Wise Bread

Ask the Readers: Are Rebates Worth It? (Your Chance to win $10!)

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:22:14 +0000

I used to love refunding (also known as rebating). Getting something for free (even after having to wait weeks to get my funds) was a rush. I would use a combination of Walgreens rebates, office supply store rebates, and home improvement chain rebates to get an assortment of much-needed (but not budgeted for) items for our home. Software, power strips, weather-stripping, shampoo, and cold medicine were eventually obtained for little to nothing, provided I could fork out the 39cents for a stamp and bide my time.

Some haven't been so thrilled with the hobby, however. Reports of refund clearing houses going out of business, refunds being lost or misdirected, and the hard fact that many were putting purchases on their credit cards while they waited for their refunds made the practice an exercise in loss, not frugality. And while there are most definitely steps you can take to ensure you get your rebate, there is a certain element of risk involved.

Do you rebate? Are you smart about it? Do you buy stuff you don't even want or need so that you can eventually recoup all your money? Or do you avoid the practice altogether. We want to hear your thoughts on the topic. If you're lucky, you'll be one of two winners we randomly select to get a $10 Amazon gift card. Dozens have already won!

Win a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate

Post your answer in the comments below, or
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Friday, November 27th at 11:59 am CST. Winners will be announced after this time on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter both drawings — once by leaving a comment and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)

Good luck!

Permalink | 12 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Giveaways

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Best Deals For Tuesday 11/24/09

Paul Michael — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:17:09 +0000

By Paul Michael

Today's WISEBUY. NikeStore Clearance Sale - Up to 70% Off, + 25% Off, + FREE s/h
NikeStore now slashes up to 70% off items in its clearance section. Plus, take an additional 25% off clearance prices via coupon code "VICTORY". Get free shipping, via coupon code "GIFT" (the coupon codes stack).

FREE Audiobook From AUDIBLE.COM. NO CREDIT CARD required!
Great tip from Wise Bread reader Armand. In order to ease the stress of the Thanksgiving holiday, we've assembled a list of great titles for you to enjoy free of charge. From now through Thanksgiving Day, first time listeners can choose 1 FREE audiobook on us.

FREE Seventh Generation Dryer Sheets Sample
For a limited time, Seventh Generation is offering sample packs of our Blue Eucalyptus & Lavender Softener Sheets.

FREE Betty Crocker 2010 Calendar
Sign up for free Betty Crocker's 2010 Calendar. Comes with coupons and recipies.

FREE Christmas Stocking Sample
Test Drive our product for FREE. We're ready to send you a FREE sample of Christmas stocking right now. Simply fill out the form and we will send you sample of the highest quality Christmas stocking.

FREE "Sample Claus" MP3 Music Download
"If you grew up in the 60's and have great memories of your Christmases spent with loved ones and listening to music like this, then you can't help but love this."

Swingline Desk Stapler Just $2.72 plus FREE NEXT DAY SHIPPING
Office Depot offers the Swingline 545 Standard Desk Stapler in Black for $3.20. Coupon code "18836257" cuts it to $2.72. Get free shipping via next business day.

Wireless LED Under-Cabinet Lighting System just $10 plus $4.50 s/h ($40 off!)
It includes 15 white LEDs (five LEDs per light disc) and features a 1-touch on/off switch, selectable dimmer, and more. They're powered by 6 AA batteries (not included).

Swing The Handle 5-DVD Gold Training Set Just $19.99 (was $99.99)
Affectionately known as the "Little Pro," Eddie Merrins has long been revered as a golf guru. Great gift idea.

Up to 75% Off All-Clad LTD Cookware
CutleryandMore.com cuts up to 75% off All-Clad LTD cookware, with prices starting at $24.95. Shipping starts at $5.95, but orders of $49 or more ship for free.

3 Technologies That Help Stay-At-Home Moms Build an Online Business

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:00:02 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

This article is Wise Bread's contribution to Life Scoop, where ordinary people learn how to make surprising things happen with technology.

Raising kids and building a business don’t instinctively go hand-in-hand. It takes a certain amount of savvy, perseverance, and a unique amount of creativity to mesh your personal life with your professional life. While Moms have moved beyond the days of working in their pajamas and scheduling important calls only during naps, the struggles still exist. These three tech solutions can help a Mompreneur expand her working potential, without sacrificing her precious role as Mommy.

Don’t Slack, Track!

Ask any Work-at-Home Mom what her biggest challenge is, and she’ll almost always answer, “I need more time!” While there will always only be 24 hours in any given day, understanding where it all goes to is step #1 in creating efficiency and improving profitability. Today’s best tools for tracking time are free. My favorite is the popular Toggl.com. Toggl is as simple as it gets, giving users a free basic membership and an entirely web-based solution. (Working between a PC, laptop, and an iPhone? No problem. Just log in from anywhere to start tracking those minutes!) Since tracking time is as simple as pushing a red button, you can make sure you get credit for every second that you are engaged in your business, making billing clients an easy task again.

Moms who check their client emails from the waiting room of their child’s dentist have no reason not to get credit for their time. (And you can finally explain to your kids that you have NOT been working all day, but rather 5 hours, 30 minutes, and 27 seconds.) Conversely, time tracking tools can help with Moms who have boundary problems, giving them the satisfaction they need when putting in a hard day’s work, and giving them the freedom to leave work at the end of a day to cuddle with kiddos and spend precious time with their spouse.

Communication Can Be a One-Way Street

I pride myself on being accessible to my clients but understand that sometimes, communication should not go both ways. With several young children in the home, it becomes necessary to control communication to present the message you really want to send, and technology is the key to making it all happen. While Moms have traditionally limited themselves to “shooshing” kids during important calls and hiding in the laundry room for new client interviews, there are better ways to get the job done.

For the mom who never seems to have a good time to chat, email is indispensable. Not only can you have a few moments to proofread your responses, you can be sure that your conversations will not carry a hint of whatever kind of day your kids are having. With clever tools like GoToMeeting.com, you can attend presentations via the web, and not have to utter a word during the exchange. Chat functions allow you to raise your hand, ask questions, and provide valuable feedback during the event, regardless of how many you have sitting on your lap at the time. GreenYourDecor.com’s Jennae Peterson adores this particular one-way communication tool. “Being able to attend a web seminar while I'm cooking or combing my daughter's hair is invaluable and it allows me to get more out of my time.”

Skype is another precious tool for letting your voice (and your voice, alone) be heard. With many useful options for keeping communication clear from any room in your home, it’s possible to take your laptop with you and out of the range of blaring TV’s and Tonka Trucks. In instances where advanced planning will serve you best, you can always record a quick video presentation via a Flip Video Camera and send it to your client at their convenience. (This lets the client really get to know you, and it can help display your willingness to work with different kinds of media.)

