I've written about how wonderful it is to watch free TV and movies on Hulu in a previous post, but there are some shows that are not available on that site; Fancast fills in many of the gaps with programs like Burn Notice, Lipstick Jungle, Mad Men, and Everyday Italian, all available for free after you sign up (all they want is your email address).
Every episode is free with limited commercials, so it's better than watching on commercial television. Without the need for a subscription service like TiVo or your local cable company, this is a great way to either catch up on a missed episode, or to watch an old favorite. I found Fancast as I was looking for my favorite (now canceled) show, The Gilmore Girls; the offering here is more complete and has less commercial interruptions than the "official" version on the show's website. Fancast allows you to customize your selection by filling out a short preference list and you can actually subscribe to your favorite shows so that you know when a new episode airs.
I love it when I find better choices and quality than at the name brand "retail" location!
Food finds, super shops, travel tips, and fun things to make your spirit smile.
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Soul to Sole
It is getting to be that wonderful time of the year, when sales start appearing on all the items you wanted for Christmas but did not receive. In this slow economy, stores at the beach are struggling to stay afloat until the weather warms.
Every January I head down to Laguna Beach to visit my best friend Cindy, and to shop at all the stores which have "local" sales; about the only people in town and shopping in January at the beach are the locals, so the savings are a nice bonus for being an all year resident.
Soul to Sole has two locations within walking distance of each other in Laguna; the Beach Street store has the higher end designer merchandise, while the Coast Highway store has a little of everything, including the funky fads that are a one season or one occasion buy.
The little local secret is that the second week of January the Coast Highway store has a $12 shoe sale where nearly every pair (a few window display items are $50) is $12. Yes, you read that correctly. The shoes range from Jeffrey Campbell, to Kors and Blowfish; designer shoes which retail for about $100 normally, so we are not talking about the ugly, cheap, hurt your feet shoes that are truly only worth $12. A bargain is only a bargain if you receive value and use from your purchase.
So act like a local this year and head to Laguna for some very satisfying sole food.
Every January I head down to Laguna Beach to visit my best friend Cindy, and to shop at all the stores which have "local" sales; about the only people in town and shopping in January at the beach are the locals, so the savings are a nice bonus for being an all year resident.
Soul to Sole has two locations within walking distance of each other in Laguna; the Beach Street store has the higher end designer merchandise, while the Coast Highway store has a little of everything, including the funky fads that are a one season or one occasion buy.
The little local secret is that the second week of January the Coast Highway store has a $12 shoe sale where nearly every pair (a few window display items are $50) is $12. Yes, you read that correctly. The shoes range from Jeffrey Campbell, to Kors and Blowfish; designer shoes which retail for about $100 normally, so we are not talking about the ugly, cheap, hurt your feet shoes that are truly only worth $12. A bargain is only a bargain if you receive value and use from your purchase.
So act like a local this year and head to Laguna for some very satisfying sole food.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Laptop LoJack
Wouldn't it be nice if your laptop had a system that works like LoJack for cars? Wouldn't it be nice if it could actually take a picture of the thief to help you and law enforcement capture the culprit? Wouldn't it be nice if all this was free? It must be Christmas (actually it's Christmas Eve, but that is close enough), because all this IS free and available through Open DHT.*
Adeona (Adeona is the Roman goddess of safe returns) was developed by some very smart Ph.D students and faculty at the University of Washington as part of an academic research project to provide everything you always wanted for your laptop security. It works as a download that only the owner can access, tracking the IP address and location of your laptop, all while remaining invisible to the user. If your laptop is a MAC, it will even take photos of your thief with the freeware tool isightcapture.
Christmas is early this year!
*I would recommend that you wait for the new enhanced version they are working on, due to be released soon; sign up for their RSS update feed so you can get it as soon as it comes out.
Adeona (Adeona is the Roman goddess of safe returns) was developed by some very smart Ph.D students and faculty at the University of Washington as part of an academic research project to provide everything you always wanted for your laptop security. It works as a download that only the owner can access, tracking the IP address and location of your laptop, all while remaining invisible to the user. If your laptop is a MAC, it will even take photos of your thief with the freeware tool isightcapture.
Christmas is early this year!
*I would recommend that you wait for the new enhanced version they are working on, due to be released soon; sign up for their RSS update feed so you can get it as soon as it comes out.
Monday, December 22, 2008
I Go U Go
I like to research before I travel and I Go U Go offers worldwide guides in an easy to navigate form, including a place where users post their pictures and thoughts on their trip. Even though I love to travel, I haven't been able to get away as much as I would like lately, so it's nice to have other people who have been (or live) where I haven't been, writing about the hotels, restaurants, and tips for their locations.
I Go U Go is like Tripadvisor with more options on entertainment, events, and personal anecdotes. The database has more than 8,000 destinations, and after looking over the Los Angeles section, I found that the restaurants mentioned are good choices, not tourist traps, and the hotels span the range from five star to inexpensive airport motels. They also have a handy compare tool for airfares and hotel rates which links to the major travel sites (Orbitz, Hotwire, Kayak, etc.) so that you can put in your desired date and destination while they search the rates.
