Bank of Debit Card Fees

Do you bank at Bank of America? If so, and you use a debit card you are being charged a $5 monthly fee just for using your debit card. This comes at a time when many banks and businesses are looking for all sorts of ways to nickel and dime customers. It is a source of irritation for many of us as we feel that we already pay so much and know that the banks are making quite a bit of money. It is especially a source of frustration knowing that banks such as Bank of America accepted bailout money but now are charging extra fees to customers. Its as if we have payed double. If you are tired of the extra fees check out Debit Card Fees: Some Banks Say No with a list of banks that won't be charging extra fees.

Being Nifty with Pinterest

As we all know, there is a lot of hype going on about Pinterest.  Basically it is this online, virtual pinboard where you can create different boards for different reasons.  For instance, there could be boards about weddings, food, quotes, etc., or pretty much anything your heart desires.  I think that pinterest is neat because of all the different ideas that you can get from it.  If you see something you like on someone else's board, then you can "re-pin" it to your boards and you can upload your own ideas onto your boards too!  This is a really great site for those who like to try new things or to get new ideas for various occasions.  This is also a really great site for those who are wanting to save money, yet be able to create things that look like a million bucks!  It's easy to get started, you just have to go online, request an invite, and then create your account.  After that, it just depends on how much time you put into it if you want to spend hours or just a few minutes looking at other people's boards.  I personally love pinterest because it's given me a ton of ideas to use for decorations, gifts, etc.  Pretty much everything that is on pinterest could be re-created (and for much cheaper too) which is why this online pinboard is great to be thrifty with!

Most Fuel Efficient Vehicle Ever!!!

This is proof that two wheels are better than four. Bicycles do not require any dinosaur fuel to operate. They do use a little rubber in the tires and some elements in the frame, wheels, cables, etc. However, once they roll off the assembly line, they are 100% efficient. Zero emissions, zero carbon footprint, etc. Not to mention the health benefits realized for the operator. Regular exercise on a daily basis is shown to increase health and lead to longer life.
And if your not into pedaling (Harold Flach), try motorcycles. Motorcycles are extremely efficient. Mopeds get around 100 MPG. If you like girls and want them to notice you, I reccomend you stay away from mopeds. However, even your typical Harley can get upwards of 45 MPG on the highway AND in town. They also carry the advantage over bicycles in that they can carry two pasengers.
Bicycles and Motorcycles can be lots of fun. They can also be incredibly dangerous. However, with proper precautions (training, helmets, safety courses, etc) they can be a great way to save a little $$$

Reducing What You Spend on Gas!

All of us are looking for a way to reduce the amount that we spend on gas each week. So, here are some ways to reduce how much you spend:

• Buy from local, independent gas stations. THey are often cheaper than the "Branded outlets like BP, Shell and Exxon Mobil." The branded outlets are usually higher priced because they are required to purchase a particular type of gas to meet contract requirements. Often these contracts can result in a 10-15 cents more for each gallon they sell.

• Fill up your tank at the beginning of the week on a Monday or Tuesday. This is beneficial because the Department of Energy releases a weekly report on Wednesday. When there is negative news gas prices will often rise. This can save you a few dollars each week.

• Use that smart-phone. There are applications such as GasBuddy and Cheap Gas that can help you find the cheapest gas.

• Maintain your car. Just by keeping tire pressure at the suggested pressure you can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3%, or save you up to 10 cents per gallon of gas

• Also, if you fix or repair a car that is failing emissions tests it can increase your car's efficiency by about 4%, this equals about a 14 cent a gallon savings.

• Drive defensively. Aggressive driving = speeding, rapid acceleration and braking This can lower your mileage by about 33% on the highway and by about 5% in town, and can cost you from 18 cents to $1.16 per gallon of gas.

All things considered, if you're serious about saving money then these are some great ways to cut back on gas. Check out "Savings Experiment: How to Suffer Less Pain at the Pump" to learn even more!

Do It Yourself: Mason Jars

So lately I've been into the whole, "do it yourself" craft ideas.  I've crocheted hats, made decorations out of string and clothespins, and tried various other things.  Well, in about a month, my cousin is getting married and she is decorating her reception with Mason Jars.  I personally think that's a super cool and cute idea, so I started looking up different DIY Mason Jars projects and one that I found I really liked...a lot!  It's the DIY: Tinted Mason Jars in Rainbows.  I've seen several different sites that have DIY tinted Mason Jars, but this is the one I found that I liked the best.  

The downfall of this DIY project is that once you color the Mason Jars, you can't put water in them and they're definitely not safe to drink out of.  But, they are great for decorations and look really awesome if you put candles or flowers in them!  (One tip said to put a smaller jar with water inside the Mason Jar if you want to put flowers in them).

So...enjoy your new DIY: Tinted Mason Jars project!

Out with the Old in with the Cash.-- Re-Commerce

You, just like me, and many others have old unused items laying around our house. Be it an outdated Ipod, clothes no longer warn, or furniture no longer needed there is a potential to recover some of the capital you originally invested. The best way to recover that capital in today's economy is no longer hosting a garage sale at your home, but rather having a digital garage sale. Doing this via the internet is called re-commerce. Many of you are familiar with eBay, craigslist and other websites which allow users to sell items. In fact, many people use such websites as a main business portal. If you have the time and your items for sale are worth enough to pay to list them on the likes of eBay it is a great portal. If you don't though, check out craigslist.com. This website allows you to list items for free to sell. If you want to receive store credit or a gift card for selling items you should check out gazelle.com. There are so many avenues to resell your used items that it makes no sense to leave them laying around. Get rid of the junk and bring in some extra cash. For more information on websites and the how to of saving via junk check out "Savings Experiment: How to Get Money for Your Clutter".