Well any of you that know me know Brian has been out of work since July. He just cannot seem to find a job that will pay more the Straight Commission or Minimum wage. There is NO way we are going to survive if they discontinue his unemployment.
I am so frustrated at this gov't we have right now. Bailing out AIG and other institutions that have put themselves where they are, stupid American people trying to get rich quick and live like Kings not using their brains!
Then as unfortunate as the bailout for the Top Three auto makers here getting turned down, why are they not looking at the resources they have to allow them to stay afloat? Why must they make 73 dollars an hour to push a robot? Why do they need to live more comfortable then any other PERSON I know in MY entire life? It is not right nor fair they get a cushion job with cushion pay and we can all barely survive! I could NOT go out and buy a car right now and in the past two years we bought USED cars, one Chevy and one Foreign and let me just say that Toyota American workers ONLY make 22 dollars an hour and they are selling the cars so people can AFFORD to buy them!
So why and how did this country become SO greedy that the next door neighbor failing to buy Christmas gifts, food and continue to live as YOUR neighbor gets SHUN for losing what they worked so hard for? This country is backwards, it is the POOR people and MIDDLE class people ALL making under 80000 a year that MAKE THIS DAMN country!
I have two perfect ways - or at least had until the first 80 billion dollars went to AIG -
1. 90 day freeze on all CREDIT, meaning your cars, cards and homes! If you make 2000 a month then that is 6000 your starting out ahead! WITH no recourse from the banks and no failed credit listings! That makes more sense then throwing money into fires!
2.A real stimulus package, not 300 PER person, but more like 5000! Every HOUSE within the US...every US social security card holding person to get enough money to pay their ENTIRE monthly bills...that means they have ONE full month to save their extra income and GO SHOPPING!!!
If we don't shop there is NO economy, now with gas being 1.91 here in MY town...means lower gas more food, but I am still in a situation I cannot go out and BUY cars, t.v's or appliances that would in turn create supply and demand. I will NOT go into CREDIT debt for Christmas so instead we MOVED our holiday to the 26th so I have a PAYcheck to play with, but that again ONLY hurts! But at least the kids are NOT missing out! It is NOT their fault but god damn are they ever going to be paying for it!!!!
it is time we all stand up, if we get another stim check and its UNDER 500, send it back! What does it help? WE used ours this summer to PAY our house!!! WE did not go shopping with it, so screw it, they need it more then I do since they are USING MY hard earned cash to pay off companies with balls for brains!!!!
Ugh I am just pisssed they keep throwing MONEY at the problem, its NOT fixing what they call "main street" ...if we pay for the auto makers, they will be back in another year...WE cannot BUY their cars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The comeback after being laid off
Bouncing Back After Being Laid Off
By Kelli B. Grant
October 3, 2008
Pink (slips) are the new black.
The unemployment rate hovers at 6.1% and, during September, employers cut a higher-than-expected 159,000 jobs, according to the latest report from the Labor Department. Not only is that more than double the layoffs during either July or August, but it's also the worst decline since 2003, when the economy was still in the throes of a recession.
"It's a further sign -- certainly not the first -- that nobody is guaranteed a paycheck," says Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire1, a career web site. "Everyone needs to wonder, 'What about me? Am I next?'"
Things will get worse before they get better, predicts Richard Ebeling, a senior research fellow with think tank American Institute of Economic Research. Many of the recent job losses stem from the embattled financial sector. The spending habits of Wall Street's elite, especially come annual bonus time, typically result in widespread booms in the retail, housing, tourism and hospitality industries. Now that tens of thousands of financial-services employees are out of work and bonuses have been slashed, those sectors will undoubtedly take a hit, he says.
Eventually, the job market will bounce back. "Cycles bottom out and recover," says Ebeling. "In a sense, jobs changing, letting people go, and re-working wages indicates a healing process."
But of course, the pain comes first and job hunters currently face a tough environment with fewer job openings and plenty of competition. Should you get laid off, here's how to keep your wits about you, and get back on track:
Bullet-proof your job
Those still employed ought to assess their risk of being laid off. "Pay attention to headlines about your industry, and the financial health of your company," suggests Johnson. Do what you can to stay visible. Speak up at meetings, volunteer for committees and work extra hours if need be to make sure everything gets done. Indispensable employees rarely end up on the cut list, she says.
Have a sinking feeling that the ax is about to come down? "Get a fast start on your search," suggests John Challenger, CEO of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Try to bolster your finances and jump to a more stable company before the pink slips arrive.
Negotiate severance
Employers typically base this farewell package on how long an employee has worked at the company. But no matter how long youve been employed there, it cant hurt to ask for more. Some employers may include unused sick or vacation days; others provide extended health-care coverage, says Challenger. Talk to a financial advisor or tax preparer about whether to take the package as a lump sum or in several spread-out payments. (For more negotiation tactics and other advice, click here2.)
Get your finances in order
Ideally, you won't be unemployed for long, but prepare your finances as if you're in for a lengthy search. "You need to make sure your money lasts," says Challenger. Sign up for unemployment benefits right away to limit the lag between your last paycheck and your first unemployment check, and start looking for affordable health-care options. (For a checklist of financial do's and don'ts for the unemployed, click here3.)
Brush up on your job-search skills
If you've been out of the job market for years, take a refresher course in resume writing and interviewing skills, suggests Johnson. Seek out such resources on career sites like Monster.com4 and Vault.com5, or head to government-run CareerOneStop.org6, which offers advice and connections to local career-focused groups for job hunters. (For more low-cost resources, click here7.)
Network
More than 40% of job seekers found their current position through someone they know in the industry, according to a survey from human resources consultant Right Management. "People hire people, and your goal is to get in front of as many people as you can," says Johnson. Let your family, friends and business contacts know you're looking, and post your profile on networking sites like LinkedIn.com8.
Grab part-time opportunities
The number of workers employed part-time jumped to 1.5 million in September, up 275% from last year, according to the Labor Department. The lesson? Don't sneer at part-time, freelance or consulting work -- it's all many job hunters can find, warns Johnson. "People will say, 'I need benefits. I can't afford to work part-time,'" she says. "But you also need cash to pay the rent. It's not about settling, it's about being realistic to make ends meet in the short term."
