June 6, 2008 by Dave.

With gasoline over $4.00/gallon in most places, ARI Fleet shares some great tips on how to get the most mileage out of that increasingly expensive tank of gas: 

1. Avoid Long IdlingThe worst mileage a vehicle can get is 0 mpg, which occurs when it idles. Idling for long periods of time consumes gas that could be saved by simply turning off the engine. Restarting an engine uses about the same amount of gas as idling for 30 seconds. When idling for longer periods of time, shut off the engine. However, turning off the engine may disable vehicle functions, including safety features like airbags. Drivers should be certain to only utilize this strategy in situations where there is no possibility of collision. 

2. Eliminate Unnecessary Weight Vehicles get better mileage when they’re not loaded with unnecessary weight. Every 200 lbs. of additional weight trims one mile off fuel efficiency. Most drivers accumulate material in their vehicle trunks, some of it unnecessary. Remove all non-required items from the vehicle, such as unneeded tools, tires, or materials. 

3. Keep Tires Inflated to the Correct Pressure One underinflated tire can cut fuel economy by 2% per pound of pressure below the proper inflation level. One out of four drivers, on average, drives vehicles with one or more underinflated tires. When a tire is underinflated by 4-5 psi vehicle fuel consumption increases by 10% and, over the long haul, causes a 15% reduction in tire tread life. Check the vehicle’s doorpost sticker for minimum tire inflation pressure.Remove snow tires during good weather seasons.  Traveling on deep tire tred dramatically decreases fuel efficiency. 

4. Don’t Buy Premium FuelResist the urge to buy higher-octane gas for “premium” performance. Octane has nothing to do with gasoline performance. Per Johnson & Johnson policy drivers are required to use the lowest cost 87-octane regular unleaded fuel available per vehicle manufacturer’s specifications and requirements.  

5. Observe Posted Speed LimitsThis tip may save a life as well as fuel. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates a 10-15% improvement in fuel economy by driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph. 

6. Fill Your Tank during the Coolest Time of DayDuring morning and evening hours gasoline is densest.  Avoid filling the gas tank to the top.  Overfilling results in sloshing over and out of tank. Never fill gas tank past the first “Click” of the fuel nozzle. 

7. Use Alternate Roads when Safer, Shorter, or StraighterCompare traveling distance; remember that corners, curves, and lane jumping require extra gas.  Avoid rough roads whenever possible because dirt and gravel rob you of up to 30% of gas mileage. 

8. Use A/C SparinglyUse the air conditioner only when needed. An air conditioner is one of the biggest drains on engine power and fuel economy. It can reduce gas consumption 5-20%, depending on the type of vehicle and the way it is driven. Don’t use it as a fan to simply circulate air. If it’s just too hot to bear without A/C, keep it set around 72 degrees. Use the vent setting as much as possible.9. Keep Windows Closed When Traveling at Highway SpeedsWind drag is a key source of reduced fuel mileage, causing an engine to work harder, thereby reducing fuel economy.Minimize wind drag by keeping the windows rolled up. This allows air to flow over the body, rather then drawing it inside the cabin and slowing down the vehicle. A wide-open window, especially at highway speeds, increases aerodynamic drag, which could result in a 10% decrease in fuel economy. If you want fresh air, run the climate system on “outside air” and “vent,” and crack the window for additional ventilation. 

10. During Cold Weather Watch for Icicles Frozen to the Car FrameUp to 100 pounds can quickly accumulate.  Unremoved snow and ice cause tremendous wind resistance.  

11. Anticipate Traffic FlowAnticipate traffic conditions and accelerate and decelerate smoothly — it’s safer, uses less gas, and reduces brake wear.In stop-and-go commuter traffic, look two or more vehicles ahead as you keep an eye on the driver in front of you. This enables you to accelerate and decelerate more gradually.By anticipating a traffic light change, an upcoming stop sign, or the need to slow down for a curve, you can avoid or reduce brake use and save gasoline in the process.  

12. Avoid Uphill Speed IncreasesWhen climbing a hill, the engine is already working hard to overcome gravity. Pushing it harder by stepping on the gas is simply a waste of fuel.  If you accelerrate, do it before you reach the hill and not while you are on it. 

13. Use Cruise Control during Highway DrivingUnnecessary changes in speed are wasteful. The use of cruise control helps improve fuel economy. 

