Nikon D70

PowerShot S100

The Canon PowerShot S100 is one of the newest models that has been added to the PowerShot family. This is a compact digital camera that is small enough to fit nicely in your pocket. It’s a point and shoot camera so it’s easy to use, but it’s still considered to be a high end, advanced digital camera. It is a 12.1 Megapixel camera that has a 15x Optical Zoom that will allow you to take quality pictures at both a near or far distance.

Now to the cool stuff. This camera has a built in GPS tracker that records your location and atomically logs the picture location on a map so you don’t forget where the picture was taken. With a feature like this it’s no surprise this PowerShot gets high customer reviews for its features. This camera also takes videos and has Face Detection Technology which enables you to take great pictures of people.

Cyber-shot Digital Camera HX100V

The Cyber-shot Digital Camera HX100V is for those that are serious about taking pictures. It sports 16.2-megapixels, a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonar T lens with 30x optical zoom, Full HD 1080/60p movies, a “Exmor R” CMOS sensor with Hi-speed Linear Focus, and 3D stills and Sweep Panorama capabilities. If that doesn’t sell you on this model, then check out the TransferJet™ technology that was developed by Sony®. With this camera you can transfer up to ten files between this device and another just by touching their TransferJet™ logos together. Today this type of wireless transfer technology is available in many devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones, which means you don’t have to hunt around for your camera cord anymore!

Nikon 1 J1

The Nikon 1 J1 is a compact digital camera that features interchangable lenses. The unique feature of this camera is that it has the fastest autofocus of any other camera on the market. This will allow you to capture fast moving objects easily and improve your photo quality. One really cool feature is the Smart Photo Selector that is especially designed for those fast moving objects you are trying to capture. All you do is push the shutter-release button just like you normally would. From there, the camera will automatically take a total of 20 shots at a speed of 30fps. One more neat function is that it allows you to shoot video and take a still picture at the same time.

LUMIX® FH25 16.1 Megapixel Digital Camera

The LUMIX® FH25 16.1 Megapixel Digital Camera is the newest version of the LUMIX® line. This compact camera comes in a variety of trendy colors and gets high marks from consumers for its quality, ease of use, features and value. And the price on the LUMIX is less than comparably equipped cameras. To start, this is a 16.1-megapixel camera, it has image tagging technology, and it has high quality 28mm wide-angle Leica DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 8x zoom. When it comes to the battery you won’t be disappointed either because it gets 250 shots on a single battery charge. The other nice features is the 2.7 inch LCD display, which is a nice touch on such a compact device.

Sony α NEX-5N with 18-55mm lens

The Sony Alpha NEX NEX5K/B Digital Camera with Interchangeable Lens is a 16.1 megapixel digital camera that is made to fit in your pocket. The fact that this camera has interchangeable lenses shouldn’t intimidate the point-and-click shooters. With this camera you can shoot stills on the go at up to 10 frames per second, record in Full HD 1080/60p or 24p video, and capture panoramic shots in 2D or 3D. On the back of this camera you will find a 3 inch, tiltable LCD screen. This is considered a compact camera, but gives you the ability to change lens based on your shooting situation. The NEX-5N comes with the E-mount lens, plus you can choose from 28 A-mount lenses which are sold separately. This camera comes in both white and black.

Nikon D5100

The Nikon D5100 is one of the most expensive camera on the list, but it’s also one that can’t go without being mentioned. You’ve probably seen the Nikon commercials with actor Ashton Kucher. If so, don’t judge this camera based on that! This camera is sharp, especially with its large 3” 920,000 (VGA) Vari-Angle LCD screen which allows you to see live image capture, editing and viewing. This is a 16.2 Megapixel digital camera that gives you full 1080p HD movie recording with stereo sound and full time Auto Focus. If you like to edit or enhance your photos by adding a touch of your own creativity, then you will absolutely love the in-camera effects like Selective Color. This feature isolates any color within a scene while the rest is captured in monochrome.

One of the all time best ways to save money is to cut your cell phone bill. With a family of four, our cell phone plan now costs us close to $200 a month, including data and texting packages. The cost has gotten out of hand, so I’ve been in search of ways to lower our cell phone bill. Here are some of the tips and tricks I’ve found.