Expand your hunt
While there may be plenty of jobs listed on online job boards, make sure to expand your search by sending your resume to companies you'd like to work for and requesting informational interviews. "Applying online gives you a false sense of accomplishment, getting in 30 applications a day," says Johnson. "You need to have a lot of sticks in the fire. It's not enough to have one or two leads." Also, consider how your skills apply in other sectors, says Challenger. A financial accountant or salesman could easily apply his skills in a variety of industries. And don't be afraid to look beyond your current market. (View our slideshow on the five most employee-hungry cities here9.)
Links in this article:
1http://www.womenforhire.com
By Kelli B. Grant
October 3, 2008
Pink (slips) are the new black.
The unemployment rate hovers at 6.1% and, during September, employers cut a higher-than-expected 159,000 jobs, according to the latest report from the Labor Department. Not only is that more than double the layoffs during either July or August, but it's also the worst decline since 2003, when the economy was still in the throes of a recession.
"It's a further sign -- certainly not the first -- that nobody is guaranteed a paycheck," says Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire1, a career web site. "Everyone needs to wonder, 'What about me? Am I next?'"
Things will get worse before they get better, predicts Richard Ebeling, a senior research fellow with think tank American Institute of Economic Research. Many of the recent job losses stem from the embattled financial sector. The spending habits of Wall Street's elite, especially come annual bonus time, typically result in widespread booms in the retail, housing, tourism and hospitality industries. Now that tens of thousands of financial-services employees are out of work and bonuses have been slashed, those sectors will undoubtedly take a hit, he says.
Eventually, the job market will bounce back. "Cycles bottom out and recover," says Ebeling. "In a sense, jobs changing, letting people go, and re-working wages indicates a healing process."
But of course, the pain comes first and job hunters currently face a tough environment with fewer job openings and plenty of competition. Should you get laid off, here's how to keep your wits about you, and get back on track:
Bullet-proof your job
Those still employed ought to assess their risk of being laid off. "Pay attention to headlines about your industry, and the financial health of your company," suggests Johnson. Do what you can to stay visible. Speak up at meetings, volunteer for committees and work extra hours if need be to make sure everything gets done. Indispensable employees rarely end up on the cut list, she says.
Have a sinking feeling that the ax is about to come down? "Get a fast start on your search," suggests John Challenger, CEO of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Try to bolster your finances and jump to a more stable company before the pink slips arrive.
Negotiate severance
Employers typically base this farewell package on how long an employee has worked at the company. But no matter how long youve been employed there, it cant hurt to ask for more. Some employers may include unused sick or vacation days; others provide extended health-care coverage, says Challenger. Talk to a financial advisor or tax preparer about whether to take the package as a lump sum or in several spread-out payments. (For more negotiation tactics and other advice, click here2.)
Get your finances in order
Ideally, you won't be unemployed for long, but prepare your finances as if you're in for a lengthy search. "You need to make sure your money lasts," says Challenger. Sign up for unemployment benefits right away to limit the lag between your last paycheck and your first unemployment check, and start looking for affordable health-care options. (For a checklist of financial do's and don'ts for the unemployed, click here3.)
Brush up on your job-search skills
If you've been out of the job market for years, take a refresher course in resume writing and interviewing skills, suggests Johnson. Seek out such resources on career sites like Monster.com4 and Vault.com5, or head to government-run CareerOneStop.org6, which offers advice and connections to local career-focused groups for job hunters. (For more low-cost resources, click here7.)
Network
More than 40% of job seekers found their current position through someone they know in the industry, according to a survey from human resources consultant Right Management. "People hire people, and your goal is to get in front of as many people as you can," says Johnson. Let your family, friends and business contacts know you're looking, and post your profile on networking sites like LinkedIn.com8.
Grab part-time opportunities
The number of workers employed part-time jumped to 1.5 million in September, up 275% from last year, according to the Labor Department. The lesson? Don't sneer at part-time, freelance or consulting work -- it's all many job hunters can find, warns Johnson. "People will say, 'I need benefits. I can't afford to work part-time,'" she says. "But you also need cash to pay the rent. It's not about settling, it's about being realistic to make ends meet in the short term."
Expand your hunt
While there may be plenty of jobs listed on online job boards, make sure to expand your search by sending your resume to companies you'd like to work for and requesting informational interviews. "Applying online gives you a false sense of accomplishment, getting in 30 applications a day," says Johnson. "You need to have a lot of sticks in the fire. It's not enough to have one or two leads." Also, consider how your skills apply in other sectors, says Challenger. A financial accountant or salesman could easily apply his skills in a variety of industries. And don't be afraid to look beyond your current market. (View our slideshow on the five most employee-hungry cities here9.)
Links in this article:
1http://www.womenforhire.com
Friday, September 12, 2008
8 Home Improvements That Pay Off
By AnnaMaria Andriotis
WITH HOMES LINGERING on the market for months — and those that sell going for well below the asking price — sellers need all the help they can get. One way to help improve the odds of unloading a home: renovations.
But before homeowners start knocking down walls and shopping for Viking ranges, they should consider the actual payoff of these projects. Growing demand for construction materials from abroad, particularly in India and China, and skyrocketing fuel prices are pushing remodeling costs ever skyward, says Sal Alfano, editorial director at Remodeling Magazine. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Producer Price Index, which tracks material and supply costs for maintenance and repair construction, jumped 12.4% from June 2007 to June 2008.
Meanwhile, the amount homeowners actually recoup from these projects is shrinking. In 2005, 68% of remodeling projects recouped more than 85 cents on the dollar, according to Remodeling Magazine. Last year, just 7% of projects recouped such amounts — and that figure is expected to drop even further this year, says Alfano.
"The market is probably as low as it's been in recent memory," says Alfano. "The buyer is unwilling to pay as much as [they] would have a year ago for that property...[with the] deck or the remodeled bathroom." Given that the buyer has the upper hand, homeowners must carefully weigh the cost of each project against the realistic amount they can expect to recoup once they sell their home
Indeed, some improvements practically pay for themselves or, at the very least, gain more attention from prospective buyers than others will. Putting an in-ground pool in the backyard or building a two-story deck with a gazebo, for example, aren't going to appeal to a broad scope of buyers, says R. Randy Lee, board chairman of the Building Industry of Association of New York City, which represents residential and commercial builders. Cleaning up the exterior of the home (a.k.a. "curb appeal") or adding more storage space, on the other hand, will prove much more appealing.