Always Take Your Business With You

While I can’t argue with the need for keeping business and personal separate, there are certain definite benefits to keeping your most precious business tools with you at all times. In addition to having an ample supply of custom-made business cards stashed in your diaper bag or purse, Moms with an online business should consider a mobile device equipped to help them complete daily tasks from anywhere. “My phone has saved my business tremendously. It's like I can be in several different places at one time,” insists Melissa Garcia of the popular ConsumerQueen.com. “I never have to worry about missing important messages from important clients. I also don't have to worry about turning down awesome opportunities due to being unavailable.” Melissa also admits that it has helped her keep her family life in check, “It has helped me stay connected to friends, organize my kids’ busy schedule and allow me to post hotel deals to my community in real time! I don't know what I would do without my phone now!”

Fuel Up Your Kids -- Frugally

Caroline Reno Wilder — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:02 +0000

By Caroline Reno Wilder

From cardboard pastries and sugar-laden cereals to full-of-fat nuggets and greasy pizza, it's no wonder that as many as one in three kids in the U.S. are considered obese. Fueling up with fat, sodium, and sweet stuff is no way to cruise through the day. The good news is that, despite the sluggish economy, you can provide low-fat and low-cost breakfast options and cheapskate lunches that pack a nutritional punch.

Jump Startin' the Day

While simple carbs may offer a quick pick-me-up, it's the more complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and calcium-rich foods that will help sustain kids throughout the school day. Best of all, whipping up nutritious breakfast options is heart-healthy and wallet friendly. Besides, isn't it better to bond with your kids at the kitchen table versus the drive-through of your local fast-food joint?

Try these flash-fast morning meals that can be made in minutes and for less than a buck:

Oatmeal mixed with fresh fruit and skim milk
Whole-grain tortilla with peanut butter and sliced bananas
Scrambled eggs with spinach and reduced-fat cheese
Fruit smoothie made from low-fat plain yogurt, frozen fruit, and 100-percent fruit juice
Wwhole-grain bagel sandwich filled with scrambled eggs and turkey bacon or lean ham.

If you have more time...

whip up a batch of oat bran muffins with an antioxidant boost of blueberries, or
make a frittata with reduced-fat cheese and loads of veggies.

Lunches With Lasting Power

It's no surprise that many kids will opt for burgers, fries, and pizza in the school cafeteria while nixing the fruits and vegetables. Packing lunch, however, gives you more control over the nutritional content of your child's meal and your budget. According to the School Nutrition Association, the average price for a lunch bought at a public school for '08-'09 was $2.08. And depending on the length of the school year, that translates to $300-$400 a year, per child. I don't know about you, but I could think of much better ways to spend that money on my family.

Some suggestions that will leave your kids satisfied until that after-school refrigerator raid:

Forgo pricey pre-packaged kid lunches and pack lean turkey or ham (choose nitrite-free) and reduced fat cheese (cut into shapes using cookies cutters). Add whole grain crackers and a piece of fruit and you've got lunch. Kids will have fun making this one, too.
Whole-grain pita filled with lean cuts of turkey, ham or roast beef, mustard, lettuce, and tomato
Peanut butter and sliced banana sandwich on whole-grain bread
Whole-grain pita filled with hummus and veggies such as cucumbers and shredded carrots
Multi-grain bagel filled with reduced fat cream cheese.

Round out your child's healthy lunch with smart snacks and sides. Some good choices include string cheese, cups of unsweetened applesauce, baby carrots and hummus or low-fat Ranch dressing, whole grain crackers, and raisins. To keep your costs down even more, buy in bulk and consider store brands over name brands. Often, the ingredients and taste are identical.

Be Green on the Lunch Scene

Saving money on school lunches extends beyond food. By investing in a reusable lunch tote and stainless thermos, for example, you can watch your budget and help the environment in the process. According to the EPA, the United States consumes more than 380 billion plastic bags, sacks, and wraps every year.

Reusable lunch sacks, sandwich containers, and stainless water bottles can be used over and over, cutting down on landfill waste and regular paper and plastic purchases.

Getting the Kids on Board

If your kids have grown accustomed to making less than optimal choices at breakfast or lunch, it's never too late to change course and create healthier eating habits. Enlist their help in packing lunches and let them choose from several healthy selections each day. Lastly, give them a simple economics lesson and show them just how much your family can save when you pack each day. Perhaps even set aside the money you would have spent on school lunches and use it for something the entire family can enjoy.

Disney Offers Free Theme Park Passes for Volunteering in 2010

Xin Lu — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:04 +0000

By Xin Lu

Starting in 2010, the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program will be giving out free tickets to Disneyland or Disney World for those in the United States and Puerto Rico who volunteer at participating action centers. Here is how you can participate.

First, go to the official website at Disney to sign up to be notified of volunteering opportunities in 2010. The volunteering opportunities would be distributed through action centers of the HandsOn Network. For some examples of the possible opportunities, type in your zipcode at the HandsOn Network. When you register at the Disney website you can also specify what type of volunteering opportunities you are interested in. You must preregister for the volunteering opportunities and Disney will send you an email after confirmation of your service. The email will also contain instructions on how to print out a voucher for a ticket to one of the Disney theme parks.

For more details about the program there is a FAQ available. Each household could have up to 8 volunteers and children have to be at least 6 years old to volunteer. This is a great weekend activity for those who are interested in giving back to their communities. Adult tickets to Disney theme parks cost anywhere from $60 to $90 currently so this program is a great way to earn those tickets in your free time. Disney is hoping to motivate 1 million people to volunteer, and hopefully some of these volunteers will find that giving back is fun and continue to volunteer in the future.

Permalink | Comments | Xin Lu's blog | Channel: Art and Leisure

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How to Get the Best Deals on Black Friday

Linsey Knerl — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:10:23 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

This article shares tips from the 14h episode of Dealista, our new podcast that'll help you get more for less. Click play to listen, or subscribe via iTunes to take the episode with you!

Download episode mp3 | Check out show archive

Assuming you’ve already checked out the deals sites and have an idea of what you may want this Black Friday season, there’s still a bit more preparation that we recommend you make time for BEFORE you head out into the crazy crowds. Surprisingly, most of these tips are not at all high-tech, but they’ve proven effective year after year.

1. Snag that newspaper

We realize that many Black-Friday specific deal sites have had the scans of the ads leaked for days or even weeks. But let’s face it, planning your shopping around digital copies can be cumbersome (and really expensive if you need to print out copies to make notes on). Get the paper on Thanksgiving, and get the deals straight from the horse’s mouth. If you find that you’re missing a circular due to regional paper restrictions, then you can go online and print to your heart’s desire.

2. Comparison shop

With so many of the same “doorbuster” items being offered in each store, your deciding factor may ultimately be price. Many retailers, like Walmart, offer price matching on any competitor’s ad. Other stores will be offering one-of-a-kind or promotional items that can’t be matched. For easy tracking, I like to get out a stack of 3 x 5 cards and title each card by store. Be sure that you know which store is offering the lowest price on the item you want, and indicate it by writing the item down on the appropriate store card.