14. Avoid Aggressive DrivingTime studies show that fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic, and accelerating to and from a stop light don’t save much time and wear out components such as brakes and tires faster.Simply limiting quick acceleration and fast braking can increase fuel economy. When accelerating, pretend you have a fresh egg underneath your right foot. A light, steady pressure helps to minimize the amount of fuel consumed and maintain a more moderate and steady speed.By not driving aggressively, drivers can save up to 20 percent in fuel economy, advises the EPA. 

15. Monitor Preventive Maintenance SchedulesProper maintenance increases a vehicle’s fuel economy. For example, unaligned wheels that fight each other waste fuel. Keep the air filter clean. A dirty filter clogs an engine’s air supply, causing a higher fuel-to-air ratio and thereby increasing gasoline consumption. Get regualr tune-ups to ensure best fuel economy.  Check the owners manual for regular maintenance intervals.

Posted in Saving | Print | 1 Comment »

May 12, 2008 by admin.

Cell Phone Price Wars: The Death of the Landline?This is the first of a series of articles outlining the recent unlimited minute offerings cell phone carriers have made and whether or not this will ultimately mean the demise of traditional phone service as we know it.

In the past several months, the top 4 major carriers, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint have either begun offering unlimited minute cell phone plans or reducing the price of their existing plan (Sprint). What does this mean for the customer? Well, it is the first sign that prices will come down and overage charges may be a thing of the past. While Sprint had unlimited service for $199/month and had been testing it in select markets for $119/month, it wasn’t until the top 2 carriers, Verizon and AT&T, announced plans to offer unlimited minutes plans that the war was on. Soon after, T-Mobile joined the fray and Sprint dropped the price on their unlimited plan. Another regional carrier, US Cellular, followed as well. The country’s fifth largest carrier, Alltel, does not yet offer unlimited calling, but with their MyCircle plans, most customers can get virtually unlimited minutes for less money.

For those of you living in cities like Tampa, Pittsburgh, San Francisco or Dallas, there are regional carriers such as Cricket and MetroPCS that have been offering unlimited minutes plans for some time. Perhaps it was these companies expansions into new markets such as Las Vegas, Oklahoma City (Cricket), Detroit and Los Angeles (MetroPCS) that prompted Verizon and AT&T to react. Or maybe it was just a natural evolution of the business as companies try to retain customers that are demanding more from their carriers and are less likely to stay loyal if they are unhappy with their service.

So how did Cricket and MetroPCS react to the big 4 getting into the unlimited minutes game? They slashed their rates to $50/month and offered more. Here is a rundown of the cell plans offered by each company:

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | 1 Comment »

May 12, 2008 by Dave.

As a follow up to the post I wrote on tipping pizza delivery drivers, I caught an article that relates to tipping servers in restaurants.   It’s from Thomas A. Mason at www.tip20.com titled Why Should You Tip?  Here are some of the things Mason points out that many people might not know regarding servers:

The author makes some very good points, which most people don’t know and are I know are accurate from personal experience.  When I served I made good money.  However, I tipped out the busperson 10% of the cash I made and the bartender 10% on all alcohol sales.  Since they have to claim tips too, it seems like double taxation, but that’s another post altogether.  If someone ran up a large bar tap and tipped poorly, I could potentially be waiting on them for free since my money would go directly to the bartender.  Because of having to claim tips on a certain percentage of cash sales (at least 10%), many times, I would be forced to claim MORE than what I actually made because the majority of sales were credit card sales, which I had to claim 100% of the tips. 

Regarding the sidework issue, one thing the author says but doesn’t make clear is how much less servers’ base pay is.  In Pennsylvania, they are paid $2.83/hour plus tips.  So if they are doing sidework and have no tables,  they only get paid $2.83/hour.  Would you work for $2.83/hour?  Probably not. 

Think about these things the next time you go out to eat.  Bad food?  Don’t take it out on the server, they didn’t cook it.  Bad service?  See a manager; most managers will be more than willing to take care of any problems. 

Posted in entertainment, Spending | Print | No Comments »

May 2, 2008 by Dave.

My wife and I live in the outer edges of the suburbs where there is still farmland. At our grocery store we recently got something which was a pretty cool thing but is old news for many. Redbox.