Save Money on Cell Phones and Plans

1. Stay Under Your Minutes: Nothing drives me more crazy then to see a big fat charge on my cell phone bill because we went over our minutes. If this is an habitual problem, you’ll want to either change cell phone plans or cut your talk time. One great tool to help monitor your usage is OverMyMinutes, a free tool that sends you a text message or e-mail when you are about to run over your limit.
2. Use Prepaid Cell Service: Prepaid cell phones are becoming more and more popular as prices come down. As the name suggests, you pay for a certain amount of minutes with no contract to sign. Most of the major cell phone carriers now offer prepaid cell phone options. You can also find great deals on prepaid phones from Tracfone Prepaid Wireless Airtime and Cricket.
3. Reconsider Insurance: Shelling out several hundred dollars for a new phone if you break you current one is no fun, but do you really need to insure a $200 to $500 item? Insurance should be for those things we can’t afford to replace (e.g., home, auto, health, and life).
4. Employee Discounts: My company recently began offering a discount on AT&T Wireless service. Since that’s what I use for my iPhone and the cell phones my wife and children use, it saved us some money. Check with your employer to see what discounts they offer.
5. Examine Your Cell Phone Bill: For just $5, you can upload your cell phone bill at Validas and find out if you could be saving money. The service let’s you see how much you’ll save before you buy the full report. According to the website, the average annual savings per phone is $415.
6. Play the Switcharoo: If you have a cell phone break before your contract expires, you could end up paying the full price of a replacement phone. If you have multiple cell phones with the same carrier, however, there may be a better option. If one of your cell phones has been under contract long enough to qualify for a discounted cell phone, “replace” the phone for that line. You’ll need to extend your contract, but you’ll get the phone at a discount. You can then use the SIM card for your broken phone in the new phone. Been there, done that.
7. Re-negotiate: When an existing contract expires, always renegotiate for a better deal. The prices of cell phone contracts tend to go down over time for the same service. So make sure you take advantage of current deals when your contract is up.
8. Ringtones? Really?: I suppose if the Ringtone is important to you, by all means spend the dough to get what you want. But I’d save the money and put it to better use.
9. Unlimited Plans—Think Twice: While an unlimited plan (whether for phone or texting) relieves you of the burden of worrying about your minutes, many people don’t take full advantage of these costly programs. Examine your cell phone usage to see if you can get by with a less expensive plan.
10. Shop Online: Almost all cell phone carriers offer discounts when you shop for cell phones and plans online. We’ve put together a list of discounts and promo codes for some of the major carriers and providers:
    • Verizon Wireless Promo Codes
    • LetsTalk Promo Codes
11. Never Cancel a Cell Phone Contract Again: When you cancel a cell phone contract, you can get hit with some outrageous fees. Fortunately, there are a couple of websites that can save you a bundle if you need out of a contract. Basically, these sites help bring together folks who want out of a contract with those looking for a cell phone contract. If you need to get out of a cell phone contract or are looking for a good deal and want to help out somebody in a bind, check out CellSwapper or CellTradeUSA.
12. Texting–A Parent’s Nightmare: When I was a kid, there was no way to talk with friends while at home but to use the one telephone we had in the house. If I was on the phone, my parents knew (usually because they were yelling at me to get off the phone). Today, kids have cell phones with texting, not to mention e-mail and Facebook. Anyway, the key is to either control texting (good luck) or go with an unlimited plan. The unlimited plan will obviously cost more, but it may be a much better deal than having your child (or spouse) blow by the texting limit.
13. Combine Plans: As you add new lines to the same plan, the price goes down. For a while, we had two different cell phone plans, and we saved a bundle by combining them.
14. Avoid Calling 411: Directory assistance can be really expensive with cell phones, and it’s unnecessary. Instead, try 800-FREE-411, 800-411-METRO or 800-GOOG-411, all of which give you listings for free.
15. Use FireFox Plug-Ins To Track Time: Each of the major cell phone carriers have Firefox plugins to help you track your minutes. It’s an easy way to keep from going over your limit. You can check out these time-saving plugins here.

If you know of other ways to cut your cellular bill, leave a comment and let us know.

With Christmas a full month away, now is the time to get your holiday shopping done.  With each day that passes, the stress of crossing off names on your buying list will only increase so this year, instead of waiting until the last minute to buy a ton of gifts, get it done early and enjoy your holiday season.

And to help, we’ve compiled a great list of 30 Christmas gift ideas under $10.  All of these gifts cane be purchased online, meaning you can get all of your shopping done from the comfort of your own home.  Our gifts are good for men, women and children and if you can find a cool gift that should be added, let us know!

Christmas Gift Ideas Under $10

1. Christmas Story Leg Lamp Talking Key Chain ($6.99) – If you’re a true Christmas traditionalist, then you probably watch the movie, A Christmas Story a dozen times during the holiday season.  This leg lamp is perfect for anyone that loves the movie, or loves legs in the form of a key chain.

2. Funny Office Survival Guide ($9.95) – Anyone working in an office environment knows how stressful it can be.  This book takes a funny look at different techniques you can use to stay sane and further your job status at the same time.  Be careful though, as those who can’t take jokes might consider these options an attack!

3. Do It Yourself Repair Guide for Her ($2.16) – One of the most inexpensive gifts on our list, the PBS home video guide helps guide women on how to complete DIY projects with minimal time and effort.  This gift can be given in addition to almost anything.

4. Play-Doh Movie Theater Set ($9.90) – Our first of many kids gifts on our list, the Play-Doh movie theater set allows children to create all of the concession stand snacks they want.  This gift includes 5 sets of Play-Doh and the necessary accessories.

5. Bongo Studded Metal Band Fedora Hat ($9.99) – I’ve always wanted to wear a slick hat like this and for under $10, this is probably the time to do it.  This black fedora can be worn on any night out on the town and includes a studded metal band for even more style.

6. Snowflake Candle Holders ($7.50) – For just under eight bucks, you can find a set of snowflake candle holder that should last forever.  Depending on the receiver of this gift, these candle holders can last forever and protect whatever it is you’re lighting candles on top of.

7. Conair Beard and Mustache Trimmer ($8.99) – The perfect gift for any boyfriend, father or male coworker that you notice with facial hair, this beard and mustache trimmer comes from a reliable source, Conair.  This gift does require 3 AAA batteries, which are not included.

