New article posted at "Everything Finance"
Everything Finance
New article posted at "Everything Finance" |
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Five Easy Bread Machine Recipes That Will Save You Money Posted: 31 Jul 2014 07:46 PM PDT Five Easy Bread Machine Recipes That Will Save You Money is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!
Don’t think that your cost savings are just narrowed down to bread either. I personally do not love making sandwich bread with a bread machine because I prefer the even slices of the store-bought package. Here are my top five favorite bread machine recipes that save the most money. 1. Pizza Dough: The cheapest I have seen pizza dough is $1.99 at Trader Joes. This ball of dough usually makes enough for one pizza. When I use the recipe from Snail Pace Transformations, I get slightly more dough and spend less than a dollar in ingredients. I like to add herbs and Parmesan cheese to the bread machine too, for a tastier dough. The dough cycle takes a little less than an hour, so even if you are at a loss for what to make for dinner, you can easily whip up this pizza before 7. 2. Knock-Off Starbucks Lemon Loaf: For the cost of one slice of Starbucks lemon loaf, you can make the whole loaf. The best part is that all you have to do is measure, dump, set the right settings, and walk away. Even the laziest or worst of cooks could pull this delicious loaf off. The recipe can be found at Starrplanet.com. Once you perfect this loaf, you can even give it as a cheap but totally impressive birthday gift. 3. Pita Bread: I have seen several recipes for pita bread before, but as a non-baker, they still seemed too hard. The pita bread recipe from Dine & Dish really simplifies the whole process. Just dump the ingredients in, and once the dough is ready, you just have to divide the dough and let it rise, then bake them. A package of store bought pita bread costs about $3, where as this recipe will make more pitas for about a dollar’s worth of ingredients (depending on the cost of your flour). The savings adds up. For example, if you bought regularly bought a $3 bag of pita bread a week, then switched to making this recipe once a week, you would save $104 a year. 4. Hawaiian Bread: The taste of King’s Hawaiian bread is quite addicting, and it is quite costly too! This copy-cat recipe is pretty close and delicious. You can bake it as a loaf or separate the dough for individual rolls. Considering that it is pretty easy to go through a package of these delicious rolls in just one meal, this recipe can save some families quite a lot of dough (pun intended). 5. Ham and Cheese Pockets: Crystal Paine’s recipe for ham and cheese pockets is very easy and very versatile. I love that she takes the bread machine and uses it to make an affordable lunch/dinner. Instead of ham and cheese, you can fill your pockets with pizza filling, breakfast filling, cheeseburger filling, veggies and cheese, and so much more. This recipe also freezes really easily, so you can have an affordable and quick grab and go lunch. They may not taste exactly like a Hot Pocket, but they win for being healthier and less costly. Have I convinced you to pull out your bread machine yet? If you don’t have one, you are sure to have parents or friends that are not using theirs. Even if you are a bachelor who cannot cook an egg, these bread machines recipes will rock your world (and perhaps impress a date).
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The Best Back-to-School Shopping Deals Posted: 31 Jul 2014 10:06 AM PDT The Best Back-to-School Shopping Deals is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money! I know that August is just beginning, and we’re already talking about back-to-school shopping and before you know it, Christmas is around the corner, and 2015 is already here. Let’s calm down, take a big breath and take one moment at a time. Yes, the summers are getting shorter and shorter, but the good news is you can take advantage of back-to-school shopping deals. And those back-to-school shopping deals aren’t just for kids! There are plenty of ways to take advantage of the back-to-school shopping season. Tax Free Holiday Several states offer a tax-free holiday to get parents and families to bulk up on shopping supplies. Check your state to see if they offer this tax-free benefit and the exact date of the holiday. Depending on your state, this could easily save you anywhere from 1 to 7.5% or more. Some states have even upped their benefits. In Florida, the limit for clothing and accessories has been raised from $75 to $100. Computers, up to $750, are also now tax-exempt. Computers If you’re one of the lucky few that does live in a state with a tax-free holiday, it’s a great time to take advantage of buying a new computer. Apple is promoting its own back-to-school promotion, and states such as Missouri, offer up to $3500 with a tax-free exemption. Office Supplies It’s not just kids that need back-to-school items. The back-to-school shopping deals are a great time for businesses to take advantage of sales on office supplies. Everything from pens to electronics to planners are all boasting huge savings during this time period. If you own a small business, it’s a perfect time to take inventory and invest in your supplies for the year. Summer Equipment Savings It may be August and stores may be gearing up for back-to-school, but for the rest of us with no kids, it’s a perfect time to still enjoy summer and stock up on all those summer supplies we can enjoy for years to come. Patio tables, barbeque grills, beach and camping equipment all go on sale during this time to make way for fall inventory. A parent’s misery is a single person’s gain. Shop around online first before making your decision to ensure you’re getting the best savings deal. Travel Another one for those without children is to take advantage of late summer travel deals. Airfare and hotel prices historically go lower at the beginning of September when families are forced to go back to school. There are plenty of savings that occur during this time on anything travel-related. Clothing Everyone can take advantage of the great back-to-school shopping deals that occur on clothing. All stores get involved, and the savings aren’t just for kids. Stop trying to lose those last 10 pounds, and get yourself to the mall to stock up on clothing you can actually wear—comfortably.
