Electronic Cigarettes Helped Me Quit Smoking - And Save Money.

I have a confession: I am a cigarette smoker. Or I was. I have smoked for over 30 years. Not very frugal, right? Or very healthy.

Lets run some numbers, then, shall we? Thirty years of smoking one pack a day equals 10,950 packs. When I started smoking, cigarettes cost under $1.00 a pack. Today, the cost is about $6.00 a pack where I live. So, I'm going to pick a somewhat arbitrary number of $3.00 a pack as an average. 10,950 x 3 = $32,850. Today, at $6 per pack, it's costing $2,190 a year. And the price keeps rising every time governments can't control their spending.Yeah, the government says they are increasing the cigarette taxes to discourage smokers from smoking, but really, they just want the money. As a nicotine addict, I can promise you, smokers will pay whatever it takes to get their fix. So are there any good solutions out there?

Be Prepared: A TV for Use in Power Outages and Emergencies.

I originally wrote this piece for my other blog, Cache Free TV. Frugal people, for the most part, are aware of the need to be prepared for the unexpected, and being prepared for minor and major disasters will allow you to sail through with minimal disturbance to your life and assets. Therefore, I have decided to duplicate that post here.

Q: Will my old portable DC TV work after the digital transition?

I was recently asked this question, so I set about doing some research about what options are available if you need a TV for use on a power outage.

A: Do you mean, an old analog portable - battery operated - TV? The short answer, in most cases, is NO.

However, do have a number of options that will get you TV in an emergency, even when nobody else has power or TV. You can even get that old analog TV to work if you have time (and money) on your hands. 

A Cheap and Easy Solution for Window Heat Loss and Condensation

Nasty! Click to zoom in...

This week the temperature outside has plunged into the single digits, and it will be about -10º f. tonight. Along with the cold weather comes a reoccurring problem: condensation on my patio door windows. As you can see in this photo, its not a minor problem. It's caused mildew and mold on the bottom of the frame. It shouldn't even be happening, since my house is "Energy Star" rated, and built just 3 years ago. Money is tight these days so there is nothing in the budget for a replacement door: though that's coming. Seeking an inexpensive solution until money falls out of the sky for a replacement door, I tried one of those plastic shrink wrap window kits last year. And the result? MASSIVE FAIL. I had to buy 2 long window kits, and the tape included wouldn't stick from the start, even though I cleaned and dried the entire door. After just a few days, the plastic started falling off. I had wasted several hours and about $10.

This year, I started searching the internet for another solution, and discovered a trick that works like a charm, costs very little and can be done in minutes. The answer is a spray bottle of water and bubble wrap. Here's how it's done:

Chase Screws Their Loyal Customers - Again

Just a brief post to share the notice Chase Banks sent their loyal checking customers regarding fees for their checking accounts. Chase has decided that if you don't make a SINGLE direct deposit of $500 every month, they will charge you $12. Note that it is a SINGLE deposit of $500, weekly or bi-weekly deposits of $499 don't count. So they've effectivly killed their free checking accounts.

Rather than type in all the BS on their notice, here's some scans that explain exactly HOW they plan to stick it to you, and the limited ways you have to avoid the fees.

Default: The Student Loan Documentary

Default: The Student Loan Documentary is a 27 min. long documentary chronicling the stories of borrowers from different backgrounds affected by the private student lending industry and their struggles to change the system.

In 2005 private student loans were exempted of ALL consumer protections. No matter when their loans were taken, many borrowers now find themselves in a paralyzing predicament of repaying two, three or multiple times the original amount borrowed, with no bankruptcy protection, no cap on fees and penalties and no recourse to the law. The consequences are dire, with stories of borrowers in financial and emotional ruin.

Student Loans Make Education Affordable.. Or Do They?

Have you ever wondered why college costs have risen at twice the rate of inflation, and four times the the rate of wage growth? I'm not a big fan of conspiracy theories, but this is no theory. These are the facts the government doesn't want you to know about. In another post I'll be sharing a few tricks and tips I learned about surviving college without a crushing debt during my college years - and more I learned after.

From http://www.collegescholarships.org/:

How the US Government and Colleges have caused rampant price increases in tuition and abused students.

"Genuine Imitation Pasteurized Process Cheese Food Product Substitute"

Ah, Cheese. I love good cheese: give me some aged extra sharp cheddar, the kind that bites back when bite into it. Steven Urkel ain't got nothing on me! The USDA says that a serving of cheese is roughly equal to the size of 2 dice. I agree - the size of 2 "fuzzy dice" that hang from a rear view mirror.

(This could explain my high triglyceride levels)

But I digress. What I really want to piss and moan about here is the desecration of cheese. Specifically, American Process Cheese; but also cheese in general.

Discounted Shave and a Haircut.

  While not as cheap as "Two Bits", and also not including the shave, I no longer pay more than $4.25 for a haircut. This is pretty cheap, considering the local clip joint charges $13.00, plus tax and tip. Oh, yea, they sometimes have a sale and I'll go to them, but I haven't been to see them in 6 months.

 The secret to getting your hair done for this price is...