8. French Toast Stamp ($8.00) – If you don’t know what a french toast stamp is … you’re not alone.  A french toast stamp allows you to make french toast with a stamp on the bread and you can make that stamp anything you want.  How cool would it be to make your wife french toast in the morning with the words “I love you” on it.  All for $6!

9. Set of Four Hanging Picture Frames ($7.99) – Even though this gift isn’t the most glamorous, picture frames are very practical gifts that everyone can use.  These picture frames can be hung from anywhere but if you want them to be static, they can do that too.

10. Shaun White Boys’ Reversible Stripe Belt ($7.99) – If you’ve seen the latest teen fashion, you know that boys are in a great need for a belt now a days. So do us all a favor and get this 100% bonded leather, black and grey belt for your youngster and help keep those pants up.

11. Starving Students Cookbook ($6.48) – College students have trouble eating healthy for two reasons.  One of those reasons is because they just don’t have the money to buy healthy food but the second is where this book comes in handy.  Now, they won’t have the excuse that they don’t know how to make food.

12. Mikasa Vase ($9.99) – This Mikasa Vase includes “cheer dots” that brightens up the place.  The vase stands at only 7″ high, is made of glass and should only be washed by hand.  That means no dishwashers!

13. The Teeny-Weeny Merry Martini Set ($8.06) – For anyone that enjoys a nice martin, this teeny-weeny set includes an ice cube tray, a martini shaker, two small martini glasses (one red, one green) and a recipe book of martini’s.  It’s cute, useful and inexpensive.

14. Jeweled Rocker Ruched Clutch ($8.99) – It doesn’t get less expensive for a wallet these days and this particular wallet does everything that a wallet needs to do.  This wallet includes both snap and zipper closures and has enough pouches for hundreds of dollars.

15. Merona Scarf and Glove Set ($10.00) – If you’re buying a gift this year for someone in a cold weather climate, a scarf and glove set is perfect.  The horizontal stripe patter will make sure your neck and hands look slim too.

16. Portable Mini Speaker ($9.99) – This accessory mini speaker from GPX features a folding 3.5mm HP-type Pin Connector, allowing you to connect it to any media player with a headphone jack. Connect it to your iPod® or MP3 player and give your music a little breathing room.

17. AM/FM Radio with Lantern and Flashlight ($9.99) – This AM/FM Radio with Lantern & Flashlight is easy to carry. With an instant weatherband, digital clock, built-in siren and blinker this radio has a rubberized finish for easy grip.  For $10, this baby has it all.

18. Good Grips Measuring Cups ($7.99) – This set includes durable, plastic construction with straight side walls so your ingredients stay put. Bright, color-coded dots on the soft, nonslip rubber handles allow you to easily identify the exact amount you need in your recipe.

19. 6 Pack of Monogram Washcloths ($7.99) – You can use these cloths to add a luxurious touch for family and guests.  Again, this won’t be the most glamorous gift in the bunch but it will cut down on laundry and messy spills in the kitchen.

20. Glass Heart Wine Stopper ($4.18) – Before you think that these wine stoppers are in the shape of a heart, they are not.  Each and every one you order will come with a different design, making them one of a kind.  But giving more than one to anyone might mean they have a problem.

21. Musical Ballerina Jewelry Box ($9.99) -  These distinctive pink painted boxes with built-in compartments are indispensable for keeping rings, bracelets and necklaces nicely organized.  Perfect for any young girl looking for a place to keep all of her jewelry.

22. Martha Stewart Collection Ornaments ($9.00) -  Another situational gift, you should only purchase these stylish ornaments if one condition applies.  A Christmas tree is essential in making this gift a good one so make sure the person you’re giving this to has one.

23. Winnie The Pooh Sherpa Plush Bear ($9.99) – Even though this gift is designed for toddlers and babies, you might be able to get by with a gift for the girlfriend.  Everyone knows who Winnie the Pooh is, so everyone should love to see him.

24. Healing Nature Sounds for Relaxation ($4.95) – This gift is perfect for anyone living in a noisy area, or for someone that just has trouble sleeping at night.  The forest can provide amazing ambient sounds, allowing anyone to rest comfortably at night.

25. Girls Hat, Gloves and Scarf Set ($9.99) – Last but not least, this toddler dream pink set of hat, scarf and gloves is great for the colder client little ones that need to stay warm during the winter.  This set is hand washable and comes in several different colors and styles.

26. Football Salt & Pepper Shaker Set ($4.99) – If you know a football fan, and it’s very unlikely that you don’t, they will greatly appreciate these little home essentials. Use them during your next big game gathering or just day to day, for the football fans in all of us.

27. As Seen On TV Bra Strap Concealer ($4.20) – A 6 pack of these handy dandy bras strap concealers will go a long way. They conceal straps when your wearing tank tops, lift and improve your posture, and are comfortable for every day use.

28. SimplyDog Holiday Fleece Hat ($4.97) – A little gift for the pooch in your life will not only make for great Christmas photos but the joy of watching them try to get it off will be priceless. Available in multiple sizes for whatever size your best friend is.

29. Photo Mousepad ($5.00) – Keep your loved ones closer all day by getting their photo printed on a mousepad. Made of high-density black foam and is virtually resistant to every day wear and tear, the photo mousepad is the perfect way to personalize your work space.

