Wise Bread

4 Deadly Mistakes You Must Avoid When Pursuing Your Dreams

Henri Junttila — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00:01 +0000

In my last post I wrote about how you can find your passion, but today I want to focus on the mistakes people make while going after their dreams. If you can identify with any of these mistakes, you might want to get it corrected as fast as possible. It will help you get back on track to moving towards making your dreams a reality instead of moving away from them.

We often get stuck in arbitrary things. We make excuses. We try to find shortcuts, and we try to do all these things that in the end only prevent us from reaching our goals. If you're really serious about pursuing your dreams and making them real, then you may want to read on...

1. Stopping at Uncomfortable

When you start something new, it will be scary. If you are serious about finding, following, and making your passion(s) and dream(s) a reality, you will have to deal with fear. You will have to accept that being uncomfortable means growing as a human being and making progress towards your goals.

I'm not talking about being physically uncomfortable, such as sitting on your leg until it falls asleep. I am talking about being emotionally uncomfortable. Being afraid to take the next step because you don't know what lies behind the next turn. Your journey will be unique, so you will have to learn how to deal with this yourself.

Look at it as driving a car: you know your destination (most times), but you can't see beyond the next bend. You still know where you're going, but you just can't see it.

2. Looking for Shortcuts

A lot of people are looking for shortcuts. They are looking for that one thing that will make them catapult to the front of the line and eliminate years off their learning curve. I'm sorry to say this, but it doesn't work that way. If you want to create your dream life and live out your passion(s), you will first have to find your passion and then take action to make it happen. (If you love gardening and want to teach other people how to do it, for example, that's excellent, and you can make a living doing that if you really want to.)

Remember, there's always room for those that are willing to go the extra mile. Stop looking for shortcuts and start using what you have. There are no magic bullets out there that will do it all for you. You will have to learn. You will have to work hard and you will have to make mistakes and learn from them.

3. Waiting for Perfection

I'm so guilty of this one. I used to be the worst perfectionist. I still am to a certain degree, but I'm more aware of it now. I am able to let things be imperfect without going crazy.

You don't have to wait for the stars to align or for someone to give you permission to go after your dreams. Most people blame their circumstances for not allowing them to make their dreams a reality. This is a big mistake. If you want to live your dream life, do what you love and change the world, you will have to take matters into your own hands and make a change.

You can always start somewhere. Don't worry about not knowing what to do. All you have to learn is what to do next. (Maybe you need to start a blog. Do a simple Google search for that, and you'll find plenty of tutorials. Maybe you will even fail at blogging and learn that you like something else instead.) It's all a part of the process. Successful people didn't become successful overnight, although that is what it usually looks like. They often failed over and over again until they found what worked for them.

4. Failing to Listen to Your Heart

Your heart knows things. Your mind...not so much. Your mind worries, it analyzes, it judges, and it does all those things that can easily take over your life. Now, I'm not saying that the mind is bad, it's just a tool, but it has become a bad thing in most people's lives because it has taken over. Many refer to this as the Ego, the Id or whatever you like to call it.

Your heart, on the other hand, will let you know when you're on the right path. You will feel good when you're following your passion. You will feel awesome when you're heading in the right direction, and you will feel blissed out when you realize that you have a whole guidance system inside of you that is perfect for you. (But remember, you also have to understand your emotions, because your heart may be trying to tell you something and you may be blocking it with fear or a surface emotion.)

If you want to pursue your dreams, start by finding your passion, then thinking about how you can make it real, and then taking action. It's really that simple. If you want to slow yourself down, then go ahead and pick one of the deadly mistakes above.

But know this: you are here for a reason. You are here to have a positive impact on this planet. You know that thing that you feel in your heart that you've always wanted to do? I'm here to tell you that you can do it, if you really want to. So what are you waiting for?

Book Review: On a Dollar a Day

Xin Lu — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:00:02 +0000

By Xin Lu

Could you survive on one dollar's worth of food per day? Vegan high school teachers Kerri Leonard and Christopher Greenslate endured a one month experiment where each of them consumed one dollar of food per day. In On a Dollar a Day: One Couple's Unlikely Adventures in Eating in America (affiliate link), they described their experience and an array of social issues relating to the cost of food.

The book is divided into three sections detailing the three food spending plans the couple chose. The first section detailed their month of eating on a dollar a day, the second describes their experiment in eating on the average food stamp recipient's allotment, and the third is where they had no spending restrictions but tried to eat more healthily. Each section has alternate chapters written by Leonard and Greenslate.

The first experiment of eating on a dollar a day was actually quite difficult to read because this couple was obviously torturing themselves. Although they say that they were able to eat an adequate portion, there were many passages where they described their hunger and stress while on this plan. One rule they set was that they would not eat any food they can get for free unless everyone else has access to it. Due to this rule they did not eat the free foods they had access to at work and other venues, and I thought that was silly because any of those leftover free foods were probably wasted.

The second section of the book describes how the vegan couple tried to follow the Thrifty Food Plan recommended by the USDA and live on a little over $4 per day for a month. They fared a lot better on this, but found that it was still difficult to eat in a very healthy manner because nutritious and fresh foods cost more than processed foods with plenty of calories. This reminded me of Philip Brewer's excellent post The new face of poverty is fat where he writes about why poor people are obese.

