By Nora Dunn

Travel Muse has a fun tool that combines the drudgery of finding money in a budget with the instantaneous gratification of discovering how your budgeting sacrifices will pay off.

It is their Yaycations Calculator, and it is a free and fun way to become inspired.

Simply go through the exercise of “finding money” as guided in the calculator, and you would be surprised at what you can save. Heck – I’m a money-wise full-time traveler, and apparently even I can stand to save a few bucks.

I will admit that although principle of the exercise is good, the calculator itself is very general and there is no room for customizing expenses or finding less traditional ways to save money. It is simply intended to be a quick way to make you realize that you could go on vacation – sooner than you thought.

Once you have the magic number of dollars that you can save (by, for example, drinking less coffee, buying fewer shoes, and cutting back on groceries), now you can see where that money will take you.

Choose from an assortment of travel styles (such as family, cuisine, museums, nature, mountains, amusement parks, beaches, etc), select your departure city, and marvel at the places you can go that fit into your newly acquired travel budget.

Although it may not help you plan your finances, the Yaycations Calculator could give you a few cool vacation ideas, and might just give you the incentive to start planning for your next trip now.

Permalink | 1 comment | Nora Dunn's blog | Channel: Art and Leisure, Budgeting, Lifestyle

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This article is from Wise Bread.

By Torley Wong

We've no shortage of "How to do good customer service" articles designed to be applied from the company's side. But what about customers? We need each other to thrive, and whether you're in front of the sales desk or behind, we're all humans. An obvious point worth remembering because just about anyone who's worked in customer relations has tales of customers who weren't just dissatisfied, they were abusive jerks. And there's never, ever a good reason to heap hurt on someone else — such wasteful emotions clog reasonable complaints.

As someone who's both answered thousands of issues in varying roles (and created documentation to support it) and has bought products from a variety of companies ranging from the monolithic to 1-person operations, here's what I've learned. It's biased towards smaller companies since it's easier to enact change with them, but can apply wherever you'll be listened to.

Document everything

If a frontline agent isn't doing a service to their company by being rude to you, get their name. Consider recording your calls (be aware of obtaining consent; companies will often say on the line they're recording you for training purposes!). Tagging the emails they send you. And so on. Create a history if you're routinely being wronged.

If you need to bring bad behavior to a supervisor's attention, don't present your case as "I hate ALL OF YOU IN THIS COMPANY". Rather, if it's a specific problem with an individual, you're willing to go beyond and point out you generally like doing business with people who work here, with an exception. It'll be their word against this troublesome employee's, but if you have evidence, they can't cover it up. (And if it's numerous people or the general mindset of a company that has you irked, yeah, you should take your business elsewhere.)

In an age of electronic surveillance, taped support calls gone wrong have become a way to escalate problems when a company doesn't listen and a consumer feels helpless, so they amplify it through The Consumerist or one of many comedy sites.

Related, Wise Bread has a Consumer Affairs category you'll want to check out, including Paul Michael's sucky experience with a Dyson vacuum cleaner.

I don't recommend going out of your way to destroy a company, but use documented proof to substantiate the poor treatment you've gotten, which will hopefully help management solve the problem, and possibly thank you for getting their attention, as a result.

Learn to file effective bug reports

A surprising second point? Not so much when you realize it's a finer level of documentation. Observe the connections: while "bug report" is most commonly associated with computer software and electronics, the key importance is being able to show someone else how you arrived at a problem via a series of steps they can follow. If it sounds similar to giving driving directions, that's exactly true. And it's important in any sort of conflict resolution.

If you buy an app and discover bugs, sending bug reports (via the developer's preferred channel) will help them make it more stable, and hence, better. Bug reports don't have to be boring text instructions. Especially when you need to show visual elements, consider using a video recording tool like TechSmith's Jing (free basic version, I love it) to make video bug reports and narrate what's happening — show stuff as-it-is!

Don't assume a company's quality assurance will find all bugs. It's true they should do rigorous testing to deliver a robust end result, but the fact is there are far more variations of possible computer systems than they'll ever be able to try inhouse. Customers who whine about problems they're aware of instead of spending the same time to step up and communicate aren't useful.