30. Sterling Silver Stud Earring Set ($7.99) They’re practical and go with everything so it’s hard to go wrong with a duo of sterling silver and cubic zirconium stud earrings. Perfect for any girl of any age, these earrings will definitely set you apart from the rest.

• 25 Christmas Gift Ideas under $25
• 25 Christmas Gift Ideas under $50
• Christmas Gift Ideas for Military Members

Over the past year or so “daily deal” sites have proliferated. Perhaps the most newsworthy daily deal site is Groupon, which Google tried to purchase last year for $6 billion. Groupon declined.

These deal sites typically fall into one of four categories:

1. Local Deals: Sites like Groupon and Living Social offer daily deals from local merchants in your area. These deals can be anything from discounts at restaurants to half off a sky diving adventure. You purchase the deal through the site and receive a voucher that you use to purchase the goods or services from the merchant. Many of these sites blast you with a daily email.
2. Product Deals: These deal sites offer daily discounts on products. Sites like Amazon and eBay have daily deal sections on their sites. Other sites like Woot offer one deal a day on various products.
3. Specialty Deals: Some sites offer daily deals in a specific vertical. For example, some sites focus on travel deals or fashion discounts.
4. Daily Deal Collectors: These sites collect daily deals from numerous sites and bring them into one place to make finding the deal you want easier.

So what we’ve done is put together a massive list of daily deal sites, organized by the four categories listed above. If you know of other great deal sites, leave a comment below.

Local Daily Deal Sites

• Groupon is the most popular deal site and currently holds the number one spot in the industry. The site is easy to use, and I’ve found the deals to be pretty good.
• Living Social is a close second in this category. With a recent $175 million investment from Amazon, the fight is on! Living Social currently holds the record for the biggest selling deal, 1.3 million Amazon gift cards.
• Ever Save is another deal site you might have heard of because they are owned by Prospectiv, which has been around since 1999. It wasn’t until 2010, however, when they began offering local and national deals. They are now in the top five deal sites. The downside is that you have to give them your email address to see the daily deals, which I find really annoying.
• BuyWithMe is a daily deal site that gives discounts for local businesses. The deals are currently only available in select cities.
• Thrillist provides deals for the best places to eat, drink and shop in your area. This site only services a portion of the U.S. and doesn’t appear to add anything new to the daily deal space.

Product Daily Deal Sites

• Woot has actually been around longer than most of the other sites and is considered by some to be the pioneer in the daily deal niche. You might have heard of their other specialty sites called shirt.woot and wine.woot. In 2010 Woot was acquired by Amazon, but still operates under the Woot brand. You’ll find daily deals on everything from vacuum cleaners to computers. And the Woot team has a great sense of humor, which comes through on the site.
• Tanga is all about saving money and offers 24-hour daily deals in categories such as electronics, gadgets, t-shirts, and magazines.
• Amazon posts daily deals on everything from books to lawn mowers.
• And so does eBay.
• 1 Sale a Day is one of my favorite daily deal sites, in part because it was started by just one guy (Ben Federman) with an idea. Ben buys product in bulk at great discounts, and passes the savings on to his customers in the form of daily deals.

Specialty Daily Deal Sites

• Mamapedia gives deals that are focused towards the money conscious mom. The deals are available for most big cities across the country.
• Gilt City offers “exclusive experiences” with discounts up to 75 percent off for members only. The offers are typically for restaurants, spas and events. The offers are only available in select cities such as New York, Boston, Washington D.C, Los Angelos, Miami, San Fransciso, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta and Seattle. Gilt City caters to a posh metropolitan crowd.
• DailyCandy focuses on fashion, beauty, food, home and garden, and travel deals. This site is female oriented and is only available for select cities.
• Bloomspot provides daily deals with a focus on dining, spas, fitness and travel. Deals are limited to 11 large U.S. cities.
• Restaurant.com provides users with discounted gift certificates to local restaurants.
• ZoZi is the place for those that love to be active. Zozi provides you with the latest outdoor deals for major cities all across the country.

Daily Deal Collectors

• 8Coupons helps you find the best deals from popular daily deal sites like Groupon, ScoutMob, Gilt City, LivingSocial and more.
• Yipit aggregates deals from more than 600 sources, including sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, and Buy With Me.

Later today, I’m going to be taking in my automobile to have the transmission looked at.  While I don’t expect this to be a big problem, I am prepared if it is.  After I drop my car off to have it carefully diagnosed, I’ve decided to rent a car so that if the repairs do take a while, I’ll be able to get to where I need to go.

The five most well known rental car companies around are Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget and Dollar.  We’ve all seen the commercials and many of us probably know the slogans and jingles.  Advertising aside, determining which rental car company best suits your needs can be tricky.  Different locations will have different rates due to a variety of variables like car availability, geographic location and state insurance rates but let’s see if we can compare all of these rental car agencies using the same criteria to see if any stand out.

We’ll assume you’re flying into LAX (Los Angeles), picking the car up on a Monday at 10 AM, and returning it two days later at the same time. We’ll also assume that you are over 25, and that you won’t be using any coupons or memberships that provide discounts, such as AAA and that you’ll carry no additional insurance or services. Finally, we’ll be reserving a compact car and are willing to accept the most affordable rental rate within that category.  Miles and gasoline are not included in this comparison as that will be unique to the driver.

