Breaking Even

Some Marketing Advice?

Some of you may know that I work for a local newspaper. We have a current promotion where local businesses can pay to have a photo and write up about their business in a special section called "Business Neighbors". For $50 a year, this profile and a link to their site will be on our newspaper web site.

Our web site is well spidered (meaning monitored closely by search engines) and since it's been in existence for almost ten years, it's a well established and highly ranked site. And we get around 20,000 to 30,000 page views on just our news stories every week.

"Why don't you advertise your blog on Business Neighbors?" one of my co-workers asked. I guess I hesitated because I'm not really a business. Ideally, I would like to write a lot more than I do (and get paid to do it) and maybe this is one way to increase my freelancing locally. Worst case scenario is that I'll get more locals reading my blog. Did I mention I get an employee discount on advertising?

So I'm pretty sure I'll do this advertising because, as far as advertising goes, this is a deal. A few questions though from those of you more experiences in marketing then I am:

1. Should I be Nicole Ouellette, Breaking Even, or Breaking Even Freelance? I need to have a title of my business.

2. Should I spend profile space talking about the blog "personal finance from a local perspective" or about the freelance "Nicole launched this blog.... and is interested in freelance"? Would talking about both the personal finance blog and freelance writing in the same paragraph be confusing? I have 150-200 words to work with to give you an idea.

So if you have an opinion on this, even if it is that this is a dumb idea, I'd love to hear it. For those of you with your own web sites, have you tried advertising like this and found it successful? Thank you for your help!

Next time: Medical Bill Blues and How You Can Beat Them

The Free Version of Photoshop: Nothing To Get Excited About

This past week, Adobe came out with a free web-based software called Adobe Photoshop Expressions. Marketed for a younger (and subsequently poorer) audience (because Photoshop is, even with a good deal, a few hundred dollars), you upload pictures (they have 2 G of free space per account) to your spot and can modify them from there.

I enjoyed how the web site was shamelessly marketing to the young and hip. From "Join the 24/7 photo party. No cover charge.) to the cool, flashy black and grey interface to the registration page with a default birth year is 1990, I felt a little unsure of it. I mean I'm not that cool. I signed up anyway so I could report on my findings to other frugal-minded types.

The airbrush tool (of most interest to me and most every other woman I know) was not as precise and the shortcut tools I know with regular Photoshop (like holding "shift" while cropping to make the photograph a perfect square) didn't work. I feel like most digital cameras come with the other features of Photoshop Express like red eye reduction and photo effects (you know, like tinting yourself pink and stretching your face out). I use the real version of Photoshop at work almost everyday and if I did any kind of real work with photos, I think I'd pony up for the full version of the software.

I guess with all the hype, I was expecting more. That said, it sure beats the pants out of Microsoft Picture Manager, which comes with windows systems. In short, better than nothing but certainly nothing close to Photoshop proper.

Have you tried Photoshop Expressions? What did you think? If you're interested, here's the link.

Image: Here's about two minutes of fun with Photoshop Expressions. Cute but nothing to write home about.

A Look At Extreme Grocery Shopping

People Are Going To New Lengths To Save Cash On Food- Are You?

So whether it's the fact that every major news media is talking about the price of food going up (whether it's pizza or groceries in general) or just the fact that I've plateaued on my journey towards weight loss, I've had food on the brain lately. Apparently, I am not alone.

The Simple Dollar has posted an "Ode To The Inexpensive Bean", which is clearly a powerfood in a lot of ways. Heck, you can even make brownies with them.

Costco CEO James Sinegal gave some compelling answers about why he doesn't just raise the price of ketchup and why he pays his workers an average of $18.15/hour. (from SmartMoney)

And now the part where we finally get to the extreme grocery shopping part. (And no, it's not a sport like extreme ironing but thank you for allowing me the occasion to mention extreme ironing.) Extreme grocery shopping is beyond my Grocery Game experiment. It is severely cutting back on any sort of grocery budget, almost to an art form. Give Me Back My Five Bucks does a great job of spending little on food for example. 

Sense to Save had a great video she posted this week, especially entertaining to me since I don't have television. See the Ultimate Cheapskate (only food less than $1/pound) and Coupon Mom (self explanatory) battle it out here (originally on the Today Show).

Even The New York Times tackled dollar stores as grocery stores this week.

Then, of course, there is talk of buying groceries in bulk at warehouse stores or online which a woman in my adult ed class told me about. (I have an experiment I've set up testing which options are cheaper for a later post, which is taking some time to craft due to the amount of data gathering required.)

In other words, we're all paying too much for food. It's best to eat less and be careful how you do spend your money, good advice in any economy I suppose. While The Glittering Eye finds it difficult but doable to live on $1 a meal, I'm wondering how other people (like you) are dealing with rising food prices. Do share!

Image: Rice salad, made with avocado, corn, tomato, and white rice in a vinagrette was a staple in my old dinner club, and great with crepes (and fairly economical).   

The Best Of Breaking Even So Far

Maybe you've just started reading this blog or maybe you're wondering what are the most read items on this blog? Here is a top ten list, inspired by another great personal finance blog, FreeFromBroke. Some of these items were surprising, some were less so. (For example, I think the podcast reviews will be big once they've been online for awhile.) Check them out!

Top Ten Posts On Breaking Even:

Blog Improvement Tips
Ebates: Is It Really All That?
Book Review: Helping Me Help Myself by Beth Lisick
Breaking The Circuit AKA How To Get A Random Check From The State Of Maine
Credit Reports: Worth Listening To A Lame Automated Voice For
DNTO: Deep Into Debt
Winter Sports: Retro And Cheap
How To Throw a Party with $50
How To Make Crappy Furniture Cool
Saying Goodbye To My Bank

A $101 Closet Organize

Organizing Will Save You Time And Money, Though It May Be Fun To Spend Just A Little

I moved about six months ago from a one bedroom house with four closets (where I lived alone) to a three bedroom house with four closets (where I live with another person). Same amount of closets divided in two. Oh, and I couldn’t fit my dresser into one of the rooms so that is sitting in storage for now.

I have one main closet where I keep mostly everything (you know, except bulk sweaters in the summer or shorts and bikinis in the winter). It was clear I had to organize a bit.

I love organizing. Before I began blogging, I even thought of doing it as a side career. I’ve read a lot about it, not to mention I’ve made a lot of hand-me-downs work for me. My first instinct was to purge unnecessary items.

And purge I did. I got rid of those clothes from ten years ago that will never fit again. I got rid of things that I tried to fix that couldn’t be fixed. I got rid of everything I wasn’t excited about wearing. $1,500 worth of clothes later, I had a more manageable amount to work with.