The final section of the book focuses on eating for health, and it also seems like the couple have become more savvy shoppers after their months of challenges. The conclusion is that they found that it was possible to plan healthy and delicious meals that do not cost very much.

What I found most entertaining about this book was how these food plans affected the relationship between the authors. It was Greenslate's idea to start the original project, and Leonard played the part of a supportive girlfriend. However, later on it was clear that Leonard was doing most of the work in planning and preparing these meals, and it took a toll on her. Greenslate briefly wrote about how the preparation of food from the grocery store to the table is traditionally the work of women, but I think it would have been more interesting if Leonard wrote her thoughts on the subject.

Finally, there is a short chapter in the book about how to save on food, but those who want to live on a dollar of food a day will not find this book to be a very good guide. Although I felt that the one dollar a day food challenge was a bit forced, I do like the message in the book that you can eat healthily on a small budget. If you want to read more about the project, the authors have a blog at One Dollar Diet Project where they write about food related issues

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

How much do you spend on food each day?

Permalink | Comments | Xin Lu's blog | Channel: Food and Drink

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Join our SXSW Session and Win an iPod Nano

Will Chen — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:38:51 +0000

By Will Chen

Join our SXSW session on Measuring Blogger Credibility for a chance to win a brand new iPod Nano! The session is on this Saturday, March 13 at 12:30 pm at room 19b of the Austin Convention Center. Come meet the Wise Bread crew!

How Helping a Company Can Benefit You

Katie Adauto — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:00:02 +0000

By Katie Adauto

Last month, I wrote about earning some extra money by taking free online surveys. The comments received regarding the article ranged from, "I love surveys, too" to "I never qualify for any." Like anything in life, you have to find what works for you. Today I am going to share with you another way you may be able to make a little extra money, receive some free products to try, and share your opinions.

Companies are always looking for customer feedback. In their efforts to reach as many new customers as possible, many companies have created panels that anyone can join. The variety of panels that are available is amazing and there seems to be something for everyone. I am going to highlight a few of the panels that I belong to and my experience with them.

New Balance Wear Test Program (shoes)

New Balance is looking for people who are willing to test out shoes that they are thinking of bringing to market. They will send you a pair of shoes, ask you to wear them for a period of time, and then comment on them via surveys.

The Pro: You get to try out shoes before anyone else!

The Con: You have to return the shoes once the trial period is over (they cover shipping).

My Experience: I have tried out two pairs of shoes for them over the past year. It took about six months after I signed up before I was sent my first pair. I enjoyed trying them and getting responses from people who noticed I had new shoes on.

J.C. Penney Community (retail)

J.C. Penney is looking for opinions on many topics. They have an online forum set up to gather this information. They send out emails when a new poll or survey is available. They are looking for opinions on commercials, new products, etc.

The Pro: The surveys and polls are quick, and there are not that many to take each month.

The Con: They are just now starting to compensate members in some way.

My Experience: I received my first $10 free coupon from them for participating in the community and was sent a complete set of towels to test for them for free, which I did not have to return.

CVS Advisor Panel (retail)

CVS wants to hear from you! You must have a CVS ExtraCare card to apply. They will send you surveys from time to time on various topics.

The Pro: The surveys usually only take about five minutes of your time.

The Con: They do not send out a lot of surveys.

My Experience: I have completed a few surveys, and they sent me a $5 free coupon via e-mail for my time.

House Party

House Pary allows you to host parties sponsored by a brand to check out their latest products. They have an application process for each new party they are offering. The applications take about five minutes to complete.

The Pro: They send you a huge box of items to share with your friends and family.

The Con: There are so many people applying! When you are chosen they send you an e-mail. They send emails out to more people then they can accept so if you do not respond to the email quickly you might miss out.

My Experience: I have applied for around 20 parties and have been accepted to host six. I absolutely love all the free items I receive to share with my friends. My favorite was a Chef Michael's dog food party. I invited friends that had dogs, and we had a party in my backyard. All the dogs got along wonderfully and we had a contest to see which dog could eat their food fastest. All the attendees left with free dog food, dishes and coupons sent in the House Party kit.

BzzAgent

BzzAgent is another word-of-mouth marketing network. You create an account online and they will email you when they have a campaign they think you would be a good fit for. You fill out a survey before and after receiving the products. Depending on the product you are promoting, you could receive coupons or actual products to share.

The Pro: It is normally very easy to be accepted and receive products.

The Con: They ask that you track each conversation you have with a person about the product and enter each conversation into the computer.

My Experience: I have been a member for about four years. I have received many great products to share with my friends and family but have noticed in the past six months that the offers have slowed down quite a bit.

Magazines

Most magazines have their own panels where they will ask for your opinion. Usually the panels are on a past issue that you might have read and sometimes they are geared toward certain products. Most magazines do not compensate you, but will enter you into contests. One exception for me was All You Magazine. They sent me a box as a thank you gift about one month ago. It had a lot of random items in it, but it was fun to receive and feel appreciated for my feedback.

