Guy Gourmet/Men's Health
This post is brought to you by Next Coupons, where you can use one of their Zappos coupons to get a great deal on a new pair of shoes.
Who knew there was a masculine and feminine way to cook? This fact struck me after reading three $10 dinner recipes by Men’s Health blogger Paul Kita. Maybe I’m being judgmental, but would a woman serve chicken, diced tomatoes, and stale bread to guests?
On second thought, his simple recipes have made me awfully hungry. Here’s one of the three he shares. The other two are for chili-rubbed chicken and chicken and black bean lettuce cups.
Recipe #3: Italian bread soup
With the carcass of the bird, make chicken stock. Next, saute 1 medium chopped onion and two minced garlic cloves for 10 minutes. Add a can of diced tomatoes and cook 5 minutes. Add the strained stock and 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh oregano. Cook 15 minutes, add salt and pepper, and stir in one chopped stale baguette. Ladle into bowls; add a swirl of olive oil, shaved Pecorino cheese, and cracked black pepper.
If you’re living lean, resolve to use every part of every ingredient you buy. You’ll achieve the same pride of cutting costs, only this time you’ll please your taste buds without ever having to touch cake batter, questionable meat byproducts, or packets of dehydrated “flavor.” Enjoy. You’ve earned it.
nutmeg/Flickr
This post is brought to you by Become.com, where you can get great deals on a Timex Ironman Watch.
I have a soft spot for IHOP pancakes, born out of their free pancake day every year on Mardi Gras. So light! So fluffy! So not in keeping with my exercise regimen!
But now through Feb. 21, 2010, all you can eat pancakes are $5. They start you with two then re-supply you three at a time.
The temptation to upgrade with coffee, sides of eggs, hash browns, sausage, bacon, or ham will be great. Those cost at least $1 extra, however.
If you can hold out, IHOP’s free pancake day is Feb. 23 this year.
I also love homemade pancakes, but they taste that much better when someone else makes them, don’t you think?
Caveats: at participating locations only. Find an IHOP near you.
My frugal friends at Savings.com found some great coupons for us this week. Check ‘em out!
Buy One Movie Ticket, Get One Free at Fandango when you use your Visa. Unknown expiration date.
Get 20% Off tax prep software downloads at H&R Block. Expires Jan. 11, 2010.
Get 15% off all orders at Bliss. (I adore their lemon sage body butter lotion.) Expires Jan. 15, 2010.
Get 15% off orders of $100 or more at Kohl’s. Unknown expiration date.
I could be super cheerful and persuade you that this year will be different and that you should take life by the horns, yada yada yada. But I’m not going to. Nothing will change – financially speaking – unless you start to budget.
Life is miserable, eh?
There are as many ways to budget as there are overextended consumers. I’ll share my system in a minute, but first let me warn you that it will take 15 minutes of your time. Can you spare a quarter hour for financial solvency?
Here’s the deal. Most budgets look backwards. You pull out your bills and receipts from the past month and add up what you spent. That number is supposed to indicate how much you will spend next month, right? Wrong!
A better budget looks forward. And my budgeting system only takes 15 minutes to set up. Click here to get my three-page budget. Then click on “Bargain_Babes_15_minute_Budget” in small font to download the zip file.
If you like what you see, sign up for my daily or weekly email list for more savvy-spending tips.
If you have an account at Bank of America you are in luck. B of A has extended their free admission program for museums, zoos, science centers and botanical gardens for 2010.
More than 100 institutions are participating in 34 states across the country, including:
- The Met, Whitney, Bronx Zoo, NY Aquarium and Intrepid in New York
- The Phillips Collection in Washington D.C.
- de Young Museum, Contemporary Jewish Museum and Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco
- Lied Discovery Children’s Museum and Natural History Museum in Las Vegas
- Children’s Museum of Richmond in Virginia
- Witchita Art Museum in Kansas
- LACMA in Los Angeles
- The New Children’s Museum in San Diego
Participating institutions are free on the first full weekend of every month. Upcoming free dates are Feb. 6-7, March 6-7, April 3-4, May 1-2, June 5-6, July 3-4, Aug. 7-8, Sept. 4-5. To get in show a photo ID with your Bank Of America/Merrill Lynch ATM, credit card, or debit card.
Caveats: excludes ticketed shows and special exhibitions. Only the cardholder gets in free. Cannot be combined with any other offers.
This is a guest post from credit card strategy expert known as Outlaw. He blogs about reward cards and cash back strategies over at Credit Card Outlaw.
The recession may have pulverized your 401k, but credit card companies are still offering great bargains — if you are willing to look, and cautious enough to pay your bill in full each month to take advantage of your grace period.
Since both of us are probably short on time, here’s a quick breakdown of my favorite cards out there right now.
For Travelers:
If you live in America, and you own a TV, you have probably seen one of the new Chase Sapphire commercials. They are on constantly. I recently reviewed their Chase Sapphire Preferred card which has an $85 annual fee (waived for the first year) and Ultimate Rewards points that never expire.