Center'd is like a community bulletin board for various cities all over the US, so whether you are traveling or staying home, it's a nice resource for what is going on wherever you find yourself. They have a listing of holiday events that I found helpful just around Los Angeles, from where to find carolers to how to get tickets to the Tournament of Roses Parade.
It's always good to get information on a place where you don't know anyone; it's like having a friend show you around town to the hot (or cool) spots while avoiding the dangerous (or merely boring) ones.
I Go U Go is like Tripadvisor with more options on entertainment, events, and personal anecdotes. The database has more than 8,000 destinations, and after looking over the Los Angeles section, I found that the restaurants mentioned are good choices, not tourist traps, and the hotels span the range from five star to inexpensive airport motels. They also have a handy compare tool for airfares and hotel rates which links to the major travel sites (Orbitz, Hotwire, Kayak, etc.) so that you can put in your desired date and destination while they search the rates.
Center'd is like a community bulletin board for various cities all over the US, so whether you are traveling or staying home, it's a nice resource for what is going on wherever you find yourself. They have a listing of holiday events that I found helpful just around Los Angeles, from where to find carolers to how to get tickets to the Tournament of Roses Parade.
It's always good to get information on a place where you don't know anyone; it's like having a friend show you around town to the hot (or cool) spots while avoiding the dangerous (or merely boring) ones.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Ebates
Pssst! Wanna get a big fat check for shopping online at places you already shop?
Go to Ebates and sign up (you get $5 just for signing up for the service). I checked out the stores which are part of their network and although some of the rebates at their partners are nominal (like 6% cash back on Disney), rebates at places like Drugstore or Petco, are at a 10-12% rebate, and over time that can save you a nice sum. If you shop for necessities that you use daily, weekly, or monthly online, you might as well do it through a site that gives you money back for some of what you spend. The most impressive rebates were for products that I rarely see discounted, like A/X, Godiva, Sephora, and Dean & DeLuca, all at 8% cash back. They even have Murad products at 11% cash back, and they have additional coupons to save on specific products. They accumulate your savings until you reach $5.01, then send you a check within three months of your purchases.
There are exceptions to qualifying purchases, so read the rules before you buy, and don't assume that you are getting credit on everything (he basic exceptions are if you order directly from the company without going through Ebates, or for certain name brands which are excluded from qualifications).
Consumer Reports rated this site as the best for rebates that actually pays, so shop and get paid for it!
Go to Ebates and sign up (you get $5 just for signing up for the service). I checked out the stores which are part of their network and although some of the rebates at their partners are nominal (like 6% cash back on Disney), rebates at places like Drugstore or Petco, are at a 10-12% rebate, and over time that can save you a nice sum. If you shop for necessities that you use daily, weekly, or monthly online, you might as well do it through a site that gives you money back for some of what you spend. The most impressive rebates were for products that I rarely see discounted, like A/X, Godiva, Sephora, and Dean & DeLuca, all at 8% cash back. They even have Murad products at 11% cash back, and they have additional coupons to save on specific products. They accumulate your savings until you reach $5.01, then send you a check within three months of your purchases.
There are exceptions to qualifying purchases, so read the rules before you buy, and don't assume that you are getting credit on everything (he basic exceptions are if you order directly from the company without going through Ebates, or for certain name brands which are excluded from qualifications).
Consumer Reports rated this site as the best for rebates that actually pays, so shop and get paid for it!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Craig Ferguson
If you are a night owl like me, you probably know who Craig Ferguson is (a very funny Scottish actor who hosts a late night talk show), and you have watched his Late Late Show. The show airs at 12:35AM PST, so you can record it to your DVR or TiVo if that showtime is past your bedtime.
The first taping of a television show I ever went to see was Craig's show several years ago. Because I actually signed up and showed up on the reservation (which you can make and print online), I am now on the list for new shows which need audiences, and when the Late Late Show needs audiences, they contact me! It's nice to be wanted by a TV show, even if it is just to be in the audience. I loved the warm up comedian Chucky (who really does throw out free candy to the audience, just like Craig says in his monologue) because he makes the wait before the show so much fun, it's like going to see two shows.
Tapings are free (do NOT buy any tickets for a taping), and there is street or studio lot parking; since the studios are about one block from The Grove and Farmer's Market, you can have lunch or dinner before or after the show nearby. Going very early will only have you waiting at the gate because they do not allow you onto the CBS lot before the time marked on the tickets, but make sure that you allow time for traffic and parking. To save time coming out of the studio, leave your cell phones in your cars; the longest wait is the one to reclaim cell phones at the security gate outside the show.
I recently got an email requesting audience members for all of the Late Late Show tapings until the end of the year, so if you have relatives or friends in town for the holidays, go see a show and give them a true "Hollywood" experience.