I have only touched on a few companies. There are many more out there and I have accumulated a list of some of my favorites. Some companies offer rewards for products purchased, such as Disney Movie Rewards, Huggies and Pampers.

I hope that this information will help you in your search for ways to earn a little extra money and share your opinions.

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Frugal Gluten-Free Living: Flour Tortillas that Taste Great!

Sonja Stewart — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:02 +0000

By Sonja Stewart

This recipe is a fantastic substitute for regular flour tortillas. If you're sick of using the rough texture, (and small size) of corn tortillas, try this out. The texture of these are bendable, foldable, and so delicious, they'll be gone before you know it. Make an extra batch if you have guests, and get ready to enjoy burritos again, the gluten-free way.

Gluten-Free Flour Tortillas

2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour mix

(3 parts corn starch, 3 parts white rice flour, 2 parts soy flour, 1 part masa flour)

1 ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon olive oil

Mix all of your ingredients together. I like to mix the dry ones together first to make sure they're all blended. Use your hands to get everything good and ready. It's a fun texture to play with. Then take your blob and divide it into 8 parts. Place them in a large bowl and cover with saran wrap until you're ready to roll them out. Roll out a ball at a time on a floured butcher block. Use a spatula to scrape off the dough if it sticks and add a little more flour to the rolling pin, if necessary. Gluten-free flour can be a sticky beast, so be patient, and just keep working with it until you're comfortable.

When the tortillas are rolled out, place them on a heated griddle (I use my big pancake one so I can cook 3 at a time). I keep the temperature at around 325 degrees and keep them on there until bubbles form. Then flip and wait for the tortilla to be ready.

I feed these to my husband and kids all the time. It makes burritos a gourmet feast that everyone loves. There is nothing so delicious as freshly made tortillas. Serve them with melted butter and salt. Use them for sandwich wraps. Have fun and enjoy. I promise this one is easy and will be a hit.

Thanks again to gluten-free cooking school, where I adapted this recipe from.

Permalink | 5 comments | Sonja Stewart's blog | Channel: Food and Drink, Health and Beauty

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Join Our Tweetchat at 4:00 CST For a Chance to Win Prizes

Lynn Truong — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:00:02 +0000

By Lynn Truong

Join our Tweetchat today from 4:00 – 4:45 pm CST for lively conversation and a chance to win prizes! In celebration of our upcoming SXSW session, we're talking about product reviews. Do you trust them? What makes the good ones stand out? How do you find the most reliable ones? Remember to join us weekly from 4pm - 4:45 pm CST each Thursday for lively conversation and a chance to win Amazon gift card prizes! Use #WBChat to participate. Thanks for joining :)

Warning: TurboTax Missing Minnesota Tax Info (Updated With TurboTax Response)

Elizabeth Sanberg — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:00:02 +0000

By Elizabeth Sanberg

[Editor's note: See TurboTax's response.]

Rarely do I get to a point where I’m so frustrated I could cry. But that’s where I sit right now. I have spent 120 minutes trying to help a company I like (TurboTax) fix a glitch in their system. But, after these two hours I failed at helping them understand the problem and was even hung up after waiting on hold for 45 minutes. Luckily, I can help you avoid the same mistakes I made.

The biggest problem that you should know about right now:

If you are a Minnesotan: When TurboTax completes your M1PR Property Tax Refund, between lines 10 and 11 you need to fill in your property tax ID and your county. TurboTax online doesn’t ask you for this information and subsequently leaves it blank. Also, you need to put the name of other people who you are including in household income.

Let’s back up.

I’ve been a faithful TurboTax user ever since I’ve filed my own taxes. In fact, as you might recall, I sort of enjoy taxes. I enjoy doing my taxes so much that I help extensively with my wife’s (given that our marriage isn’t recognized federally or in our state we file separately).

This year, as first-time homebuyers we got to fill out all sorts of new information. One form is the M1PR Minnesota Property Tax Refund. TurboTax seemingly helped us through this process. We answered a few questions and voila — it spit out a nifty completed form to mail in. (You can’t electronically file the M1PR form.)

Well, as is recommended, we go through our forms line by line before filing to make sure things make sense. Every year things added up. Until this year.

My wife Kimberly was taking the property tax credit. And on her property tax form several lines were blank. Lines that said "REQUIRED" and "ALL HOMEOWNERS." (Yes, in all bold caps).

Hmm, that’s odd. Why would Turbo Tax leave the required lines blank? I went through the process online again and found that Turbo Tax still didn’t ask these questions so they never filled them in.

So I did what any good consumer would do. I sent a support email explaining the problem. I wanted to help them fix the system so that hundreds of thousands of other people didn’t get the same blank spaces and file incorrect forms. Since the form wasn’t filled out correctly and TurboTax has a guarantee, I also requested a refund.

We got a reply email within 24 hours. The email told us to call a number because they couldn’t help via email.

So last night I called. I spent the first 45 minutes patiently trying to explain the problem to the support tech. Because it’s not easy to find the form on Turbo Taxes site I suggested she visit the MN Department of Revenue site to view the form. But despite all my explanations and even having her view my screen she just wasn’t getting the problem.