While the amount you recoup may not be as high as it once was, projects like these will help sellers unload their homes faster and for better prices than those that aren't renovated, says Deanna Kory, senior vice president at the Corcoran Group, a real estate company.
According to real estate broker Kory, home builder Lee and Remodeling Magazine, here are the home improvement projects that offer the biggest payoff. (View our chart below for a breakdown of the numbers.)
Replace Roofing and/or Siding
How appealing is a home with new, stainless steel kitchen appliances if it has a leaky roof or dilapidated siding? Roofing and siding replacements aren't cheap; they'll set you back an average of $18,042 and $9,910, respectively, but you'll likely recoup 67.4% and 83.2% of those costs come selling time, according to Remodeling Magazine.
You'll also save yourself time and headaches later on by addressing these problems before they're discovered in the home inspection.
Add an Extra Bedroom
"Increasing bedroom count always increases value," says Kory.
Rather than knocking down walls or adding onto your home, try working with what you have. Converting a spacious attic into a bedroom, for example, costs an average of $46,691, according to Remodeling Magazine. That may seem steep, but by doing so, you can increase a home's selling price by $25,000 to $100,000, says Kory.
Add Closet Space
Extra closet space is also a big hit with prospective buyers. Use a portion of a large bedroom to expand an existing closet or create storage space in your attic or cellar. With $500 to $1,000, you can buy the materials at Home Depot (HD: 29.50, +0.40, +1.37%) or Lowe's (LOW: 25.28, +0.05, +0.19%) and assemble them yourself, says Lee. If you decide to hire someone, expect to pay around $2,000, he says. The result? You should recoup about 50%, says Lee.
Renovate the Bathroom
Updating the bathroom is essential if a seller wants a buyer's attention. A full bathroom renovation, however, including installing a new toilet, vanity counter and tub costs an average of $15,789 according to Remodeling Magazine, and typically recoups an average 78% of its cost.
To alleviate some of the expense, consider a partial renovation instead. "Partial renovations are sometimes much more cost-effective than a full renovation and the return is much greater," says Kory.
If the downstairs bathroom is shabby and outdated, for example, put new tiles on the wall. When shoppers come around, they'll feel as if they won't have to fix the entire bathroom if they buy the place, says Kory.
Upgrade the Kitchen
Does the kitchen still sport an avocado-green refrigerator? Then you're almost guaranteed to get a low-ball offer from a buyer.
Rather than ripping the kitchen apart in a full renovation — a cost of as much as $100,000 in some homes, says Lee — focus on smaller, more visible upgrades, such as installing new granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. "Keep your costs down and use a few high-end materials to make [your kitchen] look rich," says Kory. "Then you can get away with [not replacing the] sink and other [expensive-to-fix] areas."
On average, a minor kitchen remodel costs $21,185 and recoups 83% of its costs, according to Remodeling Magazine
Energy-Efficient Upgrades
If you need to unload your home in a hurry, investing in energy-efficient upgrades, such as solar panels and a high-efficiency furnace, won't make sense.
Homeowners pay a premium for green upgrades and they won't see much, if any, of that investment returned during a sale, says Lee. To recoup the cost (mainly in the form of lower energy bills) of, say, installing solar panels requires a homeowner to stay in their home for years.
Nevertheless, it's hard to ignore the fact that such energy-efficient features "are of some importance to home buyers," says Gary Smith, co-author of "Houseonomics" and professor of economics at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. And not all green upgrades cost tens of thousands of dollars, either. If your windows need replacing, install energy-efficient windows, which cost an average $250 to $400 each. You can boost your bottom line by at least 50% at the time of a home's sale, according to Lee.
Landscaping
Curb appeal is a powerful selling tool. But that doesn't mean you need to recreate the gardens of Versailles. Minor landscaping touches, like planting some flowers and mowing the lawn, are enough to make a yard attractive to buyers. Some other steps to consider: Replace or repaint the front door and mailbox. Spend no more than $1,000 on these projects and you can expect to recoup the full cost, says Lee.
"You only have one chance to make a good impression," says Lee. "When someone drives up to the house there has to be some eye appeal there."
Home Renovation Costs & How Much You'll Recoup
Project Average Cost Average Amount You'll Recoup
Replacing the roof $18,042 67%
Replacing the siding $9,910 83%
Turning the attic into a bedroom $46,691 77%
Extra closet space $1,250 50%
Remodeling the bathroom* $15,789 78%
Minor kitchen upgrades $21,185 83%
Installing an energy-efficient window $325 50%
Minor landscaping up to $1,000 100%
Source: Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report 2007 & R. Randy Lee
* For a complete bathroom remodel. A partial bathroom remodel, as mentioned in the story, will cost less.
WITH HOMES LINGERING on the market for months — and those that sell going for well below the asking price — sellers need all the help they can get. One way to help improve the odds of unloading a home: renovations.
But before homeowners start knocking down walls and shopping for Viking ranges, they should consider the actual payoff of these projects. Growing demand for construction materials from abroad, particularly in India and China, and skyrocketing fuel prices are pushing remodeling costs ever skyward, says Sal Alfano, editorial director at Remodeling Magazine. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Producer Price Index, which tracks material and supply costs for maintenance and repair construction, jumped 12.4% from June 2007 to June 2008.
Meanwhile, the amount homeowners actually recoup from these projects is shrinking. In 2005, 68% of remodeling projects recouped more than 85 cents on the dollar, according to Remodeling Magazine. Last year, just 7% of projects recouped such amounts — and that figure is expected to drop even further this year, says Alfano.