You could be spending the end of the year with Craig Ferguson, so go enjoy his show!
The first taping of a television show I ever went to see was Craig's show several years ago. Because I actually signed up and showed up on the reservation (which you can make and print online), I am now on the list for new shows which need audiences, and when the Late Late Show needs audiences, they contact me! It's nice to be wanted by a TV show, even if it is just to be in the audience. I loved the warm up comedian Chucky (who really does throw out free candy to the audience, just like Craig says in his monologue) because he makes the wait before the show so much fun, it's like going to see two shows.
Tapings are free (do NOT buy any tickets for a taping), and there is street or studio lot parking; since the studios are about one block from The Grove and Farmer's Market, you can have lunch or dinner before or after the show nearby. Going very early will only have you waiting at the gate because they do not allow you onto the CBS lot before the time marked on the tickets, but make sure that you allow time for traffic and parking. To save time coming out of the studio, leave your cell phones in your cars; the longest wait is the one to reclaim cell phones at the security gate outside the show.
I recently got an email requesting audience members for all of the Late Late Show tapings until the end of the year, so if you have relatives or friends in town for the holidays, go see a show and give them a true "Hollywood" experience.
You could be spending the end of the year with Craig Ferguson, so go enjoy his show!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Online Outlets
If you are one of those who went out at 4am on Black Friday to shop, this post may help you get some beauty rest next year.
There are several outlet stores online which offer great deals without you having to get up before dawn and drive to a store. The beauty of outlet shopping online, especially when there are crowds galore and limited sanity, is that you get to shop the deals from your computer. No need to schlep from store to store looking for the best bargain; you do it all with a couple of clicks, and a cup of coffee, from the comfort of your home.
By now most people know about Overstock for everything under the sun (although the discounts vary greatly from very little to a great deal) and Bluefly for designer shoes and clothes. I recently discovered Outlet Buy and it's now on my list of go to places for everything from Dolce Gabbana and Fendi purses at 30-45% off retail, to Aerosole shoes at 56% off. If you sign up for their newsletter they give you an additional 10% off every order within a 60 day period, and their current holiday special offers another 15% off with the code HOLIDAY. I ended up paying $57 for a pair of leather boots from Aerosole that I saw in the store for $99. The discount is actually even better for those who live outside NY because there is no sales tax, and with free shipping and a 100% guarantee, you don't pay extra for the convenience of ordering online.
For those with a fatter wallet and some connections, get a member of Gilt Groupe to invite you to join; it is an by invitation only luxury apparel sample sale site which hosts about 20 sales a week with specific start and end times with everything going for flat rate discounts of up to 70%. One sale had a pair of Banfi Zambrelli boots that retail for $900 going for $250, or LuLu D.K Matouk linens for which retail for $1,400 selling for $560.
Designer shopping is a little less of a guilty pleasure if you do it at a deep discount while saving both gas and aggravation.
There are several outlet stores online which offer great deals without you having to get up before dawn and drive to a store. The beauty of outlet shopping online, especially when there are crowds galore and limited sanity, is that you get to shop the deals from your computer. No need to schlep from store to store looking for the best bargain; you do it all with a couple of clicks, and a cup of coffee, from the comfort of your home.
By now most people know about Overstock for everything under the sun (although the discounts vary greatly from very little to a great deal) and Bluefly for designer shoes and clothes. I recently discovered Outlet Buy and it's now on my list of go to places for everything from Dolce Gabbana and Fendi purses at 30-45% off retail, to Aerosole shoes at 56% off. If you sign up for their newsletter they give you an additional 10% off every order within a 60 day period, and their current holiday special offers another 15% off with the code HOLIDAY. I ended up paying $57 for a pair of leather boots from Aerosole that I saw in the store for $99. The discount is actually even better for those who live outside NY because there is no sales tax, and with free shipping and a 100% guarantee, you don't pay extra for the convenience of ordering online.
For those with a fatter wallet and some connections, get a member of Gilt Groupe to invite you to join; it is an by invitation only luxury apparel sample sale site which hosts about 20 sales a week with specific start and end times with everything going for flat rate discounts of up to 70%. One sale had a pair of Banfi Zambrelli boots that retail for $900 going for $250, or LuLu D.K Matouk linens for which retail for $1,400 selling for $560.
Designer shopping is a little less of a guilty pleasure if you do it at a deep discount while saving both gas and aggravation.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Office Spaces with Childcare
If you work part-time out of a rented or shared office space, and you pay for childcare while you are at work, you might want to make your life a little easier (and less expensive) with the Cubes and Crayons solution.
Cubes and crayons was created by a new Mom (who else?) who wanted to spend as much time as possible with her new child with as little distance as possible between her work and her childcare facility. It's the next best thing to working from home; all the offices have built in WiFi access, a conference room, lounge, and library of business resources; all the childcare facilities are in the same building, with art, reading, games, and a host of other activities for the kids. The cost of $600 a month for 40 hours of use includes both the office space and childcare, so you save hundreds of dollars a month, not to mention saving your time and peace of mind.
