Archive for July, 2008

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Millions being knock off asking price by sellers

According to a recent report desperate homeowners in the UK are knocking millions of pounds off the asking price of homes in a bid to try and get buyers in what has been described as the worst housing downturn since the early days of the 1990s by some industry officials. Millions of pounds are being [...]
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Cut Out the Foods of Convenience

Again it seems that busy schedules equal spending more money. While it may be easy to say “stop doing so much”, it may not be so easy to do. In my near future, I see Brownie meetings, soccer practice, first grade homework, and who knows what else. It can be so easy to run through [...]
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Cutting Costs With the Least Amount of Effort

Being frugal may not come naturally to all people and therefore many people feel they do not have the time to “learn” how to live a more frugal life. Some consumers can and do spend hours upon hours reading about tips and tricks for budgeting and living a more frugal life, yet do nothing beyond [...]
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Do Something New…and Save a Few $$$

Our busy lives often tend to get us stuck in a rut of doing the same old things the same old way. Sometimes those same old things could end up costing you money. Analyze your own weekly routine and see if any of this sounds familiar to you. If so, consider making some changes and [...]
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5 Ways to Improve Your Financial Situation in 8 Minutes or Less

Controlling out of control finances is a challenge for most of us, to say the least!  Often, the thought of even TRYING to make changes in how you spend or save money is overwhelming, and so we do nothing different… and no improvements are made.  What if you could improve your financial situation in 8 [...]
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Save on School Supply Shopping

My oldest son is going into first grade this September, and I still remember my shock at the extensive “school supply” list he had for Kindergarten LAST year.  I spent well over $60 gathering the supplies for his “must-have” list, and after receiving this year’s school supply list, I calculate it will cost about the [...]
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Rely on Other People’s Mistakes to Find a Bargain

Sometimes finding a bargain is as easy as looking for other people’s errors and many times, these mistakes can save you a whole lot of money. Think about what it takes to update your home or even just a room in your home. You make a trip to the paint store to choose the color [...]
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Take a Trip to Balboa Park

San Diego is one of those cities that never gets old or dull. With interesting sites at every turn, beaches, two amusement parks, botanical gardens, museums, a zoo, two historic districts, a port, nearby islands, and shopping galore you can easily fill your day, week or month. Since we live a short drive away, we [...]
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Claims That May Increase Your Insurance Costs

Insurance, whether for a car or your home, is already an expensive monthly cost so it makes sense that you want to do whatever it takes to keep your rates as low as possible. While no one wants to ever have to use their insurance, the purpose of having insurance is to protect you in [...]
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Freedom to Explore: Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Class Ships

Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Class ships provide passengers with options aplenty on the high seas. Three new mega cruise liners are sailing Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries with offerings from 4- to 14-night cruises. Freedom and Liberty of the Seas rotate between Eastern and Western 7-night itineraries from the ports of Miami and Port Canaveral. Independence of [...]
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Where Billy the Kid Grew Up

If you are an old western buff, you may think Silver City, New Mexico is a must see town. And it is true that their downtown looks historic and the town itself still has the old west feel. But, other than that, you will probably be very disappointed. Unlike other old west towns that have [...]
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Golf…A Vacation Destination

After this year’s nail-biting U.S. Open win by Tiger Woods, it is no surprise that this sport inspires both beginners and experts to go for a birdie. Golf is a sport that transcends ages and sex and is an activity that is sought after not just at home, but is a requested sport from travelers [...]
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Carnival of Personal Finance #163 Published

This week’s carnival of personal finance is at YouNeedABudget.com.   Tisha’s 5 Untruths About Your Credit Report has been included in the carnival, as well as a number of other great personal finance readers.  Here are some that I liked: Debt Freedom Fighter provides 3 Credit Card Tricks that Keep More Money In Your Pocket. Money [...]
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Hollywood Universal Studios