"The market is probably as low as it's been in recent memory," says Alfano. "The buyer is unwilling to pay as much as [they] would have a year ago for that property...[with the] deck or the remodeled bathroom." Given that the buyer has the upper hand, homeowners must carefully weigh the cost of each project against the realistic amount they can expect to recoup once they sell their home
Indeed, some improvements practically pay for themselves or, at the very least, gain more attention from prospective buyers than others will. Putting an in-ground pool in the backyard or building a two-story deck with a gazebo, for example, aren't going to appeal to a broad scope of buyers, says R. Randy Lee, board chairman of the Building Industry of Association of New York City, which represents residential and commercial builders. Cleaning up the exterior of the home (a.k.a. "curb appeal") or adding more storage space, on the other hand, will prove much more appealing.
While the amount you recoup may not be as high as it once was, projects like these will help sellers unload their homes faster and for better prices than those that aren't renovated, says Deanna Kory, senior vice president at the Corcoran Group, a real estate company.
According to real estate broker Kory, home builder Lee and Remodeling Magazine, here are the home improvement projects that offer the biggest payoff. (View our chart below for a breakdown of the numbers.)
Replace Roofing and/or Siding
How appealing is a home with new, stainless steel kitchen appliances if it has a leaky roof or dilapidated siding? Roofing and siding replacements aren't cheap; they'll set you back an average of $18,042 and $9,910, respectively, but you'll likely recoup 67.4% and 83.2% of those costs come selling time, according to Remodeling Magazine.
You'll also save yourself time and headaches later on by addressing these problems before they're discovered in the home inspection.
Add an Extra Bedroom
"Increasing bedroom count always increases value," says Kory.
Rather than knocking down walls or adding onto your home, try working with what you have. Converting a spacious attic into a bedroom, for example, costs an average of $46,691, according to Remodeling Magazine. That may seem steep, but by doing so, you can increase a home's selling price by $25,000 to $100,000, says Kory.
Add Closet Space
Extra closet space is also a big hit with prospective buyers. Use a portion of a large bedroom to expand an existing closet or create storage space in your attic or cellar. With $500 to $1,000, you can buy the materials at Home Depot (HD: 29.50, +0.40, +1.37%) or Lowe's (LOW: 25.28, +0.05, +0.19%) and assemble them yourself, says Lee. If you decide to hire someone, expect to pay around $2,000, he says. The result? You should recoup about 50%, says Lee.
Renovate the Bathroom
Updating the bathroom is essential if a seller wants a buyer's attention. A full bathroom renovation, however, including installing a new toilet, vanity counter and tub costs an average of $15,789 according to Remodeling Magazine, and typically recoups an average 78% of its cost.
To alleviate some of the expense, consider a partial renovation instead. "Partial renovations are sometimes much more cost-effective than a full renovation and the return is much greater," says Kory.
If the downstairs bathroom is shabby and outdated, for example, put new tiles on the wall. When shoppers come around, they'll feel as if they won't have to fix the entire bathroom if they buy the place, says Kory.
Upgrade the Kitchen
Does the kitchen still sport an avocado-green refrigerator? Then you're almost guaranteed to get a low-ball offer from a buyer.
Rather than ripping the kitchen apart in a full renovation — a cost of as much as $100,000 in some homes, says Lee — focus on smaller, more visible upgrades, such as installing new granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. "Keep your costs down and use a few high-end materials to make [your kitchen] look rich," says Kory. "Then you can get away with [not replacing the] sink and other [expensive-to-fix] areas."
On average, a minor kitchen remodel costs $21,185 and recoups 83% of its costs, according to Remodeling Magazine
Energy-Efficient Upgrades
If you need to unload your home in a hurry, investing in energy-efficient upgrades, such as solar panels and a high-efficiency furnace, won't make sense.
Homeowners pay a premium for green upgrades and they won't see much, if any, of that investment returned during a sale, says Lee. To recoup the cost (mainly in the form of lower energy bills) of, say, installing solar panels requires a homeowner to stay in their home for years.
Nevertheless, it's hard to ignore the fact that such energy-efficient features "are of some importance to home buyers," says Gary Smith, co-author of "Houseonomics" and professor of economics at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. And not all green upgrades cost tens of thousands of dollars, either. If your windows need replacing, install energy-efficient windows, which cost an average $250 to $400 each. You can boost your bottom line by at least 50% at the time of a home's sale, according to Lee.
Landscaping
Curb appeal is a powerful selling tool. But that doesn't mean you need to recreate the gardens of Versailles. Minor landscaping touches, like planting some flowers and mowing the lawn, are enough to make a yard attractive to buyers. Some other steps to consider: Replace or repaint the front door and mailbox. Spend no more than $1,000 on these projects and you can expect to recoup the full cost, says Lee.
"You only have one chance to make a good impression," says Lee. "When someone drives up to the house there has to be some eye appeal there."
Home Renovation Costs & How Much You'll Recoup
Project Average Cost Average Amount You'll Recoup
Replacing the roof $18,042 67%
Replacing the siding $9,910 83%
Turning the attic into a bedroom $46,691 77%
Extra closet space $1,250 50%
Remodeling the bathroom* $15,789 78%
Minor kitchen upgrades $21,185 83%
Installing an energy-efficient window $325 50%
Minor landscaping up to $1,000 100%
Source: Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report 2007 & R. Randy Lee
* For a complete bathroom remodel. A partial bathroom remodel, as mentioned in the story, will cost less.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Fraudulent Credit Activity.
emmanuel QUARSHIE Yahoo messenger:
Profile: http://profiles.yahoo.com/lucax404?intl=us&os=win&ver=8.1.0.421
Running credit cards for your business service's. Asking for a company called
EXPRESS SHIPPING CARGO to do their shipping and you pay them Via Western Union!
Rev John Carter has already been taken advantage of. There are others, so just watch yourselves. IP address is : 41.210.0.0 - 41.210.31.255 ....do not allow this person to get payment but collect as much information as you can on them to turn in for Fraud accounts.
Be safe!
Profile: http://profiles.yahoo.com/lucax404?intl=us&os=win&ver=8.1.0.421
Running credit cards for your business service's. Asking for a company called
EXPRESS SHIPPING CARGO to do their shipping and you pay them Via Western Union!
Rev John Carter has already been taken advantage of. There are others, so just watch yourselves. IP address is : 41.210.0.0 - 41.210.31.255 ....do not allow this person to get payment but collect as much information as you can on them to turn in for Fraud accounts.
