SavvySugar

Reader Tip: Use Your Phone to Calculate Gas Mileage

SavvySugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:54 -0700

We each develop a unique saving style over the years, which is why it's so important to divulge your winning tactics with friends. You never know how far your little tip will go for the next gal. Spectra recently shared an incredibly smart tip in the comments of my 5 Savvy Ways to Use Your Phone's Calculator and I just had to pass it on. She says:

I use my phone calculator to figure out my gas mileage every time I fill up. I reset the trip odometer when I fill up and I just divide that number by the amount of gas I put in to see if I got decent mileage on that certain tank of gas. I know, it's kind of anal, but it's just something I do.

Saving on gasoline requires great effort so I was impressed by this simple move. Do you have a tip for readers? Join our How Do You Save? group and share your helpful suggestions. Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

5 Savvy Ways to Use Your Phone's Calculator

SavvySugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:00:48 -0700

Your fancy phone probably has features that are way cooler than the calculator, but don't let this old school tool go unnoticed. That hidden calculator is good for more than simple addition and subtraction. Let these ideas for using your cell phone's calculator inspire you to use it more often - a few new habits could help you keep your finances on track and make your life easier on a daily basis.

View Slideshow ›

I'm Asking: Have You Ever Terminated Your Cell Contract?

SavvySugar — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Whether you got a shiny new iPhone for Christmas and need to break your contract, or you think you want to upgrade your cell phone service in 2009 you should check in with your carrier about their early-termination fees, the status of your contact, and any deals they might be running for the new year. (Honestly, I hope you checked the tiny print before you signed that dotted line!)

Consumer Reports notes one in seven survey respondents said "they were seriously considering a switch to a better carrier but were discouraged from doing so by penalties that can run as high as $200 per phone line." As we all know, termination fees can be a real bugaboo.

Have you ever played the eat-the-cell-contract game?

Source

Consumer Reports: How to Make Pricey Appliances Last

SavvySugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:28 -0800

The cost of maintaining a home and appliances is often a major deterrent for those debating whether to rent or purchase a home. The unexpected expense of fixing leaky gutters and broken dishwashers can be budget breaking if it comes at the wrong time of month. Not to mention it's a huge pain. Consumer Reports has put together a great guide for how to extend the useful life of appliances and pricey goodies. Obviously, the key is maintenance and keeping a watchful eye on appliances so they don't break down unexpectedly and leave you in a pricey pinch. Consumer Reports suggests:

Cell phones
Don't stow in your car's glove compartment during the summer. Otherwise, batteries may overheat, possibly ruining the phone. If you've been known to drop your cell phone, treat it to a protective case.

Clothes dryers
Clean the lint filter after each use and the entire air duct yearly. If your dryer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable new model. But don't expect much gain in performance or efficiency, since dryer technology hasn't changed much.

Clothes washers
Don't overload. If your washer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable model. If you're replacing, consider a high-efficiency washer, which should save money over time. Also consider a front-loader, which is less punishing to clothes than a top-loader.

Dishwashers
Check the filter regularly and remove any debris.

To see additional suggestions and reminders, read more.

Hardwood floors
Dust mop or vacuum weekly. Wipe up wet spills pronto.

Kitchen knives
Keep them out of the dishwasher and store them in a wooden knife block or individual plastic shields.

Laptop computers
Set them on a hard, flat surface rather than a soft one such as a bed or carpet, which can block airflow and cause them to overheat.

LCD TVs
Clean the screen gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth, ideally a microfiber one. Avoid commercial cleaners and paper towels, which can scratch the screen.

Mattresses
Rotate periodically. Try not to sit on the edge. Buy a washable, protective cover. And pull back the sheets and blankets to let the bed air out for 20 minutes or so each morning.

Visit the Consumer Reports website for more tips on making your pricey goods last.

Would You Rather Lose Your Wallet or Cell Phone?

SavvySugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:30:55 -0700

Back when Zack Morris had his huge antenna bearing celly, I'd never have guessed that cell phones would become an accessory so many people couldn't live without. Our addiction to keeping our mobiles close goes beyond a predictable level of obsession; according to a recent poll spanning 11 countries from market research firm Synovate, more people would rather lose their wallets than their cell phones, and one in four respondents foresaw a greater challenge in replacing the mobile than their purses. What's the lesser evil in your opinion: losing your wallet or cell phone?

