Monthly Archives: January 2007

The Coupon Lady

Posted on January 31, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

When I was back in the US, I was at the grocery store one day when I saw this lady walking up and down the aisles filling her cart off here list, but also sticking pieces of paper on products … Continue reading →

Posted in Food / Groceries, Saving Money | 11 Comments

5 Little Known Ways To Drastically Cut Textbook Costs

Posted on January 30, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

When it comes to getting textbooks for school at decent prices, most students know that the college bookstore is going to cost them more than most other places. They also know the basics on where they can find textbooks at … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Saving Money | 6 Comments

Media Ignoring GM $1.99 Gas Promotion Debacle

Posted on January 29, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

Last June I wrote a piece about a $1.99 a gallon gas promotion that GM was doing for certain vehicles. Basically, the program capped the cost of gas at $1.99 a gallon for the year for those who purchased the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cars | 3 Comments

Should You Hold Off On Filing Your Taxes?

Posted on January 29, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

Conventional wisdom would say that if you’re expecting a sizable Federal income tax refund, you would want to file your tax return as soon as possible to collect your money that you have been lending the IRS interest free during … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxes | 2 Comments

Don’t Watch The Superbowl and Have A Hugely Productive Day

Posted on January 28, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

Superbowl Sunday – living in Japan I can only remember it with fondness. It was by far the best skiing day of the year when I was growing up. Sure, the Superbowl was great, but nothing compared to being able … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays | 1 Comment

Skid Mark Safe – Disgusting, But If It Works…

Posted on January 26, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

Sometimes solutions to problems are a lot easier than they would first appear. Take finding a hiding place for you valuables. Conventional wisdom would lead you to hide them away in some hard to find secret location with the hope … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Finance, X Files | 26 Comments

Free Retirement Checkup Reminder

Posted on January 26, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

Just a quick note that today is the day you can get a free retirement check-up over the phone from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. eastern time. You simply call (888-919-2345) and NAPFA members will be standing by to answer … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Finance | Leave a comment

How Much Do You Pay In Taxes?

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

That is my question for today. How much do you pay in taxes? Remember the answer you have just given and keep reading. I had an interesting conversation with a friend a couple of days ago on this subject. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxes | 13 Comments

10 Best Places To Find Money When Walking

Posted on January 24, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

I wrote last year that I like to look for money when I walk around. I find a minimum of $50 a year and would estimate that I clear over $100 most years (in helps living in Japan where they … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | 53 Comments

Rechargeable Batteries With A Twist

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

I love it when I come across gadgets that are both cool and save me money. That is exactly what you get with the USBCell AA rechargeable batteries. What makes these rechargeable batteries unique is that they can be recharged … Continue reading →

Posted in Saving Money | 5 Comments

Tax Preparers Become Loan Sharks

Posted on January 22, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

The tax preparers have seen the light and realize there is more money to be made being loan sharks than by preparing your taxes. And they have taken it to a whole new level this year by not even requiring … Continue reading →

Posted in Saving Money, Taxes | 4 Comments

Ebisuten’s Money Wealth Tip

Posted on January 20, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

While at the Ebisuten shrine, we took a short break and had some sweet rice wine (amazake) in a small shop on the shrine’s grounds. Inside there was a large mask hanging on the wall with bills underneath. The bills … Continue reading →

Posted in Saving Money | 4 Comments

Photos From The God Of Wealth Shrine

Posted on January 20, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

As I mentioned in the previous post, this was the first time that I really have had a chance to see the shrine since our other visits were always when the shrine was packed with people. here are a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Miscellaneous | Leave a comment

Praying To The God Of Wealth 2007

Posted on January 20, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

We took our annual trip to the Ebisuten (the God of Wealth) shrine to pray for good money fortune today. It was a much different affair than our trip in 2006 when we went during the festival and the shrine … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Making Money | Leave a comment

5 Good Reasons To Rack Up Credit Card Debt

Posted on January 19, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

Credit cards have a lot of advantages such as giving better protection than cash or checks on purchases, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a financial advisor that will tell you that there are good reasons to rack up … Continue reading →

Posted in Credit Cards, Debt | 8 Comments

TV Producer Looking To Interview Someone

Posted on January 18, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

I received an email from a TV producer named Pam Wheaton Shorr who has sought people from our forums on other stories in the past that is putting together a story about the new IRS option to split your tax … Continue reading →

Posted in Saving Money, Taxes | 1 Comment

Brush Up Your Investing

Posted on January 18, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

If you are looking for ways to begin, improve and / or confirm your investing knowledge, you don’t have to pay a lot (or any in this case) money to do so. Morningstar offers 172 free investing classes broken down … Continue reading →

Posted in Investing | 1 Comment

Screwed Financially By A Friend Or Family Member?

Posted on January 17, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

If you have been, one of the long time members of our forum and who is the manager for one of our satellite websites would like to talk to you for a book that she is writing: Perhaps you cosigned … Continue reading →

Posted in X Files | Leave a comment

How Taxes Really Work

Posted on January 17, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

The following story has been circulating around the Internet since 2001, but it is always a humorous read (and will get you thinking a bit) as people start to put their taxes together so I thought I’d place it up … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxes | 7 Comments

Free Retirement Checkup

Posted on January 16, 2007 by Jeffrey Strain

If you have placed getting your retirement funds in order as one of your goals for the New Year, this might be the place to start. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine in associations with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Finance | 2 Comments