Be safe!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Five great dollar store off-brands for the bathroom
Marlene Alexander
Aug 18th 2008 at 6:30PM
Filed under: Bargains, Home, Saving, Shopping, Health
You can spend a lot of money keeping the bathroom stocked with essentials. But if you don't need to have a name brand, you just may find that the personal care aisle at the dollar store has many quality products that will do the job just as well. Again, please check prices in your area.
1. Band-Aids. For years I tried different store brands in an effort to save money. The individual strips were hard to open and the plastic was of such a poor quality that it would tear. I had all but given up when I discovered Medi-Care at my local dollar store. They are sterile, open easily and stay put. My store has them in packages of 60 regular or clear, five large size and children's cartoon designs. Johnston and Johnston bandages cost $3.27 for a package of 40 or a package of 10 large. The larger, patch type band-aids are 20 cents each at the dollar store. The brand-name ones, at the price I saw, would be about 33 cents each. The off-brands won't "cling in soapy suds" but under normal circumstances, they do the job very nicely, thank-you.
2. Purell hand sanitizer cost $4.87 for 237 ml bottle with a pump. The dollar store brand comes in a 236 ml. pump bottle for $3.87 less.
3. Anti-perspirant. The department store carries Dove Antiperspirant for $2.97. I tried and liked the dollar store brand which also goes on clear. I'm beyond caring about advertising hype. If a product works, it works, but this is definitely a more personal thing and only you know if a dollar store knock-off is right for you.
4. Disposable razors. These men's razors have three blades, an extra long handle with a good grip and a pivoting head. They come in a package of five for a buck. That's only 20 cents each. I saw 10-packs of Gillette disposables with pivoting heads for $6.46 or about 65 cents each. My husband, John, tried the dollar store razor and pronounced it "fine." My feeling is a razor blade is a razor blade is a razor blade.
5. Toothbrushes. The cheapest toothbrush I could find in the department store was a Colgate toothbrush with a tongue cleaner for $1.97. The two pack of no-names from the dollar store also have a tongue cleaner and nice handles. In my humble opinion, these are great toothbrushes for 50 cents each.
If you were to buy the name brand products mentioned, you'd be paying $19.54. The dollar store off-brands will only set you back $5 for the lot, a savings of $14.54.
Aug 18th 2008 at 6:30PM
Filed under: Bargains, Home, Saving, Shopping, Health
You can spend a lot of money keeping the bathroom stocked with essentials. But if you don't need to have a name brand, you just may find that the personal care aisle at the dollar store has many quality products that will do the job just as well. Again, please check prices in your area.
1. Band-Aids. For years I tried different store brands in an effort to save money. The individual strips were hard to open and the plastic was of such a poor quality that it would tear. I had all but given up when I discovered Medi-Care at my local dollar store. They are sterile, open easily and stay put. My store has them in packages of 60 regular or clear, five large size and children's cartoon designs. Johnston and Johnston bandages cost $3.27 for a package of 40 or a package of 10 large. The larger, patch type band-aids are 20 cents each at the dollar store. The brand-name ones, at the price I saw, would be about 33 cents each. The off-brands won't "cling in soapy suds" but under normal circumstances, they do the job very nicely, thank-you.
2. Purell hand sanitizer cost $4.87 for 237 ml bottle with a pump. The dollar store brand comes in a 236 ml. pump bottle for $3.87 less.
3. Anti-perspirant. The department store carries Dove Antiperspirant for $2.97. I tried and liked the dollar store brand which also goes on clear. I'm beyond caring about advertising hype. If a product works, it works, but this is definitely a more personal thing and only you know if a dollar store knock-off is right for you.
4. Disposable razors. These men's razors have three blades, an extra long handle with a good grip and a pivoting head. They come in a package of five for a buck. That's only 20 cents each. I saw 10-packs of Gillette disposables with pivoting heads for $6.46 or about 65 cents each. My husband, John, tried the dollar store razor and pronounced it "fine." My feeling is a razor blade is a razor blade is a razor blade.
5. Toothbrushes. The cheapest toothbrush I could find in the department store was a Colgate toothbrush with a tongue cleaner for $1.97. The two pack of no-names from the dollar store also have a tongue cleaner and nice handles. In my humble opinion, these are great toothbrushes for 50 cents each.
If you were to buy the name brand products mentioned, you'd be paying $19.54. The dollar store off-brands will only set you back $5 for the lot, a savings of $14.54.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Home-Equity Freezes Pit Banks Against Customers
By Marshall Eckblad
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- On Wednesday, Morgan Stanley (MS) added some of its well-heeled clients to the long list of customers whose lenders have frozen or reduced their home equity loans.
While federal laws do not allow lenders to force responsible borrowers to repay the loans immediately, those same federal statutes allow lenders to reduce or eliminate customers' home-equity lines of credit if the lender can reasonably determine that a borrower's home has fallen in value.
"A segment of clients was recently notified of a change in the status of their home-equity line of credit due to a change in the value of their property and/or their credit profile," a spokeswoman for Morgan Stanley said.
Many other lenders, including JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Washington Mutual Inc. (WM), have recently made similar statements as they've moved to reduce the credit available to borrowers in declining housing markets.
Home equity loans use a borrower's home as collateral, of course, but typically only the portion of the home's value that exceeds the balance of the borrower's other mortgages.
"If the equity cushion goes down in value, then the lender holding the line of credit has concerns," says Don Lampe, a partner at law firm Womble Carlyle in Charlotte. Lampe is also the chairman of the American Bar Association's Consumer Financial Services Committee.
According to data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the nation's lenders held $625 billion in home equity loans at the end of March, up from $611 billion at the end of last year. But those outstanding balance levels don't include credit that consumers have not tapped, meaning lenders' potential liability is far higher.
"The whole subprime situation has really forced the bankers to pull in their horns," says Mike Moebs, founder of Moebs Services Inc., which provides bank industry data to the Federal Reserve.
Even if borrowers haven't tapped their home equity lines, they can find it jarring to find - usually out of the blue - that the money is suddenly not available.
Take the case of one Bank of America Corp. (BAC) customer, who received a letter earlier this year saying the bank had reduced her available home equity credit from $96,000 to $5,000.