So far they only have one campus open at Menlo Park, in Northern California, but they are opening one in San Francisco, and another in Boston, so if you want one in your area, contact them.
Growing a business while enjoying your children's growth is a combination worth supporting.
Cubes and crayons was created by a new Mom (who else?) who wanted to spend as much time as possible with her new child with as little distance as possible between her work and her childcare facility. It's the next best thing to working from home; all the offices have built in WiFi access, a conference room, lounge, and library of business resources; all the childcare facilities are in the same building, with art, reading, games, and a host of other activities for the kids. The cost of $600 a month for 40 hours of use includes both the office space and childcare, so you save hundreds of dollars a month, not to mention saving your time and peace of mind.
So far they only have one campus open at Menlo Park, in Northern California, but they are opening one in San Francisco, and another in Boston, so if you want one in your area, contact them.
Growing a business while enjoying your children's growth is a combination worth supporting.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Freebie Friday
It is nice to find freebies in times when airlines are charging for checked bags and restaurants are charging for delivery. But there are services which are truly free, with no obligation to prepay and get reimbursed, or worse yet, sign up and require a cancellation to stop lifelong charges to an account (as anyone who has ever signed up for a gym membership already knows). Finding the truly free services requires some work, but isn't that why you read my blog?
For free credit reports that don't require you to put in a credit card number and then cancel, go to this consumer site set up by the government to provide data from all three major agencies; the only restriction is that you can only do it once a year and they charge to give you a FICO score. The reports are very helpful in determining whether or not you want to get more information or update ancient history (one of my reports had me still living with my ex-husband whom I divorced over ten years ago!).
Suze Orman is famous as the financial guru who had invaluable advice in these uncertain times. She is an avid supporter of same sex marriages (as am I), so she has made her Will & Trust kit FREE to the LGBT friendly readers of The Advocate. All you do is click into either the Advocate site or her own site and choose the Will & Trust kit, then enter in the promo code ADVOCATE under the orange promo/gift code. You fill out the forms online, then take them to a notary public or witnesses to complete the process. All for free because Suze believes same sex couples should have the the same protections as different sex couples. Hooray to Suze for putting her money literally where her beliefs lie!
It is always a bonus to get free WiFi service, expecially when you are traveling or waiting in public places like airports, so the service at WiFi Free Spot helps you find the free spots around town, from local businesses to public places (like parks and libraries). They also have a great information page which explains (and warns) about usage of passwords in ANY public place, so feel free to surf the net, but don't do your banking in the park or airport. The same rules apply online or offline; don't share any personal financial or private information in anyplace where strangers may overhear (or oversee) you.
Always use your common sense for any service you use, whether it is free or paid, so DO NOT check your credit report or fill out your will at a free hotspot; freebies are good, but like chemicals, it is not always a good idea to combine them!
For free credit reports that don't require you to put in a credit card number and then cancel, go to this consumer site set up by the government to provide data from all three major agencies; the only restriction is that you can only do it once a year and they charge to give you a FICO score. The reports are very helpful in determining whether or not you want to get more information or update ancient history (one of my reports had me still living with my ex-husband whom I divorced over ten years ago!).
Suze Orman is famous as the financial guru who had invaluable advice in these uncertain times. She is an avid supporter of same sex marriages (as am I), so she has made her Will & Trust kit FREE to the LGBT friendly readers of The Advocate. All you do is click into either the Advocate site or her own site and choose the Will & Trust kit, then enter in the promo code ADVOCATE under the orange promo/gift code. You fill out the forms online, then take them to a notary public or witnesses to complete the process. All for free because Suze believes same sex couples should have the the same protections as different sex couples. Hooray to Suze for putting her money literally where her beliefs lie!
It is always a bonus to get free WiFi service, expecially when you are traveling or waiting in public places like airports, so the service at WiFi Free Spot helps you find the free spots around town, from local businesses to public places (like parks and libraries). They also have a great information page which explains (and warns) about usage of passwords in ANY public place, so feel free to surf the net, but don't do your banking in the park or airport. The same rules apply online or offline; don't share any personal financial or private information in anyplace where strangers may overhear (or oversee) you.
Always use your common sense for any service you use, whether it is free or paid, so DO NOT check your credit report or fill out your will at a free hotspot; freebies are good, but like chemicals, it is not always a good idea to combine them!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Do You Hulu?
For those of us who are not complete couch potatoes, but who also love to watch certain shows, there are several options. Most people these days subscribe to either their local cable or satellite DVR service or use the ubiquitous TiVo. But what if you are in between the old technology of VHS and awaiting to buy your own DVR when the prices go down under $300? Now you no longer have to use your old VCR or pay for a subscription with your cable company to use their DVR.
