Frugal Living: misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 10 topics

Monday, February 2, 2009

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 10 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Hawaii prices
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/9e0c0da39dcac6ce?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sun, Feb 1 2009 11:26 pm
From: Dan Birchall

I would expect prices at chain restaurants to be a bit higher than on
the mainland, due to transportation costs. Certain supermarket items
(milk and cereal for two) tend to be significantly more expensive.

--
Some people wear black t-shirts to make some kind of fashion statement.
I'm the type who wears black t-shirts because they don't show the blood.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: find find find
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/89a08f72cf233d56?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 1:47 am
From: shin.ramyon09@gmail.com

HI ALL,

NOW YOU CAN FIND LOVE AND ROMANCE FOR LATIONS WORLDWIDE ....

ITS JOIN FREE. CLICK HERE

http://amigos.com/go/g1050477-pmem

==============================================================================
TOPIC: the great coffee wars
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/81d399d7a689e8a0?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 4:24 am
From: clams_casino

Gary Heston wrote:

>In article <WDthl.165907$se4.141036@en-nntp-03.dc1.easynews.com>,
>Woody <email@munged.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Let's say you absolutely have to have a mocha or latte. I know, that kind of
>>thing is never a must, but let's say for argument's sake that it is. The
>>default place to get one is Starbucks, but now McD's and Dunkin' Donuts are
>>offering them, too. Are their cheaper versions worth the likely decline in
>>quality?
>>
>>
>
>Since all variations of coffee and such are a matter of individual taste,
>your fastest way to resolve your question is to buy one of each and see
>how it tastes to you. Personally, I can't tell the difference between the
>coffee at McDonalds or the (free) coffee at work.
>
>
>
>
Or the hot water tap.

== 2 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 4:43 am
From: Vic Smith

On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:16:33 -0800, The Real Bev
<bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>I finally found a 1-cup Bialetti espresso maker at a yard sale. It was nothing
>special either, and took just as much time to make as the 8-cup Mr. Coffee.
>
>There are no miracles.

I think Starbucks has miracle paper cups.
One of my daughters, who is in college, working, and constantly
socializing, uses them.
The way it works is she makes coffee in the morning, pours it in a
Starbucks cup, and takes it with her to school.
I suppose she pays for the Starbucks cup of coffee originally, but
maybe not. Plenty of other ways to get those cups.
I found out about this when she took me to task for tossing an empty
Starbucks cup in the garbage.
"Did you throw away my Starbucks cup?"
"Yeah, it was empty."
"I reuse that cup."
"Oh, sorry. It'll never happen again."
Though one son mocks her for pretense, it doesn't bother her.
Or me.
It is a well designed cup.
What would bother me is if she actually paid +$3 for a cup of coffee,
when she works hard for her money to go to school, pays for her own
car, insurance, etc. She opts for the free coffee here.
Good for her.

--Vic

== 3 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 6:49 am
From: SMS

Vic Smith wrote:
> On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:16:33 -0800, The Real Bev
> <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I finally found a 1-cup Bialetti espresso maker at a yard sale. It was nothing
>> special either, and took just as much time to make as the 8-cup Mr. Coffee.
>>
>> There are no miracles.
>
> I think Starbucks has miracle paper cups.
> One of my daughters, who is in college, working, and constantly
> socializing, uses them.
> The way it works is she makes coffee in the morning, pours it in a
> Starbucks cup, and takes it with her to school.
> I suppose she pays for the Starbucks cup of coffee originally, but
> maybe not. Plenty of other ways to get those cups.
> I found out about this when she took me to task for tossing an empty
> Starbucks cup in the garbage.
> "Did you throw away my Starbucks cup?"
> "Yeah, it was empty."
> "I reuse that cup."
> "Oh, sorry. It'll never happen again."
> Though one son mocks her for pretense, it doesn't bother her.
> Or me.
> It is a well designed cup.
> What would bother me is if she actually paid +$3 for a cup of coffee,
> when she works hard for her money to go to school, pays for her own
> car, insurance, etc. She opts for the free coffee here.
> Good for her.

She could buy an insulated thermal mug with the Starbucks logo, and
maintain the pretense.