Your points can be redeemed for air travel or hotel stays, plus you earn 15,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 on the card within the first three months (that’s only about $333 per month, very doable). Sapphire Preferred also offers you a 7 percent annual points dividend.
There is also a “basic” version of the Sapphire card, which has no annual fee — but it won’t earn you a points dividend.
Only drawback to both cards? No zero percent promotional APR period, although if you pay your bill in full each month this is one to get anyway. Perfect for bargain-conscious jet setters.
For Cuisine Aficionados:
Enjoy an evening after work of cooking delicious food from scratch with fresh ingredients from the grocery store? So do I.
Which is why I’m a big fan of the Citi Dividend Platinum Select line of cards: you get “5 percent cash back at supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations & utilities for 6 months; 2 percent thereafter” plus 1% cash back on all other purchases. You can’t beat that.
I just got a cash back check from Citi the other day, in fact.
For Paranoid Bargain Hunters:
If you are worried about credit card companies slamming you with secret fees, the American Express Clear card is for you.
No annual fee, no late fees, no balance transfer fees, no over-limit fees, and no cash advance fees. Is that clear enough for you?
Plus, every time you spend $2,500 in eligible purchases, they automatically mail you an AmEx gift card for $25. Pretty hassle free. I’ve had this one for a couple months now, and aside from a lower-than-average credit limit compared to my other cards, I like it. It also has a cool transparent design that has gotten comments from quite a few bartenders.
I still carry a MasterCard as a back up, though, as some places don’t accept AmEx.
For more, check out my site, but these are my three absolute faves right now. Can’t go wrong with any of those.
If you’re a bargain-minded investor, the Schwab Invest First Visa card is pretty cool as well, because you get 2 percent cash back on purchases — which is swept into your Schwab brokerage account. Of course, you’ll need a brokerage account there to participate.
Small Business Owners:
I would recommend the Citi Professional Cash Card for small business owners and successful entrepreneurs. Great introductory terms and cash back: “3 percent cash back on purchases at restaurants, gas stations, certain office supply merchants and on auto rentals for 12 months, 1 percent thereafter” on purchases.
Plus, you get zero percent promotional APR on regular purchases for 6 months after opening your account, and then a reasonable 12.24% variable APR.
Although this is a great card, it is designed only for business use. Individuals without businesses will not be able to get it. It has some nice additional features for the busy executive, including free quarterly & annual summaries (great if you file your taxes quarterly) plus immediate access to a real human being by pressing “2” after you call their customer service line.
BargainBabe.com’s one-year anniversary is coming up and to celebrate I’m going to have a week of fabulous reader giveaways.
Every day we will give away at least one prize, including gift cards, books, and T-shirts. The daily prizes begin Monday, Jan. 25 and conclude Friday, Jan. 29, 2010.
Your feedback will help me decide what to giveaway!
[poll id="52"]
The reader who left the comment that won my review copy of Strategic Eating, a book that pairs healthy eating with money-saving strategies, has been looking for this type of book for some time. Congrats, Emi Onishi Ruzzin!
What a great idea – eat nutritionally AND save money. I’ve been trying to do that by using coupons, buying fresh ingredients, avoiding the processed and frozen food sections, etc., for years, but I haven’t seen a book specifically about having a strategy for eating right. With my first baby about to be born next month, I’d love to find out ways on how I can do more to eat nutritionally and cut costs. Also, the “Why coupons may end up costing you more” intrigues me a lot! Thanks.
An honorable mention goes to Mary:
Boy, I need this book! My husband and I have tracked our spending, and we spend far more on eating out that we realized. We’ve resolved to eat more at home, and to eat healthier, in the new year.
If you didn’t win, no worries. Buy it from Amazon now for $13.25.
When it comes to car finance no one wants to end up with an upside down loan, the dreaded situation where you owe more on your car loan than the vehicle is worth. Savvy consumers will do their research and look for vehicles that best retain their value.
Generally, depreciation is based on market demand for a vehicle Ferrari, for instance, is known for carefully selecting its buyers and then producing a limited number of its models to keep demand in the marketplace high. Popular extras will often help boost a car’s resale value while positive press (such as good safety ratings) and endorsements can also have an impact. Outside of these influences, there are a few overarching tips to consider so you can actually “get what you pay for”.
When it comes to vehicles, which cars tend to depreciate the quickest?
New vs used
The saying is true, a new car depreciate the second it is driven off the lot. Generally, new cars depreciate the most in their first year losing about 20 percent of its value in those first 12 months. Thus, many buyers will purchase “near new” vehicles and last year’s model as they tend to have hit the brunt of their first year’s devaluation.
Fuel Economy
These days, fuel economy is one of the most desired traits and many petrol guzzlers will find the values of their cars plummeting faster than they can refill their thirsty tanks. Recently, diesel cars have been in higher demand for their fuel economy and small efficient vehicles have also retained much of their value.