3. Track times

Stores may be opening as early as 4 a.m. (and a few are buzzing over their midnight madness sales). To keep everything clear, note what time each store opens on its corresponding card. Then sort by which opens the earliest, so that you can hit them in order.

4. Turn in early

Some of your best-laid plans can occur the night before, when you lay out your clothes, pack your purse/wallet/credit cards/cash, gather your ads and notecards, and tuck a breakfast bar or other healthy snack into your to-go bag. Will it be cold in your part of the country at 4 a.m.? If so, bring layers. You’ll want to stay warm when standing outside, but cooler when in the long checkout lines.

5. Be there

The best way to ensure success is to get to the store early. Plenty early. If you’re first in line, head directly to a shopping cart and grab one before they’re gone. Then proceed to the best deals in an orderly fashion. (This is where it’s helpful to bring a friend, as they can hold your cart or place in line, while you scout out additional items.) Don’t forget your receipts for refunds, returns, or gift exchanges!

Additional tips to note:

With all the buzz surrounding Cyber Monday, it may be tempting to wait out the deals for something cheap you can buy from home. While some stores are already leaking what deals they will make available online the day of Black Friday, most experts agree that the Cyber Monday deals will pale in comparison.
You’ll also want to be sure to think about what items may not be available during the peak shopping season (remember the Wii shortages?). If you absolutely have to get “the” gift of the season, you might be better off taking advantage of any good sales now — rather than taking the chance of missing out altogether.
Stores like Walmart have gotten a bad rap for incidents like last year’s trampling of a store employee and have taken some reasonable steps to ensure things go more smoothly this year. If you can, visit each store’s corporate website to see how procedures may differ from year’s past. Walmart, in particular, is offering previews to their sale prices online right now, and even provide a map to see where the limited-stock products will be dispersed throughout the store on the big day.

Dealista

If you enjoyed these tips you can find more in our show's archive or subscribe via iTunes.

Dealista is a collaboration between Wise Bread and Quick and Dirty Tips, the producer of popular podcasts such as Grammar Girl, Money Girl, Winning Investor, and Mighty Mommy.

Check out more great tips from our sister shows:

Permalink | 8 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Shopping

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Best Deals For Monday 11/23/09

Paul Michael — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:54 +0000

By Paul Michael

Today's WISEBUY. 500 MP3 Albums Just $5 at Amazon - First 1 Million Customers Pay Only $2!
The Amazon.com MP3 Store now offers downloads of 500 MP3 albums for $5 each. (It typically only has 50 albums on sale at that price at any given time.)

FREE Zingiber 7g Joint and Muscle Cream
To receive a free 7g sample of ZingiberRx, please fill out all fields.

FREE Successful Living Magazine Subscription
Successful Living gives you the tools and tips to live the life of your dreams.

FREE Veria 30-Minute Relaxation Pack
When the holidays get hectic, take a break with the Veria 30-Minute Relaxation Pack.

FREE Set of 15 Portrait Gift Tags
What a unique idea! Get 15 free portrait gift tags for free, no purchase necessary.

Shop Ecko: Extra 40% Off Clearance Prices!
Includes some of the much sought after Star Wars hoodies and apparel. Get them quick!

Up to 80% Off TV DVD Sets at Best Buy
Best Buy cuts up to 80% off a selection of TV shows on DVD, dropping them to $12.99 each. Pay $2.49 for shipping.

McAfee Antivirus 2010 Over 75% Off - Just $8.99 with FREE s/h
McAfee® AntiVirus Plus software, now available with revolutionary Active Protection technology, offers essential PC security with accelerated performance and helps keeps you safe online from viruses, spyware and hackers.

Women's Sweaters from $0 (zero) at JCPenney!
JCPenney offers the east5th Women's Ballet Neck Sweater (pictured) for $9.99. Pad your order over $10, and apply coupon "GR8VALUE" to cut the price to $0 (excluding padding).

The Fallacy of Homeownership as a Sound Investment

Brandon Laughridge — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:00:03 +0000

By Brandon Laughridge

Homeownership is ingrained in the American psyche. Beyond that, the idea of owning a home has become a moral imperative in the United States. Presidents from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush have extolled the virtues of homeownership as a symbol of American freedoms and values. "No man who owns his own house and lot can be a Communist," the preeminent 20th century builder William Levitt famously said.

Owning a home has become inextricably linked to the American dream, as much a part of the social fabric as baseball and apple pie. But the reality is that most Americans would be better off buying shares of Apple instead of trying to use homeownership as a vehicle for wealth creation.

The contention flies in the face of maxims and political mantras that millions of Americans have accepted as Gospel truth. But the numbers, the economists and the historical patterns lead to the same general conclusion: Homeownership is not a wise investment.

A Dearth of Diversity

There's a cliché about eggs and baskets that's rather apropos here. In most cases, investors would shudder at the thought of pumping a majority of their capital into a single stock, no matter how blue the chip. But that's exactly what most homeowners are doing. And it can have devastating long-term consequences given the unpredictable, fluctuating nature of the housing market. Just ask the thousands of near-retirees nationwide who've been forced to hold off on retirement because of the one-two punch of diminished stock portfolios and plummeting home values.

"You're supposed to diversify as much as possible — put your money into stocks, bonds, many different geographies — and then use the income to rent whatever you like, which allows for greater flexibility, as well as efficiencies," Robert Schiller, a professor of economics at Yale University, wrote in an October 2008 issue of Newsweek. "The popular argument that renting is throwing money down the drain is really fallacious, since if one rents one can invest the money one would have put in the home in other investments, and so offset the rent with the dividends from the investments."

Homeownership can become a black hole for income that could otherwise be redirected into investments with more stable, proven returns. Isn't the stock market risky? Sure, it certainly can prove tumultuous, especially looking at the last two years. But for most homeowners interested in maximizing return on investment, history is not on your side...

History is Not on Your Side

It doesn't square with the American mantra of homeownership, but there are numerous studies from economists, real estate experts, sociologists and others that continually lead to the same conclusion: Homeowners are lucky to break even when using their home as an investment. The reality is that, in most cases, historical returns are much more favorable for the stock market and other forms of business and even real-estate investment.

For example, the average appreciation for U.S. homes was 5.6 percent from 1987 to 2006, according to the S&P National Home Price Index. Adjusted for inflation, that's more in the ballpark of a 3- to 5-percent return. Factor in the 2 percent expense ratio of owning a home (the cost of ownership as a percentage of its value over the course of a year, as defined by The Motley Fool) and those margins shrink even further. At the same time, there are proven, big-time companies whose returns have far outstripped market averages for decades.

Economists also point to the Case-Shiller index, a composite of 10 major cities. The return on homes is a mere 1.14 percent a year over inflation since 1987. Since 1994, the figure has increased slightly to an annual return of 4.7 percent. But factor in inflation during that span (about 2.5 percent) and you're still looking at thin margins — around 2.2 percent annually above inflation. As the Wall Street Journal recently noted, investors routinely perform better with government bonds.

