Written by Joseph Perry on December 7, 2010.
A few years ago, I had the privilege of attending a holiday cookie swap at a friend’s house and have wanted to write about it ever since. It was a marvelous spread filled with cookies of every size, shape, and flavor.
The rules of the swap were actually very easy. Bake a plate of your favorite cookies and bring enough of them to share with the other people in attendance. Men and women walked around sampling new recipes and filling their plates to take home to share with their families.
There were so many different types of sweets to choose from that it was hard to decide which one was my favorite. I still like anything with chocolate in it and there is something oddly satisfying about a potato chip cookie. I guess it’s the combination of salty and sweet that makes it taste so good!
Being a guest at a holiday cookie swap is far different than being its host. Here are some ways to throw a successful party without all the hassles that go along with December festivities:
A cookie swap is a great way to share with others during the holidays. So, what are you waiting for? Dust off those recipe books and get busy baking. Nothing beats a party where you can showcase your talents and sample other people’s as well!
Written by Joseph Perry on November 17, 2010.
State Street may be still be that great street, but the Great Recession has taken the swagger out of the shopping strip’s once lofty retail ambitions.
In the decade before the financial crisis, when aspirational shopping was in vogue, developers and city officials held high hopes of turning the Loop shopping district into a high-end enclave that could rival the glitzy Magnificent Mile to the north.
That never happened. Instead, as the economy sank, State Street expanded its row of discount merchants.
Ballyhooed deals with the likes of Kate Spade, Coach, Lululemon, Apple, and the superchic Canyon Ranch spa vaporized. In their place: a string of popular-priced stores including Ulta, Loehmann’s, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, H&M, and most recently American Apparel, hung up their shingles alongside Sears, TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack.
The turn of events, in the end, revitalized the street as consumers across income levels, battle weary from the recession, embraced bargain shopping as fashionable.
But two big obstacles remain. Lar
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Written by Joseph Perry on November 14, 2010.
Can you believe it’s already the second week of November? Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away and then we’re full-swing into the holiday season. It’s a wonderful time of year, but it’s probably one of the most difficult times to be frugal. We’re entertaining, taking time off of work, visiting family, and often pressured into buying gifts. This can create a big drain on the bank account or credit cards if we’re not careful.
Even though it’s harder to save money this time of year, that just means this Festival of Frugality couldn’t come at a better time. This week you’ll find tips that range from saving money immediately to planning your finances for a frugal 2011. So, get ready to save some money and if you are on Twitter, be sure to follow me for even more money-saving tips.
vh presents Calculating the next year’s budgeting posted at Funny about Money.
Stephan Marks presents How to Lower Shipping Costs posted at Promo Code Center.
FIRE Finance presents 15 Financial Failings That Will Prevent An Early Retirement! posted at FIRE Fina
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Written by Admin on November 12, 2010.
Some learners prefer quick pace of learning and they will certainly benefit from the online university. By learning at their own pace, motivated people are able to excel in their distance education. Online education is stress-free learning, allowing students to decide how long they need to spend learning.
The pace of all classes differs, and some students may become bored or unmotivated. The speed of learning is always different, but most schools teach their subjects, as if everyone is the same. Online college allows you to decide what pace works better for your study methods. And it is one of the most important advantages. By determining what pace is the best for them, students will learn more efficiently and understand the subject better.
When learning is optimized by a totally independent structure and timetable established by the student, knowledge can be achieved more quickly and efficiently. By removing the traditional school environment and its distractions, these schools let students be responsible for their own work and success. Read more…
Written by Adam Sullivan on November 10, 2010.
Monthly housing starts in the greater Edmonton area have increased on a year over year basis every month since June 2009… until now. According to a new report from CMHC Edmonton area builders took a breather in October starting 755 units compared to 947 last year and 873 in September. Condos and single family home starts were both down about 20% compared to last October.
So far this year builders have started 5300 single family homes, up 86% over activity recorded from January to October 2009.
“The industry is on track to approach the 6,000 unit mark in 2010, which is close to the 10-year annual average recorded from 2000 to 2009,” noted Richard Goatcher, CMHC’s Senior Market Analyst for Edmonton.
My take on this…. inventory of new homes was depleted to almost nothing by the end of 2009. Builders were playing a bit of catch up this year, but the activity is actually right in line with the 10-year average. I wou
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Written by Joseph Perry on November 9, 2010.
If you are like a lot of people today, the economy is putting a real drain on your budget. Even though we want to look our best, the days when we could indulge in a little impulse buying are gone, and even though they are gone, you probably have a whole closet full of clothes you probably haven’t worn in years or not at all.
Styles change and we still want to look our best, but going out and buying new clothes may be out of the question. Luckily, you can look great for less. First, you can maximize your current wardrobe without spending a dime. But if something new is needed, it’s also possible to save a bundle.
The first thing to do is clean out the closet. Anything that doesn’t fit any more or is way out of style needs to go. Yes, the poodle skirts and those huge shoulder pads are out. Regar
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Written by Joseph Perry on November 6, 2010.
There is no better way of getting yourself into debt than by not having any sort of plan for how to get out of debt. A budget works, but even if you don’t have a budget, ask yourself this: the last time that you used your credit card, for whatever the purchase was, did you have a plan before you used it on how you were going to pay that purchase off? Here’s a hint: I’ll pay for it at some point in the future is not a plan.
The problem with credit cards and borrowing in general is that it seems like quick, easy money. And in many ways, it is. But you have to remember when you borrow money (and using a credit card is borrowing money) that you’re borrowing your own money. You are, essentially, stealing money from yourself. That flat-screen TV? That new pair of shoes you don’t exactly need? All of that ice cream because you’re sort-of-kind-of in an ice cream mood? That brand new car because you’ve always wanted a brand new car, even though your old car was working perfectly fine? When you char
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Written by Adam Sullivan on November 5, 2010.
FAQ / ERISA Information:
How long does the disability insurance company have to make a claim decision once the application for ERISA long term disability benefits is submitted?
The Department of Labor has drafted regulations which provide that a disability claim must be resolved, at the initial level, within 45 days of receipt of a complete application; a plan may, however, extend that decisionmaking period for an additional 30 days for reasons beyond the control of the plan.
If, after extending the time period for a first period of 30 days, the plan administrator determines that it will still be unable, for reasons beyond the control of the plan, to make the decision within the extension period, the plan may extend decisionmaking for a second 30-day period
FAQ / ERISA Information:
Why is ERISA an unfair law for disability insurance claimants?
ERISA stands for the Employer Retirement Income Security Act and it was a Federal law that was passed in the early 1970s which was supposed to make it more affordable for employers to be able to offer long term disability coverage as well as health insurance for employees.
Disability Insurance Attorneys Gregory Dell and Stephen Jessup discuss the numerous reasons that ERISA is an unfair law that can negatively impact the thousands of people that file disability insurance claims each year.
Disability Case:
First Unum terminates long-term disability benefits after 4 years of paying and SSDI approval
In a recent Federal Court decision in favor of First Unum, the Court validated the right of a long-term disability insurance plans to rely upon functional capacity evaluations (FCE) as a basis for determining whether or not the claimant has the right to continue receiving disability insurance benefits.
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