For those who don’t know, Redbox is a dvd rental kiosk where you put in your credit or debit card and rent any of the new releases available for $1 per night, with no late fees. As someone who doesn’t rent a lot of movies, the price is right. I got rid of Showtime when they canceled Dead Like Me and The Chris Isaak Show. I dumped my Blockbuster Online membership when I kept a movie for 3 months without mailing it back (total cost: $53.97). The other nice thing about Redbox is that you can return your DVD to any Redbox location. So if I’m heading over to my mother-in-law’s house or to work, I don’t have to go out of my way and can drop it off at the local grocery store there.

Here’s a piece of useless trivia I stumbled upon: The first place redbox was installed in was several McDonald’s in the Denver area. Redbox is partially owned by McDonald’s and Coinstar; they each own 47% of the company and have surpassed Blockbuster in number of outlets.

Posted in Saving, entertainment, Spending | Print | 1 Comment »

May 1, 2008 by Dave.

Yesterday I got to do something I rarely get to do, read the newspaper. An actual newspaper, that is, not just catching an article online. Newspapers appear to be a dying breed, with online media and television being the primary way to get news today. I got to read 2 good articles worth noting.

The first, from the Philadelphia Daily News, called Let us Pay: Struggling with Soaring costs of Food, Fuel, Rent, talks about the struggles of people meeting their daily living expenses. A staffer at a local church speaks about how the economy has changed the members of her congregation: “I remember when I came, we had the conversation of ‘What are we going to do for “them,” for those in need?’ ” Eileen Jones of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown said. “But with the way the economic status is now, it’s no longer them - it’s us. There are people in our congregation that need the help of our food cupboard, and they’re embarrassed to ask.”

And as one person put it when talking about their bakery business being slower than usual: “You can’t run your car on chocolate mousse.” With gas at over $3.50 a gallon, people are making choices with their discretionary spending. Buy a cake or put gas in the car? Maybe buy food for the dinner table or put gas in the car? As someone who has worked in the gasoline business for many years, I have been on the receiving end of many irate customers complaining about rising gas prices. However, what I’ve seen over the past several years as prices have risen, the complaints have went from being directed at the poor clerk or merchant that makes the same profit regardless of gas prices to venting about the oil companies that are raking in the profits. Customers now seem to understand that it is not the fault of the local gas station. That doesn’t change the fact though that, especially in the suburbs, even going to the grocery store requires a car. It’s a simple equation for many: No gas, no car. No car, no job. No job, no food on the table or money for rent/mortgage.

Along with this article was a Q&A of with Bruce Rader, an assistant finance professor at Temple University. One of the questions struck a chord with me:

Q: Do people’s salaries typically reflect what’s going

on in the economy?

A: That’s what eventually should happen. We haven’t seen that in a while, though, especially for the middle class. We might see that pressure. I think the Fed has to worry about this rise in oil and food prices feeding over into the rest of the economy. People are demanding higher wages so they can meet their costs. No one wants to have a lower cost of living.

This is because on Tuesday, I received my letter with my new salary, which will be in my paycheck this week. I was rewarded with a 1.5% raise (woo-hoo!), which not only does not cover the cost of living, it doesn’t even cover the increase in the cost of medical benefits that I received January 1^st. Amazing how the cost of benefits always promptly hits your paycheck, but you are basically taking a paycut for the first several months of the year until the raise kicks in (if you even get a raise, which I didn’t get for 2 years at my job prior to this). When I read the letter, my reaction was “I’ll be sure not to spend all the money in one place.” Which prompted the comment from our office’s admin: “Yeah, that seems to be the general reaction from everybody.”

It seems we have all been beaten down by the economy, resigned to shrinking wages and higher costs of everything.

Posted in Spending, General | Print | No Comments »

April 2, 2008 by Dave.

I recently checked out a website called Tip The Pizza Guy.  The main premise of the site seems to be that pizza delivery driver, and the service they provide, are underappreciated by most people.  On the site, the Pizza Guy says:   

Please tip the driver.  Some people are not aware of this. I didn’t know for a long time. You’re supposed to tip the pizza delivery driver like you tip the waiter. They rely on tips and use their own car. This site will explore your questions about tipping and how you can speed up the delivery time. Your tips are greatly appreciated. It’s what keeps drivers moving.  Do they earn the tip? Absolutely. Drivers perform a service by bringing dinner to your door. They take on financial costs and difficulties, more than most people realize. Pizza delivery is considered a hazardous job by the US government. They are third most likely to be murdered on the job, right after police officer and taxi driver.