Incidentally, coffee at Starbucks isn't $3. Regular coffee is well under
$2. To me, even that's too much considering I can brew a whole pot of
fresher coffee for about 50¢ with very good beans from Costco.

Starbucks is about the socializing and the pretense. It was never about
the coffee, just as McDonald's was never about the food.

If I do have the urge to spend $4 for an espresso drink, we have two
independent coffee houses within walking distance (as well as one Peet's
and four Starbucks). I keep thinking that $4 can still buy lunch at a
Chinese restaurant.

== 4 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 7:11 am
From: Vic Smith

On Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:49:14 -0800, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote:

>
>Incidentally, coffee at Starbucks isn't $3. Regular coffee is well under
>$2. To me, even that's too much considering I can brew a whole pot of
>fresher coffee for about 50¢ with very good beans from Costco.
>
>Starbucks is about the socializing and the pretense. It was never about
>the coffee, just as McDonald's was never about the food.
>
>If I do have the urge to spend $4 for an espresso drink, we have two
>independent coffee houses within walking distance (as well as one Peet's
>and four Starbucks). I keep thinking that $4 can still buy lunch at a
>Chinese restaurant.

When I worked the corp cafeteria had a Starbucks kiosk, and I liked
the "Morning Blend." It was $1.50 for a large cup, but I thought it
was subsidized down, as all the food was.
I see they do a fair morning drive-thru business around here, so some
people probably prefer them to Dunkin Donuts, MacDonalds, etc.
They do have decent coffee, though I prefer my own.
I've actually only been in a Starbucks twice. Once to visit a family
friend who worked at one. He insisted it be on the house, so I never
noticed prices. Another time I promised a fellow I would get myself
an espresso, and I sat down in one for a double shot. It was good.
Too bad about their troubles. At least when the yuppies spend their
money there most of it stays local.

--Vic

== 5 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 9:12 am
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com

On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:57:49 -0600, gheston@hiwaay.net (Gary Heston)
wrote:

>Personally, I can't tell the difference between the
>coffee at McDonalds or the (free) coffee at work.

Dude, you must have some bad coffee at work. I gave up on McD coffee
years ago. It ALWAYS was served too hot and tasted burned with a
nuance of stainless steel.

Hi thee to Publix and some of their 2/1 Eight O'Clock beans. The
hazelnut is my normal morning drink. If you can find them, look in
the spice section for cardomom seeds. Crack open one or two and pop
them with the shells into the filter basket.

== 6 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 12:08 pm
From: "Woody"

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:h6qdo4pcordto0ej779nf501lh3o9th327@4ax.com...
>
> Though one son mocks her for pretense, it doesn't bother her.

If she pretends that she bought her coffee at Starbucks, then it's pretence.
If she just uses the cup because it's a good-quality cup and doesn't care
about the logo on it, then it's not pretence, just frugality.

> What would bother me is if she actually paid +$3 for a cup of coffee,
> when she works hard for her money to go to school, pays for her own
> car, insurance, etc.

Why would it bother you that a competent adult chooses to spend her lawfully
earned money in a certain way? When she's out late at night does she have to
phone you to "check in" and "let you know she's all right?" Parents! :-p

== 7 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 12:10 pm
From: "Woody"

<hchickpea@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d2aeo45vma7rfnkbghh4midco2rdg5vtj8@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:57:49 -0600, gheston@hiwaay.net (Gary Heston)
> wrote:
>
>>Personally, I can't tell the difference between the
>>coffee at McDonalds or the (free) coffee at work.
>
> Dude, you must have some bad coffee at work. I gave up on McD coffee
> years ago. It ALWAYS was served too hot and tasted burned with a
> nuance of stainless steel.

It's the truly rotten nature of McD's coffee that led me to make my comment
about "decline in quality." There's no way an espresso made at McD's is
going to measure up to one made at Starbucks. Buying one there is like being
one of those people who dillute half a glass of Coca Cola in half a glass of
water to make their Coke last longer. :-p

Woody

>
> Hi thee to Publix and some of their 2/1 Eight O'Clock beans. The
> hazelnut is my normal morning drink. If you can find them, look in
> the spice section for cardomom seeds. Crack open one or two and pop
> them with the shells into the filter basket.