Then I went to the Mecca of organizers: The Container Store. I don’t usually throw money at problems but I did make a few purchases to make things work for me:

A six compartment hanging sweater bag corralled the sweater collection and made it accessible. $20

Clear lookers nested boxes helped organized things like tights, belts, and other smaller items. $30

Add-on skirt hangers (2) accommodated a growing collection. $10

A swing arm slack hanger was reserved for work pants that fit so I could find them easily (and I’m still getting down to my pre-island size). $6

A shoe rack kept my shoes from being a jumble at the bottom of my closet. $18

I also repurposed a few things I had bought previously:

Seagrass baskets (3) were bought at a bargain price at the Christmas Tree Shop. $15

A wreath hook became a robe and hat hanger in the off season. $2

My closet is now organized by color, though blazers and dresses (separate) reside to the right while the sweaters are on the left. Purses and hats reside in their own sea grass totes. The upper part of the closet is used for storage of items rarely used: sleeping bags, huge backpacks, etc.

Things like tank tops (for layering), sweatshirts, and leggings are folded and in their separate cubbies. The dividers are nice in that they keep the piles from falling on top of each other. If you don’t have these, you can make them or check out what places like the Container Store have to offer.

The ancient closet doors have been taken off (because one kept falling off) and will probably replaced with a curtain when I tackle my pile of sewing projects..

As you can see, my closet looks inviting (and most people comment, quite colorful). I can always find what I need and, on a crazy morning, that’s worth more than I can say.

So no California Closets for me. They are quite pretty but I find I’ve been able to do a lot on my own. And the great thing is, you can too!

Saving Even More Money Tip: If you don’t have $100 to designate to a project, try collecting unused containers around your house: glasses, show boxes, baskets, wooden crates and then see how you can use them in your organizing project. You can also try building something with scrap wood, like tall skinny shelving or top shelf dividers if you are feeling industrious and good with a saw. If you buy wood, you can have your local hardware store cut it often for a small fee and have it delivered for free!

Video of the Week: Eating Healthy On A Budget

Yes, you can eat well on a budget. Francis Wolff has just launched www.wholehabits.com, a vlog dedicated to healthy eating. (If his name is familliar, he's Meg Wolff's son.) This is one of his first videos. Check out the other videos and recipes on his site; they look yummy!   

A Review of Financial Podcasts: Part II

I Listened To Them All So You Didn’t Have To

Here's a continuation of what I started earlier in the week. There are a few more podcasts I haven't got to I'm sure but I hope to next time. (Let me know if you definitely know of one I missed.)

Wall Street Your Money

I happened to see on another blog (and I forgot which one!) that showed a web site that rates a blog’s reading level. (Breaking Even happens to be a middle school reading level, which I’m taking to mean as accessible rather then the kind of blog that would pass notes about another blog.) They rated the Wall Street blog as elementary level (this is not a reflection on the Wall Street Journal publication I’m guessing). This podcast covered a variety of topics but in a way that was a little too fast (and seemed clipped as a result). You would need to be paying more close attention then you would to a typical podcast to get all the needed information. I accidentally spaced out for thirty seconds and had to rewind.

NBC5 Savage Money Podcast

Marcus Riley and Terry Savage talk about the economy in a general but easy to understand way. The regulating water level and temperature analogy used in this podcast for our federal reserve is a useful and concrete way of understanding our current economic situation. There is some shameless self promotion (two instances in the first minute) but I understand that everyone needs to get their name out there, myself included. The tune at the beginning is catchy and helps subtly reinforce the brand of the Savage Money podcast. It is a good length at 8 minutes. But what is it about money podcasts that make them a little more boring then other types?

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

This podcast, read by the editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, tackles one topic in this case a “magic formula” of figuring out a good investment (earnings shares and return on capital). This is another kind of podcast you can learn a lot from but you’ll have to pay very close attention to, especially if you are like me and not familiar with financial terms (I had to rewind three times to get the two variables of the magic formula for this blog). Since Kiplingers is such a well established authority on personal finance, however, I am more apt to take information from it more seriously then I would other podcasts.

The Money Guy

The host of the program is funny and into what he’s doing, making it easier to listen to him for the half an hour he talks. He is a little tangential as many solo podcasters seem to be, telling stories that can seem off topic. His whole podcast, however, was tied to Warren Buffet's annual report, which he keeps coming back to throughout, giving the podcast some structure. He quotes the report and reflects on how Warren Buffet became the successful guy he is. He even apparently has a Warren Buffet quote generator on his blog. The guy is clearly a WB fan and therefor not trying to be objective but you have to admire his admiration.

30 Minutes of Personal Finance
The show topic “Five Steps To Stop Identity Theft” is presented with a guest John Sileo (www.thinklikeaspy.com). The objectives are clear in the intro so you know what the program will be like before you listen to it, a simple organizational tool I found lacking in other podcasts. The half hour program is a little long, though it may just feel that way. The audio is a little unclear and it sounds like both people are on the phone. The information is good (if a little paranoid….leaving next of kin off obituaries?!?) but it needs to be presented in a more dynamic way to be easier to listen to.

Financial podcasts not updated in the last two months: It’s Your Money Radio, Getting Started Finance, Fidelity Personal Money Finance, Miss Money Blogger, Money Blogger Podcast, Two Guys And Your Money, Your Home-Your Money, Your Money.

It kind of bugs me that the internet has these "dead" podcasts but thankfully, I can at least get the satisfaction of deleting them off my own computer!

I've learned a few things from taking in all this media and analyzing it, mainly that there are a lot of things to avoid to avoid being boring. More and more, I'm thinking of giving a podcast a shot.

If you have any ideas about how to be not-boring or want to be a guest on my podcast, drop me a comment or an email.

See part one of this series here...

Picture from: http://www.informacyde.com/weblog

Saying Goodbye To My Bank

When Your Bank Merges, Sometimes It’s Best To Cash In Yourself

When I moved to my current location, I changed banks. My new bank (formerly Union Trust) is across the street from my work, people there knew my name after I came in only twice, and they offered free online banking. It was one of those perfect relationships.

Of course, perfection never lasts. My dream bank has recently merged as more and more banks are tending to do. The new bank (Union Trust, A Division Of Camden National) will now charge me for online banking and laid off a bunch of people who probably knew my name. I’m getting out before my heart is broken… and before I get charged $4 a month for online banking, a service that in my opinion should be free.

I’ve tried to keep my banking local. It seems like a good thing to do to ensure local jobs but as even the small banks become bigger, it makes me wonder if I should go bigger too. Main Street Ellsworth is changing, and I'll need to change, too.

I’ve heard great things about online banks and a confirmation came yesterday from Kiplinger’s backing up other statements I’ve heard from friends who have gone online. They are paying higher interest rates on checking and savings accounts (some as high as 6%) in addition to offering customers free ATM usage, free online banking, and free checks.

Of course, there is a local bank that many people I know use (Bangor Savings) that has no ATM fees and free online banking.

So the dilemma is to go local or go online. In any case, I need to switch banks again, which is such a pain.

If you have a love or hate relationship with your bank, do tell! Also how do you feel about online banks versus local ones?

Picture from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellsworth,_Maine

A Review of Financial Podcasts: Part I

I Listened To Them All So You Didn’t Have To

This weekend, I had a five hour bus ride in two directions and limited internet access, meaning I took the opportunity to consume some personal finance-related media, this time in the form of podcasts. I also was researching podcasts in particular because I'm thinking of having one associated with this blog. (So in addition to learning new things, I was scoping out the competition a little.) Here's what I have to say about the podcasts that are still in existance (some of them are listed but haven't been updated in over a year).