The solution I use is Hulu; and yes, it is all perfectly legal and FREE. Hulu has most of the popular shows online, from Jon Stewart's Daily Show (and of course the related Colbert Report), to Burn Notice and Lipstick Jungle. They even have classic shows like the Mary Tyler Moore Show and Lost In Space for those of us who feel nostalgic. For kids there is Sesame Street and movies like Liar Liar. Oh, yes, you read that correctly, they also have FREE streaming movies! Full episodes or clips can be sorted by most popular, latest air date, or most highly rated, so if you missed last night's episode, you can watch it here with limited commercials (you can even rate the commercials). An hour show is about 40 minutes on Hulu, so sometimes I actually prefer to watch on Hulu than at the regularly scheduled time (shows are usually available the day after they air).
No matter what your tastes, if there is nothing you want to watch on TV right now, there is probably something you want to watch on Hulu; even if you are just looking for a recipe from Giada on what to cook tonight.
Just be careful that you don't become a computer chair potato.
The solution I use is Hulu; and yes, it is all perfectly legal and FREE. Hulu has most of the popular shows online, from Jon Stewart's Daily Show (and of course the related Colbert Report), to Burn Notice and Lipstick Jungle. They even have classic shows like the Mary Tyler Moore Show and Lost In Space for those of us who feel nostalgic. For kids there is Sesame Street and movies like Liar Liar. Oh, yes, you read that correctly, they also have FREE streaming movies! Full episodes or clips can be sorted by most popular, latest air date, or most highly rated, so if you missed last night's episode, you can watch it here with limited commercials (you can even rate the commercials). An hour show is about 40 minutes on Hulu, so sometimes I actually prefer to watch on Hulu than at the regularly scheduled time (shows are usually available the day after they air).
No matter what your tastes, if there is nothing you want to watch on TV right now, there is probably something you want to watch on Hulu; even if you are just looking for a recipe from Giada on what to cook tonight.
Just be careful that you don't become a computer chair potato.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Free E-Waste Disposal
We may love to take advantage of all the technological upgrades available, but what do we do with all our old stuff? Many communities will fine you for dumping electronic waste like old computer monitors and televisions, so unless you pay someone to haul away your bulky monitors and old analog televisions, you are stuck with them.
If you live in or near Los Angeles, there is a company called E Waste Center Inc. which will come pick up your old tv and/or monitors for FREE and dispose of them properly, recycling any parts that can be recycled. They also help charities by collecting everything electronic from old PDA's to playstations for a specific cause. If you want to drop off your old electronic waste, they also have a drop off location, so go clean out your desks and drawers, and drop the load off knowing you are being green as you clean out your clutter.
If you live in or near Los Angeles, there is a company called E Waste Center Inc. which will come pick up your old tv and/or monitors for FREE and dispose of them properly, recycling any parts that can be recycled. They also help charities by collecting everything electronic from old PDA's to playstations for a specific cause. If you want to drop off your old electronic waste, they also have a drop off location, so go clean out your desks and drawers, and drop the load off knowing you are being green as you clean out your clutter.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Free Google Ads
When I started this blog I signed up for Google's Ad Sense program. I figured that since I was putting my time and energy into writing this blog, I might as well take the opportunity to make a few cents for anyone who clicked on their ads. I limited the number and scope of the ads to subjects related to my posts and made the ad space very small so my blog would not feel like an advertisement for Google's ads.
As I started telling people about my blog and more and more people started reading and following this blog (a big thanks to everyone), I started generating more clicks. This month I saw that my revenue was finally getting close to the $100 minimum Google requires to send out a check (after 6 months of posting daily). I was excited to actually receive something from Google besides the pleasure of a place to write.
Two days ago the ads on my blog disappeared and Google wrote me saying that they needed to "protect" their advertisers because the clicks on my blog were "not within accepted parameters". I suspect that Google is simply trying to save money by not paying out while taking advertiser money for clicks at the same time. Like the Wall Street wizards who sell nothing for something, Google sold me the promise of a check, but delivered nothing. Perhaps the parameters they use is to simply shut down accounts when they get close to the $100 mark so they never have to send out payments.
I have always written this blog for the pleasure of writing, so I will continue; unless of course Google decides this post is also "outside accepted parameters". So now all the ads are gone from my site, and it feels cleaner. In a way Google helped me clean up my act by making my blog a pure advertiser-free space.
As I started telling people about my blog and more and more people started reading and following this blog (a big thanks to everyone), I started generating more clicks. This month I saw that my revenue was finally getting close to the $100 minimum Google requires to send out a check (after 6 months of posting daily). I was excited to actually receive something from Google besides the pleasure of a place to write.
Two days ago the ads on my blog disappeared and Google wrote me saying that they needed to "protect" their advertisers because the clicks on my blog were "not within accepted parameters". I suspect that Google is simply trying to save money by not paying out while taking advertiser money for clicks at the same time. Like the Wall Street wizards who sell nothing for something, Google sold me the promise of a check, but delivered nothing. Perhaps the parameters they use is to simply shut down accounts when they get close to the $100 mark so they never have to send out payments.