== 8 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 12:11 pm
From: "Woody"

On a different tack: Is it worthwhile to invest in a coffeemaker, or do you
get the same bang for your buck from instant? (Experience tells me that
cheap and crappy coffeemaker coffee tastes no better than instant does.)

Woody

== 9 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 30 2009 12:37 pm
From: josejarvie@ssnet.net

On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 22:20:20 -0500, in misc.consumers.frugal-living "Woody" <email@munged.com> wrote:

>Let's say you absolutely have to have a mocha or latte. I know, that kind of
>thing is never a must, but let's say for argument's sake that it is. The
>default place to get one is Starbucks, but now McD's and Dunkin' Donuts are
>offering them, too. Are their cheaper versions worth the likely decline in
>quality?
>
>Woody
>

Starbucks coffee is nasty AND I can't afford latte's and the owner of Starbucks is a rabid Zionist so the
choice is clear to me.. I'm sitting in a Starbucks right now.. not drinking coffee just using the free
Internet..

== 10 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 1:11 pm
From: Dave Garland

Woody wrote:
> Is it worthwhile to invest in a coffeemaker, or do you
> get the same bang for your buck from instant? (Experience tells me that
> cheap and crappy coffeemaker coffee tastes no better than instant does.)

IME, a cheap and crappy drip coffeemaker will make fine coffee, if you
put good coffee into it (I use a Mr. Coffee I got at a garage sale).
And almost any (even bad) dripped coffee tastes better than instant,
although the very cheapest coffees aren't "good" by any stretch. But
your tastes may be different.

Dave

== 11 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 2:01 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Woody wrote:

> On a different tack: Is it worthwhile to invest in a coffeemaker,

I just drink tap water and beer now.

> or do you get the same bang for your buck from instant?

Nope, real coffee is nothing like instant.

> (Experience tells me that cheap and crappy coffeemaker coffee tastes no better than instant does.)

When I was still drinking coffee, I used one of those cheap espresso things
the italians make that goes on the normal stove. Left instant coffee for dead.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Krugman on the bailout: Obama's going to screw us with yet more "Lemon
Socialism"
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/728c6a85628f9e21?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 6:28 am
From: "david7gable@aol.com"

Just in case you thought Obama the Republican-appeasing centrist was
going to bring in new ideas, here's Paul Krugman's new column on the
bailout.

"Question: what happens if you lose vast amounts of other people's
money? Answer: you get a big gift from the federal government — but
the president says some very harsh things about you before forking
over the cash."

"[Obama's plans] are shaping up as a classic exercise in 'lemon
socialism': taxpayers bear the cost if things go wrong, but
stockholders and executives get the benefits if things go right."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/02/opinion/02krugman.html?_r=1

-david gable

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 8:18 am
From: George

david7gable@aol.com wrote:
> Just in case you thought Obama the Republican-appeasing centrist was
> going to bring in new ideas, here's Paul Krugman's new column on the
> bailout.
>
> "Question: what happens if you lose vast amounts of other people's
> money? Answer: you get a big gift from the federal government — but
> the president says some very harsh things about you before forking
> over the cash."
>
> "[Obama's plans] are shaping up as a classic exercise in 'lemon
> socialism': taxpayers bear the cost if things go wrong, but
> stockholders and executives get the benefits if things go right."
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/02/opinion/02krugman.html?_r=1
>
> -david gable

Not sure why anyone was expecting any different. The red and blue teams
have done their best to transfer wealth to a select few by carefully
preserving and fostering the capitalist profit/socialist loss system.
The only change that happened in the last month is that there are
different names on the doors in Washington.

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 8:43 am
From: George

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Bailed-out banks sought to hire 21,800 foreign workers in past 6 years.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/758819ccc404b655?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 6:35 am
From: mg