Buying a House is Just Renting Anyway

Speaking of mantras and clichés, there's one in particular that tends to dominate the buy v. rent discussion: Paying rent is simply throwing away money every month. But how many homeowners get back their mortgage interest payments, or their property taxes, or their monthly maintenance expenses?

Homebuyers spend a good 20 years paying mortgage interest before their monthly payment starts scratching away at more of the principal than the remaining interest. In essence, homeowners are renting money from their commercial lender. Compounding that is, well, the compounding. Homebuyers will typically pay for the cost of their home again just in interest payments. Factor in two or three decades of property taxes, insurance, maintenance and improvements and a $300,000 home quite easily becomes a $1 million purchase.

Here's an example with some numbers:

You want to buy a $200,000 house. You put down $40,000 (at 20 percent you avoid mortgage insurance) and finance the remaining $140,000 at 5.25 percent on a 30-year mortgage. A decade later, you decide to sell your "investment" for $300,000.

It's here that some homeowners are tempted to proclaim they made a cool $100,000 profit on their home investment. Ah, but not so fast...

The Fallacies of Cashing Out

With homeownership, appearance and reality are two very different things. Let's keep that same example. After the first 10 years of payments, you will have spent about $100,000, with more than $75,000 going solely toward mortgage interest. Include the $40,000 down payment and that's about $146,000 during the first decade.

At the time of sale, you can subtract the remaining mortgage balance and sale proceeds. You're left with a whopping $22,684 return.

But that doesn't include the money you've shelled out during the last 10 years in property taxes, insurance, maintenance and improvements. Taxes and insurance over the last decade could easily total another $35,000 to $40,000. Now you're losing money — big time. And we're not even worrying about inflation.

Tax deductions could offset some of the pain during that decade, but certainly not enough to ease the pain.

Homeowners can easily overlook the mountain of money they've spent during the course of owning a home when the time comes to sell. There's something about holding a six-figure check that somehow disables the brain's ability to do simple math.

The costs of homeownership rarely meet up with price appreciation. Homeowners who bought in the Dallas area in 1986 didn't see home appreciation until 1998. In 2000, Los Angeles homebuyers finally saw home values return to what they been in 1990. Beyond that, money spent on upgrades and improvements don't generally translate into extra dollars in your pocket come closing day.

Whatever "profit" emerges upon selling your home, chances are you've already spent most of it on taxes, mortgage interest and upkeep. Besides, that "profit" is usually short-lived anyway. Many people turn around days later and pour those funds into a new mortgage.

It's a Lifestyle, Not an Investment

Despite the political pronouncements and moral imperatives, homeownership is not a wise investment. But it's an important cornerstone of American society — one that people still hold tightly to despite boom and bust cycles and the overall grim economic picture. A Rasmussen Report in September 2008 showed two-thirds of Americans believe home buying is the best investment families can make.

While that notion is a complete fallacy, its pervasiveness speaks to how deeply rooted the concept remains, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. For many Americans, homeownership is a right that brings an autonomy and self-fulfillment that renting will never inspire. If owning a home suits your lifestyle, find a trusted lender and the home of your dreams.

But don't view your home as anything other than a place to hang your hat. Grand visions of home ownership as the path to wealth creation will likely leave you hanging your head.

Giving Back to Those Not Necessarily on Your Christmas List

Tisha Tolar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:49 +0000

By Tisha Tolar

As we rush to find the "perfect gift" for friends and family, we tend to get tunnel vision about the holiday season. No matter how tight our budgets or shopping time may be, remember still there are some people who would be thrilled to be in our shoes, amongst the chaos of family, friends, and festivities. Those without families, homes, money, or good health are not expecting much from the holiday season but you and your family can give them an everlasting gift — one you'll likely remember forever yet pay nothing much to give. There are many ways you can help or find money for charity. Here are some ideas to give this holiday season.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

Sponsored by the Red Cross, this effort allows the public to send holiday greetings and thanks to soldiers and veterans. Cards must be received by December 7, 2009. This is a great way to spread some gratitude and holiday cheer to those who may not have their families nearby to celebrate.

Cards That Give

When shopping for Christmas and holiday cards, check out this website that combines the efforts of over 100 non-profit organizations who create and sell greeting cards for all occasions. Each purchases helps support the groups, which include humane societies and children's hospitals. Many of the organizations also create all-occasion cards so shopping and helping a good cause all year around is possible.

Welcome Back Veterans

This website will help you find information about sending greeting cards and thanks to veterans who have served our country. Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday season is an excellent time to drop a note to someone who has made our country safer and allowed us the freedom to celebrate wonderful things.

Holiday Project

This organization supports people in nursing homes, prisons and hospitals by visiting those who are confined during the holiday season. They are looking for visiting volunteers, help with wrapping gifts, and people interested in donating needed goods and money.

Volunteer Match

This organization is a one-stop shop for finding volunteering opportunities in your area. Simply plug in your zip code and the system will link you to the volunteer openings close to where you live. This is a great site to use all year around and you get a great overview of how your talents and skills can be useful in supporting others who are less fortunate than you.

Permalink | 3 comments | Tisha Tolar's blog | Channel: Lifestyle

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Get Out of Debt First, Then Focus on Saving

Debbie Dragon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:02 +0000

By Debbie Dragon

When you’re in debt, it’s nearly impossible to save money. To motivate yourself for the mission of getting out of debt, ask yourself these two questions:

How much money am I paying towards my debt monthly?
How else would I like to use my money?

The money you save while paying off debt is not likely to earn as much interest as the interest you pay towards your debt. It makes much more sense financially to commit to paying off high interest debts first, and then you'll have more money to save. Sometimes, it even makes sense to use your savings to pay off debt. Here are some tips for getting out of debt so you can save or invest the money you're currently using to make your debt repayments.

Designate your money with a budget.

This allows you control where your money gets spent rather than wondering where it all went. Stretch your budget dollars by using coupons alongside sales papers and use an allotted amount of cash rather than your debit or credit card. Also, use the Internet for numerous sites offering coupons and freebies.

Make your primary mission to become debt free.

While it saves you money to pay off debts with the highest interest rates first, sometimes it helps to pay off your debts from the smallest amount to largest. It gives you a sense of accomplishment faster. Remember though, each time you pay off a debt, that payment amount is now available to apply towards to the next debt to significantly reduce the time it will take to achieve financial freedom.

Consider transferring your high interest debt onto a 0% balance transfer credit card.

They are available for six months or twelve, introductory rate, and offer the opportunity to pay off principal debt rather than paying primarily on interest.

Get a new insurance quote.

You may very well be paying much more than necessary for your auto, home, and life insurance. You can easily compare insurance quotes online through sites like netQuote and esurance. Type in your info once and get multiple quotes, for each insurance type, and do comparison shopping from the comforts of home.

Dining out is not a priority.