"A recent review indicates that the value of the property securing your Home Equity Line has decreased," the letter said, "which has significantly reduced your available equity."
The borrower, who did not want to reveal her name, lives in a "high-powered" zip code in Rhode Island, and both she and her husband earn white-collar-level salaries.
"I'm just ticked off," the customer says. "To go from $96,000 to $5,000 is absurd."
Lenders must decide whether to freeze lines of credit on a loan-by-loan basis, and home-equity loan contracts generally allow borrowers to challenge a lender's finding that the borrower's home has in fact decreased in value.
Yet, says Lampe, lenders "don't have to get a full-blown appraisal in order to support concerns over declining valuation."
Instead of hiring droves of appraisers, a number of bank industry experts say lenders are evaluating loans by using automated tools that estimate current housing values for general regions or zip codes, and then using those tools to decide whether to freeze or eliminate a borrower's line of credit.
But those tools are controversial, since they apply general market data in estimating the current market value of a specific property.
According to federal statutes posted on the FDIC's Web site, "a creditor may...reduce the credit limit" available for a home equity loan if "the value of the dwelling that secures the plan declines significantly below the dwelling's appraised value."
Lenders have increasingly taken advantage of those rights, says Lampe, as properties around the nation have fallen in value.
"This trend has really been underway for the better part of six months," says Lampe.
These days, it's not just risky subprime borrowers who are seeing the banks close their coffers.
Barefoot Bankhead, a partner with Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, says the industry is seeing a "general spreading of the delinquency rates into Alt-A and prime borrowers" - or creditworthy borrowers, often wealthier, who lenders had traditionally considered safe bets.
The fact that Morgan Stanley is growing concerned about some borrowers' ability to pay - especially since many of them are also wealth management clients - raised a few eyebrows on Wednesday.
Higher-quality borrowers - and especially the wealthier among them - can find it insulting to open the daily mail only to find their credit lines cut. While lenders would ideally use more personal methods - say, a phone call - to alert borrowers to the coming change, "no one's staffed to do that," says Bankhead.
Since wealthier borrowers often use private banks or other lenders that cater to high-end clients, they're "much more likely to get a call with a head's up than the average borrower is," says Bankhead.
But with home prices still falling around the nation, attorney Lampe says borrowers of all stripes should be digging out their mortgage paperwork and reading through the terms and stipulations with a fine-toothed comb, to avoid being surprised when their lender shuts off the home equity spigot.
Many borrowers took out loans when housing values were booming, and rarely did a close read of the paperwork.
"The time is now," says Lampe, "to get the paperwork out and read it again."
-By Marshall Eckblad, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-4306; marshall.eckblad@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
08-06-08 1702ET
Copyright (c) 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- On Wednesday, Morgan Stanley (MS) added some of its well-heeled clients to the long list of customers whose lenders have frozen or reduced their home equity loans.
While federal laws do not allow lenders to force responsible borrowers to repay the loans immediately, those same federal statutes allow lenders to reduce or eliminate customers' home-equity lines of credit if the lender can reasonably determine that a borrower's home has fallen in value.
"A segment of clients was recently notified of a change in the status of their home-equity line of credit due to a change in the value of their property and/or their credit profile," a spokeswoman for Morgan Stanley said.
Many other lenders, including JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Washington Mutual Inc. (WM), have recently made similar statements as they've moved to reduce the credit available to borrowers in declining housing markets.
Home equity loans use a borrower's home as collateral, of course, but typically only the portion of the home's value that exceeds the balance of the borrower's other mortgages.
"If the equity cushion goes down in value, then the lender holding the line of credit has concerns," says Don Lampe, a partner at law firm Womble Carlyle in Charlotte. Lampe is also the chairman of the American Bar Association's Consumer Financial Services Committee.
According to data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the nation's lenders held $625 billion in home equity loans at the end of March, up from $611 billion at the end of last year. But those outstanding balance levels don't include credit that consumers have not tapped, meaning lenders' potential liability is far higher.
"The whole subprime situation has really forced the bankers to pull in their horns," says Mike Moebs, founder of Moebs Services Inc., which provides bank industry data to the Federal Reserve.
Even if borrowers haven't tapped their home equity lines, they can find it jarring to find - usually out of the blue - that the money is suddenly not available.
Take the case of one Bank of America Corp. (BAC) customer, who received a letter earlier this year saying the bank had reduced her available home equity credit from $96,000 to $5,000.
"A recent review indicates that the value of the property securing your Home Equity Line has decreased," the letter said, "which has significantly reduced your available equity."
The borrower, who did not want to reveal her name, lives in a "high-powered" zip code in Rhode Island, and both she and her husband earn white-collar-level salaries.
"I'm just ticked off," the customer says. "To go from $96,000 to $5,000 is absurd."
Lenders must decide whether to freeze lines of credit on a loan-by-loan basis, and home-equity loan contracts generally allow borrowers to challenge a lender's finding that the borrower's home has in fact decreased in value.
Yet, says Lampe, lenders "don't have to get a full-blown appraisal in order to support concerns over declining valuation."
Instead of hiring droves of appraisers, a number of bank industry experts say lenders are evaluating loans by using automated tools that estimate current housing values for general regions or zip codes, and then using those tools to decide whether to freeze or eliminate a borrower's line of credit.
But those tools are controversial, since they apply general market data in estimating the current market value of a specific property.
According to federal statutes posted on the FDIC's Web site, "a creditor may...reduce the credit limit" available for a home equity loan if "the value of the dwelling that secures the plan declines significantly below the dwelling's appraised value."
Lenders have increasingly taken advantage of those rights, says Lampe, as properties around the nation have fallen in value.
"This trend has really been underway for the better part of six months," says Lampe.
These days, it's not just risky subprime borrowers who are seeing the banks close their coffers.
Barefoot Bankhead, a partner with Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, says the industry is seeing a "general spreading of the delinquency rates into Alt-A and prime borrowers" - or creditworthy borrowers, often wealthier, who lenders had traditionally considered safe bets.
The fact that Morgan Stanley is growing concerned about some borrowers' ability to pay - especially since many of them are also wealth management clients - raised a few eyebrows on Wednesday.