After 45 minutes of genuinely trying to help her understand the problem so they could fix the system, she still wasn’t understanding. So, I requested a supervisor. In fact, I requested talking to a supervisor 3 times during the next 15 minutes during which the support tech kept telling me that someone would be coming but that she had a few more questions.

Finally, after an hour on the phone I just requested a refund. I told her that I wanted to be able to help TurboTax with the glitch in their system, but that I really needed to go and would just like to get my money back through the TurboTax guarantee. She told me she couldn’t refund my money because I filed the other tax forms already. So, I asked to talk to a supervisor.

I waited over 40 minutes on hold to talk to a supervisor. Then, I heard a voice, a hang up, and then a dial tone. That’s right — after waiting for 40 minutes to talk to a supervisor — I got hung up on. So being even more convinced that I needed to explain the problem to someone, I called back. And waited on hold for another 20 minutes just to try to talk to someone. I gave myself a time limit (and wrote this story while on hold). Finally, I had had enough. Who knows how long I would have to wait to talk to someone — much less a supervisor.

[Editor's note: See TurboTax's response below.]

Luckily, my frustrations weren’t for naught. I have this story and some key takeaways for the world of the internet.

What You Need To Know

1. If you’re a Minnesota who will be filing M1PR: I highly recommend that you just go to MN Department of Revenue site and print the form and instructions. They are not too difficult to understand. Another option would be to use TurboTax’s forms and hand-correct the errors yourself. Besides the two errors previously mentioned, on line 5 if you are including income from a co-tenant/owner, you need to include their name. (TurboTax just lists “other person’s income,” but according to the M1PR instructions you need to include their name.)

2. Always double check your tax forms.

3. If there is a mistake, it’s probably not worth your time to call and try to explain the problem. Right now we’ve paid TurboTax over $140 for the two filings and I’ve wasted 2 hours of my evening trying to help them fix the problem.

Disclaimer: There may be other problems with the M1PR that I didn't catch. I am not an accountant and should not be relied upon for tax advice. I just read the tax forms and follow the instructions.

Have you ever found a major mistake in software? Did you try to help the company correct the problem?

Update: TurboTax Response From VP Bob Meighan

Dear Elizabeth,

At TurboTax, we take our commitment to helping our customers get their taxes done easily and accurately very seriously. We were recently made aware of the issue that you experienced while filing your Minnesota state tax return. We have corrected this issue and it will be available as an update by this Saturday, 3/13. However, I would like to correct one point you made. TurboTax handles line 5 of the Minnesota 2009 Property Tax Refund (M1PR) correctly. All that needs to be reported is the type of income, not the names of individuals.

At TurboTax we have a satisfaction guarantee and I apologize that our agent did not honor that commitment. I will ensure that your TurboTax fees are refunded promptly. Also, TurboTax has an accuracy guarantee that pays penalty and interest if our calculations are in error.

We have also recently increased staff in our customer service organization and now have significantly shorter wait times. As we approach the April 15 deadline, we will be adding even more staff to provide the responsiveness and quality all our customers deserve. We are also revising our escalation procedures for state-specific issues since agents cannot reasonably be expected to be knowledgeable in each state's unique laws and forms (as you learned from your experience).

I apologize that TurboTax did not meet your expectations this year. We value you as a customer and take your experience very seriously.

Sincerely,
Bob Meighan
VP, TurboTax

Permalink | 3 comments | Elizabeth Sanberg's blog | Channel: Taxes

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Best of Personal Finance: How to Make Coconut Milk Kefir

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:52:24 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best of Personal Finance roundup. Today, we give you stunning detail into how to make your own coconut milk kefir, some tips for saving money when you move, and 3 easy ways to create a greener kitchen!

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Top 10 Real Estate Tax Write-Offs

Brian Davis — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:53:22 +0000

By Brian Davis

As real estate values have fallen and foreclosures have swamped the market, increasing numbers of would-be sellers are deciding to lease their properties instead of selling. These new and reluctant landlords often miss out on massive tax deductions available for investment properties, which can save thousands of dollars in taxes. In an economy where every penny counts, make sure you take advantage of these ten real estate tax write-offs, some of which are exclusive to real estate investors and landlords.

1. Mortgage Interest

Even homeowners can write off mortgage interest, so this deduction is widely known and understood, but mortgage interest can add up to many thousands of dollars each year; not a deduction to miss.

2. Hazard Insurance

If you were a reluctant landlord, you can rejoice over this one: homeowners can't write off their homeowner's insurance, but landlords and real estate investors can write off their hazard insurance premium as a deductible expense. Be sure to save a copy of your insurance premium invoice, and give it to your accountant.

3. Property Taxes

As intuitive as it sounds, thousands of property owners forget to list their real estate property taxes as deductible expenses every year, and end up effectively paying those taxes twice.

4. Property Depreciation

Real estate depreciation is not well understood, but it adds up to a substantial sum each year. Basically, the government allows real estate investors to take a "paper loss" of value on a mathematical model that assumes that properties will steadily decline in value over 27.5 years, from their purchase price to a value of $0. This means you can deduct a depreciation loss of 2/55 of the purchase price, for the first 27 years you own a property. Depreciation can become complicated however, so make sure you discuss this one with your accountant.