The pizza guy also compares the services a pizza delivery driver provides compared to servers at restaurants.  He also gives his take on tipping etiquette and when you shouldn’t tip the pizza guy.  He also shares some great insight on reasons why people don’t tip (or tip poorly).   Overall, I liked the content on the website.  The Pizza Guy shares a lot of knowledge and insight that many people don’t think about consciously.  I agree with him that drivers don’t get as much respect as other jobs.  Many of the people that work are college kids or adults working a second job, one that does have significant safety risks.  Coupled with gas prices, insurance and maintenance costs, it’s not the easiest way to make money these days.  One thing that amazed me when I read this site is how many of the drivers that post in the discussion boards get stiffed a lot.  I have delivered pizzas the past and have always tipped out well, rarely getting stiffed (maybe the neighborhood I delivered in was better?).  I will say customer service goes a long way regardless of which job you are doing, which is why I think I made good money doing these jobs.  From my experiences, people are more likely to leave a flat amount on a pizza delivery (i.e. a $3 tip whether the total is $15 or $50), whereas they leave a percentage to a server at a restaurant.    So how do YOU tip the pizza guy or the server at your local restaurant?

Posted in Spending | Print | 1 Comment »

March 5, 2008 by Dave.

When you think you have it rough, remember someone out there always has it worse. That’s the message Scratch Beginnings: Me, 25 Dollars and the Search for the American Dream delivers. While most recent college grads are out starting their careers and partying on the weekends, Adam Shepard chose a dramatically different route. Adam wrote this book in response to Nickel And Dimed, a book by Barbara Ehrenreich. Ehrenreich set out to find out whether a person could live on $7/hour. She worked various jobs in different areas of the country and concluded that it was impossible for someone to survive on minimum wage and were destined to stay in poverty. Shepherd felt Ehrenreich was taking a victim mentality and set out to prove her wrong.

So what did he do? Armed with $25, a sleeping bag, an empty gym bag and a 8×10 foot tarp, Shepard picked a city out of a hat (Charleston, SC) and left on a train. His goal was to have $2,500 in savings, a furnished apartment and a car within one year of leaving home. Adam had some rules: He couldn’t beg for money, sleep on the street or use any connections or his college degree to find employment. On his first night in Charleston, after being approached by several beggars, he was nearly beat up by someone he mistakenly thought was begging for money. Adam did not sleep on the floor with his sleeping bag on the advice of the shelter due to the risk of getting scabies. Shepard would spend the next 2 months in a homeless shelter while working day jobs for $30-$40/day after taxes.  He was then able to afford to get his own place, the attic above someone’s house that he did landscaping work (pulling weeds) for.  He would eventually find a job moving furniture. It was here that Adam would meet Derrick Hale, a fellow mover, who would prove to be an inspiration on Shepard’s mission. He would also meet Derrick’s brother and future roommate, BG (short for Bubble Gum, BG’s childhood nickname).

Eventually he was able to get enough money together to move out of the attic apartment and into a house with BG.  Adam was extremely frugal (aside from the Sunday trip to Mama D’s Dirty South Barbeque). He would shop for clothes at Goodwill, buy in bulk and all but eliminate entertainment expenses. BG, on the other hand, would spend his money on beer and lottery tickets. He would borrow Adam’s car, not refill the gas tank and not chip in on the food expenses. This, coupled with the fact that BG and Adam worked on the same moving crew, caused a lot of tension in the house. This would lead to a fistfight that Adam was on the losing end of. Adam did earn BG’s respect though and they would eventually make up.

I really enjoyed this book; I read through it in about 3 nights before bed. Adam glamorized nothing about his journey and it made me think twice when I complain about situations in my life. Some critics have argued that Adam wasn’t really homeless and this book was an affront to those that are. They also said that he was taking up a spot from someone that really needed it just for the sake of selling books. Whether he was or wasn’t, for the time he was in the shelter, he was indeed homeless. From what I gather, there was still room on the floor for another if needed. Could Adam have quit anytime and went home to his parents? Yes, I suppose he could have. There certainly would’ve been a lot easier ways to make a buck. But he didn’t. And that’s the point, he saw the journey through when most would’ve bailed.

Well you know that Adam got his apartment and a car (a $1000 pickup that Adam needed a screwdriver to start). But the story doesn’t end there, you’ll have to get the book to find out what happens after that.