No Credit Needed Podcast

This thirty minute long podcast was a little boring at points but the information was good. The host goes off on life story tangents and doesn't talk to guests so the thirty minutes doesn't feel broken into digestable bites. I found my mind wandering at points, as if I was in a college lecture class again. If you can stay with him though, he does offer the occasional nugget of information (in this case, he gave a compelling arguement but building savings before paying down debt, which is the opposite of what I would be thinking). All in all, worth going to class but bring some paper to doodle on while you listen.

Money Girls Quick and Dirty Tips

This podcast is about five minutes long and sticks to one topic, in this case, compound interest. Her multiple examples are interesting and drive her point home but towards the end they felt repetitive. She directs listeners to a compound interest calculator on her site (good marketing) and she is a fairly engaging speaker who seems well organized and pleasant. From her name, I thought she'd be more hip but no nonsense would be the word I would use to describe Money Girl.

Your Money with Chuck Jaffee

Chuck Jaffee sounds like your typical conservative talk radio host, which was initially a little off-putting to me. He stuck to one topic with his special guest and you can tell from his voice and ease interviewing that he has a regular radio show. I've decided that any podcast of length should involve more then one voice. It just makes this more interesting. Both Chuck and his guest were smooth and a little too self promoting, making them easy to listen to but also made me roll my eyes a little.

Your Money- Question Answer session with "Investor Ed"

This podcast is government sponsored and feels a little thrown together. The information is good (it is question and answer style responding to listener inquiries) and about things I know nothing about, making me feel more like listening to it. It seems, however, that no thought has been put into making it interesting. The room where it is recorded sounds echo-y and the people sound like they may fall asleep themselves mid-program. I understand they can't sound like they are using too many tax dollars but I'd gladly earmark $20 of my taxes to putting some sound dampening in that room.

Moneyblogger Podcast

The money blogger is a blogger first and a podcaster second. He interviews an author of a financial book, which leads me to think he's a good enough blogger to be well connected. His guest has the interesting idea that a "savings account" sounds like putting off fun (negative) whereas "investing" is less about denying pleasure now and more about savoring it later. The host asked really good questions but made me see how an inexperienced interviewer can give themselves away by seeming awkward.

"savings account" as negative...think investing, host asks good questions but seems a little awkward. This podcast was actually my favorite because the information was atypical, the information was useful by me, and the podcast itself was very memorable.

There are more to talk about but I'll save those for tomorrow. In the meantime, have you heard any of these? Also, would you listen to my weekly-biweekly podcast were I to have one?

Happy Easter

Because it wouldn't be Easter without a few fun pictures (would love to give photo credits but these are out of emails I've gotten so I have no idea). Have a great day!

Depends On Where You Start From

Peep Show

Cheap And Fun Things To Do In Boston

So far so good on my trip to Boston. I'm spending some time with a good friend from college (and staying with her and her family, keeping the costs low). I brought $100 cash and I've been paying for everything besides my bus ticket with cash. I have $40 left for tomorrow. How is this possible?

I met three friends from college downtown and we at at Thai Basil on Newbury Street. My papaya salad was plenty filling, healthy, and less than $7. We perused the shops on Newbury Street, where we can afford to look (though a friend made a great purchase of a dress for a wedding off a sale rack at Calypso). We walked around the Prudential Center and tried on clothes at expensive stores for fun (and to get out of the wind). I bought a $30 cocktail ring as my indulgence of the day. Late afternoon, we ate desserts at Finale, a dessert company that began as an Harvard business project. My small chocolate flourless torte was beautifully presented, wonderful tasting, and under $6. Best of all, of course, was the occasion to see friends I don't often see without breaking the bank. Seeing the kind of friends who make you feel wonderful about everything (and who you can pick up with right where you left off) was so energizing.

Sarah (the friend I stayed with) and I ate one meal out Friday night (we split an entree and naan at an Indian restaurant in Sharon, MA) and then today, spent the day with Sarah's family. We baked, I napped, and we bought Sarah's brother part of his birthday gift at Target. Sarah's family's generosity of a place to sleep and great meals has really kept costs low.

Tomorrow morning, I'll have a brunch of dim sum at The China Pearl. The whole dim sum experience is fun and interesting; I never get tired of it. (I also truly appreciate how much work those little pockets of happiness are to make because I've done it from scratch before and it took me all day.) The whole meal will cost me less than $10 I'm sure. I also plan to pick up some sesame buns at a Chinese bakery on my way home for an inexpensive treat later in the week.

All in all, knowing someone at a locale who lets you stay at their place keeps prices down but also there are small luxuries everywhere to be discovered and enjoyed. But the best thing about vacations, even very short ones, is taking the time to slow down and enjoy everything. It's a philosophy of life I hope to never lose, though I'm sure good friends will help me remember.  

Personal Finance For Kids

What's Out There For The Youngest Consumers?

We can talk about today's kids wanting everything right away all we want. We can talk about young consumer spending power, how they are getting into debt with credit cards, how they are lagging in test scores. We can read studies or books (like this or this) to figure out how kids spend money or change their spending habits. I'm not sure how true any of our negative speculations would be.

First of all, kids are pretty smart. Just have a conversation with them. Today's kids are more culture, media, and technology saavy then I probably ever will be. Second of all, is there any good literature or program out there for kids to learn about money? It's a tough topic that can easily turn boring for any parent. I feel like if there was some great idea out there, I may have heard about it.

I've begun collecting links in a sidebar on this page linking to good resources for parents, teachers, or kids about money, personal finance in particular. Teaching someone (or yourself) to manage your money is like learning to do laundry: it's part of having an independent life. That's not to say kids should be completely on their own but think about if you would have known a little more about money when you started out... See what I mean?

I remember when I was about ten (see dorky picture above), I watching an HBO special about how advertisers make things look better then they really are. It changed my life, and that's not an overstatement. To see the "tricks" advertisers did to make food look good or products seem cooler then they were changed my perspective. With this program and reinforcement from my parents, I learned to look for the small writing and developed a healthy skepticism. (I wish I could remember what it was called!) One article in my list talks about how to make even very young children aware of the messages they are recieving and more importantly, to analyze them.

Older kids can learn more by playing with money and understanding what it can and can't do for them. I long dreamed of having virtual stock in high school economics but it never happened. I felt truly jipped of an American high school experience. But horray for the internet because if I were in high school now, I could play it on my own. Older kids can also learn good habits like paying bills and having a relationship with their bank (my bank knows my name and will gladly sit down and go over for a third time how a money market account works...yours should too).

Anyway, if you have a great resource, book, idea, blog post, article, anything about personal finance for kids, I'd love to hear about it. And if you have kids, what are you doing with them to instill good financial values? If you're a kid, what can adults do to help you out?