Until you’re free from debt, dine out as seldom as possible. Plan your meals in advance and build your grocery list according to your week’s menu. This will save you money on your grocery bill and on eating out too frequently. Let your slow cooker/crock pot work for you. This includes breakfast and lunch; make your own coffee and pack your lunches (yours, the kids’, and dad’s too). Dinner leftovers can be used for another meal or lunches.

Once you designate where your money is being spent and strive for financial freedom, then you’re able to consider saving for short term (Christmas club) and long term funds (College & Retirement). The sooner you pay off high interest debts, the sooner you can begin saving and benefiting from the interest your savings earn.

Permalink | 14 comments | Debbie Dragon's blog | Channel: Personal Finance, Budgeting

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5 Simple Ways to Save on Thanksgiving

Stacy Johnson — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:00:03 +0000

By Stacy Johnson

While the price of food hasn’t been escalating like it was last year, a trip to the grocery store can still be expensive. Especially when you start adding in feasts like Thanksgiving! But it's remarkably easy to serve up savings along with that gravy. An added bonus: Do it right and you'll save stress as well as money.

Make a List

First stop to Thanksgiving savings? Do a head count so you know how many you'll be serving. Then decide on exactly what's for dinner. Once you know these two things, head for any number of websites to find out the exact ingredients and quantity of each you'll need. Making a complete list the first time will save you from additional trips to the store. And recipe sites are also handy because you can check to make sure you have the time and skills needed to actually cook what you're imagining!

Search For Deals

Next step: Once you've got a complete list of ingredients, go to any number of coupon search engines on the web and see if you can get discounts on each and every one. We have one at Money Talks News; there are plenty more out there. And don't forget your local papers. Even if you don't subscibe, pick one up at the news stand and starting scoping it out a week in advance.

Try Alternatives

A fresh bird costs 30% to 40% more than frozen. But remember it takes 3-5 days to thaw that bird, so give yourself enough time.

And don’t be a whiner when it comes to wine. Thumb your nose at high priced bottles of wine and head for the box section; it’s half the price. Embarrased to serve boxed? No worries: Pour it into a nice decanter and nobody will know the difference.

Final tip? Before you shop, check the price-matching policy at your favorite store. If your store matches advertised deals, you’ll be able to do all your shopping in one place and not miss out on deals elsewhere.

Here's wishing you and your family a happy, safe and frugal Thanksgiving. Cheers!

Permalink | 6 comments | Stacy Johnson's blog | Channel: Food and Drink, Shopping

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Banks Can Manipulate Your Transactions, Then Charge You 1750% Overdraft Fee

Will Chen — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:29:24 +0000

By Will Chen

When Jeff Ledford overdrew $10 from his checking account, Bank of America charged him five separate overdraft fees totaling $175.

That's a 1750% interest for going over $10. (Jeff is unemployed, by the way.)

Your Bank's Dirty Trick

Jeff got screwed because his bank dealt with his charges out of order, processing the largest transaction first.

This common practice allows banks to deplete your account faster, thus making it easier for them to charge you unnecessary penalties.

This was not a one-time mistake or the stupid policy of a single bank. This is the industry standard. No wonder banks are set to make a record $38.5 billion in overdraft fees this year.

Your Accounting vs. Your Bank's Accounting

Most customers expect banks to take out money in chronological order like this:

Date	Description	Debit	Fee	Balance
10/1	Smoothies	$5.00		$185.00
10/2	Gas Station	$29.00		$156.00
10/3	Coffee Cafe	$8.00		$148.00
10/4	Electronics	$90.00		$ 58.00
10/5	Supermarket	$105.00	$35	-$47.00

Since the overdraft happens on the last day, you would expect only one overdraft fee.

But that's not how your bank sees it. They've decided to process the largest transaction first:

Date	Description	Debit	Fee	Balance
10/5	Supermarket	$105.00		$85.00
10/4	Electronics	$90.00	$35	-$ 5.00
10/2	Gas Station	$29.00	$35	-$39.00
10/1	Smoothies	$5.00	$35	-$44.00
10/3	Coffee Cafe	$8.00	$35	-$52.00

Thanks to your bank's creative accounting they can now charge you four extra overdraft fees!

This Could Happen To You

This is a very common practice, reports CBS 13 News which broke this story.

When CBS asked bankers to respond, they justified this as a service they provide to their customers!

Rod Brown with the California Bankers Association says its normal practice for banks to process charges from the largest to smallest.

He's quick to point out, there's no law that says they can't. When Kurtis asked him if he could see how the public would think the banking industry is manipulating charges to make the most profit, he said, "No I can't."

"Consumer research indicates that those larger transactions are of greater importance to the consumer," Brown said. "It might be a car payment. It might be a mortgage payment."

CBS asked Brown, "Shouldn't I, as a consumer, be able to determine which payments are most important first?"

Brown replied, "As a consumer what you can control is the fact you either have money in your account or you don't."

That's not entirely correct. We also have control over other things. We can take our money elsewhere, stop bailing out the banking industry, or support legislation that will reform overdraft policies.

I personally agree with CBS that the consumer, and not the banks, should decide which transactions are the most important.

What do you think readers? Are the banks acting in your best interest with their accounting rules? Do you have an overdraft horror story?

If you're not familiar with all the traps your bank has set for you, check out Philip's excellent guide to avoiding unfair banking fees.

(Chart credit: BruinKid of Daily Kos and CBS 13.)

Permalink | 52 comments | Will Chen's blog | Channel: Consumer Affairs, Credit Cards

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Book Review: How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business

Xin Lu — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:00:03 +0000

By Xin Lu

Generation Y is generally defined as the group of people born between 1977 and 1995. In Y-Size Your Business: How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business, "generation expert" Jason Ryan Dorsey writes about the generation gap in the modern workplace and how business leaders can motivate and best use their Gen-Y employees. As a member of Generation Y, I was interested in what Dorsey had to say about us in the workplace.

A couple years ago I actually wrote an article about Generation Y and the workplace from my own personal perspective. It did not surprise me that Dorsey's book had some of the exact same observations as I did. One big theme in the book is that Gen-Yers are not defined by their work, but their personal lives. The companies and managers that understand this and make a personal connection with Gen-Y employees will find that Gen-Yers can be highly productive and loyal. Dorsey has many examples of where companies reached out to the families of Gen-Y employees and got great results.

Along the same lines, the book makes a point that Gen-Yers do not necessarily put monetary rewards at the top of their lists and it does not take much for a company to make a Gen-Y employee happy. Sometimes a small gift on birthdays or just a simple verbal acknowledgment for good work is enough. For me personally a flexible working schedule is worth a lot more than money, and believe me when I work at home I often get more work done than when I am at the office because I value that trust.

Most of the book is devoted to educating business leaders what makes Gen-Y employees happy, but there is a good section about training and developing Gen-Y employees. For example, Gen-Y employees can be given a project to work on or enrolled in some sort of leadership development program. I think these suggestions make sense because most people I know love to take ownership of something at work. When a young person has his or her own project to work on it makes them feel more important than just being a drone. Dorsey had several examples of where Gen-Y employees did great things with their individual projects, and this is due to the fact that their companies trusted them enough with their time and talent.