Source: Flickr User jenniferlstoddart

Virgin Offers Pink Slip Protection For Your Cell Phone Service

SavvySugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:30:40 -0700

All bets are on that consumers are worried about losing their jobs. Automakers began using their marketing muscle to draw upon America's job security issues back in January, and this type of promotion seems like it's becoming a bit trendy. Telecommunications is the latest industry to get on the pink slip promotion train, with Virgin Mobile as the lone pioneer - for now.

Virgin's "Pink Slip Protection" offer is similar to what the auto companies came up with but on a much smaller scale. Subscribers paying for a monthly service plan are eligible for three months of free service if they experience job loss. Bills up to $90 a month, including taxes and surcharges, will be written off so long as the subscriber has been a Virgin customer for at least two months.

Does this type of offer make you consider changing cell phone service providers?

Source

Savvy Week in Review

SavvySugar — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:30:45 -0700

We got down with OPP and snooped in other people's purses.
If you had to misplace one, would you rather lose your wallet or your cell phone?
I'm curious, what time does your alarm go off on weekdays?
Mimic habits of successful job hunters to land an interview.
Stay classy by brushing up on email etiquette.
9/09/09 introduced a phenomenon I thought impossible - $0.99 weddings.
Guess which one of John Mayer's exes said it?
Check out my suggestions for where to travel every month of the year.

What Happens to Stuff You Forget on the Plane

SavvySugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:30:54 -0700

Kim Kardashian was lucky when she recovered the passport she left on the plane in South Africa last month, but most travelers aren't so fortunate in retrieving their forgotten valuables. If you've ever left something on the plane and wondered what happened to it, chances are it didn't end up in a black hole or even in someone else's possession; it's probably in the airline's lost and found warehouse.

Southwest has a warehouse where it collects all the stuff passengers forget, including coats, books, car seats, electronics (they find about five iPods every day), hundreds of cell phones, and the number one forgotten item - sunglasses. The warehouse estimates that 120,000 items come through every year, and only 10 percent of the belongings find their way back to their owners because few passengers call to track down lost items. After a few months, items are donated to the Salvation Army. Check out Southwest's enormous lost and found in the video below.

Source: Flickr User aaronescobar

9 Ways You Might Be Messing Up Your Job Interview

SavvySugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:30:40 -0700

It's easy to commit an interview don't when one of them is considered arriving too early to reception, but showing up more than 10 or 15 minutes early might be the least of your problems. Gearing up for a job interview is stressful regardless of your work experience, and for new grads, the anticipation can be downright draining.

Learning the interview dos and don'ts is the best way to reduce the butterflies, and CareerBuilder surveyed employers on the biggest mistakes they've seen recent college graduates make in the application and interview process. Even if you don't qualify as a recent grad, you aren't immune from making the following mistakes, so review them and make sure you're among the not guilty. To see nine ways you might be messing up your job interview, read more.

Acting bored or cocky
Not dressing appropriately
Coming to the interview with no knowledge of the company
Not turning off cell phones or electronic devices
Not asking good questions during the interview
Asking what the pay is before the company considered them for the job
Spamming employers with the same résumé and/or cover letter
Failure to remove unprofessional photos/content on social networking pages, webpages, blogs, etc.
Not sending a thank-you note after the interview

Source

Are You Using Your In-Home Communication Services?

SavvySugar — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:00:17 -0800

Once you have taken stock of your in-home entertainment memberships, spend some time thinking about your in-home communication services and whether or not you are using them daily. The upkeep will not only help you maintain your resolve to live below your means, but it will allow you to measure whether the service is worth the cost. Check the following before the end of the month in an effort to get organized.

Internet: Most of us get our money's worth with Internet service, but do call your provider and the competition to make sure you are getting the best rate. If you never use your Internet at home, but have easy access to a coffee shop or public library (where the Internet is almost always free!) consider turning off your service.
Home Phone: Does anyone call you on this anymore? Keep it if you have to, or if it gets you a better bundle rate, otherwise consider scrapping it.

To see a couple other services you should reassess, read more.

Digital Message Center: Do you pay $3-20 a month for a digital message service from your home phone provider? If you mostly use your cell think about getting a digital message device for the one time cost of $17 from a store like Best Buy. They have about 40 minutes of message space.
Bundle: Has your provider convinced you that you need a "triple play" package that includes digital TV, digital phone, and broadband Internet access? Most bundles cost about $100, usually for a one-year promotional period, and then the fee goes up. Consumer Reports notes it can be hard to compare pricing plans from different providers because of the variations in channel lineups, surcharges for premium channels, and add-on fees. Just make sure you are getting a deal and aren't roped into services you don't need (like the home phone) because that monthly premium will add up over the year.

Photo courtesy of Showtime