Whether you have kids or not, I think we can all agree that as a society, we need to help enforce good money habits with the kids we meet and be an example. Because they may look a little nerdy now but someday they just may be the author of a financial blog you're reading!   

Money In The News

For your midweek news roundup...

Gold is through the roof...

You'll be getting that rebate check by May 16...

Some people are hoarding...I mean investing in copper...

75% of Americans think we're in a recession, but it won't be official for awhile...

Restaurant eating is down 0.3% and chefs are making higher profit meals (pasta dishes, cheaper meats) to compensate...

Grocery stores are noticing people buying less beef and more store-brand products...

Interest rates were cut but everyone seems to think this is just a drop in the bucket...

A Suitcase For Success

How To Pack To Save Money Over The Long Weekend 

I’m taking a long weekend to visit old college friends this week and as I began to pack my bag tonight since it’ll be a crazy week. I tried to pack in a way that would save me some cash.

1. A tightly packed bag means no room to put stuff I would buy but don’t need. Might as well set myself up for success.

2. A refillable water bottle means cheap hydration with no calories. Emergence-C packets to mix in will make the water taste like raspberry ensure I don’t get a “traveler’s cold” after my trip.

3. Nonperishable but healthy snacks like yummy Luna bars mean I can skip a couple meals nutritiously and avoid blood sugar plunges that lead me straight to the vending machines of bus stops (bad places to go for a few reasons I’m sure).

4. A book/magazine means no buying pretty, glossy magazines ($$) on the way, no matter how much I want to.

5. A handkerchief, a scarf (see my post on warmth and style), painkillers, and pen and paper are logical things to have.

6. A gift for the hostess (homemade and/or inexpensive) and blank thank-you note means not having to buy something along the way and makes me seem like a polite guest.

7. A pared-down wallet (driver’s license, AAA card, credit card, and $50 cash) will keep me honest and a photocopy of its contents in my bag (not purse) will keep me from identity theft in case of robbery or misplacement.

8. Research of the place I am going including an event calendar from a local paper or deals from the local chamber of commerce printed off my computer for a starting point.

9. Picture representing my goal in your wallet (for me: a picture of me skinner, for you perhaps an island paradise villa or your child with a drawn-on graduation cap) with further deter overspending.

10. Checking Breaking Even and my other favorite personal finance blogs while on my trip for inspiration and motivation (ok, maybe not but I couldn’t resist).

With a little thinking ahead, I can easily save myself time and money. What about you?

I’ll try to post while I’m gone (I’m lugging my heavy laptop even) but if I don’t, I promise to keep updating this blog daily upon my return.

Image from: http://www.travel-bug.com

Free Advertising With Entrecard

Exchanging Links For Credits Means Not Spending Cash On Advertising

I was checking out another money saving blog, Sense To Save when I learned about Entrecard.

The five minute video on their site will explain this better than I can but essentially, it is a way to trade advertisements with other bloggers by exchanging virtual business cards (I put the card I designed in this post. It's amazing what you can make during an afternoon break with Photoshop!). Rather than pay money for advertising, I earn credits and then can use these credits to "buy" advertisements on blogs. People can do the same with me. We can approve or not approve a trade, giving blog authors control of what's on their site.

I just posted my card when I began this post and I already got an offer for an exchange (three minutes later). So if you're a blogger, look into setting up a free account at Entrecard and trying it out. Because with free advertising that you approve, you have nothing to lose.

Blog Improvement Tips

Order To Get More Visitors, Continuous Site Improvement Is Necessary

Originally, this blog was started so I could write to inform and entertain. Like most other things, however, there is more to blogging then meets the eye. Thank goodness I find myself equally interested in marketing as writing my blog entries.

All bloggers are looking to drive up traffic to their site and I have been working on some site improvements the last week or so to increase traffic and in general make Breaking Even more appealing.

Networking

I joined the Finwikian, a Wiki dedicated to personal finance web sites. I have been also commenting on at least one blog every day whereas before I tended to read but not comment. This has led to more traffic from referrals than I expected.

I got my first "friend" at BlogCatalog and have been improving my social networking on that site and on Myspace. I have tried to list all my web presence beneath my photo on the front page of my site.

Branding

I want to not only be part of “breaking even” branding but a “Nicole Ouellette” branding. Putting all Nicole Ouellette sites on Breaking Even will no doubt help this association. I have also decided to take the plunge and splurge on a custom design for this site because if I look like everyone else, people will keep thinking I'm everyone else. Stay tuned.

I have also decided that the fact I live in Maine (i.e. a rural area) effects a lot of my writing and have been targeting my "Maineness" more recently. I figure I can be a personal finance woman who happens to live in Maine. I see no conflict and only benefits in being both of these things.

Advertising

I'm considering link advertising on other blogs and exploring this further.

Search Engine Optimization

In addition to putting links within my posts (not only to other sites but parts of this site as well), I have also been taking steps to improve search engine rating.

A friend at work who knows a lot about this sent me Justin Cook’s web site with some of his favorite search engine optimization tools. The post was written in 2006 so it’s not surprising that some of these tools are no longer free. I’ve checked into them though and a couple are:

Backlink & Anchor Text Tool
Knowing who is linking to you and what link text they're using is one of the most important aspects in Search Engine Optimization. This tool checks your backlinks (only showing one backlink per URL that links to you) and shows the link text used to link to you. It takes a while for this SEO tool to run, but when it finishes, you've got a great report. This is a 2 part internet marketing tool. When the first part finishes, you can get a summary - often the summary is more useful SEO information.

Sitemap Generator

This tool will spider your site (up to 1000 URL's) and create a sitemap in ROR format. (I'm going to stick my sitemap on my "About Me" page if I can figure out how.)

A Better Looking Site

I've been cleaning up my sidebars and trying to make more readable lists. I've been trying to use photos well and have pared down the categories and directory listings to make more room for useful sidebar information. I was also advised to put my photo on the top of the page to make things more personal.

So what do you think about the site? What do you like about it? What could use improvement? I'd love your feedback as I strive to improve this blog not only for my satisfaction but for those who read this.   

A Day Trip: The World's Most Underrated Vacation

In a world that doesn't require companies to give vacation time and where we often work over time, maybe even time and a half, it's hard to carve out 7-10 days for a real vacation.

Even if work doesn't stop us, other obligations do, whether it's a commitment to family or friends or a small dog that can't be left alone for five minutes without devising a plan to get into the garbage. (Not that I'm naming names).

Sean and I took off towards Belfast, Maine today. He wanted to look at a motorcycle he saw in Uncle Henry's and I told him I'd go if he bought me breakfast and took me downtown. After looking at the bike, we ventured down Main Street Belfast, popping into a few art galleries, which I like to think of as free art museums. Yo Mamma's Home is a funky must-see housewares store where I think I could find a gift for anyone (and of course plenty for myself too)! The Green Store has everything environmental/natural from composting toilets to rice paper lanterns. The Belfast Co-op has an extensive selection of great food and you can even eat lunch there. We got snacks and I got some lunch foods, mainly Annie's Burritos which are not only good for you but an affordable luxury at $2.50 each.