Dollar - Founded in 1965, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group currently trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol DTG.  With over 650 global locations and 150,000 cars at their disposal, Dollar Rent-A-Car has become a premier rental car company.  Dollar also comes in with the lowest rate on our list.  $140.83 spent will net you two days of driving around Los Angeles in a Ford Focus.

Budget – Founded in 1958, Budget has three times as many car rental locations as Dollar Rent-A-Car with for more than 1800. Budget Rent A Car System Inc. is part of the larger Avis Budget Group Inc. (You’ll read about Avis in just a bit).  Budget finishes in a very close second place on our list and two days of drive time in a Hyundai Accent would cost $144.52.

Enterprise – In 1957, the year before Budget was founded, Enterprise served the public by offering rental cars.  With 7,000 locations, Enterprise tops our list in terms of brick and mortar sites.  Reserve a compact rental from LAX for two days from Enterprise, and you’ll wind up driving something less like the Cobalt and more like the Nissan Versa or Toyota Yaris. The total cost between rate, taxes, and surcharges is $151.96.

Hertz – The oldest and most respected of car rental agencies, Hertz was founded in 1918 with a fleet of 12 cars.  Now, Hertz has more than 6500 locations with a fleet of 550,000+ cars and trucks.  Toward the back of the pack, Hertz offers the same two-day rental of that Chevy Cobalt will cost you $218.41 and that’s if you pay at the time of the reservation, rather than waiting to pay at pickup.

Avis – In 1946 Warren E. Avis founded Avis Rent A Car Systems.  Currently, Avis has 4,200 locations in over 160 countries and is the second largest general use car rental business in the world (Hertz #1).  Unfortunately that doesn’t help much with prices as Avis comes in with the highest rate in the group.  For a two-day rental of a compact Chevy Cobalt, you’ll pay Avis a charge of $241.94 which includes the base rate, tax, and surcharges.

Keep in mind that these numbers are subject to change based on availability and location and we haven’t added any perks or additional features.  Renting a car will also require more work than just finding the best price.  Included in your search to find the right rental car should be the following:

• Compare the same size vehicle -  Rates for compacts, full-sized sedans, SUVs, and pick-ups all vary.
• Keep an eye on the options that come with a standard rental – For the most part, rentals come with an automatic transmission, stereo system with radio and CD player, air conditioning, and power windows and door locks.  If any particular options are important to you, check just to be sure they are included in the model you’re renting.
• Check the price of a full reservation for the entire time you’ll need the car – While one rental agency might have a lower daily rate, another may charge much more in mandatory surcharges.
• Ask about purchasing additional insurance – Basic rental car insurance may not cover you for common things like accidents and theft.
• Children cost extra – Rental agencies frequently charge an extra daily rate for car seats and boosters.
• Be prepared to pay for directions -  Most rental car agencies will make GPS systems available, for an extra daily charge.

Knowing everything you need ahead of time and making sure you compare prices for exactly the reservation you need, is the best way to ensure you get a good rate.  Always plan ahead and do your best to reserve early. Some of the major agencies offer substantial discounts if you pay ahead of time. Of course, if your trip is prone to cancellation or postponement, you’d be wise to consider paying upon pick-up.

Keep your eye open for special deals and make sure before you sign on the dotted line, you take a look at all of the major rental car companies out there.  Staying loyal may privy you to a solid rewards program but sometimes, that loyalty comes with a price.  To get started in your search, you may want to visit CarRentals.com, which can help you compare all rental car companies in just a few clicks.  I think I’ll be going with Enterprise, so I’ll let you know if they’re services are solid.

Let’s pretend were in a down economy. (Hard to imagine, I know) Now, assume that you are fortunate, despite that poor economy, to still have a secure, well-paying job. And, since you’re a frequent reader of Dough Roller, you know how to stretch your dollars as far as the eye can see. You also have a comfortable cushion of savings, at least six months worth of your personal expenses. Long story short, you’re doing very well.

Then one fateful day, you get a phone call from a friend or family member who’s in a financial bind. They’ve started a new job with no base salary; all their income is tied to sales. They expect to start generating real income once they manage a few sales, but their supervisors tell them that process could take 4-12 weeks. They ask you if you can help tie them over.

Loaning money to a friend or family member is always tricky. Without proper paperwork, recouping the money can be very difficult. (And who wants to wind up on a courtroom drama show, trying to explain to Judge Judy why on Earth anyone would loan a friend money?)

This can also ruin a friendship very quickly. Your friend may think you’re scrutinizing their every financial decision. And, you may very well find yourself doing just that, wondering why it is your friend is spending a bit of money at TGI Friday’s instead of paying you back. But, assuming your desire to help outweighs any reservations you might have about spoiling a good friendship, here are a few hints for how to make sure the financial end of your decision is sound.

• Find out why it is that your friend needs the money – If it’s because they’re out of work, ask how soon they think they’ll be employed. If your friend or family member is steadily employed but needs a large sum unexpectedly for an unforeseen expense, the risk to you is much lighter.
• Make sure you have a clear idea when you can expect the loan repaid – Having clear expectations is good for both financial planning, and for the friendship.
• Know whether they’ll pay you back in a lump sum, or in small payments – It’s another thing you need to know for sound financial planning. Knowing you’ll get the money back slowly may affect how you allocate your other funds.