5. Legal Counsel & Landlord Forms

Most of the legal bills, including the cost of landlord forms and real estate legal contracts, are tax deductible for your investment property. Important exception: eviction costs, which generally cannot be deducted, but speak with your accountant for further details on exactly which expenses can and cannot be deducted.

6. Property Management Costs

If you've hired a property management company to oversee your tenants, leases, and properties, their costs are tax-deductible, so be sure to add up their fees and write them off (and remember that you'll owe the property manager a 1099 if the total fees were over $600).

7. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

If you have a high mortgage relative to your property's value (and right now, who doesn't), chances are you pay an extra charge each month for private mortgage insurance along with your mortgage payment. These charges, while annoying, can at least be deducted from your taxable income.

8. Maintenance & Repairs

While homeowners can't write off their home improvements, landlords and real estate investors can! There are some exceptions (so touch base with your accountant), but in general any repairs that are required for habitability and safety are tax-deductible.

9. Advertising & Tenant Screening

When landlords have vacant properties, they can write off the costs associated with filling them, such as advertising the rental property, pulling credit reports, obtaining criminal background checks, etc.

10. Settlement Costs

If you're one of the rare and lucky people actually buying investment properties right now, some of the settlement costs you pay can be deducted, such as mortgage lender fees and government recordation costs. Not every settlement charge is tax-deductible, however, so be sure to send a copy of your HUD-1 settlement statement to your accountant so they can comb through it and find all of the deductible costs.

As a final note, remember that your accountant's bill is deductible as well, on next year's tax return, so be sure to include last year's accounting bill among this year's tax deductions, and good luck saving money on taxes!

6 Slick Tools to Save Money on Car Repairs

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:00:01 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

This article shares tips from the newest 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!

It’s happened to all of us — a car repair we didn’t budget for, and that nearly left us cash-strapped or without transportation. It really doesn’t have to be this way! These 6 tools are reliable and affordable, designed to help get car maintenance and repair costs under control and well under budget.

1. CarMD Diagnostic Tool

CarMD is not the exact replica of the code readers used in fancier repair shops, but it can diagnose most any common car problem. Simply connect the $100 device to your car’s connectors (instructions are included) and get data to help you know what’s really going on with your car. You don’t have to wait for an issue to arise before getting your money’s worth out of this tool, however. It’s also great for pre-trip inspections and making sure that your car is smog compliant! (You might also find it useful to get a read out on a car you haven’t bought yet — before you drive it off the lot.)

2. Local Auto Supply Store

Thought they were only good for purchasing extra wiper blades and quarts of oil? Think again! There are many complimentary services available at most major car part suppliers (O’Reilly’s, Autozone, Advanced Auto, Pep Boys, etc.) that can help you out for little to nothing. Common offerings include starter checks, alternator checks, code reading, battery testing/charging, and tire checks. While it won’t prevent you from having to go to the shop for a major repair, I’ve used my local shop to help me decide whether I can go a few more miles on an already distressed battery, and they even loan out tools — the really expensive ones — for a refundable fee charged to your credit card. You can save big money at these places!

3. RepairPal

I absolutely love RepairPal! When I’m not using the web-based interface from home to get an accurate quote on what it will cost me to have a timing chain replaced, for example, I can use the accompanying smart phone app to get detailed info about what a repair should cost — before I head into the shop. It includes info on how much your repair will be parts vs. labor, and even gives you details of the common cost to perform maintenance by zip. If you’re stuck on the road with a broken down vehicle, you can use the RepairPal app to contact a local repair shop directly, and armed with all the information about your car and specific repair, you can be sure you won’t be taken at the mechanic’s shop.

4. DriverSide

DriverSide is another fantastic web resource, a community of drivers who care about their cars (but not in a weird way). You simply register your make and model to get automatic updates on recalls, service bulletins, and other news about your vehicle. You can ask questions of mechanics and even see how much parts will cost for your precious ride. It’s the perfect all-in-one solution to car maintenance, and it’s entirely free.

5. AllDataDIY

Do you feel ambitious? Like working on your own vehicle? If you’re up to the challenge of performing your own car repairs, then AllDataDIY may be the perfect solution for you. With just a minimal annual subscription fee, you can have access to all the data that a mechanic would need to perform all kinds of repairs and maintenance tasks for your particular vehicle. Loaded with diagrams, charts, parts detail, and recall info, you could do just about any job on your own — provided you have the patience, skills, and right tools. We’ve used our subscription numerous times to do everything from simple rotor replacement to a major engine overhaul. (Homes with more than one vehicle may get a discount for buying additional subscriptions after the first.)

6. Craigslist

Perhaps the most useful of all the tools, Craigslist has helped us to connect to all the things we just couldn’t fit into our budget, otherwise. Whether we’ve found quality used tires, a part-time moonlighting mechanic, or a tailgate for our pickup, we’ve been able to hunt down and purchase for far less from Craigslist. With so many qualified professionals and parts dealers struggling in this economy, we’ve found our odds of getting a competitive price for parts and labor to be much higher via the site, and it’s always nice to meet new people with similar interests in DIY car care. If you haven’t considered Craigslist for your parts or labor needs, add it to your resource list!

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:

Ask the Readers: Do You Trust Product Reviews? (Chance to win $20!)