Bargain Basement Prices
Wonder why certain models seem like such a great value at the end of the year? Many dealers do their best to push through less popular stock at the end of the year to help clear out their inventory. If a model is nearing the end of its production line with many unsold vehicles on the lots, chances are they’ll experience some falling price figures in the next year.
Top Depreciating Cars
Meanwhile, Australia’s CarsGuide has released its list of fastest depreciating vehicles, with the Ford Falcon topping this list retaining just 47.9 percent of its value after two years. As noted above, large cars have been hit the hardest in the resale due to higher petrol consumption. Meanwhile, the Honda Civic Hybrid performed the best when it comes to depreciation, losing just over 12 percent of its value after two years. For more information on vehicle financing for a used or new vehicle, visit GetApproved.com.au for expert advice and competitive financing options.
This is paid content. Interested in buying a sponsored post? Read my Advertise page.
Barbara L Hanson/Flickr
We all know it’s cheaper to eat veggies that are in season, but what exactly is available this time of year? Here’s a list from Fruits and Veggies More Matters (not the best name for a website but the info is really good).
Click on each vegetable below for tips on selecting them at the store, info on the nutrition benefits, and the top 10 ways to prepare each one. My favorite winter vegetable is brussels sprouts.
Belgian Endive
Brussels Sprouts
Collard Greens
Kale
Leeks
Radicchio
Sweet Potatoes
Turnips
Winter Squash
Bonus: Here’s a recipe for roasted winter veggies from one of my favorite cookbook authors, the Barefoot Contessa.
KrissZPhotography/Flickr
This is a guest post from Margarette Burnette at CouponsAndKids.com.
We could all use a jump-start in our savings for the new decade. If you’re looking for new ways to plump up your nest egg, try these ten ideas for 2010.
1. To get winter savings, call your heating provider and ask for a lower rate. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average cost of space-heating fuels this winter is expected to decrease by about $84 . If you’re on a fixed rate heating plan—where unit rates won’t decrease at all–call your utility company and ask if it makes sense to go to a variable (or lower fixed) rate plan. Potential 2010 Savings: $84.
2. For summertime savings, call your electric company and enroll in a load management program. You could get a discount if you agree to cut your energy usage during peak periods (when air conditioners are typically going full-speed). In the mid-west, customers who opt for Duke Energy’s Power Manager Program receive a one-time credit of at least $25 just for signing up. Potential 2010 Savings: $25 or more.
3. Adopt a “round up” or “round down” spare change savings plan. Whenever you spend money, round up the total and put the difference between the actual price and the round number in your savings account. If you round up only $5 a week, that’s a 2010 savings of $260.
4. Come in under-budget at the grocery store. Every week, write out your grocery list and try to figure out how much your bill will be. Then, bring the right amount of cash for those purchases. If you come in “under budget”, deposit the difference at the bank (some supermarkets have banks or ATMs on the premises). By making $10 under budget each week, you could deposit 2010 savings of $520.
5. When shopping online, use rebate web sites. Companies such as Upromise.com give a rebate of 1% to 25% of purchases spent through their site, which can go towards a child’s college fund. If you make $4,500 in online purchases over the course of the year, and receive an average a rebate of 5%, that’s a potential 2010 savings of $225.
6. Call your car insurance company and ask for a low-mileage discount. If you commute fewer than 10,000 miles per year (for example, you work from home or recently lost your job), car insurance companies may give you a rate discount of up to ten percent. If your premium is usually $1,750 a year, that’s a potential 2010 savings of $175. (And even if you don’t have a short commute, shop around for new insurance at least once during the year. You may find a lower rate with another insurer).
7. Find a credit card with lower interest rates. Though new credit card rules don’t take effect until February, you may be able to find a lower rate today by comparing credit card companies. One free site, Billshrink.com, will let you anonymously input information about your credit card usage. It will then instantly make recommendations about which cards can save you money. If you have a $7,000 balance and can lower your interest rate by 4.5%, that’s a 2010 savings of $315.
8. Find a better cell-phone plan. Billshrink also lets you compare your cell-phone company against their competitors to find a better deal. The average person spends $63 a month for cell phone use, so if you find a plan that fits your needs for 30% less, your 2010 savings could be $225.
9. Seal your heating ducts. According to the Energy Star web site, doing so can prevent the “open window” cold air effect in the winter and save about $190, or twenty percent of the average heating bill. Potential 2010 Savings: $190
So far, you have a potential savings of more than $2,000. But don’t blow all your money before the end of the year. Instead:
10. Invest in a high yield savings account. Many online and traditional financial institutions offer FDIC-insured savings products that can help you earn more on what you save. This Bargain Babe post has information on how to find a better bank to save money. When you do that, it will be a great way to start the New Year.
The personal finance site MainStreet.com has a story with 14 radical New Year’s resolutions, from never paying for media to saying goodbye to ATMs. Don’t think I could do either of those, but if you turn to the third page of the story you’ll see a familiar name quoted, hint hint.