Here’s one last thing to consider, if you’re on the fence. Sure, a loan can ruin a friendship and you’re putting a great deal of trust in your friend to pay you back. It’s a risky proposition on all fronts, but consider the potential rewards. If they pay you back, you’re seemingly right back off where you started,and actually a little bit ahead.

Your friend will always remember that time you helped them out, and will likely be there for you when you need a helping hand.  Remember that favor is worth more to the individual receiving it than the individual providing it so pick and choose who and how you help others wisely.

It looks yellow, but it burns white

For a long time there were three problems with these bulbs. First, the light given off by these bulbs looked funny. As soon as we walked into a room with a CFL bulb in our house, we could tell something wasn’t right. And if they are cold, it can take what seems like an eternity for a CFL bulb to fully illuminate. Second, CFL bulbs contain a trace amount of mercury that can be a real problem if the bulb breaks. And third, they are expensive. LED bulbs can really set you back. Some replacement LED bulbs can cost as much as $40!

Fortunately, the technology behind these bulbs has gotten a lot better. According to Consumer Reports, here are some of the improvements with today’s CFL and LED bulbs:

• Less Mercury: As noted above, one big downside to CFL bulbs is that they contain trace amounts of mercury. If the bulb breaks, you must be very careful in how you clean up and dispose of the bulb. Today, CFL bulbs have 60 to 75 percent less mercury than they did in 2008. And even better, some CFLs, like the GE Energy Smart SAF-T-GARD Spiral CFL, have a protective coating that helps contain glass and mercury if the bulb is broken. Also, Lowes and Home Depot will accept CFL bulbs for recycling once they burn out.
• Most LEDs give off bright light: Consumer Reports found that most LEDs met their claims. They light up immediately, even in cold temperatures, and they are as bright as incandescent bulbs. As an added bonus, they don’t contain mercury and are great for dimmer switches.
• LED’s Last Forever: Most LED lights last from 20,000 to 50,000 hours! Assuming you burn the bulb for 3 hours a day, that means you won’t be changing the bulb until sometime between 2029 and 2056.
• Both CFLs and LEDs save money: These bulbs will save you money in two ways. First, both use less energy, saving your money on your electric bill each month. And second, while these bulbs are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, they last much longer. So in the long run, you save money on bulbs, too. Of course, the big question is how long will it take you to make up the cost of the energy saving bulbs, particularly LEDs. What Consumer Reports found is that you can recoup the cost of a CFL in about a year. For LEDs, however, it takes about four to ten years to break even. But because these bulbs last so long, you end up saving a ton of money over time.

What About that 45.6 Year Bulb?

So what bulbs last over 45 years (assuming a burn rate of 3 hours per day)? There are several LED bulbs that should last 50,000 hours. One popular choice is the Sylvania 78642 – LED8A/DIM/F/830 Dimmable LED Light Bulb. It costs $29.99 from Amazon, and it should last longer than you own your home (so be sure to take it with you when you move!).

The ratings by Consumer Reports will be coming out in its October magazine. If you don’t subscribe, you can get a good price on the magazine through Amazon. You can also subscribe online, which is what I do. Finally, I’ll leave you with a video by Consumer Reports that gives you a glimpse into how it tested these bulbs:

Car shoppers are normally all about getting the best deal: the smallest amount of money down, the most flexible lease terms and lowest finance charges. What some car buyers fail to calculate is not only the up-front costs associated with buying a car, but the costs to maintain a car over its lifetime, i.e., the total cost of car ownership.

Depending on the kind of car you purchase, it may end up actually costing more than you ever imagined. I can tell you from personal experience that the 2003 Ford Mustang I purchased used in 2006 has been expensive to maintain over the last five years.  Through, shocks, breaks, high performance tires (ugh), regular maintenance and some body work, I’ve spent almost as much keeping the car looking and running pristine as I did when I first purchased it.

To illustrate, we used Edmunds.com to determine what the true cost to own a couple different types of cars would be over 5 years. Before you get scared away with the numbers, let’s first understand the costs associated with car ownership.

Depreciation is normally the largest cost factor by far. Depreciation is a vehicle’s loss in value over a defined period. An average model depreciates about 65% over five years. Some vehicles depreciate faster than others because of oversupply, limited appeal, or rebates on similar new models. Depreciation greatly affects the resale value of a vehicle.

Fuel Costs can really add up, especially for SUVs. The fuel expense in the below examples is based on the revised EPA mileage ratings assuming consumption consists of 45% highway and 55% city driving and that the vehicle is equipped with the transmission that is standard equipment for that vehicle. Fuel cost estimates are based on the one-year moving average of self-service, regular unleaded gasoline prices in Washington, D.C.  To reduce your fuel costs, consider a gas rewards credit card.

Repairs are estimated expenses not covered by the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty.  This expense is based on the cost of a typical “zero deductible” extended warranty for the vehicle, minus the estimated amount of that cost that consists of the warranty provider’s overhead and profit.

Maintenance is the estimated expense of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Scheduled maintenance involves factory-recommended items once a specified mileage is reached. Unscheduled maintenance includes the replacement of parts such as breaks, batteries, signal lights, wiper blade, tires, etc.