Although I enjoyed reading the book and agree with many of its findings, one thing that truly annoyed me about this book was that the author decided to insert parentheses in to every other sentence. For example, here is a short excerpt:

My peers and I can be a little different when we enter the workplace (which is, on average, about 10 minutes later than you'd like). Sure, we show up to work with our iPod buds dangling out of our purse or backpack, and our ever-present cell phone is ringing loudly during the CEO's Monday morning pep talk.; Yes, many of us have a tattoo (or several); some of us sport nontraditional hair colors; and it's not uncommon for us to have a piercing somewhere besides our earlobes (and, no it doesn't hurt much).

Perhaps the author was trying to be cute and funny with all the little comments, but the parentheses were truly distracting to me as a reader. I have not read Dorsey's other books, but hopefully the rest are not so full of parentheses.

Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book and the post contains an affiliate link to the book.

Permalink | 3 comments | Xin Lu's blog | Channel: Career Building

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3 Ways to Ban Spam and Stop Junk

Stacy Johnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:42:13 +0000

By Stacy Johnson

I work at home, often under high pressure, so I'm not fond of interuptions. And yet they come constantly: spam emails that bury ones I need to see, stupid junk mail I have to sort through, people knocking at my door trying to sell me everything from steak to magazines and phone calls from people trying to sell me something. I'm mad as hell and not going to take it any more! How about you?

On the phone front, we finally acheived a partial victory in September when the Federal Trade Commission finally passed a ban on “Robo-calls.” Telemarketers can be fined up to $16,000 for some of these exceedinly irritating solicitations. But not all robo-calls are banned. You can still get them from politicians, some non-profits and various others.

But there are steps you can take to at least curtail live telemarketers on the phone, spam in your email box and junk in your mailbox.

Junk "snail mail"

To stop junk “snail mail” for redit or insurance, you either go to optoutprescreen.com, or call 888-5OPTOUT. That doesn’t stop all junk: mainly just credit card solicitations. (And the economy has already stopped a lot of those.) But it will help.

Spam email

When it comes to email, sign up for a personal account to share with people you trust and a private account to use online when you shop or post. Then don’t ever give out the private one. Ever.

Telemarketers

What about unsolicited phone calls? Your defense here is the “do-not-call list.” Put your name on it by going to donotcall.gov or calling 888-382-1222. And if someone does call you after your name is on that list, report them to the BBB or FTC.

Also: once a year you’re going to get mail from lenders and other companies you do business with, asking if it’s ok for them to share your personal information with other companies. Don’t throw these away unread: return them and to quote Nancy Reagan: “just say no.”

As for people on the porch? Next time I'm at the hardware store, I'm investing in a "No Soliciting" sign. Pity the idiot who ignores it.

Permalink | 6 comments | Stacy Johnson's blog | Channel: Consumer Affairs, Technology

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Best Deals For Friday 11/20/09

Paul Michael — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:03:27 +0000

By Paul Michael

Today's WISEBUY. JR.com Black Friday DVD Blowout Already Underway!
JR.com's Black Friday DVD Blowout is underway, with discounted prices on a selection of DVD and Blu-ray movies and TV shows. DVDs start at $3.99, while Blu-ray Discs start at $9.99. Pay $2.95 for shipping.

FREE Microsoft Office 2010 Plus Beta Download!
Microsoft offers downloads of its Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 Beta for free via this link. It includes Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and more, for Windows XP, Vista, and 7.

FREE 50 Kodak 4x6 Prints For New Members
Just sign up for your 50 free prints, valued at around $5.

FREE Degree Women's Fine Fragrance
The new Degree® Women Fine Fragrance Collection combines long-lasting, sophisticated scents with Degree Women's® 24-hour wetness and odor protection for everyday luxury.

FREE Philosophy Shower Gel and Bubble Bath
It's a FACEBOOK promotion, so add them to get your freebie.

Disney Store Sale - T-Shirts From $3 plys $3 s/h
Disney Store marks down select T-shirts for men, women, tweens, and kids to as low as $2.99 during its latest sale. That's up to $15 off!

Calphalon Cookware Sale - Up to 80% OFF! Today only!
Today only, Amazon.com takes up to 80% off select Calphalon Commercial and Professional cookware. Free shipping.

Digital Blue 1.3MP Digital Camera Just $12.99 plus FREE s/h
A great gift idea for a child. 32MB Internal Memory - Holds up to 100 photos.

Tide To Go Stain Remover Pens - 5-Pack - Just $8 with FREE s/h
RunSkipShop via Amazon.com offers the Tide To Go Stain Remover Pen 5-Pack for $15.99. Apply coupon code "TIDETOGO" and it drops to $8. With free shipping, that's $8 off and at $1.60 per pen.

The FRIDAY AMAZON SALE
What would you do without it? Pop along, where every Friday is like a Black Friday.

Lego Beach House Just $22. That's $28 off!
For in-store pickup only, Sam's Club members can search for "856327" to find the the LEGO Agents 'n' House Beach House for $21.88.

Get More Bang for Your Membership Buck!

Kelly Whalen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:02 +0000

By Kelly Whalen

If you are looking for a way to get out of the house, and do something without breaking the bank, it may seem your options are limited, but using these simple tricks, you will be able to get out of the house without going broke.

Free Days

Many museums offer days of the year, or hours during the week, where you can get in for free or reap deep discounts. For instance, here is a fantastic list on NY.com of museums in New York City that are free, take only donations, or offer free times every week.

Scout your local area's websites, and call your local museums/attractions, to find out if and when they offer any free or pay-as-you-wish times.

Another option is to volunteer! If you volunteer you may get a free membership, or at the very least use of the museum or attraction after you are done helping out. Volunteering is also a fantastic way to meet people who share common interests.

It Pays to Be a Member

Purchasing a membership is the key to consistently going places on a budget. By being a "member," you can take advantage of reciprocal memberships. Reciprocal memberships are memberships that give you the benefit of admission to similar attractions.

By digging around on your chosen attraction's website, you can usually find any associations and rules for using your membership at other places. For instance, by using the American Horticultural Society's website, I was able to find a local garden membership at nearly half the cost of the garden I was considering joining.

You may find a membership at a vacation spot or in your hometown that is a less expensive option to your local attraction to stretch your dollar even further. This can be a boon when there are rules about how far away you have to be from your "home" museum or site.

Aren't sure you want to purchase a membership without visiting first? Ask if you can buy one that same day if you change your mind. In my experience, many places offer this benefit because it's a win-win. Just be sure to hold onto your receipt, and usually the membership office can deduct that day's fees.

Best Family Memberships

Look for a membership to one of the museums who belong to the Association of Children's Museums, which touts it "was rated by Real Simple, Nick Jr. Family Magazine, and others as the best value for families."