I have always written this blog for the pleasure of writing, so I will continue; unless of course Google decides this post is also "outside accepted parameters". So now all the ads are gone from my site, and it feels cleaner. In a way Google helped me clean up my act by making my blog a pure advertiser-free space.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Swift Financial
In today's climate of credit market meltdowns and escalating costs, it is a breath of fresh air to find a bank which caters to small businesses and offers FREE services. Swift Financial is FDIC insured and they were recognized by J.D. Power for outstanding customer service, so you get the security of knowing that your money is safe and that any questions you have will be handled professionally; valuable commodities in today's banking environment.
Swift Financial is an online bank which offers free online banking, no transaction fees, and a free check scanner. The free check scanner alone is worth opening a business account with Swift; imagine being able to process your customer's checks without having to make a trip to the bank! You save gas and time by scanning checks at your business (even if your business is at home). Never again will you have to rush to the bank before they close; with a simple plug into your computer, you can make your deposits anytime (deposits will of course still post only during bank hours on banking days).
With so many of the brick and mortar banks in trouble, many of the online banks are thriving because they stayed away from the risky business of mortgages and CDO's; instead, they invested in the backbone of cash flow; the small businesses and savers who have gambled on their own products and services.
Everyone is learning about financial value and risk these days. Bring value to your business by saving time and money, and risk spending your time and attention on your customers; your long term dividends will surely bring you great rewards.
Swift Financial is an online bank which offers free online banking, no transaction fees, and a free check scanner. The free check scanner alone is worth opening a business account with Swift; imagine being able to process your customer's checks without having to make a trip to the bank! You save gas and time by scanning checks at your business (even if your business is at home). Never again will you have to rush to the bank before they close; with a simple plug into your computer, you can make your deposits anytime (deposits will of course still post only during bank hours on banking days).
With so many of the brick and mortar banks in trouble, many of the online banks are thriving because they stayed away from the risky business of mortgages and CDO's; instead, they invested in the backbone of cash flow; the small businesses and savers who have gambled on their own products and services.
Everyone is learning about financial value and risk these days. Bring value to your business by saving time and money, and risk spending your time and attention on your customers; your long term dividends will surely bring you great rewards.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Jewelry Rental
We all know that most of the jewelry we see at the Oscars is borrowed from the jewelers who want their names mentioned on the red carpet; but what if we want to "borrow" some beautiful jewels for a special night out or a special event (like a wedding) and you are not an Oscar Nominee?
One Night Affair rents evening gowns (after all how many times will you ever wear the same gown again?), for your jewelry rental check out Adorn Brides, which rents out the perfect complement to your gown. Yes, they are REAL diamonds and gold, so you will not be embarrassed by someone who can actually spot a fake piece. Rental prices range from about $100 to $1000, and pieces offered include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and matching sets with retail values in the thousands and tens of thousands of dollars.
Don't even think about keeping the pieces past their dues date (the process works like renting videos, the later you are in returning the piece the more you will pay in fees); you will be charged the retail cost if you are over 30 days late PLUS any rental fees. These are pieces to be borrowed; but if you can afford to buy and want to buy the piece you borrowed, they will work out a finance plan for you.
So now you can rent a beautiful gown along with some beautiful jewelry any day or night you wish; it's like having a fairy godmother....now all we need is a ball and a Prince.
One Night Affair rents evening gowns (after all how many times will you ever wear the same gown again?), for your jewelry rental check out Adorn Brides, which rents out the perfect complement to your gown. Yes, they are REAL diamonds and gold, so you will not be embarrassed by someone who can actually spot a fake piece. Rental prices range from about $100 to $1000, and pieces offered include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and matching sets with retail values in the thousands and tens of thousands of dollars.
Don't even think about keeping the pieces past their dues date (the process works like renting videos, the later you are in returning the piece the more you will pay in fees); you will be charged the retail cost if you are over 30 days late PLUS any rental fees. These are pieces to be borrowed; but if you can afford to buy and want to buy the piece you borrowed, they will work out a finance plan for you.
So now you can rent a beautiful gown along with some beautiful jewelry any day or night you wish; it's like having a fairy godmother....now all we need is a ball and a Prince.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Drinks for 35 Cents
The Edison in downtown Los Angeles is a mix of classic and industrial decor in a building that was built in 1910 and used to house a power plant. Many of the original parts of the building are intact, including the tall ceilings, winding staircase, and original boiler room, all of which add to the ambiance that makes the Higgins Building a stunning destination.
Even more remarkable is their Thursday night special drink which sells for 35 cents (yes, you read that correctly, you can buy THREE drinks for $1.05, but if you do please call a taxi to go home). The price reflects the price of a drink in 1910 just like the atmosphere, and the special drinks are classics from the era, like a martini or old fashioned (no frou frou drinks from this era, although everything is available off the regular drink menu). There is also a happy hour Wednesdays-Saturdays with a 40% discount on old fashioned drinks.