Higher-quality borrowers - and especially the wealthier among them - can find it insulting to open the daily mail only to find their credit lines cut. While lenders would ideally use more personal methods - say, a phone call - to alert borrowers to the coming change, "no one's staffed to do that," says Bankhead.
Since wealthier borrowers often use private banks or other lenders that cater to high-end clients, they're "much more likely to get a call with a head's up than the average borrower is," says Bankhead.
But with home prices still falling around the nation, attorney Lampe says borrowers of all stripes should be digging out their mortgage paperwork and reading through the terms and stipulations with a fine-toothed comb, to avoid being surprised when their lender shuts off the home equity spigot.
Many borrowers took out loans when housing values were booming, and rarely did a close read of the paperwork.
"The time is now," says Lampe, "to get the paperwork out and read it again."
-By Marshall Eckblad, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-4306; marshall.eckblad@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
08-06-08 1702ET
Copyright (c) 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc
Friday, August 08, 2008
5 Best coupon clipping sites
5 Best Coupon-Clipping Web Sites
By Kelli B. Grant
August 8, 2008
THESE DAYS, IT'S safe to assume that most consumers are looking to save a buck or two. And for a whole host of Internet entrepreneurs, that spells an opportunity.
A slew of new web sites offering coupons and online promotions are flooding the Internet. And while these sites offer a wide breadth of discounts, they're also causing a lot of confusion among shoppers, making it more difficult to weed out the really good deals from the duds. "There are hundreds, if not thousands of coupon sites out there offering the exact same thing," says Edgar Dworsky, founder of consumer advocacy site Consumer World1.
The proliferation of these sites isn't just about about saving shoppers money. As part of so-called affiliate marketing programs, retailers offer cash to these web entrepreneurs each time they get a consumer to make a purchase on their store's site. The enticement these sites use: coupons and other discounts. Each site uses a unique promotional code so the retailers know where the customer is coming from. Usually, though, that's the only differentiating factor among these discount sites. Most of the underlying deals are identical.
While choosing among hundreds of discounts may not seem like a bad thing at first, it's the relative sameness of these sites that makes it hard for shoppers to find the best deals and discern whether the offers they see are legit or not, notes Mary Hunt, founder of money management site Debt Proof Living2. Some have more extensive retailer partnerships and therefore offer a broader range of deals. Others are more diligent about updating offers and weeding out expired coupons.
We asked Dworsky, Hunt and other consumer advocates and deal hunters to point out the free coupon sites they turn to purchase after purchase. Here are five worth bookmarking:
Coupons.com3
Why the experts like it: Coupons.com offers as wide a variety of timely coupons as you'd find in the grocery shoppers' gold standard: the Sunday paper, says Dworsky. Phil Lempert, founder of news site Supermarket Guru4, praises the site's simple layout, which makes it easy to browse available coupons, and then print them out for in-store use. Enter your zip code for area-specific deals. There's just one minor drawback: "There are still some retailers that will not accept Internet coupons," cautions Lempert. Check that your supermarket does so before downloading the site's coupon-printing software.
Sample deal: Save $4 on Bausch & Lomb (BOL5) Alaway antihistamine eye drops.
CouponCabin.com6
Why the experts like it: CouponCabin.com keeps its discount fare fresh, says Linda Sherry, a spokeswoman for Consumer Action7, a consumer advocate. Staffers update deals three times a day, and frequently check each coupon code to ensure it works. Sections for "most-used coupons" and "favorite deals" point shoppers toward the best ongoing promotions at online retailers. An added bonus: A weekly email newsletter alerts consumers to the latest deals every Monday.
Sample deal: Link to The Children's Place web site through CouponCabin.com and use coupon code "FA78" at checkout to save 15%. Offer expires Sept. 2.
CouponMom.com8
Why the experts like it: CouponMom.com covers a lot of ground, listing online coupon codes, printout coupons and free samples, among other types of discounts. And while other sites are riddled with offers and banner ads, CouponMom.com's simple design makes finding discounts easy, says Garen Daly, host of Massachusetts-based radio show "Frugal Yankee." Deals are reliably accurate, too, adds Tawra Kellam, founder of frugal living newsletter Living on a Dime9. Members can find all available coupons from several sources using the virtual coupon organizer. Sign up for email alerts on sales at favorite retailers, or on a shopping-list staple like the kids' favorite brand of peanut butter.
Sample deal: Link to discount gift certificate site Restaurants.com through CouponMom.com and save an added 40% on any restaurant gift certificate order. (Shoppers pay $6 for a $25 gift certificate, instead of the regular — already discounted — rate of $10.) Ongoing deal.
RetailMeNot.com10
Why the experts like it: RetailMeNot.com's dedicated community is what makes this site stand out. Users indicate whether a discount code worked for them or not, helping shoppers quickly filter out bad deals, says Hunt. They also add comments, pointing out when a code last worked, or any strings attached. "It's pretty darn reliable," she says. Email alerts notify you when new codes are posted for your favorite retailers.
Sample deal: Save 30% off regular-priced merchandise at J.C. Penney (JCP11), and 10% off sale-priced merchandise using coupon code "applause." Offer expires Aug. 19.
SmartSource.com12
Why the experts like it: SmartSource.com merges local store sales and a wide array of printout coupons and online deals to help consumers maximize savings, says Lisa Lee Freeman, editor in chief of Consumer Reports' ShopSmart magazine. The selection is great, and entering your zip code yields even more deals specific to your area. (As with Coupons.com, check that the supermarket accepts printout web coupons before downloading the software.)
Sample deal: Save $3 on any Dexatrim Max weight-loss product.