On the way home, we hit up Reny's, a Maine department store whose flagship store is in, you guessed it, Belfast. I bought a dress and some minced garlic (sounds like a weird thing to buy in the same store but you have to see the place to understand how this can happen).

All in all, I spent about $50 on groceries that I needed and a dress (which was only $15) but I had a great time. While Belfast does seem like a cool place, it's only a 45 minute drive from Ellsworth. I'm wondering how many other neat places there are just an hour away that would be explorable in one weekend day.

I suppose I could focus on the fact I'd love to go somewhere hot and Mediterranean for a month or I could be content taking these day trips most of the time for now. I never know how long I'm going to live somewhere including Ellsworth so I might as well take advantage.

In the meantime, any places you want to explore just a stone's throw from your home? I'd love to hear about them. I may generate a list of my own to give myself plenty of things look forward to this spring and summer. 

How To Throw A Party For Under $50: Part II

A Fun, Inexpensive Event Is Possible

It's time for spring, time for another gathering of friends. Sadly, I'm entertaining much less than I used to but it still nice when the occasional occasion happens.

Sean in the past used to have a winter barbeque (and depending on the weather, eat the food outside) which I am intrigued by. It seems really impractical but also kind of fun.

You may remember how I threw a party with $50. I am going to do it again folks. I'm doing it today actually.

I used an Evite for my invitation and not only did it make for a prettier invitation then I would normally send but it also kept track of who said they were coming. This way, when I want to know who's coming, I open one email instead of 15. Cost for Evite- $0.

For food, we have a steak ($5), ribs ($6), asparagus ($1, clearly on sale), roasted veggies like zucchini ($3), tofu for the vegetarians ($2) and some sweet potato fries ($3). Marinades will be made from whatever is in the fridge and all the veggies need is a little butter and some light spicing to be good anyway.

For dessert, there will be chocolate fondu made from a ginormous cube of chocolate ($6) and some leftover cream. What to dip in the chocolate? Peeps are in abundance this time of year but you can also dip pretzels, fruit, graham crackers, and most anything edible you have kicking around your fridge or cupboards (though I'll invest $5 in some peeps, graham crackers, and apples). Plus in my experience people think fondu is fun and kind of retro. ( Which means clearly this is the kind of dessert people would expect at one of my gatherings.)

On the drink front, Sean has been stockpiling beer for awhile ($15-20 worth probably) buying a six pack most every time we grocery shop and we have some leftovers from other get togethers that people have left. My box of wine I opened a few weeks ago is still is half full. We are good to go.

We're dragging the kitchen chairs (and others) onto our back deck and getting a fire going in the firepit. We've got plenty of scrap wood, cardboard, and newspapers to get a fire going and to burn it for awhile. I'm also breaking out the Apples To Apples, the wiffle ball set, and maybe a chess board or two, depending on the party mood. As always I'll make a party appropriate mix on my iPod because nothing says party like some festive music. All these things, like other good things, are free in that we are just using what we already have in a way we don't normally use it. If the weather turns, will move things inside but still grill.

So far it looks like it'll be around 10 people, a good amount though we can always make people more work.

My point is that you don't have to be a millionaire or very fancy to throw a great party that people have fun at. Here are my tips:

How To Throw A Cheap And Rocking Party

1) Pick a theme and stick to it. Winter Barbeque/Board Game Day: random but people know what to expect. Want to watch kungfu movies? Sit on floor pillows and eat wasabi crackers. Want to eat pasta? Throw an Itallian dinner with cheezy music in the background and biscotti dipped in wine for dessert. Use elements of the theme to set up the party but you don't have to completely commit to it (hiring someone to sing Italian during dinner, for example, may be going a little overboard). Propose an interesting idea and if you're interested in it, others will be too.

2) Make a music playlist. It takes a little time but it really keeps things upbeat and fun to have music. You can also use your playlist from Pandora if you are lacking in time to plan.

3) Plan your meal (and entertainment) around what you have in the house. Have ricotta lying around? Make lasagna. Have mac and cheese? Have a party with friends where you wear pajamas, eat mac and cheese, and watch cartoons. Buy as few groceries as possible to keep costs lower...and to allow you to buy drinks. Along the same lines, use what you have. Consider large tvs, game systems, sports equiptment, and even toiletries (masks anyone?) as resources.

4) Have fun, before and during the party. If you're not havig fun, no one else will be.

5) Clean up after everyone is gone. No one likes a kitchen martyr. And nothing says "go home" like a sink full of soapy dishes. Only start cleaning up when you want people to leave.

Just because you can't buy expensive wine or hire a six peice band doesn't mean you can't hang out with your friends. Party on and have fun! 

Ebates: Is It Really All That?

Ebates Will Save You A Little At A Time, Especially If You Can Say No To Yourself

I've been meaning to blog about Ebates for awhile. They've been mentioned in a couple women's magazines in the company breakroom and like most people, I do a little online shopping from time to time.

I finally made an account this morning because I have an online purchase to make. I need some new leggings. Mine are worn out from overwearing. Ebates has promised before to save me money online shopping so I went to them first. I gave them my contact information since they promised me that there is "no catch".

Once I logged in, I could see the real discounts the 600+ stores offered. You can save between 2-10% on your online purchases at different retailers. Danskin is listed on the site with a 5% off discount. There is also a coupon with Danskin, as there are coupons with some of the retailers listed. With 5% and additional savings, I got excited... and then I wasn't. Either Ebates or Danskin didn't redirect though because  a click on my dream leggings brought me to a page that didn't exist. Bummer.

So I ended up going to my favorite dog store (Drs Foster and Smith) and buying Sadie some Greenies, which I've been meaning to buy for awhile. I did it through Ebates (at least I think so) and should I continue to shop Ebates I should get "a big fat check" of my savings quarterly. But how does Ebates know what I saved?

A tracking code pops up as you click away from Ebates to the company's site. And sure enough under my Ebates account is a ticket for every web site I visited today. Did it register my purchase? Will I get a big fat check after three months? Only time will tell. I'll keep you posted.

A cautionary tale to shoppers: Don't be distracted by the ads encouraging you to buy things you don't need. Just log on, get what you need, and get out. It is very tempting to see those 600 stores spread before you. I clicked on a few extra stores but resisted temptation. If you can't resist it, my advice is to stay away.  

Update: I returned to the Danskin site from Ebates two days after the site didn't work and had no problem placing an order. Today, I recieved a $2.80 credit to my Ebates account for the purchase. So I guess if a redirect off Ebates doesn't work for a retailer, try it again later.

Oh Dollar, Why Don't Thou Go Up?

A Falling Dollar Gives Us All Something To Panic About

According to the financial buzz online, no one is sugar-coating the whole dollar tanking issue anymore.