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:23:25 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

How do you know which products are worth buying? Do you ever rely on product reviews for your guidance? With all the blogs and websites offering reviews and opinions on which are the best, how can you know who to trust?

We want your feedback on blogs and bias. Do you think that there is a way to tell if a review is honest? If not, is this something you'd like to see in the future? What would it look like? As part of an upcoming SXSW session on FTC compliance and blogs, Wise Bread will be addressing these issues in an effort to get a better idea of what the online community really wants. We'll be discussing ways to ensure accountability and transparency.

Share your thoughts, either below in the comments or on Twitter, and you could be entered to win one of two Amazon gift cards! And remember, if you're going to be at SXSW, it's not too late to RSVP to our session at: http://www.wisebread.com/trustblog#rsvp. You can meet Wise Bread writers Adam Baker, Thursday Bram, Linsey Knerl, and the Wise Bread founding team!

Don't forget -- you can also win during our specially-scheduled Twitter event. More details can be found on our Twitter promotion page.

Win a $20 Amazon Gift Certificate

We're doing two giveaways — one for random comments, and another one for a random tweets.

How to Enter:

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.

At the end of the drawing, we'll update this post to include (and link to) all of your helpful responses.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Friday, March 12th at 11:59 am CST. Winners will be announced after March 12th 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 | 78 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Giveaways

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Set Up a Safe Home Network

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:22:58 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

Networks used to be something that IT departments only spoke about in corporate office environments. Today, however, the average family not only has a need for a good home network, but they are running some form of one without professional advice. If you're curious as to how you can tweak your network to be more efficient, or you've put off getting one started out of hesitation, today is a great day to learn more!

The following tips are taken from a recent guest post at My Life Scoop, and feature just a few of the five steps you should take to get the best home network experience for your family!

Set Up Your Network Safely

It’s always a fun exercise to drive down a residential street with my smartphone set to wireless mode.I’m suddenly presented with numerous wireless networks to choose from – all originating from people’s homes (and some with very revealing network names). The smart families will have their signal protected (meaning I can’t connect using their signal and conduct my online activities.)The others keep it open to everyone.

In addition to making sure that your signal is yours (and yours alone), Edwin Colmanares from Cisco Systems, suggests you take it one step further. "To make it unique, people give it their own quirky name instead of the default name -- names like, 'My precious' or 'lovable giraffe'", he advises. To keep it even more private, he recommends families avoid names that will give anyone an idea of where you live. "A bad name would be 'Smith family network' or '13 a street.'"

Go With a High-Quality Wireless Router

Gone are the days when you need to connect all the computers in your home with cumbersome Cat 5 cables and cover the evidence with strategically-placed throw rugs. Today's family can get a "home network in a box" simply by choosing the right wireless router. While several brands lead the forefront, the best models are those that are updated and upgraded all the time.

To get a better idea of the perks and pitfalls of each product, check out websites like Amazon for their user reviews, or do a quick Google search for "troubleshooting" and the name of the router you're looking at buying. The results will be eye opening (and could save you money and trouble on a consistently buggy model.) Expect to pay at least $50 for one that will last and can provide free updates as needed.

Check out our full guest post on Life Scoop to see all five expanded suggestions for all kinds of families!

Permalink | 4 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Life Hacks, Technology

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Best Deals for Tuesday 03/09/2010

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:03:14 +0000

Dell Mini 10v Netbook for $149 with the purchase of a Dell laptop or netbook

happygreenbee Clearance Sale: Organic kids' clothing from $2 + $6 s&h

Barbie Superstar Doll for $3 + $4 s&h

Get a $25 Restaurant.com Gift Cert. for $4 + receive a $50 Orbitz Gift with code BONUS

FREE sample of Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers

The Legal Way to Avoid Getting Taxed on Your Investments

WC Porter — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:00:02 +0000

By WC Porter

Tax time is coming, and that means trying to keep as much of our hard-earned money as we can. That may or may not make us tax hypocrites, but it's the truth: no one wants to pay more than we have to.

In order to follow my tip, you'll need two things: a tax protected account like a Roth IRA and a stock or mutual fund you like that pays a dividend.

First Things First

You'll notice I italicized "you like" in that last sentence: that's important. Before you even decide to go down this route, you need to find an investment you like and want to own regardless of this strategy. I don't care if you think it's going up because you read something in a annual report, an analyst likes it, or because your palm reader told you.

Just make sure you have a reason and you like it.

As for the dividend: don't focus so much on how big of a yield it is; the important thing is that it pays one out. You may also want to check:

How long have they been paying one? The longer the better.
Have they ever lowered it? Not great.
Do they have a track record of consistently increasing it? Very nice!

I could spend hours on how to pick and investment, but not here. Once you have an investment you like that pays dividends, you can move on to part II.

FYI: If you're interested in investing in real estate and dividends, check out REITs.

Tax Sheltered Account

My favorite is the Roth IRA because the money you use to fund it has already been taxed. So once you put money in here you'll never have to worry about taxes again.

Now what you do is buy the stock/mutual fund from step one inside this account and boom—you're done!