On Feb 1, 6:19 am, GLOBALIST <free.tun...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 1, 5:27 am, wis...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:53:17 -0500, Harry Hope <riv...@ix.netcom.com>
> > wrote:
>
> > >During the last three months of 2008, the largest banks that received
> > >taxpayer loans announced more than 100,000 layoffs.
>
> > >.......................................................................................................................
>
> > >Foreigners are attractive hires because companies have found ways to
> > >pay them less than American workers.
>
> > >From The Associated Press, 2/1/09:
> > >http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-bailout-foreign-work...
>
> > >AP Investigation: Bailed-out banks sought to hire 21,800 foreign
> > >workers in past 6 years
>
> > >By FRANK BASS and RITA BEAMISH | Associated Press Writers
>
> > >SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) —
>
> > >Banks collecting billions of dollars in federal bailout money sought
> > >government permission to bring thousands of foreign workers to the
> > >U.S. for high-paying jobs, according to an Associated Press review of
> > >visa applications.
>
> > >The dozen banks receiving the biggest rescue packages, totaling more
> > >than $150 billion, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign
> > >workers over the past six years for positions that included senior
> > >vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and
> > >human resources specialists.
>
> > >The average annual salary for those jobs was $90,721, nearly twice the
> > >median income for all American households.
>
> > >The figures are significant because they show that the bailed-out
> > >banks, being kept afloat with U.S. taxpayer money, actively sought to
> > >hire foreign workers instead of American workers.
>
> > >As the economic collapse worsened last year — with huge numbers of
> > >bank employees laid off — the numbers of visas sought by the dozen
> > >banks in AP's analysis increased by nearly one-third, from 3,258 in
> > >fiscal 2007 to 4,163 in fiscal 2008.
>
> > >The AP reviewed visa applications the banks filed with the Labor
> > >Department under the H-1B visa program, which allows temporary
> > >employment of foreign workers in specialized-skill and advanced-degree
> > >positions.
>
> > >_____________________________________________________
>
> > >Harry
>
> > Business scumbags care not for Americas future, only quick profits
> > count. Vote-grubbing political hacks only seek reelection. America
> > needs a total strip-down and rebuild.
>
> > ted
>
> >http://www.wvwnews.net/ Western Voices World News
>
> >http://www.vdare.com/ V-Dare- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I read the article. It's pretty funky journalism. All accusations
> with no credible numbers or data to back it up. I.T. depts all over
> America have been hiring foreign computer folks for years, out of
> necessity. I love how that buzz word "foreign" should make us all
> react as BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD.

When you do a Google search on the news, you get 636 news articles and
they reference research by AP. So, this information looks pretty
reliable to me. Here's an example of another news source:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/bal-bailout0201,0,4893584.story

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 6:38 am
From: mg

On Feb 1, 4:27 am, wis...@yahoo.com wrote:
> On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:53:17 -0500, Harry Hope <riv...@ix.netcom.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >During the last three months of 2008, the largest banks that received
> >taxpayer loans announced more than 100,000 layoffs.
>
> >.......................................................................................................................
>
> >Foreigners are attractive hires because companies have found ways to
> >pay them less than American workers.
>
> >From The Associated Press, 2/1/09:
> >http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-bailout-foreign-work...
>
> >AP Investigation: Bailed-out banks sought to hire 21,800 foreign
> >workers in past 6 years
>
> >By FRANK BASS and RITA BEAMISH | Associated Press Writers
>
> >SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) —
>
> >Banks collecting billions of dollars in federal bailout money sought
> >government permission to bring thousands of foreign workers to the
> >U.S. for high-paying jobs, according to an Associated Press review of
> >visa applications.
>
> >The dozen banks receiving the biggest rescue packages, totaling more
> >than $150 billion, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign
> >workers over the past six years for positions that included senior
> >vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and
> >human resources specialists.
>
> >The average annual salary for those jobs was $90,721, nearly twice the
> >median income for all American households.
>
> >The figures are significant because they show that the bailed-out
> >banks, being kept afloat with U.S. taxpayer money, actively sought to
> >hire foreign workers instead of American workers.
>
> >As the economic collapse worsened last year — with huge numbers of
> >bank employees laid off — the numbers of visas sought by the dozen
> >banks in AP's analysis increased by nearly one-third, from 3,258 in
> >fiscal 2007 to 4,163 in fiscal 2008.
>
> >The AP reviewed visa applications the banks filed with the Labor
> >Department under the H-1B visa program, which allows temporary
> >employment of foreign workers in specialized-skill and advanced-degree
> >positions.
>
> >_____________________________________________________
>
> >Harry
>
> Business scumbags care not for Americas future, only quick profits
> count. Vote-grubbing political hacks only seek reelection. America
> needs a total strip-down and rebuild.
>
> ted
>
> http://www.wvwnews.net/ Western Voices World News
>
> http://www.vdare.com/ V-Dare

I have an idea. For every engineer, computer programmer, and banker
they import, let's also import one doctor and see what we can do about
these medical costs.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Good place to buy wool diaper covers?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/212b318d6a5da024?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 6:47 am
From: OhioGuy

My wife told me to bid on Ebay for wool diaper covers for our baby
that will be arriving in about a month.