Dollar's Fall Is Scary but Not a Reason to Panic, Kiplinger's tells us the dollar will plummet but eventually rebound. National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell has said the falling dollar is a weakness potentially expolitable by U.S. rivals, especially those with energy reserves we want and need. CNN released an article yesterday about the dollar value reaching a 12-year low vs. yen and how it's at an all-time low versus the Euro (which to be fair has only been around for a few years). Plenty of people are talking about this, but our government officials are noticeably silent. It's like people are only supposed to think we are in a recession/crisis if Ben Bernacki says so. But why would he?

Anyway, I've been watching all these doom and gloom dollar headlines all over the web the last few days and had to round some of them up for you all. Experts are all predicting how low the dollar (and how high the oil prices) will get and when things will turn around.

To me, this sounds a lot like predicting the outcome of a sports game, or deciding who will win an Oscar. There are clearly some of us with more information than others but all opinions are still on the table. Pre-Superbowl, I watched three out of four pros in really nice suits pick the Patriots as the winners. I picked the Colts and was within two points of the final score at the end of the game. I saw no football the whole season (and know nothing about the sport in general) and somehow, I made a better call than "the experts". Of course experts can't always be right. That's why we watch the Oscars even if insert-movie-here is the predicted winner. We can speculate just like the experts because no one really knows for sure.

In the end, the market goes up, the market goes down. It's cyclic in a way no one can know for sure. So in part because I'm an optimist and in part because I have my own ideas, I think I'm just going to sit back and watch how this all plays out...Heck, I may even make some popcorn, because at the very least, it should be an interesting show.  

Done!

Why I Paid A Pro To Deal With My Taxes

Two weeks ago, I sat down at my computer with all my paperwork and began my taxes. With four jobs last year, a move, and a retirement account, I was left paying over $400 in federal taxes. Discouraged, I saved the computer file I was working on and decided to call a pro. Asking around the office, I found someone who would do it on short notice and fairly inexpensively.

Today, two weeks, three phone calls, and $95 later, my taxes are done. Federal and state combined, I’m now getting $180 back. Here’s what my accountant knew that I didn’t (among probably a lot of other things):

1)      You can put up to $3,000 into your retirement account this year. That’s $3,000 saved for the future that you don’t have to pay taxes on. You can also contribute right up until April 15 for it to count towards 2007.

2)      There is also a 10% retirement credit new this year. I’m not sure what this exactly means but I think retirement account money is even less taxable than before.

3)      To make it worth itemizing charity stuff, it has to be over $5,350 worth.

4)   He was also really interested in my moving expenses. Mileage reimbursement (which I didn't count) is $0.20 a mile, which can add up if you're going far (in my case, with ferry tickets and moving van rental, the deduction was worth figuring out). A non-related piece of advice: moving on/off an island is a logistical nightmare only truly understood by those who have done it.

“Looks like you’ll be breaking even,” my accountant said.

“Oh, I do love breaking even.” I told him. He probably has no idea about this blog but with those magic words, he reassured me that hiring him was a good decision.

An Invite To Guest Post

I’ve read in a few sources now that guest posts (posts written by special guests) are a great way to get more readers and interest in a blog. I am, of course, willing to try most anything so I thought I would offer readers an invitation.

Do you know something about a personal finance topic that I haven’t covered? Are you an interesting and informative writer? I invite you to email me your idea. (Just a few sentences of what you would write about is fine). We can then have a conversation about where to go from there.

Of course, I’ll give you author credit (or byline as we say in the newspaper business) and link to your site. Click “Email Me” if you are interested!

Volunteer Work With Zoey's Room

Good For Girls and Good For Me

Wherever I've lived, I always feel the need to get involved in some kind of volunteer work. In college, I tutored a high school kid. When I moved back home after college, I answered the domestic violence hotline a few times a month. On Vinalhaven, my job was all about coordinating community service. I mostly  do volunteer work related to education because it's something that I'm interested in.

Since I've moved to Ellsworth, I have been searching for my new volunteer opportunity. It is finally happening as of this week.

Zoey's Room is an online girl's technology community introduced to me by a friend Ally on Vinalhaven. She ended up starting a club there and the girls loved it. The website, only for girls 10-14 years old, teaches girls technology skills and gives them a chance to socialize. Online safety is stressed, there is the potential to learn a lot, and I've liked the "mentor"y relationship I had with the girls, especially since I don't get to work with kids a lot anymore.

I gave an info session to a couple hundred girls after which, eleven of them showed up to join the club. They are all so different from each other, leading me to believe even further that there is no such thing as a "typical" girl. They have a ton of energy and are itching to get started. We'll be meeting weekly until the end of the school year. It's pretty low pressure; the girls are all on their computers checking out the web site at their own pace. I'm just there to answer questions, help out when I can, and to get to know them better.

So I work a couple jobs, blog daily, and also like to take care of myself and other people. Why volunteer? I have a few reasons why volunteering is good for you in addition to being good for the world:

1) The less time available, the more critical it is to manage it. Maybe you are like me and given a lot of free time will waste it on gossipy magazines and too much snacking. Not to say a little of that is bad; it's just good to keep some things to a minimum.

2) It's a good way to meet people, for business and personal reasons. Whether you are in business or not, knowing more people helps you. For example, the more people who know I blog, the more will read it. I also could meet people who could potentially be really important for me in the business or friendship sense. And if you move to a new place, it's a pretty good way to make friends.

3) It puts things into perspective. Think you have issues? Nothing like looking at something from another point of view to help you see your situation more clearly… and probably make you feel better.

4) It's good for the world. The more good things you put into the world, the more you get back, right? At least that's what I've always thought.

5) Something new to learn and something new to do. And who doesn't like that?

So I'm looking forward to Monday afternoons with some new gals because I'm sure it'll be an experience of value.

Have you done any interesting volunteer work?

Image from: www.yourtownscable.com/zoeysroom 

Follow-up: Online Photo Contests

You may remember that about a month ago, I decided to try to make money off my cute dog by expoliting her in online photo contests. Here is what happened:

PamperedPuppy sent me a confirmation email and nothing else.

Cutest Pet Contest sent me a confirmation email then followed up via email and regular mail, offering to sell me the book my dog is in for only... $69.95. After I didn't respond to either solicitation, I heard nothing back.

Picture.com has been the most aggressive, emailing me several times a week more and more urgently that they need to hear whether I want a copy of the book they're selling (also about $70) and whether I will attend an amateur photographer's conference. I'm allowing them to email my account for another month before I mark them as spam.

Both Cutest Pet and Picture.com had me make the semifinal round in less than two weeks but have given me a month to buy their books. If anyone has seen anything from any of these contests, monetary prizes or otherwise, I'd love to hear about it. For me, they have been a little disappointing, of course for the lack of prizes but mostly for a lack of clear communication.

So in the online pet photo world, there is no money for nothing. At least not yet. (I can still hope a little, right?)

Meanwhile I've heard Kodak has a photo contest. I kind of believe in Kodak so I'll give you the link to submit here.

A Bathroom Transformed

Handyman: Handier And Cheaper Than A Plumber

I am the last person who will give someone grief about not being able to be handy around the house, probably because I just learned how to use a drill last year. When Sean didn't want to attempt the bathroom sink but then kept asking me if he should, I reassured him that I would not think he was any less manly for not wanting to flood our bathroom himself. I also pointed our that someone who did this for a living may have things like tools and spare parts that we didn't have.