Wait, that sounds too easy doesn't it? There is one more thing you have to double check: does your brokerage allow you to reinvest the dividends automatically, free of charge?

This is important because if they don't, the dividend payments will be credited to your account instead of being automatically reinvested. That means the money has to be contributed into the account instead of automatically going in. ~~And it means it'll eat into the limits ($5,000 for 2010) set up for accounts like Roth IRAs.~~

Most brokerages will automatically reinvest dividend payments from mutual funds, but not for individual stocks, so make sure ahead of time that this is all set up.

Why This Strategy Rocks

You aren't taxed on the dividends you get paid
You get to contribute the dividend automatically
You set it and forget it: as long as you still like the stock/mutual fund you don't have to do anything

The Downside

You can't touch this money until you retire, so you aren't going to get rich quick with this

If you want to read more about this strategy, check out my post on investing in real estate without taking a tax hit.

Thanks to Dangerman for the corrections on dividends counting towards your contribution!

Permalink | 5 comments | WC Porter's blog | Channel: Investment, Real Estate and Housing, Taxes

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How to Plan Your Garden

Dina Marie — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00:02 +0000

By Dina Marie

Our family has made a major life change in leaving the corporate world to begin a vineyard in west Texas. With a large family (10 children, 8 still at home) living on savings until our house in Alabama sells, frugal living is a necessity. Having never been a gardener, I have learned from those who have had successful gardens by asking many questions. One piece of advice repeated many times is the importance of planning before starting.

So, here it is, time to start thinking about and planning your spring and summer vegetable garden! Yes, it is still cold outside, but now is the time to begin. Before we know it, we will be having fresh-from-the-garden produce, fresh tomato sandwiches, and fresh cucumbers and...I know what you are thinking, to get to that point there is a lot of hard work. But, even before the hard work comes the all-important planning stage. There are several factors to consider before planting your garden.

Space Availability

One consideration when beginning to plan is the amount of space which is available for your garden area. If space is limited, priority should be given to family favorite vegetables which would afford the most savings. If space is not an issue, then what vegetables does your family enjoy? Which do you like to eat and cook!

Growing Zone

Certain plants are adapted to particular areas of the country more so than others. Charts are available from various seed companies and on the backs of individual seed packets. These charts specify in which growing zone that particular seed grows well. These growing zones are based on temperatures, daylight hours, and general climate. It is important when making your selection to keep in mind your growing zone.

Seeds vs. Plants

Do I buy seeds or plants? In many instances, time is a key factor in deciding between seeds and plants. Some seeds may be sown directly into your garden soil. Others must be started indoors and once established, transplanted to your garden. These seedlings must be started early enough to be transplanted in a timely manner to your garden (usually after all danger of frost is past). Although more expensive, if indoor space for starting seeds is limited and time is short, plants are probably the better choice.

Where to Purchase

Once you decide upon seeds, plants, or a combination, the decision must be made as to where to purchase them. Local stores often carry seeds and plants specific to your local growing area. They may also be ordered from various companies. The advantages of ordering from a “seed company” are several. They deal exclusively with products specific to gardening thus the quality tends to be better. Also, often their customer service is available to answer any questions you may have and guide you in your decisions so that you will be a loyal satisfied customer. Once satisfied with service, you will be a returning customer.

Experience

Have you ever gardened before? If not, you might want to start small with easy to grow vegetables such as pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, and beans. I had no experience, but asked questions of those who did. As a result, I had a large successful garden which has provided food for our family.

Resources

Search out resource persons among your friends, family and acquaintances. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Most people are more than happy to provide information about a subject they are familiar with and even expert in. Read books on the subject of gardening. These are readily available at your local library, bookstores, and online. Another great resource is your local county extension agent. They often have quality information on all areas of gardening and are also willing to answer questions.

Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is generally thought of in relation to the large farmer. However, it is also important to the backyard gardener also. Some plants are more susceptible to certain insects and viruses. Rotating the crops discourages these from being harbored in an unnatural concentration. An example of this is the squash bug. Different crops also use nutrients from the soil in different amounts. Rotating the crops helps prevent soil depletion.

Are you ready to get started planning your garden?

How to Succeed as an Online Student

Julie Rains — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:02 +0000

By Julie Rains

If you’re considering online studies, don’t underestimate the workload, discipline, and communication skills needed to succeed. Here are tips on excelling as an online student.

Choose courses carefully.

Make sure that you have the time to commit to classes, especially if you are pursuing a degree. Don’t let the lure of flexibility fool you into thinking that you can easily fit studies into an already full schedule. Some classes may take a few hours each week; others may require several hours weekly plus extra time to complete projects. And, beware that new degree programs and courses may be particularly difficult as content and technologies are in the process of being perfected.

If you are interested simply in learning a specific skill rather than earning a degree, consider online classes through the community college or specialized training offered by professional associations.

Become familiar with online learning technologies.

Try to do this before class starts or as quickly as possible after the session begins. Some tasks, such as uploading assignments to a designated location on BlackBoard, can be intimidating on a first try but simple after you've done them a couple of times. The less exertion expended in mastering online tools, the more effort you can place on learning course content.

Read recommended materials.

