Electric Vehicles to Save Money

Regular readers are probably aware that I like electric vehicles and that I have spoken about them before as viable alternative to gas guzzlers. And really apart from their benefit to the environment, there are several economic considerations that make electric vehicles a good choice if one is looking to buy a vehicle. The reasons that I think electric vehicles save money are:

  • They don’t use any gas. They use electricity and rather than fill up at a pump, you recharge at home; much like your cell phone.
  • You don’t notice any particular increase in your electricity bill even with regular recharging. So basically it feels as though you are running your vehicle free, without any payment made for fuel. These total up to substantial savings. I have owned an electric vehicle for a couple of years now so I know how nice it felt to sail right past the gas pump; particularly when the fuel prices were so prohibitively high just a while back.
  • [Read more →]

How to Help Yourself Keep Those New Year Resolutions

I am rather proud to announce that the new year resolutions that I made last year (regular readers will recall my post about new year resolutions written about this time a year ago) to save money have been incorporated into my life to a large extent. I do ride my bike a lot, I do for the most part avoid unnecessary spending, and try to enjoy life trying out new things and taking the time to do the stuff that I enjoy. As for the getting organized bit; that is a resolution that I need to work on a bit…

Making New Year resolutions is all very well but what is important is to be able to stick to them. Here are some tips that may help you stick to the ones that you do make:

[Read more →]

Cheap Stocking Stuffers

For a bunch of reasons, you will be looking to get cheap gifts for the festive season: first and foremost is financial stringency, secondly there are some people that you simply don’t want to spend that much money on (that’s not being cheap, just practical), then there are those who don’t appreciate expensive stuff and who will promptly break, dismember and/or destroy something expensive (read children). So here are some stocking stuffer ideas under $5:

These fridge magnets are excellent for all the Domestic Goddesses we know out there; the ones with a sense of humor:  I thought they were all hilarious: “Every day I give my family two choices for dinner…take it or leave it”, “Housework is evil. It must be stopped.” “A clean house is a sign of a wasted life” “It’s not nagging if you wave a butcher knife, dear.” For under $20 for a set of four, you can give these to four different individuals! Alternatively these fridge magnets would do great for your girlfriends in office; again those with a sense of humor!

[Read more →]

The Christmas Coupons Site

Now that the quest for Christmas gifts has begun in real earnest for me (if it hasn’t for you, I have to ask, “What’re you waiting for; Christmas?” J ), I thought I would share with you this site I got to know about, simply called Christmas Coupons.com. Though it is called Christmas coupons, the deals offered are available year round and are arranged under a number of interesting categories like the Fun Lover, Fashionista , Health Nut , Host and Hostess , Guy’s Guy , Proud Parent , Scholar , Techno Geek , Travel Enthusiast and last but not least the Workaholic . A lot to choose from then.

On the home page the site displays the best deals of the day. For instance there is the Buy.com specialty store deals on Hi def TVs.  These include deals such as a 30% discount on this Toshiba TV, which is $382, down from $550.  Deal throws in free shipping just to add a bow to the ribbon.

[Read more →]

Got a Yen for Luxury Cars?

If you are one of those that salivate at the thought of the Jaguar you saw the other day or, or have day dreams about a particular BMW or pause to stare unblinkingly when you see that Mercedes Roadster but are not among the other half that can afford these cars, do not despair.

There is still a way of owning these cars; just think in terms of second hand; ooops that is so not OK to say; the correct term being ‘pre owned’.  So think in terms of pre owned, and you just may have yourself a really affordable deal, be able to afford precision German engineering at a fraction of the original cost.

[Read more →]

Computer Accessory Gift Ideas

Folks I am doing some advance planning here, and decided to throw out some ideas for my Christmas shopping. I find that novelty gadgets to enhance our computer operating experience, even the nerdy, geeky ideas, go down really well.

Now this one may not be for everyone but I do know a certain someone who would simply love this roll up wireless keyboard. The sale page for this roll up keyboard informs you that for $17.99 you can get yourself “wireless freedom” with this 2.4 GHz Wireless Flexible MultiMedia Portable Keyboard, which can be rolled up for easy portability making it an ideal portable keyboard for notebook computers.

[Read more →]

Internet Scams You Should be Aware of

There are all these cleverly worded, enticing adverts and other links on the net that lead you to pages that promise you “Easy way to work from home”, to make “hundreds of dollars a day” which you can do “working from home “ or “working Part time” etc. All of this is promised to you for some seemingly nominal sum or by asking you to pay only for shipping and handling. All this sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Well that’s because it is! It is too good to be true; it is not true.

[Read more →]

Using the Dollar Store: Pros and Cons

It used to be the five and dime stores in the good old days but inflation took care of that and now we just have dollar stores. There are many ways in which you can stretch your monthly/weekly budget further by shopping at dollar stores. It really makes sense because the concept upon which the dollar store is based makes it possible for sellers to actually sell the products to consumers substantially cheaper.

[Read more →]

Effect of Climate Change on World Economics

People I am going to take a bit of a break from my usual bargain hunting posts to take a look at the rather serious subject of climate change and how it impacts the world of economics and business. While some call it placing obstacle in economic progress and placing curbs on free enterprise, this is a shortsighted view. We have to preserve and conserve now, so that we don’t destroy our resources and have the wherewithal to continue to produce tomorrow.

A couple of months ago, just such an initiative was underway in Copenhagen where the future of business was decided during the World Business Summit on Climate Change. The aim of this summit was for top CEOs to discuss how their firms can help solve the climate crisis through innovative business models, new partnerships, and the development of low-carbon technologies. The object was also to send a strong message to the negotiating governments on how to remove barriers and create incentives for implementation of new solutions in a post-Kyoto framework.

[Read more →]

India’s Squabbling Siblings: A Tale of Two Billionaires

One of the most fascinating stories in international finance currently is that of the Ambani Brothers, Mukesh and Anil, from India. Theirs is a sweeping family saga spiced with money, ambition, avarice and sibling rivalry which is keeping the financial markets not only of India but the world over riveted.  These two men are among the richest in the world, with vast business holdings, enormous riches and tremendous clout in the financial markets of the world. If one sneezes, the Indian stock market catches cold!

[Read more →]