Interest/Financing is tied directly to the price of a vehicle (assuming the vehicle is not purchased with 100% cash). Edmunds calculates financing costs as interest on a loan in the amount of the Total Cash Price, assuming a 10% down payment and a loan term of 60 months. The interest rate used in the below examples is the prevailing rate that banks and other direct automotive lenders are currently charging consumers in a predetermined geographic region (Washington, D.C.) who are in the “Gold” credit tier. In other words, if you have poor credit and are lucky enough to obtain a loan, financing costs are likely to be much higher. According to Edmunds, even if you don’t finance your vehicle, this cost is still appropriate because it reflects the estimated “opportunity cost” (i.e., the amount you may earn) if you had otherwise invested the amount used to purchase the vehicle.

Insurance Costs vary depending on many factors including age, location, coverage amounts, make and model of vehicle and driving record. Edmunds calculates this cost by looking at the premium charged by insurers in a specific locale (in this instance, Washington, D.C.). The premium includes liability, comprehensive and collision from major insurers. Keep in mind that it is possible to locate a great deal on insurance if you are insuring more than one vehicle with an insurance company.

Taxes and Fees makes up a portion of a car’s cost and include base sales taxes and license and registration fees, and any other taxes, if applicable. These taxes and fees are usually based on a percentage of the purchase price, and generally decrease as the vehicle ages and loses value.

Now that we understand what the true costs of owning a car include, let’s look at some real life examples.

Example 1 - According to Edmunds.com, the cost to own a 2009 Nissan Quest 4-door minivan over 5 years (assuming 15,000 miles a year) is approximately $47,500 broken down as follows:

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5		5 Year Total
Depreciation	$5,924	$3,150	$2,772	$2,458	$2,206		$16,510
Taxes and Fees	$1,695	$113	$113	$113	$113		$2,147
Fuel	$2,162	$2,227	$2,294	$2,363	$2,434		$11,480
Maintenance	$280	$504	$344	$974	$1,034		$3,136
Repairs	$0	$0	$105	$251	$366		$722
Financing	$1,457	$1,171	$866	$541	$195		$4,230
Insurance	$1,736	$1,797	$1,860	$1,925	$1,953		$9,271
Yearly Totals	$13,254	$8,962	$8,354	$8,625	$8,301		$47,496

Example 2 - According to Edmunds.com, the cost to own a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta 4 door Sedan over 5 years (assuming 15,000 miles a year) is approximately $35,500 broken down as follows:

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5		5 Year Total
Depreciation	$3,732	$1,959	$1,725	$1,528	$1,371		$10,315
Taxes and Fees	$1,206	$80	$80	$80	$80		$1,526
Fuel	$1,644	$1,693	$1,744	$1,796	$1,850		$8,727
Maintenance	$29	$188	$540	$820	$1,328		$2,905
Repairs	$0	$0	$124	$297	$432		$853
Financing	$1,037	$833	$616	$385	$139		$3,010
Insurance	$1,531	$1,585	$1,640	$1,697	$1,757		$8,210
Yearly Totals	9,179	$6,338	$6,469	$6,603	$6,957		$35,546

Again, the above are estimates and will vary depending, of course, on the location in which you live and the make and model of the type of car you buy. The important point to remember is that it’s not as simple as just driving off the lot. Car ownership entails many other costs and if you’re not prepared, you may go into a heap of debt.   Stay smart, plan ahead for any impending repairs and take good care of your automobile.  A little money spent early can be a lot of money saved late.

Imagine you’re walking down an abandoned street with no-one in sight.  Enjoying the beautiful and peaceful day, you spot a penny on the ground.  Would you bend down, pick up the penny and put it in your pocket?  What if that penny was a nickel, a dime, a quarter … and so on, all the way up to Ben Franklin’s smiling face on a $100 bill.  At what point do you pick up the free money at your feet?

Now imagine the same scenario but let’s morph the abandoned street into 5^th avenue in Manhattan during lunch.  I’m willing to bet that the amount of money you would bend over and pick up in the first scenario is different than in this one.  Reason being of course that bending over and picking up a penny in private may be embarrassing for some in public.  But no matter how much change (or currency for that matter) you decide to pick up, do any of them define you as being cheap, or is it being frugal?

Frugality and cheapness have long gone hand and hand and the line that separates the two is extremely unclear. Everyone knows of friends or family that save the wrapping paper on Christmas gifts and that save the condiments or utensils from fast food restaurants to reuse at later time but how would these people be classified?

I suppose the answer depends on their financial situation but even that might make the answer more complicated.  A millionaire that exhibits these traits would most certainly be defined as cheap, whereas the single mother of three with two jobs would be classified as frugal.  Perhaps the definition is different for different people in different circumstances.

Here in the personal finance world, no matter how you save money, it is defined as frugality, which I don’t believe to be accurate.  Certainly, spending 10 minutes online, looking for a coupon code that can save you a few bucks on your next online purchase is a wise move, and a frugal one at that, but spending all day on the same coupon should be defined as cheapness don’t you think?

For me, frugality is the act of saving money but only when money has to be spent.  Shopping online using rebates or coupon codes is a perfect example, as is buying the grocery items that are on sale at the supermarket. Cheapness on the other hand, is the prevention of money being spent and most commonly, that is accomplished by the reuse of products that would normally just be thrown away.  It really doesn’t matter in the long-run but the negative connotation the word “cheap” has always can put some people off.

