It's so simple.  You don't need to be at a networking event or a business meeting to run into possible clients or other people that need your contact information.  If you have a card on you, it makes it much easier to get your name out there and for people to remember you.  Whether you are looking for business or just want to keep in touch, having a business card to hand out is the easiest way.  Even if you are a student, it is good to have cards on hand.  You may find someone looking for an intern or someone looking for a future employee.  The one thing I regret not doing my first two years of law shool, was having business cards made.  I ran into people on the train, at the Thompson Center and even at a family reunion that were interested in my contact information.  I realized that these people will never remember who I am or why they have my number if it's on a piece of paper or in their phone.  The best thing is to give them something to hold onto. 

2.  You can get free stuff with your cards.  And who doesn't want free stuff?  In the past two months, I have won 10 free burritos from Chipotle and dinner for 10 at Buffalo Wild Wings.  Beat that.  All I did, was put my business card in the fish bowl thing that they have out.  It helps me by giving me free stuff and helps their business by getting their name out there to other people.  (Believe it or not, I found someone that had never been to Chipotle and they fell in love.  You're welcome, Chipotle)  It is so simple to carry around a few business cards with you everywhere you go, there's really no reason to not take advantage of it.

(Photo: 2expertsdesign.com)

3. Now that you are all convinced that you should get business cards, here's some tips:  I am a firm believer in making your cards stand out. You don't want to get too crazy, but do something a little out of the ordinary with your card. That way people can identify it easily when they have a whole stack of cards to go through.  For example, my firm's cards run vertically and are grey.  Clients often say they like that they can spot our cards easily.  You can order cards online from many different places, or stop in an office supply store.  http://www.vistaprint.com/ always has good deals, I just don't know about quality as I've never ordered from there.  I've also found some good deals on daily deal sites like buywithme.com, eversave.com and even http://www.woot.com/.

So when you win something by using your business cards and then invite me to join you...

Weekly Bet Ya Didn't Know: Coffee, Tea, Soda, Energy Drinks...Which has the Most Caffeine?

(Photo: laboratoryequipment.com)

As a former law student, I consumed my fair share of caffeinated drinks (Although, I always stayed away from energy drinks because they scare me).  So, today, as I was thinking about all of those that are taking the bar exam next week, caffeine filled drinks came to mind.  "Is there even a lot of caffeine in coffee?" I wondered.  As always, only thoughts about pressing issues going on in this brain.  Here's what I found.

Coffee:  In my opinion, unless there's caramel or mocha in coffee, there is no point.  But I seem to be the majority, as so many people drink regular coffee constantly every day.  It looks like coffee drinkers get their fair share of caffeine, as an 8oz cup can have 25-200 milligrams of caffeine in it.  Specifically, a 16oz cup of coffee from Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts will get you about 150-200 milligrams.  It should be noted that most decaffeinated coffees still have some caffeine in them, just significantly less.   

Tea:  Black tea looks to be the winner of common teas, with about 120 milligrams of caffeine in an 8oz cup and Lipton Brisk iced tea has a much smaller amount of only 7 milligrams in a 12oz bottle.  All the rest give you approximately 25-100 milligrams of caffeine in an 8-12oz cup.  It appears you can still get your caffeine fix by drinking tea. 

(Photo: blogs.trb.com)

Soda/Pop:  There's nothing quite like the sound of a new can of Pepsi being opened.   Ahhh.  This was my drink of choice during the bar exam, and it seems I wasn't getting as much caffeine as I thought.  Soda comes in at the bottom with only 35-38 milligrams of caffeine per 12oz.  Barq's Rootbeer has even less with 23 milligrams and Mug Rootbeer, 7up and Sprite all have no caffeine.  Mountain Dew and Code Red have a bit more, with about 54 milligrams.  I guess that's why the boys in school all used to down "The Dew." 

Energy Drinks:  It's not the caffeine, but all that other weird stuff in energy drinks that makes me nervous.  People drink them everyday and they're still alive, so maybe they're OK.  Caffeine wise, there is about 150 milligrams in 16oz energy drinks like Monster and full Throttle.  An 8.3oz Red Bull has 76. 

