Decisions, decisions. Like it or not, our lives are defined by them.
It's no secret that a big part of our financial success is based upon the decisions we make in life.
Just ask any person who has jeopardized their financial future by, say, ...
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15 Reasons Why Waterbeds Are For Suckers
Sometimes people buy things that they eventually end up regretting. I know I've got a long list.
I've already explained why corner lots and whirlpool tubs are for suckers.
Today, I've got two words for anybody out there who is currently ...
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Why I Refuse to Get Upset By Subtly Deceptive Advertising
Last weekend I was lured to an online calendar website with the following promise: "Everything up to 60% off!"
Sixty percent!
While I was visiting there I found a calendar that was on sale for $13.49 -- $1.50 off the regular price of ...
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How I Know When to Drop Collision & Comprehensive Auto Insurance
Although we refuse to admit it, everybody is occasionally guilty of holding on to things a little longer than they really should.
I often question the Honeybee's motives regarding her proclivity to keep around old birthday cards and our kids' ...
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100 Words On: A Grim Warning to Those Who Think Money Grows On Trees
A democracy can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the treasury, with the result ...
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The Unexpected Bill That Added $2406.88 to My Recent Vacation
"Whatever it takes."
That was the answer the Honeybee gave me three years ago after I asked her how much she would pay to save a pet's life.
Unfortunately, last week we got a chance to reconsider that question after we returned from a week-long ...
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Cheap Thrills: 6 Awesome Halloween Movies That Aren’t Scary
Everyone knows that staying at home and watching a movie is one of the cheapest ways to share a night, but that can often get tiresome. There's something about the Halloween holiday season that brings the notion back to life, as Halloween movies are ...
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100 Words On: Saving Your Lame Excuses for Somebody Who Cares
A wise man once said that excuses are tools of incompetence, only useful for building monuments of nothingness and bridges to nowhere. When it comes to personal finance, there are a countless number of excuses that people often use to explain why the ...
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100 Words On: How to Avoid Burning Out
It takes real drive to turn our biggest dreams into reality, but sometimes the relentless passion that fuels our inevitable push for success becomes counterproductive. When personal expectations finally exceed what we can reasonably achieve on our ...
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Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Guess My Rental Car Bill.
It seems like every time I go to Hawaii, I always learn a valuable financial lesson.
I already shared how, during my recent summer vacation there, I was reminded of why folks should always be on their toes when shopping, as illustrated by two sizes of the same detergent being sold at a local supermarket -- and the jaw-dropping price-difference between them.
And although you'd think I'd know better, that wasn't the only financial head-scratcher I came across there.
After I turned in our rental car I was also reminded why you should never ever take a rental car quote at face value.
When I made my rental car reservation I had secured a minivan for the undeniably fantastic price of $282.50 per week, plus $56.50 for each additional day. I know. I couldn't believe it either.
Of course, when I was handed the final bill after turning in the car in perfect condition with a full tank of gas, and exactly 8 days and 3 hours of rental time, I was still caught off guard by final bill.
Here are a few more pieces of information to consider:
I used one of the major rental car companies
I was given unlimited mileage for no additional cost
I refused all rental car insurance
Hawaii sales tax is 4.166%
With only that information at your disposal … Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
What was my final rental car bill?
If you’re up to the challenge, leave your best guess below and I’ll post the answer later this week in the comments section.
Don’t be shy; like all of my "5th grader" questions, this is not as easy as it looks.
Last month, our defending champion, Deb, showed just how smart my readers really are after nailing the answer to the detergent price question on the button!
As always, the lucky guy or gal who comes closest to guessing the actual price will officially be crowned the “Smartest Person in the Room” until the next “5th Grader” post!
Good luck!
Photo Credit: Jennifer Murawski ...
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Southwest Airlines: Website Horror Stories, Part II
You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the sign post up ahead, your next stop:Â The Personal Finance Twilight ...
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Southwest Airlines: Great Prices, but Beware the Bait and Switch
Before I kick off my little pity party that's doubling today as a do-it-yourself therapy session, let me state for the record that I think Southwest Airlines is still the best-run US domestic airline in the business.
Although I have no loyalty to any airline, I love flying Southwest. A big reason is they are generally tough to beat when it comes to low fares, but what really takes Southwest to the next level are their employees -- I think they're the friendliest in the industry, bar none. And I mean all of them; from the pilots, gate agents and stewardesses flight attendants, to the baggage handlers and cleaning crews.
Okay, I can't vouch for their mechanics, but I'll bet you dollars to donuts that they're just as happy-go-lucky as the rest of Southwest's employees.
Now that I've got that out of the way, it's time to beef. And unless you're the type that's got more money than time I'd advise you to pay close to attention, because what happened to me can easily happen to you too.
As many of you know, I'm speaking at next month's Financial Bloggers Conference in Denver. Although I briefly considered trying to save a few bucks by driving from my Southern California home, in the end I decided it made a lot more sense if the Honeybee and I traveled by air.
Of course, that required me to purchase a couple of plane tickets. So after a little online research, I found the best deal, by far, was being offered by Southwest Airlines.
How good? Well, after entering the pertinent data into their website, Southwest came back with an almost unbelievable deal: two tickets from Southern California to Denver for $104 each, and two tickets for the return leg for $114 apiece. Add it all up and Southwest was offering me two tickets to Denver and back for a grand total of $436!