There is of course upscale bar food to help absorb the drinks, live entertainment some nights, big screens with movies playing, and a pool table. They have a fairly strict dress code (no athletic wear no matter how expensive), and going to the Edison is one of those bright ideas that is best when you reserve in advance or you risk waiting in line for over an hour; you can move to the head of the line by simply calling or going online to make a reservation (up to 10 people) with a credit card guarantee (they will charge your card $50 if you don't show up).
The Edison is a bright spot in downtown Los Angeles.
Even more remarkable is their Thursday night special drink which sells for 35 cents (yes, you read that correctly, you can buy THREE drinks for $1.05, but if you do please call a taxi to go home). The price reflects the price of a drink in 1910 just like the atmosphere, and the special drinks are classics from the era, like a martini or old fashioned (no frou frou drinks from this era, although everything is available off the regular drink menu). There is also a happy hour Wednesdays-Saturdays with a 40% discount on old fashioned drinks.
There is of course upscale bar food to help absorb the drinks, live entertainment some nights, big screens with movies playing, and a pool table. They have a fairly strict dress code (no athletic wear no matter how expensive), and going to the Edison is one of those bright ideas that is best when you reserve in advance or you risk waiting in line for over an hour; you can move to the head of the line by simply calling or going online to make a reservation (up to 10 people) with a credit card guarantee (they will charge your card $50 if you don't show up).
The Edison is a bright spot in downtown Los Angeles.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Simplify Media
Do you have all you music on your home computer or iPod but want to play it at work? Download Simplify Media (it's free) and you can share your iTunes library across all your platforms (PC, Mac, or Linux) and anywhere you regularly go online. Even if you work in an environment with firewalls, this program will allow you access (it is small and contains no dangerous virus or spyware). The founders came from a Silicon Valley company that specializes in secure email and online file sharing; all this means to you is that they know what is safe and how to get around barriers (except if you work at a bank or hospital, both of which use high security firewalls). Coming from the biz, they also know what is legal; you only have streaming access to music, you can not download it.
The best part is that you can share music libraries with 30 of your friends (all for free) and visa versa. And if you are not using iTunes (why not?), the software is also compatible with Winamp and even Linux protocols. They even offer an iPhone app that works with either WiFi or 3G connections, so you can listen to your music on your phone from your home computer as you sit waiting for your delayed flight or train.
Let your music soothe your soul no matter where you are.
The best part is that you can share music libraries with 30 of your friends (all for free) and visa versa. And if you are not using iTunes (why not?), the software is also compatible with Winamp and even Linux protocols. They even offer an iPhone app that works with either WiFi or 3G connections, so you can listen to your music on your phone from your home computer as you sit waiting for your delayed flight or train.
Let your music soothe your soul no matter where you are.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Rent a Book
For anyone who is or has been in college, books are a heavy (literally and figuratively) necessary expense. One of the worst parts is that most books that are required for courses are not books that you would want to keep in your library after you finish the course (do you want to lug around or ever reread a book on accounting or biology?)
In the olden times (when I went to college) we used to resell our books to the bookstore as a way of recycling our textbooks, but we would get only a few cents on every dollar we had spent on buying them. Sometimes we were lucky enough to find a used textbook, but it was usually marked with highlighter and notes in the margins that were more annoying than helpful.
There is now a company that rent books! Bookrenter has filled a niche market by renting books to students for various lengths of time (week, semester, year) for a fraction of the cost of buying a new book. Students can save about 75% off the price of a book by renting a book they probably don't want to own anyway, and they get a pristine (no highlighter, no notes in the margins) copy. No need to try to sell your book after your course, you simply return it to bookrenter just like a DVD. The concept is just like Netflix, but for anyone enrolled school with an average annual book bill reaching $1000 per semester, this is much more practical, and with the savings you can actually afford to rent a movie!
Books that are worth rereading are worth buying, but for any other book, renting is better than buying.
In the olden times (when I went to college) we used to resell our books to the bookstore as a way of recycling our textbooks, but we would get only a few cents on every dollar we had spent on buying them. Sometimes we were lucky enough to find a used textbook, but it was usually marked with highlighter and notes in the margins that were more annoying than helpful.
There is now a company that rent books! Bookrenter has filled a niche market by renting books to students for various lengths of time (week, semester, year) for a fraction of the cost of buying a new book. Students can save about 75% off the price of a book by renting a book they probably don't want to own anyway, and they get a pristine (no highlighter, no notes in the margins) copy. No need to try to sell your book after your course, you simply return it to bookrenter just like a DVD. The concept is just like Netflix, but for anyone enrolled school with an average annual book bill reaching $1000 per semester, this is much more practical, and with the savings you can actually afford to rent a movie!
Books that are worth rereading are worth buying, but for any other book, renting is better than buying.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Back in the USA
With everything that is going on here in the USA, there are times when I just need to leave and breathe in the culture of another country. The easiest foreign getaway trips are to our neighbors who border the USA, and now it's even easier with new options for those of us who travel by land or sea.