In my area, a membership to ACM affiliate The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia is a fantastic deal. It saves you the $5 parking fee at every visit, and includes a number of free carousel rides.

Kid-Free Households

No kids? No problem! There are memberships to gardens, botanical centers, science centers, etc. that have the same benefits. Whatever your taste, you are sure to find some kind of museum or attraction that offers admission to other local, national or worldwide places. It may take longer to pay back your membership, but if you have a favorite place, it's well worth it.

Other Discounts on Memberships

Students should always make sure to take along your ID, as many museums offer student discounts.

Seniors also get discounts at a variety of venues.

Check with AAA, your workplace, and even your local government — you may find an extra discount, or discounted tickets.

Vacation and Memberships

When visiting another area for vacation or to visit family, you can leverage your memberships to see the local sights. You may find your memberships don't extend to that area, or your memberships don't extend to the attractions you want to see. In major metropolitan areas, look for multi-passes to several attractions.

In San Francisco, for example, you can choose the CityPass, which includes a muni/cable car pass and admission to:

the California Academy of Sciences
to Aquarium of the Bay
San Francisco MoMA
the Exploratorium or the deYoung/Legion of Honor art institutes
a cruise on the Blue/Gold Fleet

Just be sure you want to visit ALL the attractions, or you may end up spending more than you need to. When my husband and I visited San Francisco in June, we purchased a Muni/Cable Car pass only. It enabled us to take the cable cars multiple times ($5 for one way), the streetcars (my favorite), and Muni all over the city.

Another example, my family (6 of us) traveled to Baltimore 2 years ago, and thanks to our memberships, we went to the Children's Museum and the Science Center for FREE! We saved over $200 in admission fees.

Keep in mind that you can also plan ahead by using guidebooks and websites to find free or discounted admission times at various venues. Just be sure to call ahead, so you don't end up spending $100 without intending to!

Do the Math

My family has used memberships to save over $1,000 in the last 3 years. That's a lot of bang for our membership buck!

With a family of 6 a membership usually pays for itself pretty quickly. A few months ago we purchased a family membership to the Philadelphia Zoo. We would have paid $106 plus parking, but instead I bought and printed out our membership for $99 which included free parking. We only saved $7 on the first trip, but each additional trip adds another $106 to our savings total!

You may not have quite as large a brood, so here is a simple equation to figure out how many trips it will take to make membership worth your money:

Step 1: Cost of tickets x # of people = cost for 1 visit
Example: $15 x 4 = $60

Step 2: Cost of membership / Cost for 1 visit = # of visits to pay for membership (round up)
Example: $100 / $60 = 2 (rounded up)

In our example, it would take only 2 visits for a membership to be worth it!

My favorite part of using these memberships, however, is not saving money. It is the time well spent with your family or friends in a carefully and lovingly cared-for environment. Whether it's a science museum, an estate turned garden, a historic ship, or a children's museum we often find a renewed sense of wonder with each visit!

This post was included in the lastest edition of the Festival of Frugality.

5 Creative, Simple, and Frugal Recipes for Leftover Turkey

Sarah Winfrey — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:02 +0000

By Sarah Winfrey

It's that time of year again. No, not the holiday season. The time when everyone and their mother tells you what to do with all that leftover turkey you're going to have in a week. Not wanting to be left out of such honored company, here are some of the best ideas I've heard (and had!) for using up those extra bits of bird. Besides being tasty, they might not be anything you've had before, they whip up quickly, and they use ingredients that most people have on hand.

1. Turkey Bar-B-Q Sandwiches

These are a great spin on the overdone after-Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches. Simmer some turkey in your favorite bar-b-q sauce. Add some onion and garlic if you're feeling particularly adventuresome. Meanwhile, lightly toast some bread (those leftover dinner rolls will work, too). When everything smells fabulous and tastes the way you like it, put the turkey mixture on the rolls and consume the goodness.

2. Turkey Marinara

Some people put boring old meatballs in their spaghetti sauce, but not you. Nope, creative fiend that you are, you use turkey instead. If you're feeling really ambitious, you can chop your turkey really small or put it through a grinder, mix it with some onion, garlic, and other spices, and cook your meatballs in a pan or your oven until they've glommed together in that special way meatballs do.

If you're still sleeping off the first turkey dinner, just add some turkey and spices to your spaghetti sauce and simmer until the flavors mix. The taste is about the same, though meatballs are just more fun.

3. Turkey Broth

Before you say, "Bor-ring!" and walk away, hear me out. Broth is infinitely useful, obviously great for soups and gravies, but also useful as a marinade, in rice, or anytime you want to add a little extra meaty flavor. And the best thing about it? You can freeze it and save it forever! So you won't have to use all your turkey in a week. Instead, you'll consume it over months.

To make turkey broth, simmer your turkey or turkey carcass (yup, making broth lets you use even the carcass!) in water with spices you like. I'd suggest garlic, parsley, basil, salt and pepper, but you can choose whatever works best for you. You can also add chopped veggies, like celery and onion. Simmer for several hours, then use a strainer to remove any bones. It's up to you whether or not you leave bits of meat in — some people like it this way and others don't. Set aside any that you'll use within the next week and freeze the rest for later.

4. Turkey Divan

I'm not sure what "Divan" means, but I've always guessed it must be related to "divine" because of how amazing this meal tastes. Seriously, food of the gods, folks. I made up a recipe for this once-upon-a-time, but that was before I found this one. And honestly, there's nothing in mine to recommend it above this one. Just swap out the chicken it mentions for your turkey leftovers and you may never want to eat anything else again.

5. Turkey Tortilla Soup

I love me some good tortilla soup (and I hate the bad ones!). There's not much better on a cold day than some spicy, substantial soup for lunch. If you're sick, there's not much that works better for clearing those poor sinuses, either.

Just add some turkey to your favorite tortilla soup recipe (doesn't every cook have one?), or use this one and substitute your turkey where it says "chicken." As a bonus, you can also use your fresh turkey broth here, too (see, I told you it'd be useful).

Instead of this just being me blathering on and on about what I like to eat, tell me what you do with your leftover turkey (or the rest of your leftover holiday spread, for that matter). After all, with Christmas just around the corner, it's not like we won't have ample time to try out all the recipes!

Permalink | 3 comments | Sarah Winfrey's blog | Channel: Food and Drink

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Urgent: Check Your Withholdings

Philip Brewer — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:08:47 +0000

By Philip Brewer

Your paycheck has probably been bigger this year because the government stimulus package cut the amount of tax withheld from people who were expected to get the new "Making Work Pay" tax credit. But there's a problem: According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, more than 15 million taxpayers may unexpectedly end up owing taxes.