I checked on Ebay, and only seem to find them sold as singles, and
they seem to be running $15 or more.

Can anyone suggest a place where you can buy several, and they are
not treated as "specialty items" - with the associated high price?

I thought we would be able to find them in a multi pack for about $8
or $9 each, but so far I haven't found any luck.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: ~ Baby Spice Naked Photo Shoot
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/4e22c7c3da17b0dc?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 7:23 am
From: systemofadownsyndrom2@gmail.com

Nice http://imival.blogspot.com/ - Baby spice nude photos as well as
Britney and brooke hogan. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and
go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Boost Mobile: May have to try it
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/349d16161b538880?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 7:44 am
From: Zuke

On Sun, 1 Feb 2009, clams_casino wrote:

> clams_casino wrote:
>
>> clams_casino wrote:
>>
>>> Mark Anderson wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:59:14 -0800, SMS wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> The best deal in prepaid, by far, is PagePlus which uses the Verizon
>>>>> network. As little as $10 every four months (a bit less since the
>>>>> refills are often discounted a few percent). As little as 5.3 cents per
>>>>> minute. But it's not just the low cost, it's that you get excellent
>>>>> coverage. With any prepaid provider on the iDEN or Sprint networks
>>>>> you'll get poor coverage outside of urban areas. Regular Sprint phones
>>>>> can roam onto other CDMA networks in areas with no Sprint coverage, but
>>>>> Virgin, which is on the Sprint network, can't roam. With Boost, there is
>>>>> nowhere to roam onto, as Nextel has about the only iDEN network in the
>>>>> U.S. (there are a couple of other very small iDEN networks, but none of
>>>>> any size).
>>>>>
>>>>> See "http://prepaiduswireless.com"
>>>>>
>>>>> The prepaid providers to avoid are:
>>>>>
>>>>> Boost
>>>>> Tracfone
>>>>> Virgin
>>>>> Net10
>>>>> Jitterbug
>>>>> InPulse (Verizon)
>>>>> GoPhone (AT&T)
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thank you so much for this info. I've been looking into prepaid phones
>>>> and they all seem like a ripoff (greater than 20 cents/minute plus setup
>>>> charges). This site laid everything out pretty clearly and I've decided
>>>> to try PagePlus.
>>>>
>>>> Now I just need to find a phone.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> SMS is quite down on Tracfone, but I recently picked up a Tracfone, camera
>>> phone (W376g) at Target for $30 that includes a double minute for life
>>> plan that normally costs $50 by itself and 20 minutes for setup. I could
>>> care less about the camera part, but really like the built-in speaker
>>> phone and fold-over nature of the phone (also has a bluetooth feature that
>>> we will probably never use). We were reluctant to give up our land line
>>> because we like to be on the phone at the same time with occasional calls
>>> to/from family members. As an added, unexpected bonus, they included a
>>> second year's usage for an additional $50 with the purchase of their
>>> one-year 400 minute plan (doubled to 800 minutes), plus another 300 bonus
>>> minutes. Bottom line was a two year plan with 1120 minutes and a
>>> decent folding phone (far superior to the ones offered at $10 & 20) for
>>> $195 up-front total cost, including taxes - no setup fees.
>>>
>>> Granted, that works out to 14.5cents / minute (total costs, except cost of
>>> phone), where I doubt we will use more than 1100 minutes over two years.
>>> It'll take me about six months to break even vs. our land-line costs, but
>>> will then enjoy no phone costs for the next 18 months while having the
>>> advantages of a cell phone. It's a second tracfone phone for us where
>>> we've been very pleased with its coverage / reception which we use very
>>> occasionally at about another $7/mo.
>>>
>>> Our land line was costing about $10/mo for basic connection plus $16 in
>>> taxes & fees and up to another $5/mo for long distance calls. Our total
>>> expected cost is now under $7/mo for each phone - two phones at less than
>>> the cost of taxes & fees alone on our land line.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> After double checking the Page Plus site, it appears they might be as much
>> as $25/year cheaper than Tracfone for my expected usage (about an
>> hour/mo), but they also charge about $25 more for phones (if desired,
>> Tracfone provides free, basic refurbished phones). Considering SMS is the
>> only person I'm aware of in favor of (don't actually know anyone using them
>> vs. a number of people I know pleased with Tracfone coverage), I'm not
>> willing to try them just to save potentially $1-2 / mo. From what I'm
>> seeing on their coverage map, some of than savings may also be lost in
>> (double) roaming charges. However, I can see where that $1-2/mo savings (or
>> somewhat more) may be worthy if one is interested a very limited usage
>> phone (the 83 minute/4 month $10 plan at 12 cents/min appears to be a good
>> deal for 20 min/mo usage) - after buying a phone & provided coverage is
>> adequate. A lot of that savings, however, could be eaten up, depending on
>> the cost of the phone.
>
>
> I also just noticed a $10 activation fee (no charge via tracfone), plus in
> inability to transfer / port a current phone number (no fee via Tracfone).
>
> Bottom line - It's quite difficult to compare plans, as their costs of
> features vary significantly.