There is a new government program which allows citizens to travel with either a passport card or enhanced driver's license (the driver's license is presently only available for residents of Washington State or New York State) for travel by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. The cards are much smaller than a passport, and easier to use where there are kiosks into which you can insert your card for passage. If you order these cards with your passport or driver's license, it only costs a few dollars more ($15-30).
There are also the new Nexus, Sentri and Fast cards for those who travel frequently between certain borders (like truckers or those who have family or do business across the border); the best benefit to these special cards is the dedicated commuter lanes you get access to if you are a cardholder (think of it as a pass to use the car pool lane on a congested freeway).
The next time you drive across a border or go on a cruise to the Caribbean, use your passport card to get you back in the USA.
There is a new government program which allows citizens to travel with either a passport card or enhanced driver's license (the driver's license is presently only available for residents of Washington State or New York State) for travel by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. The cards are much smaller than a passport, and easier to use where there are kiosks into which you can insert your card for passage. If you order these cards with your passport or driver's license, it only costs a few dollars more ($15-30).
There are also the new Nexus, Sentri and Fast cards for those who travel frequently between certain borders (like truckers or those who have family or do business across the border); the best benefit to these special cards is the dedicated commuter lanes you get access to if you are a cardholder (think of it as a pass to use the car pool lane on a congested freeway).
The next time you drive across a border or go on a cruise to the Caribbean, use your passport card to get you back in the USA.
Friday, September 26, 2008
FINRA
A little investigation can save you a huge financial headache. In light of all the news in the financial world, today's subject is FINRA . FINRA stands for Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and they are the largest non governmental regulator of securities firms in the US. They have the ability to impose fines and sanctions to firms and individuals, so even though they are not a government body, they are the law enforcers. Whether you are seeking education as someone who works in the industry, or protection as an investor, this is the place to start. It is the financial equivalent of the Consumer Reports, but with legal teeth.
If we all educate ourselves so that we understand some basics about our own money, we are less susceptible to brokers who promise to deliver all we wish if we grant them access to our cash; but would you buy a car from a dealer who promises you the perfect car sight unseen, if you just sign the contract? Do some homework on your risk tolerance, long term goals (college fund? retirement fund?), and your brokerage house (there were so many compliants and judgments against Merrill Lynch that their demise was of no surprise to anyone who checked FINRA reports). There is information on how to choose your investment professional, how to choose your investment types, how to report a problem with your broker, and compliance information.
Their site offers everything from alerts on frauds and scams, to a broker check which shows current and past cases regarding individuals and brokerage houses. There are also explainations of SIPC protection, (a brokerage version of FDIC type of safety net), how to safeguard your identity from theft, and calculators for savings and loans amounts.
If you have investments, make sure they are building you a nest egg, not just building your broker's nest egg.
If we all educate ourselves so that we understand some basics about our own money, we are less susceptible to brokers who promise to deliver all we wish if we grant them access to our cash; but would you buy a car from a dealer who promises you the perfect car sight unseen, if you just sign the contract? Do some homework on your risk tolerance, long term goals (college fund? retirement fund?), and your brokerage house (there were so many compliants and judgments against Merrill Lynch that their demise was of no surprise to anyone who checked FINRA reports). There is information on how to choose your investment professional, how to choose your investment types, how to report a problem with your broker, and compliance information.
Their site offers everything from alerts on frauds and scams, to a broker check which shows current and past cases regarding individuals and brokerage houses. There are also explainations of SIPC protection, (a brokerage version of FDIC type of safety net), how to safeguard your identity from theft, and calculators for savings and loans amounts.
If you have investments, make sure they are building you a nest egg, not just building your broker's nest egg.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Luxury Link
Luxury Link is the priceline of the luxury hotel market; they offer vacations with bids starting at only $1! Yes, you read that correctly, $1 for a vacation. Some of their deals are only for the last minute, so if you have an urge to get away for a week-end in Paris, or five days in Huahine (French Polynesia), check the auctions here before you book with your travel agent. All the hotels are top of the line brands like the St. Regis or the Hyatt, so you will get a package with upgrades like suites or complimentary spa services for less than you would pay if you booked only the room directly. Look at the different packages offered to see which suits yours preferences, is it more nights and less extras like meals, or it is less nights and more amenities like spa treatments?
The destinations range from Russia to the Rocky Mountains with everything in between. The only common denominator is the discount pricing and the quality of the resorts. My pick would be to bid on the Soneva Gili resort by Six Senses package in Male, Maldives with it's overwater bungalows, breakfast and lunch, transfers, and spa treatments all offered at 50% off the list price!
Bon Voyage!
The destinations range from Russia to the Rocky Mountains with everything in between. The only common denominator is the discount pricing and the quality of the resorts. My pick would be to bid on the Soneva Gili resort by Six Senses package in Male, Maldives with it's overwater bungalows, breakfast and lunch, transfers, and spa treatments all offered at 50% off the list price!
Bon Voyage!
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