Also See:
5 New Ways to Clip Coupons13
How to Save on (Almost) Everything14
5 Ways to Save on Online Shipping Fees15
Links in this article:
1http://www.consumerworld.org
2http://www.debtproofliving.com
3http://www.coupons.com
4http://www.supermarketguru.com
5http://www.smartmoney.com/cfscripts/Director.cfm?searchString=BOL
6http://www.couponcabin.com
7http://www.consumer-action.org
8http://CouponMom.com
9http://www.livingonadime.com
10http://www.retailmenot.com/
11http://www.smartmoney.com/cfscripts/Director.cfm?searchString=JCP
12http://www.smartsource.com
13http://www.smartmoney.com/deal-of-the-day/index.cfm?story=20080602-five-new-ways-to-clip-coupons
14http://www.smartmoney.com/deal-of-the-day/index.cfm?story=20080625-how-to-save-on-everything
15http://www.smartmoney.com/deal-of-the-day/index.cfm?story=20080715-save-on-online-shipping
URL for this article:
http://www.smartmoney.com/dealoftheday/index.cfm?story=20080808-coupon-web-sites
By Kelli B. Grant
August 8, 2008
THESE DAYS, IT'S safe to assume that most consumers are looking to save a buck or two. And for a whole host of Internet entrepreneurs, that spells an opportunity.
A slew of new web sites offering coupons and online promotions are flooding the Internet. And while these sites offer a wide breadth of discounts, they're also causing a lot of confusion among shoppers, making it more difficult to weed out the really good deals from the duds. "There are hundreds, if not thousands of coupon sites out there offering the exact same thing," says Edgar Dworsky, founder of consumer advocacy site Consumer World1.
The proliferation of these sites isn't just about about saving shoppers money. As part of so-called affiliate marketing programs, retailers offer cash to these web entrepreneurs each time they get a consumer to make a purchase on their store's site. The enticement these sites use: coupons and other discounts. Each site uses a unique promotional code so the retailers know where the customer is coming from. Usually, though, that's the only differentiating factor among these discount sites. Most of the underlying deals are identical.
While choosing among hundreds of discounts may not seem like a bad thing at first, it's the relative sameness of these sites that makes it hard for shoppers to find the best deals and discern whether the offers they see are legit or not, notes Mary Hunt, founder of money management site Debt Proof Living2. Some have more extensive retailer partnerships and therefore offer a broader range of deals. Others are more diligent about updating offers and weeding out expired coupons.
We asked Dworsky, Hunt and other consumer advocates and deal hunters to point out the free coupon sites they turn to purchase after purchase. Here are five worth bookmarking:
Coupons.com3
Why the experts like it: Coupons.com offers as wide a variety of timely coupons as you'd find in the grocery shoppers' gold standard: the Sunday paper, says Dworsky. Phil Lempert, founder of news site Supermarket Guru4, praises the site's simple layout, which makes it easy to browse available coupons, and then print them out for in-store use. Enter your zip code for area-specific deals. There's just one minor drawback: "There are still some retailers that will not accept Internet coupons," cautions Lempert. Check that your supermarket does so before downloading the site's coupon-printing software.
Sample deal: Save $4 on Bausch & Lomb (BOL5) Alaway antihistamine eye drops.
CouponCabin.com6
Why the experts like it: CouponCabin.com keeps its discount fare fresh, says Linda Sherry, a spokeswoman for Consumer Action7, a consumer advocate. Staffers update deals three times a day, and frequently check each coupon code to ensure it works. Sections for "most-used coupons" and "favorite deals" point shoppers toward the best ongoing promotions at online retailers. An added bonus: A weekly email newsletter alerts consumers to the latest deals every Monday.
Sample deal: Link to The Children's Place web site through CouponCabin.com and use coupon code "FA78" at checkout to save 15%. Offer expires Sept. 2.
CouponMom.com8
Why the experts like it: CouponMom.com covers a lot of ground, listing online coupon codes, printout coupons and free samples, among other types of discounts. And while other sites are riddled with offers and banner ads, CouponMom.com's simple design makes finding discounts easy, says Garen Daly, host of Massachusetts-based radio show "Frugal Yankee." Deals are reliably accurate, too, adds Tawra Kellam, founder of frugal living newsletter Living on a Dime9. Members can find all available coupons from several sources using the virtual coupon organizer. Sign up for email alerts on sales at favorite retailers, or on a shopping-list staple like the kids' favorite brand of peanut butter.
Sample deal: Link to discount gift certificate site Restaurants.com through CouponMom.com and save an added 40% on any restaurant gift certificate order. (Shoppers pay $6 for a $25 gift certificate, instead of the regular — already discounted — rate of $10.) Ongoing deal.
RetailMeNot.com10
Why the experts like it: RetailMeNot.com's dedicated community is what makes this site stand out. Users indicate whether a discount code worked for them or not, helping shoppers quickly filter out bad deals, says Hunt. They also add comments, pointing out when a code last worked, or any strings attached. "It's pretty darn reliable," she says. Email alerts notify you when new codes are posted for your favorite retailers.
Sample deal: Save 30% off regular-priced merchandise at J.C. Penney (JCP11), and 10% off sale-priced merchandise using coupon code "applause." Offer expires Aug. 19.
SmartSource.com12
Why the experts like it: SmartSource.com merges local store sales and a wide array of printout coupons and online deals to help consumers maximize savings, says Lisa Lee Freeman, editor in chief of Consumer Reports' ShopSmart magazine. The selection is great, and entering your zip code yields even more deals specific to your area. (As with Coupons.com, check that the supermarket accepts printout web coupons before downloading the software.)
Sample deal: Save $3 on any Dexatrim Max weight-loss product.
Also See:
5 New Ways to Clip Coupons13
How to Save on (Almost) Everything14
5 Ways to Save on Online Shipping Fees15
Links in this article:
1http://www.consumerworld.org
2http://www.debtproofliving.com
3http://www.coupons.com
4http://www.supermarketguru.com
5http://www.smartmoney.com/cfscripts/Director.cfm?searchString=BOL
6http://www.couponcabin.com
7http://www.consumer-action.org
8http://CouponMom.com
9http://www.livingonadime.com
10http://www.retailmenot.com/
11http://www.smartmoney.com/cfscripts/Director.cfm?searchString=JCP
12http://www.smartsource.com
13http://www.smartmoney.com/deal-of-the-day/index.cfm?story=20080602-five-new-ways-to-clip-coupons
14http://www.smartmoney.com/deal-of-the-day/index.cfm?story=20080625-how-to-save-on-everything
15http://www.smartmoney.com/deal-of-the-day/index.cfm?story=20080715-save-on-online-shipping
URL for this article:
http://www.smartmoney.com/dealoftheday/index.cfm?story=20080808-coupon-web-sites
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