Many companies give discounts and free products for being an exceptional bug reporter, including beta tests. Don't expect entitlement and be familiar with the company's culture beforehand — some, like Picnik who I'm helping test their Show feature, are much more amendable to personal contact with customers than others. After all, continue to communicate. Loyalty never gets old, and if a product is going to serve you for months and years, having a close bond means you'll be taken seriously. Not all customers are the same and you do want to be the best, yes?

Plus, after you've gained an understanding, you can teach other customers how to file bug reports, too, empowering their experiences.

Don't bitch about what's out of an employee or company's control

Focus on actionables. What can be done.

For instance, if your Internet Service Provider goes offline because someone drove their car into a tree, knocking down power lines and cutting off your connection, it's uncalled for to ring the ISP up on a cellphone and scream "FIX IT NOW YOU @#$%ING IDIOTS!" They can't — that's likely the electric company's responsibility. All your insults serve is demonstrate is what a jerk you are. Better approach: call and ask for a status update: "What's going on and when can you expect it to be fixed?" Learn instead of accuse. Simple.

Yes, professionals should have backups and contingency plans. But notice how there's no such guarantee as 100% uptime in the industry. Be forgiving of occasional mistakes, and they will be forgiving of yours. Continue to make suggestions where a company can improve their service: you may not get a personal response depending on volume, but if I really enjoyed my stay at a hotel, I send in the comment card.

Another example of fruitless bitching: you're calling a human in billing about technical issues you have with a website. They cheerfully mention they'll escalate your details to the engineers (who aren't on the phones since they're heads-down programming) and suggest you take the initiative by posting on the company's forums. But you continue to gripe to the billing agent about it. They can be sympathetic, but your words are being wasted and you're tying up time that could be spent on another customer's actionable problems. Make it a priority to learn about what goes where so urges you have to connect will be effective.

When in doubt, ask questions — for emphasis, learn instead of accuse. You have every right to remind a company if they haven't been responsive (like I did for Acronis True Image 2009). But don't point fingers. The blame game is played by losing attitudes which are too much talk, not enough walk. If someone is just, they'll admit fault. And for all you CS reps reading this: unfortunately, while a rare minority, there are customers who have mental illness and need to see a professional. Don't be their doctor. And never, ever tolerate abuse. It works both ways.

When you're treated right, be vocally appreciative

Perhaps this should've been #1. But I wanted to see if you noticed.

Customer service reps endure more abuse than they should have to. Like I said, no one deserves abuse. On the flipside, I've hardly ever felt productive, friendly workers get sufficient customer praise to inspire them each day and keep going!

This is why I'm doing my part: every time I believe I've been treated exceptionally, I directly send a testimonial. I also often use Twitter and my personal blog to get the word out about awesome products that are made by awesome people. Word-of-mouth is especially important to small companies that can use all the earnest marketing they can get to thrive. Like what I wrote about bug reporting earlier, some savvy companies keep track of "key influencers" and may offer you goodies. These are mutually beneficial: the company's product adds value to your life, you help support them in ways beyond paying money.

In the service industry, this also applies to eating out. You're a restaurant's customer. Received lovely, attentive service? Then generously tip waitstaff who've given you consistently excellent treatment. Actions have consequences and you're frugal, not chintzy.

Customer service is an ecosystem: an honest, friendly worker who gets berated and hears no good words is going to be very confused, and even frustrated about why they even bother to go above and beyond. So pay attention to what makes you smile.

What is a supercustomer?

A supercustomer is not necessarily someone who throws a lot of cash at a company, although that can be part of their makeup. I use "supercustomer" to describe those — the best! — who go beyond the call of customer duty (intriguing way of looking at it, hmm?) and don't just routinely consume, they actively participate in improving the people & products of the businesses they enjoy.

The Internet has opened up many opportunities, from the trusted reviews of Amazon Vine to the "People-Powered Customer Service" (as redundant as that may seem, we need to be reminded in an era of voice mail and faceless megacorps) of Get Satisfaction.

