Money Questions and Answers

You Should Be Haggling for Discounts Everywhere

My anniversary is coming up soon. And I’ve stalked my wife on Pinterest looking for gift ideas. Pinterest is the perfect place to find gift ideas for us clueless guys. And I’ve found the perfect gift. The problem is that it’s expensive. Even eBay (EBAY) is pricey for the designer sunglasses that she wants. Then a brilliant idea hit me: I should ask the seller on eBay for a discount. The online retailing giant opened a proverbial can of worms when it started allowing sellers to add the “or best offer” option to auction listings. Even though this listing didn’t allow for haggling for discounts from its “buy it now” option, I thought I would try anyway. So I emailed … Read more

How to Save a Fortune Using Coupons and Loyalty Cards

by Hank Coleman

You can save using coupons. I struggle with it though. I throw them away actually. I don’t mean to throw away coupons. It just happens. I stick them in my pocket, wait in line, go to the register and forget to use them. I also don’t return to the store and ask for my missed discount. You might think that it’s not such a big deal. What’s a dollar here or there? But, like most small things, these missing savings can add up over time. Have you ever looked at the savings printed on the bottom of your grocery receipt? What if you forget your loyalty card and coupons more often than not? We’re talking about some serious money if this … Read more

Why Are You Wasting Your Reward Points?

by Hank Coleman

You may not be fully aware of it, but you’re probably sitting on your own personal treasure hoard: a stash of airline miles, hotel points or reward points you’ve earned through your credit cards. Are you wasting your reward points and frequent flier miles? According to statistics compiled by Points.com and its parent Points International (PCOM), a company specializing in helping consumers trade, exchange and redeem reward points, the average American is hoarding more than 61,000 reward points through various programs. Americans have more than 2.65 billion loyalty memberships — 21.4 per household. This would be fine if we were spending those points — but we’re not. According to a report by Forrester Research, only 16 percent of us redeem … Read more

Top 5 Crucial Things to Know About Homeowners Associations (HOAs)

by Hank Coleman

If you’re in the market for your first home, considering a move to another neighborhood or you want to invest in rental property, it’s important to know the ins and outs of homeowners associations before getting too far along in the home buying process. In a nutshell, a homeowners association (HOA) is a residential community governance organization that creates, implements and regulates rules for properties and residents within the community. If you purchase a home within an HOA community, you cannot opt-out of the membership and must pay HOA fees (typically on a monthly basis). Some people think negatively of HOAs because they’re often perceived as overly controlling and expensive, but there can be many benefits of living in a … Read more

Review of eMeals – Meal Planning Made Simple

by Hank Coleman

How often do you sit down to eat dinner at home with your family? If you’re like most Americans, you probably don’t spend dinnertime with your family on a daily basis because only 29% of households reportedly eat dinner together every night, according to a November 2019 poll by YouGov. The same poll also found 46% of U.S. adults wished they would eat dinner with their families more often (that number increased to 62% of adults for the parent demographic). Some of the most common reasons for not spending dinnertime with their families included: different schedules, too busy, picky eaters and dietary restrictions, to name a few. Considering the psychological benefits of family dinners and potential cost savings involved, it’s … Read more

3 Surefire Ways to Get Ahead at Work and Career

by Hank Coleman

Looking to get ahead at work and in your career? Then try this. At work, think of yourself like a CIA agent. Gather intelligence wherever and whenever you can, and get inside the mind of your boss. I’m not talking about feeding the gossip machine that most workplaces are. But gathering as much information as you can about what your boss is thinking and working on can only make you a better employee, and help you on the job. Here are a few sneaky ways you can pick up that intel, get ahead at work, and beat your peers in the rat race. Learn to Read Upside Down What’s on your boss’ desk? What is he or she working on … Read more