No matter if you’re frugal or cheap, saving money on everyday purchases, simply by spending a few minutes online, or by planning a little bit ahead is always a smart idea.  If you still haven’t done your Holiday shopping, take a deep breath, grab a pen and paper and start planning your attack for next week and Black Friday.

With so many cell phone plans to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming. Choosing the family plan that maximizes the money you spend while getting solid coverage and other perks is very important. Today, we will aim to make that task a bit easier for you. Let’s take a look at four of the largest wireless carriers and see what family plan is best.

In order to compare apples to apples, we’ve compared the 700 minute family plan across carriers. Each carrier does offer other family plans with more minutes, but for comparison purposes 700 was chosen.

Classic 1000 Minute Talk T Mobile

T Mobile offers a 1000 minute family plan, unlike Verizon, Sprint and AT&T all which offer 700 minute plans. For the additional 300 minutes, you pay a lower amount of only $59.98 a month. This plan includes unlimited calling to any T-Mobile wireless customer, unlimited nights and weekends, caller ID, call waiting, and no roaming charges. Lines 1 and 2 are included; above two and up to five lines is an additional $9.99 per month.

Customers must execute a 2-year contract and pay an early termination fee of up to $200 if that contract is canceled before the end of the period. There is also a a one-time activation fee of $35 for each phone line. Additionally, you must buy a texting package if you want to send text messages using this plan. There is a plan that is available for an additional $40 per month that provides unlimited texting.

• T Mobile Promo Codes and Coupons

Verizon Family Share Talk Plan 700 Minutes

The Verizon network is certainly comprehensive. The Verizon 700 minute family plan costs $69.99 per month plus applicable taxes.  For this price there are no roaming charges, unlimited calling to any Verizon wireless customer, unlimited nights and weekends (Monday to Friday 9:01pm – 5:59am and weekend hours 12:00am Saturday – 11:59pm Sun), voice mail, caller ID, and call waiting. Adding one additional line to this plan is free (more than one additional line will cost $9.99/month per line).

Customers must execute a 2-year contract and pay an early termination fee of up to $350 if the contract i canceled before the end of the contract term. There is a one-time activation fee per line of $30. If you should go over the 700 minute allotment, each additional minute is $0.45. Also, remember that text messaging and data are not included in this particular plan. Data sent or received is $1.99/MB (unless a data package is selected or required), 20 cents per text message or 25 cents for picture and video messages. Text packages are available such as the 500 text package which includes unlimited mobile to mobile texting and 500 texts outside the network for $10/month/line.

• Verizon Wireless Promo Codes and Coupons

AT&T Family Talk Nation 700 Minutes with Rollover

The AT&T 700 minute family plan also costs $69.99 per month plus applicable taxes. However, in comparison to Verizon, the AT&T plan does not offer as many perks and appears to be more expensive. Similar to Verizon, there are no roaming charges, unlimited calling to any AT&T wireless customer, unlimited nights and weekends (Monday to Friday 9:01pm – 5:59am and weekend hours 12:00am Saturday – 11:59pm Sunday), voice mail, caller ID, and call waiting. The customer has the option of adding up to four additional lines each costing $9.99 per line per month and a $36 activation fee per line.

Customers must execute a 2-year contract and pay an early termination fee of up to $325 if that contract is canceled before the end of the period. If you should go over the 700 minute allotment, each additional minute is $0.45. The one great perk about this plan is that it provides rollover minutes–the extra minutes you do not use rollover to the next month. These rollover minutes expire after three months, however. This plan does not include text or data. Data sent or received is $2.00/MB (unless data package is selected or required), 20 cents per text/Instant Message; 30 cents per picture/video. Texting packages are available including 1,000 text, picture, video, and Instant Messaging (IM) for $10/month/line).

• AT&T Promo Codes and Coupons

Sprint Talk 700 for Family

The Sprint 700 minute family plan also costs $69.99 per month plus applicable taxes. This Sprint plan includes unlimited calling to any Sprint wireless customer, unlimited night and weekends starting at 7pm to 7 am and weekends Friday 7pm to Monday 7 am, voice mail, caller ID, call waiting, and no roaming charges. Lines 1 and 2 are included; above two and up to 5 lines is an additional $9.99 per month. Customers must execute a 2-year contract and pay an early termination fee of up to $200 if that contract is canceled before the end of the period. A one-time activation fee of $36 for each phone line is also required. Additionally, you must buy a texting package if you are interested in texting using this plan.

Making a decision on a family cell phone plan is certainly not easy. What are you looking for? If it is strictly talking, it would appear that T-Mobile comes in first followed by Verizon and then AT&T and lastly, Sprint. You get the additional 50 minutes for the same price. If you consider texting important, it would seem wise to go with T-Mobile again and pay the additional $20 per month for unlimited texting capabilities. Although Sprint offers earlier night and weekend talk time and AT&T offers rollover minutes, in terms of peak talk time, T-Mobile is clearly the leader, followed by Verizon.

No matter which plan you choose, make sure you research the facts.  Lowering your cell phone bill can really help clean up a budget, allowing you more money for saving and investing.