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Posted
Aug 19 2008, 01:43 PM
by
Ryan MacClanathan
Rating:
If you heat your home with an oil furnace, you're likely
dreading the approaching cooler weather. With the cost of a gallon close to $2
more than last year's, many families will be feeling the pinch this winter.
Some people are filling up their tanks now and locking in
prices in anticipation of further spikes this winter. In some parts of the
country, though, getting a summer delivery may be hard to do.
Evelyn Black at the Amateur Economists has encountered
difficulties
getting her home's oil tank filled this summer ahead of the fall rush. According to news reports, many small oil delivery companies are unable to purchase
heating oil to fill their trucks due to credit problems.
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Posted
Jul 21 2008, 05:02 PM
by
Karen Datko
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An article in The New Yorker by the always excellent Elizabeth Kolbert about the invention and evolution of the American lawn got us thinking. Isn't there a better way to maintain our outdoor space without spending so much money for water and chemicals? We're not suggesting you cover your front yard in asphalt. It turns out there is a lot of help online if you want to reduce spending, save resources and enhance beauty.
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Posted
Jul 16 2008, 04:20 AM
by
Karen Datko
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This post comes from partner blog The Dough Roller. If you are in the market to buy your first or next home, a HUD home could potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars on the purchase price. But there are some things to watch out for. In this article, we'll cover the basics of buying a HUD foreclosure home and some tips on getting the lowest possible price.
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Posted
May 07 2008, 10:38 AM
by
Karen Datko
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What's the point in everyone in the neighborhood paying for way more broadband than they can use?
Poster East Coaster Now in CO says he's begun piggybacking on his neighbors' wireless signals.
"Once in a while I can't get a signal, but 98% of the time I want to get online I can. That saves me about $30 a month."
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Posted
Mar 20 2008, 05:32 AM
by
Karen Datko
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This post comes from Xin Lu at partner blog Wise Bread. Since I got married, people have been constantly asking me two questions: "Are you pregnant yet?" and "Are you going to buy a house?" If you are a reader of my personal blog, you already know that I don't want to buy a house in the San Francisco Bay Area right now because the prices are still quite ridiculous. The hubby and I always tell people that we cannot afford a house, but that's not entirely true. We can afford to buy a house with a pretty nice margin of comfort, but we don't want to buy one just because we can afford it. One day I told someone that I do not want to afford a house right now and he asked me what I meant. Here is my explanation. We do not need to spend more. The cost to own a unit similar to what we live in is two to three times what we pay in rent. The only purpose of a house is to provide shelter, and I don't see a need to upgrade just because we can afford it.
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Posted
Feb 15 2008, 01:20 PM
by
Karen Datko
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Can a family with an income of $100,000 or more really have a hard time getting ahead? FreeMoneyFinance's recent post on that question has prompted quite a discussion among commenters at his site. FMF launched the debate by remarking on a family mentioned in one of a package of MSN Money stories about the "squeeze on the middle class." The couple make six figures, but are unable to save. "We struggle to stay afloat with the rising costs of car insurance, gas, utilities, food and other necessities," one of the family members said. FMF's assessment: "They're simply spending too much. They have no control on expenses." He also guesses that they live in an expensive area, noting that "$100,000 per year is a lot, but it's more in Omaha than it is in Los Angeles."
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Posted
Feb 11 2008, 11:56 AM
by
Karen Datko
Glblguy, aka "Gibble," and his wife were watching a rerun of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and were impressed by the following scene: Detectives Goren and Eames were interviewing a police officer suspected of killing rich drug dealers and using their money to live a life unsupportable on a cop's wages. Goren asked her how she could afford such a nice home and send her kids to private schools. Simple, she answered, she's frugal. Goren said he is, too, but couldn't afford her house. Goren, she replied, spends a lot on clothes, takes women on expensive dates and drives a fancy car. She added, "I buy bargain clothing, don't date, never go out and live very frugally. I use my money to buy my home instead." A stunned Goren says something like, "Great, but you haven't answered my question." Obviously, Gibble writes at Gather Little by Little, Goren "has no clue where his money goes. He only knows he doesn't have enough. He thinks he's frugal and that he doesn't spend much, but he does."
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Posted
Jan 29 2008, 12:00 PM
by
Karen Datko
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We thank My Two Dollars for pointing out another cool tool on the Internet. Zilpy is an easy-to-use site for researching rentals and rent prices in entire cities or individual neighborhoods. (David looked up his own neighborhood in Southern California and wrote, "Makes me feel better that my rent is $1,949 when the average is $2,713!") It also gives handy information like crime rates, and age and educational level of the people who live there. If you're looking for a new place to rent, you can refine your search by the type of rental you want -- apartment, house or townhouse -- as well as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and overall square footage. The site also provides maps that pinpoint available rentals. Just to be nosy, we decided to check out the neighborhoods of some of our friends.
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Posted
Jan 24 2008, 06:28 AM
by
Karen Datko
This post comes from Carrie Kirby at partner blog Wise Bread. All you have to do is ask. Whether it's getting a fair shake from a business that treated you badly or getting a little extra, picking up the phone or sending an e-mail often pays off. But here's the thing to remember: Sometimes you have to ask more than once. If the answer is no the first or second time, try again. Ask for a manager. Hang up and try a different operator. Ask about the appeals process. Write a demand letter threatening legal action. If you are in the right, you should eventually get what you deserve. Here are five examples of how speaking up has saved me money in the last year.
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Posted
Jan 22 2008, 07:46 AM
by
Karen Datko
This devil's advocate post comes from partner blog Blueprint for Financial Prosperity. I must confess that for the past month our budget has flown out the window. I have not even done the math to see the damage yet. I'm avoiding it because I know it will be ugly. I read the statement above at A Penny Closer, and it's something we see quite often --ignoring your problems. Now, you might jump to your feet and scream, "Ignoring your problems won't make them go away!" or something else equally petulant, but before you do, I want you to hear me out. I think there are very good reasons to ignore your problems, and that is the subject of this edition of Devil's Advocate.
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