Author Archive

• Ways to Make Extra Money Without a Job, Part One
  barrieabalard, February 4th, 2010 at 12:01 am, Comments: 0

  I spent a fair amount of time in the past week researching ways to make money when you don’t have, or don’t want, a permanent, full-time job. You might be retired (forcibly or not); you might be a stay-at-home parent looking to fill in the gaps around the main breadwinner’s income; or you might live [...]

• Save Serious Money on Food
  barrieabalard, January 28th, 2010 at 12:01 am, Comments: 0

  This post is prompted partially by the statistic that one in eight Americans now use food stamps. As startling as that statistic is, many who have little income don’t qualify because they own too many assets. Many of these people, often suburbanites who are living on unemployment or who are underemployed, don’t know where or [...]

• Don’t Be an Ostrich***
  barrieabalard, January 21st, 2010 at 12:01 am, Comments: 0

  In the past couple of weeks the media had a small hoo-hah over whether or not people who are underwater in their mortgages can walk away with a clear conscience. Both the New York Times and Howard Lindzon of StockTwits, among others, have penned articles about the question. The Times noted that businesses often do [...]

• Brave New Specs Update
  barrieabalard, January 14th, 2010 at 12:01 am, Comments: 0

  Here’s a link to my original blog post concerning the pluses and minuses of buying eyeglasses over the internet.
  To finish my story—I decided against ordering any sort of prescription eyeglasses over the internet because no one solution or provider seemed to fit my budget and my preferences. However, I did order a pair of Cocoons [...]

• Brave New Specs
  barrieabalard, January 7th, 2010 at 12:01 am, Comments: 0

  Prescription glasses ordered over the Internet? Folks, you know I had to check it out.
  I was way overdue for an eye exam—I could barely read the third-to-top line of the eye chart with my glasses ON—so yesterday, I took my coupon for a $49 exam and had the deed done by a local optometrist. (My [...]

• Seven Financial Resolutions for 2010
  barrieabalard, December 31st, 2009 at 12:01 am, Comments: 0

  Whee, it’s almost 2010! Have you thought about ways to improve your financial health in the new year? Here are some ideas to get you started.
  1. I will read my bank and brokerage account statements and develop and execute a plan, if one is needed.
  When things go south, a lot of people like to behave [...]

• Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays, Too
  barrieabalard, December 24th, 2009 at 12:01 am, Comments: 0

  No pearls of wisdom today--it's Christmas Eve, and I am visiting family. Look for my return on December 31.
  I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday, regardless of which one(s) you celebrate!

• Hot Stuff! Or, More About Replacing Your Home’s Heating System—Part Three of Three
  barrieabalard, December 17th, 2009 at 12:01 am, Comments: 0

  Something else to consider when replacing a heating system is the future cost of the fuel used. If you plan to live in your home for a long time, changing to a different fuel can save you money down the line. However, you must include the additional costs of changing to a different heating system—your [...]

• Hot Stuff! Or, Your Home’s Oil Heating System and Its Replacement
  barrieabalard, December 10th, 2009 at 12:01 am, Comments: 0

  Two points that I forgot to mention last week. First, both natural gas and propane heating systems carry the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, so be sure to have sufficient CO monitors in your home, especially if your heating system is not a relatively new one. (It is my understanding that you always need CO [...]

• Your Home’s Heating System: Part One, Calculating the Cost and ROI of Replacement
  barrieabalard, December 3rd, 2009 at 12:01 am, Comments: 0

  It’s likely that the most expensive—and essential—item to replace in your home is your heating system. Today, next week, and possibly one more week, I’ll explore the topic and provide you with links for further digging. This week we will learn about costs for replacing natural gas systems, and next week we’ll take up oil [...]