The "odd jobber" came to our house and put in the sink in about two hours. He was pleasant, showed up on time, and he all the right tools (which helps when doing this sort of work). There were a few runs to the hardware store, Sean being the gofer/eager learner and me being the constant offerer of food and drink. In the end, he did a pretty good job.

We thanked him profusely and he charged us $50. We were surprised in a "surprisingly happy" way not often associated with home repairs. We tipped generously, overjoyed at the fact our project had come in over $200 under budget. Hugh ("the odd jobbah" as we'd say Downeast Maine) handed us his business card.

"...Handyman... No job too small..."

I have seen this before, of course, in classified ads especially. What makes handymen different than contractors, or even plumbers anyway?

While handymen don't usually have licenses or certifications, they often charge under $50 an hour but their "job sizes" may have a financial limits. (In some places, for example, if the job costs over $500 you need a licensed contractor.) Hugh had learned plumbing "by trial and error" but clearly knew what he was doing.

So if you have some home improvement to be made, look no further than your local handyman or woman. They may be able to give you the results you want for far less than you'd pay a contractor/plumber/professionally certified person. And they'll take on those small projects that regular contractors won't even bother with. Just ask around your neighborhood for recommendations. I know we'll be calling our odd jobber again!

Meanwhile, the before and after photos...

 

      

Even Sadie likes the bathroom better...

Fresh Flowers That Don’t Die In Two Days

Lasting Luxury, Minimal Hassle

I love the luxury of fresh flowers. In a vase on the kitchen table, they make everything seem to smell good and look just a little prettier. Problem is I don’t want to spend a lot of money on flowers. I just made the bouquet that Sean bought me last almost two weeks.

First of all, the type of flower will determine its lifespan. The Extravaganza Florist recommends the following long-lasting flowers: carnations, daisies, birds of paradise, antriums, ginger's, protea, liatras, orchids, and most of the exotic flowers. A video about caring for flowers (Videojug has quite a collection of how-to videos) recommends rhododendron as a less exotic long laster. The arrangement of lilies Sean got me lasted almost the whole two weeks.

The other aspect of keeping cut flowers around is how they are cared for. Every web site I saw recommended 1) re-cutting the bottoms of the flowers at an angle, 2) changing the water every one or two days and 3) cutting off the leaves on the flowers where they would be submerged in the water. I actually did these things (and took flowers out of the arrangement as they died). While the arrangement was smaller at the end, what was left was pretty for two weeks. There is a debate at The Frugal Life about things you add to the water but based on my experience, giving the plants clean water is all they really need. According to Flowerbud those little packets you get with your flowers are just mild antibacterial powder that when mixed with your water ensures it is clean.

So whether you buy a bundle of flowers or force some crocuses to sprout indoors, take advantage of the fact spring is coming. It’s been a long winter; give yourself a small affordable luxury.

Photo from: http://www.naturaltapestries.com/nancyportfolio/flowers/pages/Crocus%20in%20Snow.htm

Is It Getting Hot In Here Or Are We Playing The Stock Market?

I'm In A Couple That Knows The Meaning Of Romance

Some young couples buy their first piece of furniture together, or buy land to build a house. Sean and I have gone an even more romantic route and bought stock together as our first jointly owned item.

I've long wanted to enter the stock market game. But buying stock in some small unknown company or just a company I couldn't get excited about never seemed interesting to me. Yet that was precisely what I could afford.

I've talked about wanting to "own Google" frequently enough. At work, we use a lot of their software and I like that they are a company who treats their workers well. (I also think they are going to figure out television on the internet before anyone else but that’s just my hunch.)

When I inquired at dinner one night whether one could buy half a share of stock (GOOG was approaching $600 at that point), Sean offered to go in on it with me. We submitted money to eTrade and waited while it cleared. (Unlike their Superbowl commercials that promised instant stock purchasing, there is a nine business day waiting period on new funds.)

Meanwhile, Sean became interested in a company called Luminex that he likes and uses a lot at work.

As of two days ago, we are proud owners of 1 share of Google and 4 shares of Luminex (Sean has less expensive taste in stock than I do). We have a romantic dinner wager on which stock will do better, which we will evaluate six months from now.

And while I’ve always felt cheated that I couldn’t play the stock market game in high school economics class, I get to play it now.

Of course Google tanked and Luminex slightly tanked yesterday. I’ve decided for personal sanity reasons to take the little stock graphs that update every 15 minutes off my Google homepage. While I’d love to think I’m going to get rich off GOOG, I think this will just be a fun way to hopefully grow my money in the long run and allow me to learn more about markets firsthand.

I’d love to know how you’ve played the stock market game and how much you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy it.

Image from: http://btr.michaelkwan.com/2007/10/09/google-stock-breaks-600-will-anything-stunt-its-growth/

DNTO: Deep Into Debt

Show Discusses Interesting Domestic Arrangement

At work I'm allowed to listen to media through my headphones while I do my more tedious tasks. While I sometimes listen to music, I am more of a fan of podcasts, in particular newsy podcasts.

I began listening to DNTO (acronym for Definitely Not The Opera, a radio program that plays on the CBC Saturday afternoons when many other public radio stations are playing, you guessed it, opera) when I lived in Canada and am a subscriber to their Best of DNTO podcast. I finally got to listen to their "Deep Into Debt" episode this morning.

This episode discussed a new TV show called "Maxed Out", one professor's attempt to hold onto his youth by paying his student loan debt very slowly, and the nostalgic/cool allure of being able to have a bar tab. Overall, it was an interesting show that didn't go too far off its main topic. (DNTO does occasionally do that.) I did particularly enjoy one idea from it.

One part of the show talks to Dave Meslin (from a Toronto band called Hidden Cameras). Dave gets his prime Toronto office via a barter system with the owners of the building (he helps with computers, sweeps, etc.). Barter in itself is pretty interesting but what's more intriguing is how he lives.

Dave is a professional houseguest. He stays at a house for two weeks and helps the people with odds and ends. He's alphabetized 1,000 children's books, cooked, cleaned, ran errands, and built custom bookcases. In exchange, he gets a nice place to sleep. I found an interesting blog by one Pretty Lady that explains how she turned to professional houseguesting after her relationship with a Flaky Heiress forces a change in living situation. (And it made for a very funny read.)

Sean had a room mate before I met him. A good room mate. And there are times when a room mate is really convenient for everyone concerned. I am, however, intrigued by the idea of a room mate for a shorter period of time that would be mutually beneficial.

When I looked online earlier for some kind off an association around this idea, I only found lots of people who are professional houseguests (among other things) and a Myspace page visitors are directed to when visiting www.houseguest.org. (I have not been able to visit the site from my work computer but I will check it out this evening.) In any case, there should be a place on the internet where professional houseguests can meet up with potential hosts. It would only make sense. And while you aren't making cash on the side, you would be getting value added services for next to nothing.