Old ways of putting a wall between the people who use the products and those who make them are stupid and dying, because in the end, we're all humans who want to be happy.

So be the best customer you can be!

Permalink | 1 comment | Torley Wong's blog | Channel: Consumer Affairs, Shopping

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This article is from Wise Bread.

By Lynn Truong

Today's Wise Buy: Hitachi 1TB SATA Hard Drive w/ Black X Dock $79.99
1TB! 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s. Use coupon code and mail-in rebate. (via dealnews)

1. Stream All Michael Jackson Music and Videos FREE
Sony Music's MyPlay.com is allowing streaming of all Michael Jackson music and videos for free. Unlike other websites, there are no replay restrictions, time limits, or commerical interruptions.

2. 1,200 Digital Prints FREE
Get 600 4x6 and 600 5x7 prints for signing up as a new customer at ArtsCow. Check out over 15 different more services that offer free prints too! (via dealnews)

3. Mandoline Slicer, Peeler & Hand Guard 3pc. Set FREE +5 s/h
Today only. Get the Stafford Worldwide Ceramic Peeler, Mandoline Slicer & Hand Guard FREE. Retail price for this is $60! Pay only $5 shipping and handling. (via dealnews)

4. The Children's Place Monster Sale: Up to 80% off
The Children's Place cuts up to 80% off kids' clothing, shoes, and accessories during its Monster Sale. Use coupon code NEXTJ78 for an additional 10% off. Shipping is $5 per order. Get the faux-layered bow sweater (pictured) for just $2.99! (via dealnews)

5. Old Navy Summer Sale: Up to 50% off
Old Navy cuts up to 50% off a large selection of summer styles for men, women, and kids during its online-only Summer Sale. Shipping starts at $7. Get their Women's Smocked Jersey Cami (pictured) for $6.99. (via Dealnews)

6. Aeropostale Clearance Sale: Up to 70% off
Aeropostale cuts up to 70% off select items in its clearance section. Men's graphic tees start at just $5! (via dealnews)

7. 60% off Asics Shoes and Apparel
6pm cuts 60% off almost 300 styles of Asics men's, women's, and kids' shoes and apparel. Prices start at just $10 for apprel and $16 for shoes. Get the Onitsuka Tiger (pictured) for just $32, down from $80. (via dealnews)

8. Calvin Klein Hooded Belted Jacket $35.97
Save $164 (82% off!) at Wilson's Leather. 100% polyester. Features a full-zip front with snap-tab overlay, stand-up collar, and removable hood. Use coupon code 5011 at checkout for 20% off and free shipping.

By Xin Lu

When the Obama administration first announced the details of the Making Home Affordable program in March, the guidelines for the refinance portion stated that the loan refinanced cannot be more than 105% of the value of the home. Now a new expansion of the program allows the loan to value ratio to be up to 125%.  Will this help consumers or just worsen the situation?

This is actually the second expansion of the mortgage plan since March.  The first expansion allowed people with second mortgages to modify or get rid of their  second loans.  Here are some examples of what this new change means for borrowers.

Example 1:

Original home value: $600,000
Current loan amount: $480,000
Current home value: $450,000
Loan to value ratio: 106.7%

In this example the borrower would not have been able to qualify for the original plan since the current loan to value ratio is above 105%, but the new change allows this borrower to apply.

Example 2:

Original home value: $500,000
Curent loan amount: $480,000
Current home value: $380,000
Loan to value ratio: 126.3%

In this example the borrower still would not be able to qualify for the refinance program since the drop in home value made the loan amount to be above 125% of the value of the home.
 

Some changes have occured in the mortgage market since March.  First, the 30 year fixed  mortgage interest rate has risen by almost a whole percentage point.    Additionally, appraisal rules have been tightened so it is possible that appraisals would come in lower than expected.  Since the Making Home Affordable Refinance plan does not help borrowers pay any fees on the refinance it may not be worthwhile to go through the process if your mortgage rate is not significantly higher than the market rate.