Coffee and Energy Drinks seem to be the winners...or losers depending on your view.

Sources: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/AN01211, http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how_much_is_too_much2.html 

Taking Advantage of Free and Inexpensive Networking and Social Events

(Photo: coydavidson.com)

There are so many groups that put together afterwork networking and social events that are either free or pretty inexpensive, you might as well take advantage of them.  You get to meet people, and usually get free drinks or some food, and learn more about the establishment where the event is hosted.  It really is the best of "all" worlds.   Here's a list of a few that I've been to and my tips/opinions on each.  I'm from Chicago so my experiences are Chitown based, of course.

Network After Work:  Yes, that is actually the name.  They host events in most major cities, so check them out even if you are not in Chicago.  The networking events usually cost $5-$15 and free drinks will be provided for about an hour by the alcohol company that is hosting and often times a catering company or restaurant that will provide some small bites.  I have been to a few of these events and they are usually fun.  It's nice to meet people in different professions and also possibly people in your own profession and make some connections.  You wear a name tag that is color coded for what field you're in, making networking that much easier.  It is always less expensive when you pre-register and you may also be able to gain early entry.  Definitely do both of those so you don't spend too much money and don't have to wait in line.  I definitely recommend events hosted by Network After Work.  The only down side is that they can get a bit crowded and loud.  Check out their website at http://www.networkafterwork.com/.  That's easy enough to remember. 

Time Out Chicago:  While I enjoy their website and the magazine, I usually cannot stand the events that they host.  All of the events I have known about have been free, which is great, but they allow way too many people to rsvp and the staff is highly unorganized and usually not helpful.  The events they host always sound so fun and tempting, but it is just not worth it in the end.  The first Time Out event I went to was deceiving.  We found a table and chairs in the way back and the only reason it wasn't insanely crowded was because noone knew there was a hidden table area.  So while my table of peole had a nice time, the rest of the bar/restaurant was jam packed and people were bumping into each other trying to balance food and drinks on hand rails.  It seemed unenjoyable for everyone.  The other two events I have attempted to attend have been horrendous.  You stand outside in line for a very, very long time and the staff is not helpful at all in explaining the situation.  They never bothered to tell us that that we were wasting our time standing in line because the event would be over by the time we got in.  The one time I did get in after standing in line for an hour, the place was so crowded you could barely move.  Then when we went up for a drink, the bartender told us they were out of the free drinks that we were supposed to be able to sample, but a cash bar was available for other drinks...sneaky sneaky.  If I'm going to wait outside in line for an hour to attend an event that is supposed to be free drinks, sampling of food and spa services, why would I want to then pay for drinks instead when I finally get inside?!  It was also overly crowded and we could barely breath.  That was the last straw and I have not been to another Time Out event since then.  So my advice?  Do not waste your time going to Time Out Chicago events unless you are going to arrive extremely early and don't mind waiting in line and you're not claustrophobic.  :)  Here's the website, in case you're still interested timeoutchicago.com

Yelp:  I love the Yelp.com website, first of all, because it allows me to express my opinion on every place I go to.  And since I give my opinion anyway, I might as well have an outlet to write what I think other than annoy the people that I'm out with.  Yelp not only is a site for people to write and search reviews of establishments and services, but it is also a way to get in touch with people in the Yelp community and check out restaurants, etc in your area.  If you are a member of Yelp, you can rsvp to most of the events that they host.  All of the events are free (aside from tipping the servers, which is a must).  There are, however, a limited number of spots available because, unlike Time Out Chicago, they do not let the events get overfilled.   I've been to events at bars, restaurants, the Shedd Aquarium, markets and even a country club.  Yelp administrators always out-do themselves at these events.  You often get to sample free drinks, food and other ammenities that the specific establishment has, along with meeting new people that love Yelp as well.  I always hope I won't run into any criminals at the events, but pass my business card out anyway when everyone else does!   Check out the site and join if you're interested. http://www.yelp.com/  Then write some reviews and attend the events that they host.  I promise, you'll like it. 


Ok, it's time to get off the computer and meet new people, try new food and drinks, and check out local establishments.  Cheers!

Save Your Brakes and Money

(Photo: redsautoandservice.com)

So I just got new brake pads on my Cavy, and anything I can do to make them last a little longer is worth the effort.  Cars are so darn expensive when they get old.  I have heard so many weird theories about what is good and bad for your brakes, like that men's brakes last longer because they slam on their brakes more or that you shouldn't brake when going over train tracks.  I never know what to believe.  Here's what I found that will give your brakes a break and save some money. 

1. First and foremost, get your brakes fixed immediately.  At the first sign of warning, get your brakes fixed.  The longer you wait, the more money you are going to have to spend because you will have to get more than just the brake pads fixed.  It's not worth waiting, suck it up and get them fixed. You can stay in one night that week.  It's also not safe to neglect your brakes.  You don't want to get injured or hurt anyone else just because you didn't want to spend a few bucks on brakes.

2. Signs that it is time to take your car to the shop to fix the brakes.  Most brake pads will let you know when they need to be changed.  When they wear down and need to be fixed, you will hear a high pitched squeaking noise.  Time to get change your brake pads!  Hurry before you end up needing new rotors as well.  Another sign is when you brake and your car feels like you are going over the rumble strips on the side of a highway. 

This looks just like my car, I swear.  (Photo: vinceparker.com)

3.  When you get your new brakes, make them last.  There are a few things you can do to keep  from having to get new brake pads all the time.  I'll give you the quick list and you can go here for more detailed information  http://www.edmunds.com/.  So the main goal to save your brakes, amazingly, is to stop stopping!  Obviously that's how you wear them out.  So don't stop just because the person in front of you does (unless necessary), feel free to coast instead of hovering over the break, and don't stop from high speeds.  So speeding not only is bad for gas mileage but is bad on your breaks because you are slamming on them when you have to stop. You should also periodically get your brake fluid changed and keep from carrying around unnecessary weight in your car. 

4.  Theories.  I have heard that guys' breaks last longer than women's because guys tend to slam on their breaks more often.  I was unable to find anything that supported that theory and the fact that hard stops as mentioned above wear on your brakes more, doesn't seem to go along with that theory.  I have also been told that you shouldn't press the breaks when you are going over train tracks.  I was not able to find any information on this either and I am skeptical to believe it considering everyone breaks when going over the tracks.  If anyone has info on whether either of these theories is true, let me know. 

Happy Driving.


Sources:  http://howto.macautoparts.net/2011/01/05/give-your-brakes-a-break-mac-autos-simple-guide-to-changing-brake-pads/, http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-10-ways-to-make-your-brakes-last-longer.html, http://www.carsdirect.com/car-maintenance/save-your-brakes-maintenance-schedule-and-costs, http://carwoo.com/blog/dont-break-your-brakes-three-ways-to-save-your-stoppers-this-year/
, http://www.ultimate-car-care-guide.com/brake-maintenance.html, http://autosally.com/blog/2010/07/07/economy-beyond-gas-three-things-you-can-do-to-save-money-on-your-cars-brakes/, http://www.driverside.com/auto-library/how_to_save_money_on_brakes-458, http://corp.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/asp/ccr/ccr20020201hb.asp

Never Pay Full Price Part II: Beyond Online Deals.

I wish this was my purse.  (Photo: self.com)

There are other great ways to be sure you never pay full price beyond the daily deal and coupon sites online.  Here's a few different ideas of how to find those deals.  Remember, if you ever pay full price for something that means that you're paying more than other people. 



(Photo: superstock.co.uk)



1. Check Your Receipt.  Often times restaurants and retail stores will have discounts at the bottom or on the back.  Sometimes you just have to go online and enter your email address to get a discount, other times you have to fill out a survey.  And, even better, sometimes you just have to hold on to your rceipt until your next purchase for a discount.  If you don't want everyone in the world having your email address, just create one through yahoo or hotmail just for this kind of stuff and your normal email won't be all cluttered with junk. (Note: Panda Express and Jewel almost always have coupons or discounts on their receipts. Mmmm Panda.)



2. Join Rewards Programs and Email Alert Lists.  Join any establishment's rewards program if, a) they don't ask for your phone number or social security number; b) you will be back there again; c) it is free to sign up; and d) it actually has some sort of reward associated with it...sometimes it's just a scam to get your information and then sell it to other places.  If all of the aforementioned apply, then there's no reason not to join.  Hotel programs can get you discounted rates on stays, grocery store programs get you cheaper food and retail store rewards can get you discounts on future purchases and even free gifts.  It would be unintelligent to not sign up.  You can also sign up for "email alert lists" and stores will tell you when they have a good deal going on.  Sites like http://www.livenation.com/ will let you know when certain deals are available on activities you are interested in.  About once a month I get an email from Live Nation telling me that for a limited time I can get certain concert tickets for really cheap.  For example, I could have bought Deftones concert tickets for $10 by using the code they included.  The only way to find out about these specials is to join their email lists.  Again, you can just use a junk email address to keep from getting annoyed with the emails.

3. Pay Attention to Commercials.  That's right, I said it.  And I meant it.  You will catch a lot of deals you would not otherwise know about.  For instance, Dominos, always has certain specials going on.  If you don't pay attention to their commercials, you will never know!.  And, as a side note, for those of you who have not tried the new Dominos, you should, it's actually pretty good.  But back to the point...there are a lot of specials on things like food that you're going to need in your daily life.  Why not go to the place that has a special going rather than pay full price somewhere else? 

(Photo: phawker.com)

4.  Pick up the Phone.  When your cable or phone bill is getting out of control or the cost of your gym membership just isn't affordable anymore, it's time to make a phone call.   Don't be afraid to ask for a better deal.  What can it hurt?  So call the cable company or your cell phone provider, explain your situation and see if there is a better package that they can put together for you.  If you're a good customer, chances are they will do something to keep you with them.  I've learned over the past year that saving money can take a lot of time and effort, but it really is worth it in the end.  I was able to get about a 30% discount on my gym membership while in law school, just becaused I asked.  Otherwise, I would not have known there were scholarship options.  Most places do not advertise that sort of thing.  You just have to ask and then fill out the paperwork.  It's worth the work.

So, go set up your junk email address today and get to work so you can start saving money.  Good luck.

Super Savings Alert!! $1 Jimmy John's Today!

Today until 3pm, you can get some of Jimmy John's 8-inch sandwiches for just $1.  Chicagoland locations.  Check it out!

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2010/06/jimmy-johns-selling-1-sandwiches-june-10.html

Weekly Bet Ya Didn't Know: The Great Tipping Debate.

(Photo: crystaltipjar.blogspot.com)

How much should I tip my server, hair stylist, valet, delivery guy and cab driver?  Some of life's mysteries!

I feel like I often over tip out of fear that I will tip too little and offend the person or make them feel like they did a crappy job.  But I also don't want to go broke.  My mom was a waitress and has always been a big tipper because she knows how hard it is to work for tips and that people remember both the good and bad tippers.  But what exactly is the proper amount to tip?  I needed to find out some guidelines and of course share with you what I found to be agreed upon by multiple sources.

(Photo: malys-midwest.com)

1. Server or Bartender.  15-20% for adequate to good service and no less than 10% for bad service is agreed upon to be appropriate.  And remember if the food was bad, don't take it out on the server, it's not their fault if the kitchen messes up.  If you use a coupon or gift card of some type, be sure to tip on the price before the discount.   When ordering take out, think about giving a few dollars to the person that got your order together.  Often times, they have to do a lot to put your order together so a little something is much appreciated.

2. Hair Stylists and other Spa Services.  15-20% is also standard for these services.  If someone different shampoos your hair, you should give them a few dollars in addition.  I like to give a little extra tip around the holidays.  

3. Valet and Coatroom Attendant.   $2 or more for the valet that brings your car to you.  Some sources think you should tip the person that parks your car as well.  $1 per coat for coatroom attendant seems to be standard.

(Photo: dixieyid.blogspot.com)

4.  Food Delivery Person.  10-15% is generally sufficient.  However, if the delivery is difficult, like in bad weather, adding a bit more is a good idea. Plus, that delivery person may be back and you want to get your food hot next time as well, don't you?  Also, don't assume that the delivery charge goes to the delivery person, ask when ordering before you include that when calculating your tip. 

5. Taxi Driver.  15% is standard and add more if he has to help with bags.

And there you have it, some guidelines for surviving in the tipping world.  Now, if only I was good at math...

Sources: http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/tipping/, http://artofmanliness.com/2008/06/24/gentlemans-guide-how-much-should-tip/,  http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/12/basic-tips-on-tipping-how-much-and-to-whom/

Super Savings Alert!! $10 for $50 worth of Office Supplies!

Today Living Social, an online daily deal website, has an offer through Vista Print for $50 worth of office supplies for only $10.  That's quite a deal.  It looks like you can use it for business cards, calendars, etc.  Take note that it expires September 3, 2011.  Check it out by clicking the link below. 

http://livingsocial.com/deals/50829-50-to-spend-on-office-supplies-and-business-cards?msdc_id=6&ref=Deal060211_107_7849email

Tips on Garage Sale Shopping.

(Photo: ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com)

My Uncle John is the Garage/Yard Sale King.  Every year around May he asks me for my list.  Actually, he demands it.  Yes, he gathers garage sale lists from everyone in the family and puts them in his special garage sale book.  It's like having a free personal shopper and the goods are cheap!  So, I've consulted my uncle and put together some garage sale shopping tips to share with everyone.  This is what the "Garage Sale Expert" told me with a spin of my own, of course.

Finding the sale.  A lot of people having garage sales will post ads in different places.  You can look in newspapers (a lot of which are online), on craigslist, garagesalestracker, and yardsalesearch.  However, some people will not pay for ads and may not post online, so keep an eye out when you go to one for other signs leading to other sales.  Also, subdivisions will often have a bunch of homes having sales all at once, this saves you gas and time by basically one stop shopping.  

(Photo: discountedbabyclothesreview.com)

Why you should look for kids' clothes (if you have kiddies).  Don't be scared.  I know a lot of people don't like the idea of buying other people's clothes.  Here are a few reasons why you should reconsider.  First of all, kids grow so fast that paying full price for clothes they may only wear once can be very expensive.  So you can save money by shopping at garage sales, just be sure to wash everything first.  Now, if you're completely opposed, and I can understand that, you should still reconsider because a lot of sales have brand new clothes.  This is for the same reason, kids grow fast and may not be able to wear all the clothes they have.  So it can't hurt to take a look; you might save yourself some dough.  

Best times and best prices.  Most garage sales begin at 8 or 9, so if you know a sale has something you want, try and get there in the very beginning so it doesn't sell.  A lot of people are die hard garage sale shoppers like my uncle and show up really early to catch a deal.  However, if you are just looking for good prices but not looking for something specific, it might be best to go to sales at the end of day or the last day of the weekend to get a better price.  When people really want to get rid of all their stuff, they will often lower prices at the end of the day.  So plan accordingly. 

You can always negotiate.   Almost all of the people having garage sales are willing to negotiate because they want to get rid of their old junk.  So don't pass something up just because of the price.  It can't hurt to ask if they'll take less.   But you also don't want to get annoying and ask for everything to be lowered because people can get offended and you're never going to get a deal.

Make sure you are getting what you pay for.  When buying electronics, don't just take the seller's word for it, unless the price is THAT good.  Ask them if you can plug it in for a second to test it out before you buy.  When buying a game or other packaged item, open it up and make sure everything is there.  Sellers are not necessarily being dishonest, but may forget to check that something has all its pieces or that every case has the dvd or cd in it.

(Photo: walworthcogetaway.com)

There are more than just garage sales to check out.   Estate sales, which used to make me a little uncomfortable, can be great places to find larger items like appliances and furniture for a good price as they are selling everything in the house.  There are also flea markets all over, which have loads of different booths of different people selling all sorts of different things.  It's like one huge garage sale and you can find almost anything.  Churches and other organizations will also have rummage sales that are worth checking out and everything is usually very inexpensive. 

Thanks Uncle John for your tips!  Save on my friends, save on.

Weekly Bet Ya Didn't Know: Putting Butter on a Burn and Other "Old Wives Tales"

While growing up I lived with my grandmother and she had all sorts special remedies for health issues, such as putting butter on a burn and feeding a cold but starving a fever.  I learned long ago that putting butter on a burn is the exact opposite of what you should do.  And now I wonder how many of her other medical theories were "old wives tales," because to this day I worry that I'll catch pneumonia if I don't wear my coat.  Let's see how knowledgeable granny really was...



 1. Never put butter on a burn, or anything else really.  Apparently putting butter on a burn can cause it to get infected.  To me it seems like putting anything on a burn would just keep it warm and continue burning, which sounds like a terrible idea.  I also found that you should not put alcohol or peroxide on an open wound because it kills healthy cells and slows down the healing process.  I had no idea that was wrong too!  The best way to clean wounds for burns, cuts and scrapes, from what I read on the Reader's Digest website, is to run it under cool water.



(Photo: howshealth.com)



2.  Feed a cold and starve a fever is not exactly right.  When you have a fever you most likely won't be very hungry, but having fluids is really important.  So starving yourself is not the way to go.  Drink lots of liquids and if you are hungry, then you should eat.  For me personally, I know it takes a lot more than a little pesky fever to keep me from eating.  If you have a cold, the same rules apply.  You want to drink lots of fluids and eat something if you're hungry.  So simple. 



3.  You should wear your coat even though it does not affect whether you will get pneumonia.  Throughout every winter I would hear "You'll catch pneumonia" over and over again from my grandma.  I assume she was trying to scare me and it worked.  It turns out I was scared for nothing.  Being exposed to the cold or going outside with wet hair will not cause you to get a cold or the flu.  Short periods of time in the cold does not break down your immune system either.  Basically, you just need to stay away from people that have colds or the flu and all of the things that they have touched.  This just further supports my "germaphobe" tendencies.  Thank you very much. 



(Photo: http://funmazaplus.com/)



 4.  It is not as simple as an apple a day keeps the doctor away.  So upsetting, I know.  This was always one I had hoped would be true.  If only we could solve all of the world's health problems with apples! Apples are still good for you, like most fruits, they just aren't the "cure all."  Apples help reduce the risk of some cancers, diabetes and high blood pressure.  They're also good for your teeth and help boost your immune system.  So at least they can HELP keep the doctor away. 

It looks like my grandma wasn't much of an expert.  But she did live until she was 88, so I guess she was doing something right.  

References: http://www.rd.com/health/7-first-aid-standbys-you-should-never-use/, http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/health_articles/feed_a_cold,  http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/health-myths/an-apple-a-day.htm, http://www.suite101.com/content/common-myths-concerning-pneumonia-a77762

Save Money on Your Utility Bills

I am fortunate enough to have the heat and gas bill included in my rent.  But now as summer approaches I have to worry about a skyrocketing electric bill from my air conditioner.  I have been toying with the idea of cancelling my internet or cable, but I would be so sad and bored without The Real Housewives and this blog.  So I looked into other ways to save money on my utilities.


ELECTRIC BILL:
1. Have your fan spinning in the right direction.  I always forget which direction the fan is supposed to go in the summer and which way it goes in the winter.  Therefore, I looked it up again.  In summer, the fan should be rotating counter-clockwise, helping to get a bit of a breeze and therefore making it feel cooler.  In the winter, the fan should rotate clockwise, to help circulate warm air.  Remembering to do this with the change of season can ease up on your air conditioner or heat use.  However, I found that you should not leave the fan going while you are gone because it does not actually heat or cool the room.  

(Photo: acservicerepairmiami.com)

2. Properly use the air conditioner:  Turn your air conditioner OFF when you leave or at least turn the temp up.  I was surprised to find this out.  This is because air conditioners work best and most efficiently when at full pace.  Therefore, if it has to turn on and work a full speed when you come back home, it is working most efficiently.  The air conditioner will most likely last longer than if you were to leave it at the same temperature all the time.  Also, note that you save 3-5% for every degree warmer you have your air conditioner set at.  


3. When to turn the lights off.  Incandescent lights should always be turned off when you're not using them.  The general rule for fluorescent lights is to turn them off whenever you will be gone for more than 15 minutes.  Fluorescent lights are more expensive and the less you turn them on and off, the longer they last.  

4. Turn everything off when not in use.  There is no reason to have your microwave or coffee machine plugged in all day and night, unless your cat likes to have a latte and t.v. dinner while you're at work.  So save yourself some dough and unplug them when you're not using them.  Be careful with televisions though, because some of them work harder and use more energy to turn on.  So turning then on and off in a short period of time may be more costly.  




 GAS and WATER BILLS:



(Photo: http://www.norcalblogs.com/)



1. Turn down the hot water heater.  If you live in a house or an apartment with the hot water heater in unit, you can turn down the temperature of the water.  This will lower the temperature that the water is kept at, in turn using less gas.  This is a good idea during the summer as you probably do not have the hot water turned up all the way when showering and therefore don't need to have the heater set as high.  Then when winter returns, you can turn it up if needed.

2. Use your dishwasher.  Generally, dishwashers are more efficient than hand washing.  It uses less soap and water, which means you're using less gas and saving money on soap.  How much you'll save depends on how energy efficient your dishwasher is.

3. Other ways to use less water.  As we learned in grade school, remember to turn the water off while you're brushing your teeth.  It's good for the environment and your wallet!  Taking shorter showers and not having your shower water warm up for longer than necessary helps too.


References:  http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/01/built-in-dishwasher-vs-hand-washing-which-greener.php, http://housewares.about.com/od/coolingheating/f/ceilfanrotation.htm, http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/lighting_daylighting/index.cfm/mytopic=12280, http://www.rodale.com/efficient-air-conditioner-use?page=0%2C1.

Weekly Bet Ya Didn't Know: Why Do Beer and Wine Taste Better Cold and What Temperature is Best?

(Photo: concurringopinions.com)

Yes, folks.  Only pressing issues addressed here.  Now, my family makes wine, so I should have known the answer to this, but I did not.  Here is what I learned.

(Photo: beer100.com)     

Everyone knows beer tastes better cold, right?  Well, not necessarily.  I don't like beer, so my theory  has always been that because beer tastes so bad in general, the colder the beer the more you can hide that yucky taste .Apparently, I'm not completely wrong.  But, my original thought that beer tastes better cold was not exactly correct.  If you actually like the taste of beer, then you might not mind having it on the warmer side.  Serving beer cold does in fact mask it's flavor and smell, so you don't really taste that beer taste the colder it is.  Also, some beers are made to be served cold, so it just makes sense that they will taste better when you serve them cold.  It seems to be a mental thing as well.  Drinks just feel more refreshing to us the colder they are.  So it really depends on preference.
  
Test your knowledge of beer with this fun little quiz http://www.chacha.com/.

Red wine just below room temperature and white wine chilled.  While this is the general rule, it's a little more complex.  It seems as though the richer the wine the warmer it can be served and the lighter and fruitier the wine, the cooler it should be served.  Room temperature is too warm for all wines though.  Red wine can just be chilled for a few minutes to help bring out the flavors so that it won't taste as soft and vinegary.  For a detailed graph of types of wine and temperatures, go to  http://www.bettertastingwine.com/.

(Photo: tuftsjournal.tufts.edu)

But Why?  So we know the rule, but I want to know why light and fruity wines taste better cold and richer wines a little warmer.  Generally, the darker the wine, the more tannins it has and therefore, needs more time to "breathe" and warm up to release it's aroma.  The flavors also soften and increases the taste.  White wines taste better chilled because they are more tart and the cold will make them taste less tart.  White wines should be allowed to warm just a bit before serving to let out it's aroma, as a huge portion of taste is it's scent.  However, do not let the wine get too warm because the alcohol will evaporate affecting the aroma of the wine more than you want.  It seems to be quite a delicate balance so that the wine smells and tastes best.

Cheers!

References:  http://www.ratebeer.com/,  http://www.wine.com/ and http://www.thatsthespirit.com/.

For the Hate of Cabs...Save Money on Gas or Take Public Transportation

(Photo: flickr.com)

"Say no to cabs!"  Why would you spend more money on getting to and from the restaurant or bar  than actually at the place?  I just don't get it.  So rule numero uno, of course, is to take public transportation or drive yourself whenever possible.  Here are some tips on how to save money by driving or taking public transportation.  Either way, no taxis!

(Photo: usatoday.com)

Cutting Gas Costs:  Gas prices have become outrageous, almost painful.  There's a few things you can do to get better gas mileage, which have other benefits too.  I've noticed that keeping my car in good condition gives me better gas mileage. For example, getting the oil changed regularly, rotating the tires and keeping the tires inflated.  There are plenty of places with deals on car upkeep.  For example, some places will either give you a discount or include multiple other services for one price if you go early in the morning or if you join a mailing list.  So do your research to find a deal on getting your car taken care of  and it may return the favor by giving you better gas mileage.  So everyone's happy!  Also, Speeding and rapid breaking or accelerating use more gas.  Driving safely has multiple so many benefits.  The less weight in your car, the better mileage you get, so try and keep your car as empty as possible.  See www.fueleconomy.gov for more ideas on what you can do to get better gas mileage.

Car Pooling.  Not only is it boring to drive places alone, but it's also more expensive.  You save money on gas by sharing rides with people going the same place and can also save money on parking.  It just doesn't make sense for 10 people to drive 10 different cars all to the same place.  People in general don't like to drive by themselves anyway, so ask around and share the drive.       

(Photo: www.dreamstime.com)

No Car?  Take the Bus or Train.  Not only is it cheaper, but taking public transportation is better for the environment too.  Now, calm down, taking the bus is not that bad, you will be ok.  I promise.  Plus, while you're on the bus or train, you can read a book or your  kindle, listen to music or my personal favorite, people watch.  In Chicago, the bus and el/subway are only $2.25 per ride and transfers to other buses and trains are only 25 cents.  Monthly passes and transit cards are also available which may cost you even less.  Go to http://www.chicago-card.com/.  The Metra system also has monthly passes or 10-Ride passes that can save you money on your train rides. See www.metrarail.com. Taking public transportation will save you the cost of gas, car upkeep and parking if you were to drive or it saves you on the outrageous fee to take a cab, which includes that extra $1.00 they include because of gas prices and the cost per additional rider.  And if you're a germaphobe like me, just remember to bring your hand sanitizer for the ride.  :)

If you still insist on taking a cab, at least know how much money you're going to waste beforehand.  I found a site where you can estimate the cost of your cab fare ahead of time.  Check out www.taxifarefinder.com before you hail that taxi.

Weekly Bet Ya Didn't Know (or just didn't care to find out...)

Could Those Crosswalk Signal Buttons be Just a Sham?    

(Photo: googcelebrity.blogspot.com)

As the boyfriend and I were on our way to meet his new baby niece, we were at a stop light and watched as some guy (on a Segway, by the way) furiously pressed the crosswalk button on the traffic signal post.  "Was all his effort to get a walk signal just a waste?" I pondered.  And so I needed to find out.  The short answer.  Yes, it was most likely a waste, but I don't know for sure.  Hmph.

In an article on nytimes.com, it says that in New York the buttons were first installed to make the traffic flow more efficient.  However, now most of them seem to have been disabled as new traffic signals have been installed and they haven't removed the useless buttons for cost reasons. That's New York, now, what about everywhere else? 

(Photo: realsimple.com)

Ugh, it gets more inconclusive.  I looked at numerous other sites which couldn't give me an exact answer, or at least one that I thought could be trusted.  Some suggest that the buttons are just there as a placebo to prevent what I call "sidewalk rage" (see youarenotsosmart.com).  That site refers to an ABC story done, which only found one working crosswalk button in each of these three cities; Austin, Syracuse and Gainsville.  You can watch the video of that show at http://abcnews.go.com. 

So, my conclusion?  Some might work, but it looks like most do not.  Whether it's the government's way to control people and keep them happy, I have no idea.  Check with your local conspiracy theorist. Even though I hate when there is no straight answer, it looks like we aren't going to get one here today.  So keep on pressin' and maybe, just maybe, it will work.  Good luck and farewell.