Lights! Camera! Action! Visit Universal Studios in Hollywood, California where the film industry has its roots. Don’t scrimp on this vacation; there is plenty to see in a short time, so you need to be prepared to spend a little extra for the best view of this Hollywood landmark. Hotels are easy to come by, [...]
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5 Tips for Cost-Effectively Restocking Your Child’s Closet

Summer months are drifting by and soon it will be time once again for school to begin. This means to most parents the dreaded expense of buying a new wardrobe to replace last year’s school clothes they have outgrown in a short period of time. Of course it is nice to be able to buy [...]
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Romantic Beach Destination: The Outer Banks

There is something about the mixture of sun, sand and romance. The Outer Banks, North Carolina provides a quiet and romantic vacation, especially if you like the surf, sand, history, tasty seafood, and even a little adventure. The Outer Banks beaches are natural, undeveloped shores of nearly 70 miles of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  [...]
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Under The Old Apple Tree

Oak Glen, California is where you go to find apple picking fun, historical turn of the century reenactments of village living, community barbeques, and old west gun fights. Start your day off with some apple picking. If apples aren’t in season, turn to berry picking. There are many farms along Oak Glen Drive that have [...]
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Renting a Car Without Credit

Have you ever tried renting a car without having a major credit card to use to make the reservation? If so, then you know how difficult it can be to get through what should be a simple process. Car rental companies do not always permit reservations and payment for a rental with a debit card [...]
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Literary Inspired Travels to Key West

Starting as children we escape into destinations through story books. From Eloise adventures in New York’s Plaza Hotel to taking a swan boat ride in Boston as in “Make Way for Duckling” by Robert McClosky, books inspire our journeys. On an adult-level though, traveling to Key West is truly a tropical destination complete with literary history. [...]
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The Payground.com Offers Home Equity Secrets

Recently I was given the opportunity to read an ebook provided by thepayground.com, called: Home Equity Secrets: Simple Methods for Building Your Wealth.  Unfortunately, I’m not in the position to put these secrets to use, but after reading the ebook, I sure wish I could! Unlike the majority of personal finance advice columns, blogs, and [...]
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Carnival of Personal Finance #162 Published

Emily Starbuck Gerson of Taking Charge hosted the Carnival of Personal Finance #162, with an entertaining baseball theme.  Some of my favorite posts she included are: The Money Answer Guy helps consumers decide if they should hang onto their gas guzzlers. Not the Jet Set tells how the envelope system works and why it has [...]
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Pay Attention to Your High Interest Not High Balance

More and more consumers are finding themselves in debt than ever before. With the economy on shaky ground and people tightening budgets, it doesn’t take long for debt to become a reality and spin out of control. Many people faced with a mounting pile of bills can easily become overwhelmed, worrying about how they will [...]
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The Boating Vacation Spot

The Colorado River in Parker Arizona is a favorite vacation spot for our family. This stretch of river is known as the Parker Strip. It runs for 16 miles and is just south of Lake Havasu. During the summer, the cool water in the river is refreshing and the recreation never ends. Boats pull skiers [...]
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Twitter

This is totally a shameless plug, but feel free to follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/MatthewDP
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Carnival of Debt Reduction: The Secret to Life Edition (#149)

American Consumer News is pleased to host the Carnival of Debt Reduction: The Secret to Life Edition (#149).  From the website for “The Secret“: The Secret explains with simplicity the law that is governing all lives, and offers the knowledge of how to create – intentionally and effortlessly – a joyful life.  This is the [...]
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5 Untruths About Your Credit Report

Like with many facets of life, there are myths aplenty when it comes to personal finances, in particular one’s credit score and credit history report. Myths can be really harmful when it comes to your personal finances so it is best to have the correct knowledge before making important financial decisions. Here are 5 things [...]
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How To Mulch Your Gardens Inexpensively

Gardening is making a comeback with many families due to the high costs of produce at the grocery store. One important aspect of gardening that helps ensure nutrients and moisture to the plants is through mulching. Mulch has many benefits for a garden, even in flower beds.  Here are some of the advantages of mulching [...]