Finally, it is unclear how successful the Making Home Affordable program is right now since it has been only a few months and there is no official published data on the total effects yet.  I think the fact that they are constantly loosening the guidelines is not a good sign.  Additionally, it seems foolish to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to continue refinancing debt that they know is bigger than the underlying collateral.  This is worse than 100% financing because it is 125% financing.  However, if this encourages borrowers to stay away from default, then I guess it is good for the lender.

What do you think?  Will this new expansion help you get a lower rate on your mortgage or do you think this program will worsen the current situation?
 

Permalink | 13 comments | Xin Lu's blog | Channel: Personal Finance, Consumer Affairs, Real Estate and Housing

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This article is from Wise Bread.

By Paul Michael

I do a lot of research on the Internet for information about home-made solutions to everyday problems. In fact, I'll be posting one soon that covers recipes for home-made car wax, air freshener and even glue. But on my travels, I discovered a horrifying fact - in these tough economic times, people out there are taking medical matters into their own hands. DIY plastic surgery is on the rise.

Around two years ago, a reliable English paper called Metro reported the outbreak of DIY plastic surgery. The obsession with celebrity culture, and media pressure that make everyone feel bad if they don't look amazing, was leading people to take matters into their own hands. It did not go well.

"In the worst case, a man gave himself a nose job with a chisel and replaced the cartilage he removed with a chicken bone," according to consultant psychiatrist Dr David Veale. "Others have cut their stomachs in DIY tummy tucks, and used glue to try to pin back their ears."

Ouch! It seems more like a story that would appear in the National Enquirer, but unfortunately it's true. That was two years ago, and sadly, things have not improved. A lack of self-confidence and a rise in BDD (body dysmorphic disorder) continues to make people long for the plastic surgeon's knife. And with people suffering from a lack of money and no access to credit, they are becoming desperate. DIY plastic surgery, as horrific as it sounds, continues to gather momentum.

In late 2008, news broke of Hang Mioku, a Korean woman who became so obsessed with plastic surgery that she injected COOKING OIL into her own face.

Her face became so grotesquely large that she was called "standing fan" by children in her neighbourhood - due to her large face and small body. And it would seem that even Hang can now see the damage she has done; she now says that she would simply like her original face back.

Last month, WCCO's Esme Murphy told the story of a woman who injected herself with silicone to save money on plastic surgery.

"I really thought that I was getting a bargain and I really didn't do my homework like I should have," said the woman who did not want to be identified. Her lips and left cheek are disfigured from silicone she self-injected. She was trying to make her upper lip fuller and fill acne scars. A year and a half ago, another doctor had given her silicone injections. That treatment went well but it wasn't cheap. It was $2700 for a series of three treatment. So she turned to the Internet and found a site advertising silicone for $10."

As you can see, the results are awful. She will be disfigured for life unless she pays for a certified plastic surgeon to try and reverse the results.

"Initially I thought I did a good job," said the unfortunate mom from the Twin Cities. However, within a day her lips and cheek were disfigured. "Its very frightening, its very embarrassing having to be in public," she said.

There is even a Technorati page devoted to DIY Plastic Surgery gone wrong, which you can check out yourself here.

And now, which may be even worse, more "legitimate" ways to do the treatment yourself are reaching the market.

For $129 and up, you can buy a hand-held personal laser to remove blotches and smooth out wrinkles. And the REJUVAWAND costs $159 and uses two infra-red wavelengths of laser energy to promises to give similar results to the more expensive Botox and microdermabrasion treatments. Does it work? Doctors say it's too weak a laser to do any damage, but in effect you're wasting a lot of money on an almost useless product.

You can also buy a DIY chemical peel. Dr Denese's Triple AHA/BHA at-home fizzing facial peel promises the same results as a beauty salon treatment at a fraction of the cost. But is it ever a good idea to put these kinds of chemicals on your skin with no medical supervision?

Perhaps the most harmless DIY solution I found was the CoCo "nose job" device, which will give you Cleopatra's Nose! To be honest, it just looks like a strong clothes peg.