The idea was to get the stimulus out sooner (by workers taking home larger paychecks) rather than later (at tax refund time), but the new tables were applied too broadly. Among the people who may be under-withheld:

Dependents who receive wages
Single taxpayers with more than one job.
Joint filers where one or both spouses have more than one job or both spouses work.
Individuals who file a return with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
Taxpayers who receive pension payments.
Social Security recipients who receive wages

Obviously it's bad for anyone to be unexpectedly under-withheld. It's especially bad for people who pay estimated taxes, as they may be so under-withheld as to have to pay a penalty on top of the extra tax.

If you fall into any of the categories above, you ought to take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the details in the Inspector General's report, and get your withholdings adjusted while there's still time to catch up. It's got complete details on the credit and the various categories of people who might be under-withheld.

Permalink | 5 comments | Philip Brewer's blog | Channel: Taxes

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Best Deals For Thursday 11/19/09

Paul Michael — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:58:27 +0000

By Paul Michael

Today's WISEBUY. Jet Blue Sample Sale: 1-Way Airfare From Just $29!
Today only, the JetBlue Airways Sample Sale has select 1-way fares starting at $29. (Click on "jetBlue Happy Jetting" at the top left to see the sale.)

FREE Lancome Absolue Precious Cells Cream
Print out this page and take it to the Lancome Counter at any Nordstrom to get a free Absolue Precious Cells SPF 15 cream.

FREE Digilake Coffee Cup with Built-In Spoon/Holder
Please complete the details to receive your free Coffee Cup with Digilake logo.

FREE 2010 Oriental Trading Calendar
New tips & idea starters to help you plan fun events all year long!

FREE Wine Spectator Magazine Subscription
RewardsGold has a new offer available that casual drinkers will love – a free one year Wine Spectator magazine subscription!

FREE Classical Christmas Songs MP3 Downloads
Includes The Nutcracker Suite, Christmas Oratorio, "And There Where Shepherds."

Slingshot Flying Christmas Monkey Just $1.99 + $2.58 s/h
It SCREAMS while it's flying. Fun toy or stocking stuffer.

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Created to emulate the design of the Bat-Cave featured in "The Dark Knight," The Batman Boombox plays CDs, CD-R and CD-RW formats and includes a tuner with an LCD display.

Norah Jones "The Fall" Album MP3 Download For Just $4
Lala.com offers downloads of Norah Jones' "The Fall" MP3 Album for $3.99. (Click the "Buy MP3 Album" button.)

Thanksgiving: 3 Ways (This Thanksgiving We're Going to Party Like It's 1621)

Max Wong — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:03 +0000

By Max Wong

Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday. I prefer it to the December holidays, New Years, and even my birthday. I prefer it because it is one of the only holidays that have not succumbed to commercialization and become a special day for candy and home decor companies to push their wares. Even though it's now a secular holiday, after three centuries, Thanksgiving is still a celebration that's centered on being a generous, grateful, and compassionate human being.

A lot of Thanksgivings are about family dysfunction and weird, terrible food involving aspic and marshmallow topping.

That is not how I roll.

I'm celebrating Thanksgiving three times this year. (Which really isn't that weird considering Florida, Texas and Virginia all had Thanksgiving celebrations before the Plymouth Colony made it a yearly holiday in 1621.) And really, wouldn't this country be better off if we focused more attention on harvest festivals that are about being thankful for what we already have and not holidays that center on deep discounts at the mall? In the spirit of the Plymouth colonists' and Wampanoag Confederacy's first dinner, I'm going to follow their example on what makes a good party.

In addition to wild turkey and a variety of winter vegetables, the guests at the first Plymouth Thanksgiving also enjoyed swan, venison and seal. Taking a cue from what is surely the ultimate pot luck dinner, I hosted a Thanksgiving pot luck for my Chowhounds foodies group, on November 15th, before everyone went home for the real deal. Last year's foodies party was so epic that I ended up with 40 pounds of leftovers, including four untouched pumpkin pies and two turkey carcasses that I turned into five gallons of turkey and rice soup. It was enough to cater three Thanksgiving Redux parties, which was tiresome, but delicious.

Although I managed to successfully entertain fifty guests in my 1000 square foot house, we almost immediately ran out of protein. I thought that two twenty-pound turkeys would be enough for all the carnivores to have a decent serving of white or dark meat. What I didn't count on was how much the birds would shrink during cooking.

Instead of spending hours basting and fretting over the oven, I delegated the turkey preparation to the neighborhood bodega that is famous for its Armenian-style rotisserie chicken. For $20 they agreed to rotisserie my two turkeys. The roasting was perfect. The birds were succulent and juicy with dark brown, crackly skin that melted in your mouth...but at half their original mass.

This year I'm planning a little better, first by asking all my guests to bring some Tupperware for leftovers, so I don't have so much surplus. In addition to turkeys (that will be rotisserie cooked again), I'm also serving a Honey Baked Ham purchased with an expired $50 ham gift certificate from 1997 that my mom found stuck to the back of her kitchen junk drawer. (Thanks to an awesome law in California, gift certificates have no expiration, a legal loophole that my mother can't exploit in Arizona.) Now if only I can get other people to bring some eel and lobster as alternate main courses...

Strays Party

My actual Thanksgiving dinner will be an all-day event I call the Strays Party. Up until two years ago, I hosted a Strays Party where I would start cooking at 10 in the morning and wouldn't stop until 10 at night. In the fabulous Wampanoag Indian tradition of snacking all day, people who were alone for the holiday could show up, eat and leave whenever they wanted. (Each year I also pick up a number of friends who eat at my house to subsidize what they know will be a disastrous meal cooked by mom. At least they know they'll eat well at least once that day.) The Strays Party is super fun, because I never know who is going to show up when, so every hour it's like a different party with different guests. Over the years my Strays menu got more and more elaborate and byzantine. I made elk meatloaf sandwiches on focaccia. I made Ovaltine gelato. I made Turducken.

Thanksgiving Breakfast

Two years ago I wised up — I realized that the thing my friends were dying to eat every year wasn't my Thanksgiving dinner, it was my Thanksgiving breakfast which consists of baked curried fruit salad and Swedish pancakes topped with my homemade cranberry preserve and creme fraiche. So, for the past two years, I've still had a Strays Party but only served the pancakes with different toppings all day. Let me just say that my kitchen stays much cleaner with all-day Thanksgiving Breakfast and my friends are still excited to come over.

Thanksgiving Redux

During the first week of December I am going to host Thanksgiving Redux. This is a potluck dinner where everyone brings his or her Thanksgiving leftovers to share. This a great way to squeeze in one more dinner with friends before everyone's year end schedule gets too crazy, without spending any money on food.

(Author's Note: Squanto and Samoset were the two Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims survive after the colony nearly perished from the harsh New England winter. They taught the newly minted Americans how to fish for eel, fertilize their crops and grow corn. The 1621 Thanksgiving was a celebration of the colony's first successful harvest. In honor of Squanto's and Somoset's generosity, I am going to raffle off local honey and homemade organic preserves at this year's Thanksgiving Redux as a fundraiser for Heifer International that will provide ten communities in Tanzania with honeybees and specialized education in resource management and beekeeping.)