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Finally Know Your Credit Score Posted: 01 Aug 2014 09:05 AM PDT Finally Know Your Credit Score is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!
Or, maybe that’s just been my experience since I’ve always wanted to know the number. (I’ve just never felt like paying for it!) Well, luckily, I satisfied my curiosity and you can too all for free, people! I’ve been using something called Credit Sesame (aff) for a while, and it’s been nice to actually get the information about my credit score because I actually needed it when I was applying for apartments in the crazy NYC metro area. Just a little background, Credit Sesame is an innovative company that allows you to check your credit score without having to put in a credit card number or remember to cancel a free trial. They base their number off of your Experian credit report, and although some people have said the numbers are slightly off, it will at least give you a good ballpark of where you stand. My landlord didn’t question it when I sent over the Credit Sesame number so I assume it’s close enough! The cool thing is they also offer other free services, like credit monitoring. I love getting an e-mail every month that gives me an update on how I’m doing. For example, when I opened up a new credit card account, I got an alert that said a new account had been opened in my name. Luckily, I knew it was me! However, it’s perfect because had someone else opened a credit card in my name, I would have known about it instantly.
I’m sure you’ve seen commercials for credit monitoring that charge monthly fees or are pretty expensive, so it’s actually nice to know there’s a company out there who will watch out for the bad guys all while keeping you updated along the way. If you’re interested in signing up, here’s what you get: - A free monthly credit score - Free 1-Bureau credit monitoring and alerts - Free analysis of all your credit and loans - Free $50k identity theft insurance and ID restoration help If you’re wondering how Credit Sesame gives you all that for free and still keeps their business running, there are some paid options built into the site where they’ll recommend different banks or investment options. However, you only have to whip out the credit card and pay for them if you want to. Everything above that I listed, they’ll do just for signing up. I’m sure you’ve gathered that you do have to provide your social security number in order to get your credit score, but that’s pretty standard. I can at least say that I find them to be a reputable company, I use them for myself and my husband, and so far have not had any trouble with information leaks or anything like that. If you have not checked your score before, or maybe not recently? Click Below
FREE** No Credit Card Needed ** |
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Is a Kirby Vacuum Worth the Price? Posted: 03 Aug 2014 05:08 PM PDT Is a Kirby Vacuum Worth the Price? is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!