"CoCo - Beautiful New Look of Nose is available at discerning stores in Japan, Korea and Taiwan from only $7.50. Why spend more on expensive plastic surgery and fancy doctors when you can just 'do it yourself'?"

With the average rhinoplasty procedure costing roughly $5000, what do you think the chances are that a $7.50 product could do the same job? Exactly.

Look, I'm no doctor, but I would like to summarize by saying please, please don't take the frugal option on this and attempt to do it yourself. There is no substitute for medical training and your body is too important to mess with by yourself. There are very few shortcuts to a better body, but plastic surgery is one of them...and it comes with a hefty price. Be prepared to pay it, or you may end paying significantly more to reverse your own home-made medical mistakes.  Or worse, pay for it for the rest of your life with horrible disfigurements, bad health and chronic pain.

Permalink | 9 comments | Paul Michael's blog | Channel: Frugal Living, Consumer Affairs, DIY

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This article is from Wise Bread.

By Carrie Kirby

Summer vacation can be expensive for families with children. If the kids are not enrolled in camp programs which are in their own right pricey, the empty hours can weigh heavily and lead to an excess of wallet-emptying entertainment. Here are some things that kids can do this summer for free or for cheap:

• Free bowling. The AMF chain of bowling alleys offers a kids club granting children two free games EVERY DAY all summer long. You sign up through your local alley (the Web site lists locations in 33 states), and individual locations may have rules and caveats like specific hours when free games can be played. The freebies can't be used by large groups like day care outings.
• Free movies and free or discounted books: On Frugalista, my new blog about Chicago-area bargains, I outlined the a number of free and cheap summer movie series for kids as well as the summer reading programs at major bookstores and libraries (the store programs usually give kids a free book or at least a discount; the library programs offer varying goodies). Most of these programs are available nationally or you can find the same at your local theaters, stores and libraries.
• Cheap museums and zoos. If you have multiple kids and the whole summer to kill, it can be worth it to invest in a pass to a local kids' museum. But if you live in an area with lots of museums like I do, you'll want to buy a pass that gets you into multiple places. In this post I share the secret ticket that gets you into the most places for the lowest price. An even cheaper strategy than the above is to stick to museum and zoo free days -- check the Web site of your local -- or to latch onto other families that have memberships and can bring guests (reciprocity is nice!).
• You all know about using your local library, which usually has the added advantage of free air conditioning, but newer parents may not realize that most urban and suburban park districts offer low-cost or free activities too. In our neighborhood, teen-aged park employees bring a "fun truck" to the local playground once a week with a slip and slide and other delights.
• Fairs. You won't get off scott-free at the state or county fair; in fact you'll shell out for entrance, overpriced ice cream and corn, and ride tickets, and maybe even parking. But there are lots of things to keep little ones busy most of the day for free, like looking at animals and watching animal shows, and the costs pale in comparison to an amusement park. Speaking of which ...
• Amusement park discounts. Six Flags and its ilk are never cheap, but there are ways to pay less. If you live nearby and your kids are old enough to be dropped off, a season pass for them can really pay for itself pretty easily. Even if you're going for one day, check the park's Web site and do a little Googling for promotions; right now Six Flags tickets are buy-one-get-one online; you also often see discounts on soda cans, at fast-food restaurants, and the like.
• Mix in a bit of the always free.We're taking advantage of many of the above programs intermittently during the summer, but I unabashedly admit that my kids' regular summer days include a lot of less-structured free activities. Playing in the backyard, visiting local playgrounds, sitting on the porch watching for the ice cream man (OK that will cost me a few bucks if he actually shows up but he hardly EVER drives down our street), hitting rummage sales with mom (now that my oldest is 5, giving her $2-4 at a rummage sale will keep her happily absorbed in bargain-hunting while I do my own shopping), playing with neighbors and friends, and reading (she's been devouring The Boxcar Children mysteries) have been the prime activities so far. Oh, and even a little work beyond the normal "pick up your toys": Now that the 5-year-old understands that money can get her toys at rummage sales, she's become a willing weed bounty hunter in the backyard.