Have you ever been a professional houseguest? Or had one? How did it go?

Eight Pounds Later

How Weight Loss Has Saved Me Money

I have previously asked the question “Will losing weight also save me money in addition to making me hotter and healthier?” I think my now eight pounds slimmer self has found the answer.

It seems like a coincidence that my grocery bill is lower this month than it has been in about five months (or since I moved here). What I have noticed though are fewer trips to the convenience store during work hours. My trip to my local country store in walking distance of work gave me crappy coffee and close-to-expiring snacks, though somehow it seemed like I almost needed it. To cut down on these trips, my coffee/snack budget was set at $10 a month in November but crept up to $20 in December.

This past month, I didn’t even spend $10 at my local store. I go there maybe once a week for a diet soda. I didn’t even miss it, let alone need it.

In addition to saving money on convenience foods, I also seem to have more energy. I’ve been able to blog more, be productive at work, and get to the gym three times a week. During a 12 hour workday last week (I’m back to teaching adult ed for a once a week, three hour long class), I was spunky without coffee, able to make it the whole day without getting grumpy.

Besides the savings, there have been no additional costs incurred for the weight loss. I’m not on any particular plan or group support. My only cost (which I was already for anyway) is a gym membership. My monthly fee is $35 and since the gym charges $7 an individual visit, I am more than getting my money’s worth by going three times a week.

My goal is 25 pounds but I know that is because I want to see a certain number on the scale again. It doesn’t matter so much to me now. This will be an ongoing project which I will keep you posted on. Just know that preliminary findings so far: a healthier weight will save you money.

Photos: Left Before, Right: After (well, 8 pounds toward After)

Real Simple's Money Issue

March's Issue of Real Simple Magazine Is Dedicated To Money

I've been a Real Simple subscriber for about three years. I like their little tips and the clean layout of the magazine. It's kind of like relaxing fluff reading and learning a few new things at the same time.

First, their reader question of the day was "On a scale of 1-10 how much do you worry about money?" It didn't make for some interesting reads like usual questions (like "best advice you ever got" or "favorite drug store product"). Some people worry, some people don't is what it comes down to. Overall, it wasn't a strong lead-in to the money issue.

I flipped through and found their main article "Your biggest money worries, solved". Let me share a few of my favorite tips:

1) Change all your computer passwords to reflect your larger goal. For example, if you want to remodel your kitchen or move to France, your computer password could be gle@mingkitchen or vivel@france2015. This subconciously makes your goal more ingrained in your head, and makes you more likely to be able to save for it.

2) Have money automatically deducted from your pay check or checking account to put into savings and retirement. You won't even miss it.

3) Write down everything you spend so you can know where you can cut.

4) Find other hobbies besides shopping, like taking a dance class or "watch YouTube videos". (I may add to this personally fulfulling activities that are good for your body or brain. I think we all tend to consume too much media... unless it is the educational variety that is.)

For the 23 year old married girl in my income bracket, they told her she was saving more than enough money and could hold off on her employer's 401K while she saved for a downpayment on a house. Meanwhile, I'm pouring all my extra money into my retirement account, thinking of the value of compound interest. Hmph.

Besides the money portion, the issue includes the best blogs (though they did not list personal finance blogs), how to cook fish, clothing items that will never go out of style, how to make yourhome ecofriendly, and a guide to buying major appliances.

Overall, I was hoping for a little more from Real Simple. There are plenty of interesting topics you can tackle with money (as you have seen with this blog, I hope). But I do understand that a lot of smaller topics are covered in addition to the theme of the issue.

So don't buy this issue for the money tips but do buy it for the other reasons you like the magazine: clean lines and interesting, light reads that are perfect before bed or general perusing.

Book Review: Helping Me Help Myself by Beth Lisick

Beth Lisick's Self Help Analysis Helpful, Fun

I have a great friend named Sarah who works at a San Fran bookstore and just sent me a couple books. The one I was most tempted to start (and finished quickly) was "Helping Me Help Myself" by Beth Lisick. It came out in early January and but Sarah had gotten the proof copy earlier. (So that's how those book store types have already read the book when it has just come out!)

First of all, I am one of those people people on a constant quest for self improvement. I don't usually seek help; I often reasearch things a little on my own and mostly go it alone. Beth has summarized all those books I've been meaning to read including "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People". I have actually read myself "Organizing From The Inside Out" and "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus". In other words, I understand why Beth would undertake this. It is a similar reason to why I've done this blog: to learn more about money and entertain others in the process.

I skipped (of course) to the financial chapter (Chapter 8) where she consults Suze Ozman, a financial planner who has her own show, column, and is Oprah's buddy. I'm working on a post about Suze Ozman so I'm not going to talk too much about her now.

The single most valuable thing that Beth got out of her book (and you can too) is to advocating for herself. She called her credit card company, who had put her interest rates through the roof (over 20%). She pointed out she was a loyal customer who could take her business elsewhere and they brought down her rate a bit. She insisted on zero percent and she got it. "In under five minutes' time, I just saved myself about $80 a month." she writes, only wishing she had made the call earlier. I think this is a great illustration about sticking up for yourself.

I think in the areas of our lives that we are least confident in, we are afraid to advocate for what we want. Or maybe we don't know what to advocate for. Which is why we need to make it our business to know at least a little and then become the squeaky wheel with our credit card companies, banks, insurance companies, and anyone else who isn't giving us a fair shake.   

I have since read the rest of the book (the Richard Simmons part ended up being my favorite) and it's great. If you're looking for a good read from a funny lady, this is it. And I now understand a few little tricks gleaned from some of the most popular books of all time.

See Beth's YouTube video...
Hear the NPR piece about the book...

Search Engine Optimization For A Small Blog

Improving A Blog's Position In Search Results

I like to blog but, as with anything else, there is a certain amount of periphreal stuff to do like networking and techy chores. The last few days, I have been working on search engine optimization.

The more tech aspects of blogging I have been learning as I go. I submitted my blog to all kinds of directories and I added Google Analytics to my page. I've been reading lots of Problogger articles. Still I wanted to further increase my traffic. (Who doesn't?)

I pumped one of my co-workers who is great with search engine optimization for what I could do with my blog. Here were his suggestions:

1) Use "Header 1" or larger fonts so when the spiders are crawling your web site, they know what is most important.

2) Submit your link to search engines (which I actually hadn't done yet).

3) Choose good keywords. You want ones that people will be searching for but that fewer web sites use. There is a great article about Keyword Research in my list of articles about how it works.

4) Update your site at the same time every day. This is so the crawlers know when to come back to your site. (Spiders, crawlers, and robots are the same thing; you can read more about them here.)

5) Create a sitemap.

6) Use pay-per-click ads (Like Google Adsense) and do other things to increase the amount of links on your site.

Google has some Webmaster Tools that actually help you build a sitemap, which I'm working on now. I'm pro-Google but I'm sure other companies have software that can help you accomplish some of these goals. I hope this was of help and I hope my work on this yeilds me some more visitors like yourself!