How Does Kirby’s Vacuuming Compare?Before the Kirby, I though we had the top of the line vacuum with our Dyson. I probably would have become a salesperson for Dyson because I loved it so much. However, the Dyson paled in comparison next to the Kirby Sentria II when it came to the basic functioning of vacuuming. Now that I have been using the Kirby for a few months, there is a pretty big difference in the carpet. After I vacuum, the carpet it actually softer. The carpet looks brighter and cleaner after a vacuum too. How Does Kirby’s Other Functions Compare?The Kirby comes with a good variety of attachments. I do love that you can make quite a long hose with their attachments and clean ceiling fans, curtains, and other places you usually forget. What I do not like about the Kirby is that to use the attachment hose, you have to take of the vacuum head and put the hose on. With the Dyson, and most other vacuum cleaners, the hose it right beside you ready to pull out at a moment’s notice. However, this hose will not reach as high as Kirby’s hose. So obviously both vacuums have their advantages. I was also impressed that the Kirby can be used as a carpet cleaner. We had bought a Bissell carpet cleaner last year and paid a hefty $400 price tag. The Bissell cleans well, but it is also extremely bulky and heavy. As a carpet cleaner, the Kirby is quite simple to use and cleans just as well as the Bissell. It is also more compact and not as heavy. Another thing that is notable about the Kirby is that you can detach and use just the head of the vacuum cleaner. This makes it possible to vacuum couches and mattresses. You can do this with a vacuum hose, too, but the Kirby head has a deeper suction than any hose. It is pretty gross how many dust mites and bed bugs the Kirby can get. The Kirby comes with attachments for upholstery cleaning and has the ability to inflate air mattresses and toys. For about $20, you can also buy the attachment that washes hardwood floors. What I Don’t Like About the KirbyThere are a lot of things I love about the Kirby, and I think it is a superior cleaner to my Dyson and other vacuums on the market. However, I want this review to be as transparent as possible, so of course, I will share my dislikes.
So Is a Kirby Worth the Price?The answer to this question definitely depends on how much you pay for a Kirby. When the salesperson was first in my home, the price was just under $3000. Yikes! I just kept saying no, and the price lowered to $1090 (that included tax). Considering that the Kirby replaced my Dyson (bought for about $300) and the Bissell ($400), it was not that much pricier. If I had spent $3000 or put the vacuum on credit, then I might feel differently about the price. You have to take into several things when considering if a Kirby is worth the price. How much will this vacuum be saving you in the long run? If the Kirby extends my carpet and mattress life by 5+ years, then it has already paid for itself. Also, how long will the Kirby last? A well-maintained Kirby should last you 20 years, though there are many stories of Kirbys lasting much longer. Typically in 20 years, a household would probably replace their vacuum 3-5 times, depending on the quality of the model. You have to calculate the cost of replacing vacuums when comparing the price of a Kirby. In the end, I think it is worth the price. If I am still loving this Kirby 10-20 years down the road, then I will surely be more convinced that the high price tag was worth it. Do you have a Kirby? Tell me your thoughts. |
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Why You Should Buy and Sell on Fiverr Posted: 07 Aug 2014 07:55 PM PDT Why You Should Buy and Sell on Fiverr is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!
It was back in the early days of my side hustling, and Fiverr was brand new. Because I was one of the first to sign up, I got in the game early. A few years later, I’ve made several thousand dollars thanks to the site, and it was one of the big reasons I was able to save enough money to become self employed. I don’t sell on Fiverr these days because I like to get paid more than $5 for my writing, but it was a great way for me to get my feet wet in terms of side hustling. I do, however, buy services on Fiverr, especially when it comes to needing website help and having people fix other technical issues. There are many reasons why you should check out Fiverr whether you need some work done or want to make some extra money yourself. Why You Should Buy
It seems a little obvious, but you should buy products and services on Fiverr because it’s cheap! You can get just about anything accomplished from getting website content to having a logo created to even buying gifts like earrings or necklaces. Many of the sellers have been on Fiverr for years, and as long as they have good ratings, you can expect prompt turnarounds. Fiverr really protects its sellers because you can always “reject” an order if you aren’t happy with the result. You can give your comments and critiques to the seller and they will have an opportunity to fix the problem. If they don’t do it in a timely manner, you can cancel the order and have someone else try their hand at it. Why You Should Sell If you have a skill that you don’t mind utilizing for $5, then you should sign up for Fiverr. It’s a great way to make a few extra bucks, but you should know some things first. It’s hard to get that first order, so you might want your mom or a friend to buy it and post a review (all honestly of course!) Once you get a few orders under your belt, you’ll start to show up more in the search rankings. Always do your best and be on time, and you will continue to stay high in the search rankings. Try to really consider what your time is worth. Like I said, I was very successful with my Fiverr gigs; however, I was not making enough per hour to really justify continuing it after I became self employed. I make much more doing my own work with my own clients, but I still would recommend the site to those who are just starting out or who really need to make an extra buck to make it to their next paycheck. If you want to check out Fiverr, you should! It can’t hurt to try it out, especially if you want to make some side money! Photo Credit: Fiverr |