Permalink | 3 comments | Carrie Kirby's blog | Channel: Art and Leisure

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This article is from Wise Bread.

By Paul Michael

Today's WISEBUY. AMERICAN EAGLE Up To 70% Off Plus FREE s/h on 3 or more items (dealnews)
American Eagle Outfitters cuts up to 70% off items in its clearance section. Plus, orders of three or more items receive free shipping.

1. FREE Caribou Coffee Medium Wild Cooler
You can get a printable coupon for a free medium Wild Cooler at Caribou Coffee when you approve the Wild Up Application on Facebook. Once you add the application you can take one of your Facebook photos and add some wild accessories to it. When you are finished with your picture you can print out the coupon (your crazy pic will print above the coupon).

2. FREE Sample Of Dove Calming Night Body Wash
Dove Calming Night Body Wash has a unique formula and calming fragrance leaves you feeling pampered, relaxed and ready for sleep. Complete the form & submit for your FREE sample.

3. FREE - Two Free Admission Weekends For Over 100 National Parks
Still looking for summer vacation inspiration? America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this summer with fee-free weekends at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees. Mark your calendars for fee-free weekends this summer: July 18-19, 2009, August 15-16, 2009.

4. FREE SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener with Fiber - Sample
Sample includes two (2) packets of SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener with Fiber. Now using Splenda® is twice as good. Each packet gives you the great sweet taste you want and a little boost of fiber.

5. Six-Inch Digital Picture Frame With 3 Additional Photo Openings - $29.99 + FREE s/h
128 MB Internal Memory. Stores up to 149 Photos internally. Exclusive Multi-opening Jackson Collection Frame.

6. Save 56% On SHAM-EASE Ultra Absorbant Towels - Just $12.99 for 10, FREE s/h
These super absorbent shammys use special multi layered technology to pick up and hold 27 times more than an ordinary paper towel. I deal for kitchens, batrooms, drying pets and soaking up spills like nothing else. 10 piece set includes 4 jumbo orange (20 x 23.5") 3 extra large yellow and 3 extra large blue (15 x 15") which are great for your garage, boat etc.

7. Crocs Outlet Sale - Up To 75% Off, Plus FREE s/h with Code JULY4 (dealnews)
Crocs.com continues to take up to 75% off select men's, women's, and kids' Crocs and flip-flops. Plus, coupon code "July4" yields free shipping with no minimum required.

8. HUGE OAKLEY SALE - Up To 78% Off Women's Sunglasses. Pay $6.95 s/h (dealnews)
6pm.com cuts 63% to 78% off a selection of Oakley women's sunglasses, with all prices reduced to $29.95. Pay $6.95 for shipping. Deal ends today.

9. Seven Sookie Stackhouse Novels (Now the True Blood HBO series) Only $28.97 + Free s/h
Dead Until Dark Is Now The HBO Original Series True Blood. This boxed set includes: Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead.

10. Mr. Clean Auto-Dry Carwashing System - $7.99 Inc. S/H (today only)
Spot-Free clean and shine with no need to hand dry. Motor Trend Approved. Spot-free results guaranteed. Dry Rinse Polymer sheets water off your car for fast drying and leaves no residue behind.

By WC Porter

Say you want to have yourself a drink—whether it's because work has been rough or the kids have been especially bad—without spending a ton of money. You'll find tons of advice on how to save money on booze. From BYOBs to specific recommendations for wine.

Let's say you've moved on from the days of buying dirt-cheap 30-packs of beer and want to be a little classy. So you decide to get some wine.

Let's be honest: most of us browse for wine at a restaurant (or at the liquor store) and don't have a clue. Then there is the waiter, who is just trying to be helpful: The 2001 Bordeaux is just fabulous!

It may be fabulous but you just might not like it.

There are also tons of books out there listing cheap wine that has already been through exhaustive testing and tasting from wine experts. Books like The Wine Trials, which a friend gave me and is very helpful but still doesn't do the trick.