Are you kidding me?
I thought I had died and gone to heaven, even though all I really did was stumble upon one of Southwest's web-only "Wanna Get Away" specials.
In any case, I was so happy with my good fortune that I did a quick Irish jig (it wasn't much more than 10 seconds) before I hit the "continue" button.
Anyway, the next step was to pay, so I dutifully filled out the requisite info and hit the "purchase" button. And that's when the trouble started, folks.
Instead of seeing a confirmation screen on my monitor that verified I had just scored what was probably the best airfare deal west of the Rockies, I got a message in red letters that started with this word: "Oops!"
The rest of the message essentially noted that Southwest could not complete my purchase for the return leg of our trip. Fine; I understand websites have occasional hiccups. But after being steered back to the flight selection screen for the second time, Southwest had changed the deal they originally offered. While the cost of the tickets for the outbound flight remained the same, the return leg ticket price had magically increased an additional $199. Each.
As a result, the new total fare was $833.20.
What the ... ?
In the blink of an eye, my airfare just increased $398!
I couldn't believe it. This was outrageous!
To paraphrase Weekly World News columnist Ed Anger, now I was madder than a flight attendant stewardess with an armful of overflowing barf bags. I felt like I had just taken four $100 bills and tossed them into the whirring jet engine blades of a Boeing 737.
On the summary page, Southwest did their best to make me feel better by noting that the higher "Anytime" fare they had just foisted upon me had the advantage of "great flexibility." It didn't work.
I didn't want "great flexibility" -- I wanted the "excellent value" they originally offered me with their "Wanna Get Away" fare!
As far as I was concerned, Southwest just pulled a classic bait and switch maneuver, and so I called one of their online customer service representatives to voice my displeasure.
Jordan, bless her heart, tried her level best to explain how there are only a limited number of those special fares available. She suggested there might have been only one "Wanna Get Away" fare available for the return leg, but since there were two tickets requested, it rejected the original offer.
"Then why did Southwest offer me the fare in the first place?" I asked.
"I can't answer that, Mr. Penzo."
Jordan then tried to make me a happy customer by offering me their "Wanna Get Away" fare on the return leg, but only if I was willing to stay another day in Denver. Unfortunately, that was not a viable option for me.
So, after I finished wearing myself out ranting about the terrible financial injustice that had just befallen me, and with the two of us locked in an obvious stalemate, Jordan offered up her condolences.
"I'm really sorry we can't help you, Mr. Penzo."
Jordan's patience was admirable, and her voice was so, well ... disarmingly pleasant. I swear I could almost see her sympathetic smile on the other side of the line.
"I am too, Jordan."
We then wished each other well and said goodbye.
What a nice young lady! I thought to myself as I hung up the phone.
And as I sat there, resigned to my inglorious fate, I suddenly realized that, for some strange reason, I wasn't really mad anymore.
Mildly irritated; yes. But angry? Nah.
Photo Credit: Kevin Coles ...
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The Olympics: More Proof Those Given Everything Appreciate Nothing
Am I the only person in America with a working television that hasn't watched a single minute of the Olympics on the boob tube?
It's not that I'm not interested in them; I am. It's just that I've been really busy doing research and getting ready ...
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Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Then Guess the Price of This.
Last week while we were shopping for groceries in a Hawaii supermarket, I was reminded of why folks should always be vigilant when it comes to finding the best deals.
The supermarket was offering two sizes of All Stainlifter laundry detergent as ...
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What Does ‘Flare’ Taste Like? When Swanky Marketing Goes Too Far.
Last week my boss and I were sitting in a conference room when he spied a pack of gum that someone had left on the table.
"Hey, Len! You want some gum?"
"Well, that depends," I said. "What flavor is it?"
"Five."
"Five? What the heck does ...
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Mac Users See Pricier Hotels When Using Orbitz … So?
I've known for a long time that online travel agencies aren't created equal, partly because I've conducted experiments that compared Expedia, Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline, Kayak and Travelocity prices.
Now comes news that Mac users who visit online ...
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Why Frequent Flier Programs Aren’t Worth It (for Most People)
I recently received an urgent email from US Airways imploring me to join their frequent flier program. The friendly prod occurred not too long after I purchased four round trip tickets to Hawaii for this year's family summer vacation.
The ...
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I Just Made the Biggest Impulse Purchase of My Life (but It’s OK)
Yesterday I did something I rarely ever do: I threw all caution to the wind and, as a result, I made the biggest spur-of-the-moment purchase of my entire life.
Believe it or not, I spent $2462.35 on a pair of tickets to see a hockey game.
Yep; ...
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Your Disaster Fund and the Best Places to Hide Money in Your Home
Most people who have emergency and rainy day funds use banks to keep their cash safe. However, it's also wise to keep a home-based readily-accessible disaster fund in the event a situation arises that makes it impossible to withdraw the cash from ...
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What Goes Around Comes Around: Rising Interest Rates Are Inevitable
Last summer my 12-year-old daughter, Nina, was extolling the fashion virtues of her hot pink Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star high-top sneakers, better known to many as simply, "Chucks."
What I found amusing was while Nina really thought she was on ...
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