Posted in Books | Print | No Comments »

February 18, 2008 by Dave.

As an adoptive parent, I know firsthand how expensive adoption can be but also how rewarding it can be.  My wife and I would like to adopt a little brother or sister for Joshua, but quite frankly we just can’t afford it right now.  But at least we have him.  I can’t imagine my life without our son and feel the frustration of prospective parents that can’t adopt due to the expense involved. So when I was watching the Dave Ramsey Show last night on Fox Business, Dave mentioned about the Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his mission entitled Shaohannah’s Hope.  Being curious, I checked out Steven’s website and it had a link to the Shaohanna’s Hope website. The story started when Steven’s 11 year old daugher Emily returned from a trip to Haiti wanted to help the orphans that she saw on the trip. Emily already knew that God wanted her family to adopt, but her parents resisted.  Emily’s mother Mary Beth was concerned about raising another child, especially since Steven was on the road performing for most of the year.  But Emily persisted and prayed.  Her prayers were answered as the Chapmans adopted Shaohanna Hope, the first of 3 daughters they would adopt. 

Posted in General | Print | No Comments »

February 17, 2008 by Dave.

My wife and I recently upgraded our cellphones with Verizon to the LG VX8550 (new Chocolate). After 3+ years, it was time to upgrade; I had already went through 2 used phones after losing my LG VX6000 and my wife had no reception inside our house. Which is why we are with Verizon…T-Mobile and Sprint don’t work in our house and Nextel phones just annoy me. That being said, reception is much better in our house with both phones; rarely do our calls go right to voice mail without ringing and I don’t get that “Warning-No Service Available” when I make a call.  Plus, with my new every two plan and a buy one get one deal, the phones were free, which is the right price for me.

So, here’s my I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to just disconnecting our home line altogether, which would save us between $35-$40/month. The base rate for my package is $32.99/month. I have a bundle package through Verizon so I would lose some discounts but also wouldn’t have to pay the 15 different types of taxes and fees either. In addition, most people call my wife and I on our cellphones anyway (at least anyone we actually want to talk to and some we don’t). My concern would be going over my minutes; we have a shared plan with 1400 minutes and come pretty close to that number, mainly because of my job. I do have a Skype phone, but need to renew my SkypeOut plan. $36 per year isn’t bad to save about the same amount per month. I think it’s just an emotional thing at this point. Having a landline for all my life, I just can’t “cut the wires” so to speak.

Technorati Profile

Posted in General | Print | 1 Comment »

February 17, 2008 by Dave.

If elected President, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee would try to eliminate the IRS by implementing the “Fair Tax”, a national retail sales tax that has a number of supporters. Neil Boortz, who co-wrote the New York Times best seller, “The Fair Tax Book”, with Congressman John Linder, has made this a grass roots campaign, but Huckabee has brought it to the nation’s consciousness. If you don’t know what the “Fair Tax” is, this article from CNN Money gives a good summary of it. You can also go to www.fairtax.org for information. I have read “The Fair Tax Book” and personally support the concept. You have to be an accountant to understand the current tax code and I’m sure there are accountants that don’t completely understand it. I think our current system isn’t working and while the Fair Tax act isn’t perfect, it is much more simple than what we have now.

Here are some pros and cons as I see them: There are potential issues with tax evasion by retailers and potential lost revenues due to retail theft by cashiers. In addition, adoption of the Fair Tax could potentially hurt the economy as items like new cars and new construction would be taxed, but resales of these items wouldn’t. As such, this would encourage many to “buy used”. However, one thing I see as being a huge plus is that not only would foreign travelers and illegal immigrants be taxed on items, but members of the underground economy (drug dealers, prostitutes, bookies, etc.) that exist now would be taxed, providing billions of dollars to the tax base that don’t go there now. In addition, companies that are going overseas due to the cost of doing business here would come back when corporate income taxes are eliminated.

While Huckabee is all but mathematically eliminated from presidential contention, it is rumored that he may be John McCain’s running mate; as such his “Fair Tax” proposal would hopefully survive (or maybe he can plant a seed in Obama’s ear). We went to war with England over unfair taxation over 200 years ago. I’m sure the forefathers that fought for our nation’s independence would concur, it is clear that our current system is broken and needs to be fixed.

Posted in Taxes | Print | 1 Comment »