I too was curious about why Tracfone would be listed as a bad
deal. I've had mine for about three years and have had no
problems. Of course I don't do a lot of travelling outside
of the major cities but I have never heard of coverage problems
with Tracfone.

In addition, I have had really good luck with their customer service.
And having had a phone go dead I was able to buy a new one at Meijer
and transfer without any problem.

Admittedly I am paying a bit higher for minutes but since I don't
burn up the phone lines it's not that big an issue for me.

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TOPIC: the electronic cigarette: a good buy?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/424be27492308245?hl=en
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== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 12:16 pm
From: "Woody"

This is obviously addressed to smokers. Anti-smoking Nazis wishing to preach
on the evils of smoking are free to reply in another thread, preferably with
the header "I'm an anti-smoking Nazi."

I'm wondering if electronic cigarettes are a good buy. Up here cigarettes
are quite expensive, plus you can't smoke indoors almost anywhere. If you
use an electronic cigarette, has there been a problem with you smoking it
on, for example, a long bus ride?

Woody

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 1:30 pm
From: albundy2@mailinator.com

On Feb 2, 3:16 pm, "Woody" <em...@munged.com> wrote:
> This is obviously addressed to smokers. Anti-smoking Nazis wishing to preach
> on the evils of smoking are free to reply in another thread, preferably with
> the header "I'm an anti-smoking Nazi."
>
> I'm wondering if electronic cigarettes are a good buy. Up here cigarettes
> are quite expensive, plus you can't smoke indoors almost anywhere. If you
> use an electronic cigarette, has there been a problem with you smoking it
> on, for example, a long bus ride?
>
> Woody

It seems like a good idea for everyone, no second hand smoke and
convenient for the smoker.
This is a new concept in smoking. It looks just like a cigarette. I
wonder if some facilities would prevent using it out of ignorance of
the fact that there is no smoke. Also, would there be liability on the
e-smoker's behalf if an observer gave himself a hernia laughing when
they discovered an adult using such a product. Will school children be
allowed to use e-cigarettes?

I look forward to some genuine responses to these issues.

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TOPIC: Any one here going out of your way for free coffee?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/f9fa62160d926d42?hl=en
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== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 1:14 pm
From: James

McD's giving out free coffee every morning in February. I'm passing
because I would only save pennies after cost of gas to get to McD's.

BTW how much is a happy meal? They got a special 2 days a week for
$1.39. Don't have kids so don't know the regular price.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Feb 2 2009 1:48 pm
From: "Woody"

"James" <j0069bond@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e8ccbdff-57d3-470d-be14-2706403c908e@y23g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
> McD's giving out free coffee every morning in February. I'm passing
> because I would only save pennies after cost of gas to get to McD's.
>
> BTW how much is a happy meal? They got a special 2 days a week for
> $1.39. Don't have kids so don't know the regular price.

Do you have to be a child to buy a happy meal, or can an adult buy one for
himself?

Woody

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