The problem with wine is that it's a very fickle beast. You may find a bottle of wine to be really fantastic and tasty (official wine-expert terms, fyi), while critics and experts think it's trash. Does it matter? Nope.* If you like it, that's all that counts—it'll still get you just as buzzed as the fancy, expensive stuff.

The only real way (and the best way) to find cheap wine that you know you'll like is to taste as many as you can without spending a lot of money. That's where wine tastings come into play.

I just attended my first one a couple of weeks ago and here's how they all basically work:

• You get a glass and a menu
• A person who knows all the wineries' wines runs through the selection
• You're told to taste them from sweetest to not so sweet
• You get a certain number of picks for free (we got six)
• You get a pour and you smell the wine
• You take a sip
• You figure out if you like it or not
• You repeat
• You feel very happy

Some people spit the wine out into a spittoon (do NOT mistake your glass for that!) but most people just drink it. I've only been to a few, but the whole thing is a lot of fun.

I'm no expert, but here are my tips to getting the most out of the experience:

1. Take notes: they'll give you a pencil and that menu of options—rank the wines and put stars next to the ones you really like. Something so you'll remember because after six types of wines they'll start to look the same on paper.
2. Talk about it: you'll see your language start to get very weird when you're talking about how wines taste—that's OK. Sometimes a word someone else uses ("Blustery") will make sense to you and describe the wine perfectly. Write it down.
3. Ask questions: the people working there love to talk about this stuff, so ask away.
4. Go to a bunch of wineries at a time: Hit up three or four wineries in a day and you'll have tasted 18 different types of wine—plenty of choices to find something you like and want to buy without busting the bank.

Wine isn't for everyone—but that's mostly because people are intimidated by what they don't know. Wineries are the perfect antidote: you'll have a chance to taste a bunch of different wines and figure out what you like and don't like. Forget about what the experts say—follow your instincts and your taste buds.

They'll lead you to the wines that taste good without breaking the bank.

P.S. If you really want to learn more about wine, check out Wine Library TV, run by the infamous Gary Vaynerchuk—he's all about bringing wine to the people.

* There's a raging debate about this in the wine community. Should you care? Not really.

Permalink | 5 comments | WC Porter's blog | Channel: Frugal Living, Food and Drink

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By Andrea Dickson

Happy Canada Day! What, you've never heard of Canada Day? That's because I just made it up. Canada's not even a place; I just made that up, too. Where was I? Oh, yes. Independence Day, that one. Wow, it's almost here, which means that summer is getting close to being half over. That makes me sad, does it make you sad? Good, now read these linked articles and feel better. At least there are people out there who know more about finance than you do, and that is good.

Heh, Canada Day. I kill me!

• Bible Money Matters gives advice on how to sell a home in a lousy economy, which is to say, THIS economy.
• Brip Blap considers the psychology of fearing money. 
• Dumb Little Man looks at gym membership from a new angle, and no, doesn't recommend starting a gym at home or jogging around your local park.
• Frugal Dad and Bargaineering look at ways to survive being laid off, which is pretty much what you are doing right now, but it never hurts to have more advice.
• Squawkfox, which I swear is the hardest blog name to type, EVER, gives you eight sneaky ways to locate online savings when shopping, and none of them involve not actually shopping.
• Envelope budgeting: you may have heard of it, but do you ever wonder if you could really use it as an effective method for managing money? 20-Something Finance says you can.
• No Credit Needed is going to branch out into writing about something other than not needing credit, such as not needing to wear pants.
• Moolanomy, which is the second-hardest blog name to type, recommends using a TracFone (prepaid minutes) in order to save money on your monthly cell bill.
• The Wisdom Journal offers a few ways to calm the heck down, which is good for people who are emotional spenders.

Want to share a blog post with Wise Bread readers in the Best of Personal Finance posts? Recommend your article in the user forums.