I know this advice may seem incredibly obvious. But many lecture-format classes require students simply to show up and listen; even if you complete the reading according to the syllabus, having an instructor provide you with context and give explanations makes it easier to glean pertinent information from written materials. Many online classes require students to react to materials in forum discussions, which is difficult if you haven't done the reading.

Participate in discussion forums.

If you are the first to post in the forum, you can share basic observations to start the conversation; but if you arrive later in the discussion thread, then you’ll need to offer deeper, unique insights.

Don’t presume that classmates share what you might perceive as cultural norms. Framing comments with mentions of professional and personal life experiences, or sharing these experiences when introducing yourself at the start of each course, can help classmates to understand your perspective and avoid antagonizing them.

Finally, don’t be a hit-and-run poster who visits the forums just once a week, makes comments, interacts with no one, and then exits. This approach may mean that you comply with course requirements but doesn’t really advance your knowledge. Even if you are an expert in a topic, you can learn from the uninformed perspectives of newbies. Just getting insight into what other people understand about a topic is useful — you can then tailor your communications in class forums and outside of these forums more effectively.

Turn in assignments on time.

Online classes may place more emphasis on projects rather than tests so you’ll need to plan your workload carefully. While you might be able to cram for a final exam, most people can’t wait until the last minute to get topics approved, find credible sources, compile research, and collaborate with project partners.

Try to turn in projects ahead of time so that if something unusual happens — a snowstorm-induced power outage or even a brief loss of broadband — you’ll still meet deadlines. You might be able to fudge a turn-in time in the offline environment but, online, time-stamped submissions of uploaded research papers and PowerPoint projects make it difficult to hedge on when you actually turned in an assignment.

Serve as project manager.

You can influence the direction of projects and add to your leadership skills. If you don't think you can handle planning and leading projects, be an active participant by contributing your talents, completing project tasks on time, and helping the project manager with compiling components into a finished report.

Create a portfolio of your projects.

Showcase your knowledge and skills. Some potential employers and clients may not fully grasp that an online degree is just as valuable as one earned in a traditional setting. The portfolio is evidence of your work, and can help you land deals for similar projects and serve as a point of conversation in interviews.

I experienced the demands of online learning when I earned a graduate-level Certificate in Technology and Communication at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a longstanding brick-and-mortar institution of higher learning. And, recently, I spoke with a 20-something female about her degree studies at the University of Phoenix, well-known for its online programs. Despite the differences in our backgrounds and universities, we had similar encounters as online students.

Permalink | Comments | Julie Rains's blog | Channel: Career and Income

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Best of Personal Finance Roundup: Credit Score Urban Legends Busted!

Linsey Knerl — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:56:21 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best of Personal Finance roundup. Today, we debunk those irritating credit score myths, share 10 kids foods that are nutritionally-misleading, and get you started on an interruption-free work day!

Wise Bread

4 Deadly Mistakes You Must Avoid When Pursuing Your Dreams

1. Stopping at Uncomfortable

2. Looking for Shortcuts

3. Waiting for Perfection

4. Failing to Listen to Your Heart

Book Review: On a Dollar a Day

Best Deals for Friday 03/12/2010

Join our SXSW Session and Win an iPod Nano

How Helping a Company Can Benefit You

New Balance Wear Test Program (shoes)

J.C. Penney Community (retail)

CVS Advisor Panel (retail)

House Party

BzzAgent

Magazines

Best Deals for Thursday 03/11/2010

Frugal Gluten-Free Living: Flour Tortillas that Taste Great!

Join Our Tweetchat at 4:00 CST For a Chance to Win Prizes

Warning: TurboTax Missing Minnesota Tax Info (Updated With TurboTax Response)

What You Need To Know

Update: TurboTax Response From VP Bob Meighan

Best of Personal Finance: How to Make Coconut Milk Kefir

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

Best Deals for Wednesday 03/10/2010

Top 10 Real Estate Tax Write-Offs

1. Mortgage Interest

2. Hazard Insurance

3. Property Taxes

4. Property Depreciation

5. Legal Counsel & Landlord Forms

6. Property Management Costs

7. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

8. Maintenance & Repairs

9. Advertising & Tenant Screening

10. Settlement Costs

6 Slick Tools to Save Money on Car Repairs

1. CarMD Diagnostic Tool

2. Local Auto Supply Store

3. RepairPal

4. DriverSide

5. AllDataDIY

6. Craigslist

Dealista

Ask the Readers: Do You Trust Product Reviews? (Chance to win $20!)

Win a $20 Amazon Gift Certificate

How to Enter:

Giveaway Rules:

Set Up a Safe Home Network

Best Deals for Tuesday 03/09/2010

The Legal Way to Avoid Getting Taxed on Your Investments

First Things First

Tax Sheltered Account

Why This Strategy Rocks

The Downside

How to Plan Your Garden

Space Availability

Growing Zone

Seeds vs. Plants

Where to Purchase

Experience

Resources

Crop Rotation

How to Succeed as an Online Student

Choose courses carefully.

Become familiar with online learning technologies.

Read recommended materials.

Participate in discussion forums.

Turn in assignments on time.

Serve as project manager.

Create a portfolio of your projects.

Best of Personal Finance Roundup: Credit Score Urban Legends Busted!

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading