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Sunday, 14 March 2010

  • I Won't Eat Old Food


    Ask anyone who knows me, and they'll tell you that I'm a little nuts about expiration dates on food. Despite the fact that I haven't ever actually gotten sick from eating old food, I'm really neurotic about the freshness of my food. While this doesn't seem so bad at first glance, it can definitely effect my pocketbook.

    I don't like eating leftovers that are older than 2 days, despite reading various charts that tell me it's still safe. And don't even TRY to get me to eat food that is past its printed expiration date- that is just not going to happen. I even tend to treat the sell by dates as use by dates, even though I know there's a real difference there. And since I won't touch food that is even a little bit old or expired, there tends to be too much spoilage in my kitchen. It's not quite so bad now that I have a human garbage disposal living with me that has an iron stomach and hates waste, but it still isn't ideal. Trust me, I've tried to get over it, but I just can't. Pretty much the only way I'll eat old food is if my mom okays it first. I know it doesn't even make sense because I'm often just describing the food to her over the phone, but having that specific approval seems to satisfy the weird tick I have.  More Here...

  • Your Bailout $$ at Work 2.0: Bank of America Seizes Nondeliquent Homes

    Last December, I wrote about the misdeeds of one of the Govt Bailout banks, Wells Fargo. Now it's time to shine the light on Bank of America.

    BOA has been caught seizing the homes of homeowners who are up to date on their payments - a big "whoopsie" on the bank's part.

    Excerpts from the latest incident:

    "....as more and more consumers default, confused banks occasionally find themselves foreclosing on the wrong house.

    That’s what happened to 46-year-old Pittsburgh resident Angela Iannelli, who came home last October to find her front door padlocked. Once she finally got inside -- with the help of a bolt cutter -- she discovered that her house had been ransacked, power and water lines had been cut, floors and furniture had been damaged, and antifreeze had been poured in sink drains and toilets.

    As Iannelli later discovered, Bank of America incorrectly identified her property as vacant and in default, and sent in a contractor to lock and clean out the house." 

    More Here...
  • Advice: Where Can I Consolidate My Student Loans?


    Consolidation can really help with student loan debt because you cut down on the number of payments to keep track of and you can usually end up with a lower interest rate than you had, on average, before.

    Kat asks about a good place to do this on our Advice page:
    I just found out that the company that I consolidated undergrad loans with is no longer consolidating because of the state of the economy. Are many other companies doing this? Where else can I get them consolidated?

    More Here...
  • House Buying Tips


    Everyone knows good research is part of any major purchase, and that certainly includes a new home. You shouldn't overlook the importance of the inspection. Fortunately for us, x_19@xanga has submitted a post about common home problems that is simultaneously informative and adorable! 


    Its a buyer's market out there, but how can you keep from getting scammed?

    I've brought in resident housing expert Jesse James (Licensed** House Inspector) to give you a few tips* on how to keep you and your family safe, happy, and scam free!

    With over seven months of experience, Mr. James is a highly sought after inspector and surveyor.  
    Office hours are 5-7am, 8-10pm, and 12pm-2:47am, 365 days a year.
    Please direct all questions and comments to his secretary, Red, on this blog.

    Mr. James's House Hunting Tips*

    1. Check the overall structure

     

    Structural problems can be common in older homes. Check for right angles and flush connections. There should be no gaps or cracking in the walls, floors, and ceilings. Check for molding, moisture, or other leaks.

    2. Check doorways and doors for sagging or settling   More Here...

  • Are Vampires Popular In a Bad Economy?


    Vampires have been iconic long before True Blood and Twilight, evident since Dracula and progressing all the way to the Underworld movies. But why has the vampire myth currently become so popular?

    It's a familiar concept to some, but for those who aren't aware, analysts have theorized for a while that vampires strike a chord with with people in hard economic times. More Here...

Saturday, 13 March 2010

  • Advice: Do Prepaid Phone Plans Save Money?


    With the prices of the average cellphone plan seemingly increasing every year, more people are turning to prepaid phone plans to save money. But do they really cost less?

    Omelettedufromage asks about this in a recent Advice post:

    I was looking at the prepaid plans offered by popular cell phone companies and wondering whether it would save money to go this route. I hate being bound to a contract with my cell phone and I don't really use it that much. But the prepaid plans don't ever seem to have free nights and weekends or an other of those perks. Should I do this and which companies have the best plans?

    Help out and leave your opinion on the Advice post or ask a question of your own!

  • What Embarassing Items Do You Buy Online?

    A recent Fast Company study showed that, even in the midst of the recession, online purchases have continued to increase. The study showed that 154 million people, which is almost half the entire US population, bought something online in 2009.

    Many people are starting to buy online more often than in stores. More Here...

  • Should We Keep Daylight Saving Time?


    It's that time again, the time we all dread, when as if we're not all sleep-deprived enough as it is, we're forced to give up an extra hour when the time (farcically perceived as a constant in our lives) "changes." Yes, this weekend is Spring Forward meaning all the clocks have to be set back an hour. And yes that includes the one on your microwave, unless you're as lazy as me and have left it the same as last year before Fall Back.
    However, aside from the annoyance of having to change every clock in your house, car, moped, etc. studies have shown actual negative health and financial effects as a result of Spring Forward. More Here...
  • Advice: How Do I Get a Job as a Dog-Walker?


    It can be hard to figure out how to break into, and manage having, a side job. Especially if it's a more creative or unusual job than a gig at the mall.

    Kat has decided that she wants to try her hand at dog walking and needs some advice about getting started:

    As you might know from my previous posts, I am new to the New York area and looking for some extra income. As a former dog-owner (the dog was the biggest loss in my last breakup, hehe) and Humane Society volunteer, I would enjoy being a dogwalker or petsitter as a part-time job. But how do you get the clientele and how do you get them to trust you with their dogs?

    More Here...
  • Where Do You Sell Your Old Textbooks?


    As a book-lover, it's very hard for me to let go of my old books, except for maybe that 100 pound, 1,000 page Physics book, but as a rule I like to keep them. But when you start lifting a 70 pound box into a moving truck and realize that this is only about one-twentieth of your collection, it's probably time to get rid of a few.

    Many students elect to sell their used textbooks on Amazon instead of at the campus bookstore. More Here...