Permalink | 6 comments | Andrea Dickson's blog | Channel: Personal Finance

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By Linsey Knerl

I’m a sucker for brand-name cleaning supplies, and while it’s no crime to be brand-loyal and use what works best for you and your family, often times there are shortcuts that can cut back on cleaning time – and out-of-pocket expenses. The July issue of All You Magazine had some of the most inspiring ways to get your cleaning jobs done for less.  Here are my top picks, along with some additional ways to stretch that dollar! 

1.  Sanitize your Sponges

Synthetic sponges and kitchen cloths are super-convenient to have on hand, but we all know that after just a few uses, they can get a bit funky-smelling.  Instead of throwing them out and buying new ones (a total waste of money), or just tossing them into the wash (which doesn’t always work,) why not use this clever tip from All You?  Fill up your kitchen sink with hot water, add one cup of bleach, and toss those stinky things right in!  Bacteria will be gone for good, leaving your sponges fresh-smelling again.  (You’ll also have a shinier sink to show for it!)

2.  Measure it

Are you using 2x or more concentrated detergent?  Chances are good that the products you use today are twice as potent as the ones we used years ago.  Pay careful attention to measure out only what you need to get your cleaning tasks done efficiently (read the label and the fill lines, first.)  Not only are you saving money by avoiding unnecessary over-portioning, but you can save your clothes and other household surfaces from an early demise.  Too much cleaner can be harmful! 

3.  Sweep it up

I know a trick for using that popular sweeping tool without buying the expensive refill cloths.  Simply cut old polar fleece clothing into the same size and shape as your brand-name, disposable cleaning cloths, and use them to pick up all the dirt, lint, and hair that plagues your hard-surface flooring.  Toss them in the wash to use again and again!  (Another snazzy trick is to try used dryer sheets in the same way – only using them once for their new purpose, of course.  Talk about getting extra miles out of your cleaning products!)

4.  No shoes allowed

There is a very good reason to ask your family and guests to leave their shoes at the door.  Not only does it guarantee that dirt and mud won’t get tracked throughout your home, but it can give your carpeting and hardwood floors an extra lease on life (less scratches, snags, and general wear-and-tear.)  You’ll rest easy knowing that you’re also contributing to a healthier environment inside your home – the soles of your shoes can carry more icky germs than a typical toilet seat!

5.  Pare down your Cleaning Arsenal

There really are one-size-fits-all cleaning products on the market, one of them being my personal favorite, Oxy Clean.  The all-purpose cleaner is available at most any store, and it isn’t more than $4 or so for a 1.5 pound tub (I also reuse the empty containers to store clothespins, kids’ crayons, or random nails and bolts.)  Advertised with having over 100 uses around the home, I’ve really only tried about 10 or so.  I can say that the best use for the stuff is removing those “impossible” stains.  (Recently my daughter sat on a melted blue crayon in the backseat of our car.  After letting the colored wax cool and harden, I scraped most of it off with a knife, then dampened the area and sprinkled it with Oxy Clean.  After working the product into the denim with an old toothbrush, I rinsed it in cool water and threw it in the wash.  You can’t see any signs of the offending crayon!)  Bottom line: If you find a versatile cleaning product that fills the needs of more than one routine, consolidate – don’t duplicate!

6.  Get floors spotless with the power of steam

I’m a huge fan of the steaming floor cleaner.  In fact, I’ve had several models in my lifetime (not because they wore out, but because I love trying new models!)  A good steam-powered floor cleaner will leave your floors sanitized, squeaky-clean, and streak-free within minutes, and the best part is that they require no chemicals or additional product: just the pure ingredient of water!  Investing in a $85 – 120 model may seem like a chunk of change, but when you factor in the cost of floor cleaners over the life of the steamer and consider how much safer and environmentally-friendly your new mop is, the cost is justifiable.  Most mops also come with everything you need to do several rooms with a moment’s notice – including enough microfiber cleaning heads to get you started.  There is no waste, and water is the cheapest cleaner we know of!

Ready to learn more clever tips for keeping your home clean on a dime (or less)?  Check out the entire article in the July issue of All You magazine.

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This article is from Wise Bread.