misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en
misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com
Today's topics:
* Are there still squatters in the UK? Was: Re: anyone from UK????? - 1
messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/1b64171cf8cc7700?hl=en
* OT: My personal test of 20 free offline Android gps map routing applications
- 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/245df0dfbccb1f4c?hl=en
* Interview with Amy Dacyczyn's daughters! - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6e42eaf43f260057?hl=en
* Credit card security - 5 messages, 5 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/37c8e84f3cd045aa?hl=en
* Inexpensive commuter car - 11 messages, 6 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ea340ea468b880bd?hl=en
* Fake microsoft "your computer is infected" call - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fc91538c09253cb0?hl=en
* Expensive new glasses! - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c47878997e4a5f21?hl=en
* Montreal Wedding Dresses - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/bacbe7b3c15162ba?hl=en
* alternative to Google Voice to use with Obihai voip? - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8927d6ec9e4423a8?hl=en
* Google Worsening Google Voice on May 15, 2014. Dropping XMPP support. No
more free "landline" service. - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/dd2212bdda4c6b03?hl=en
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Are there still squatters in the UK? Was: Re: anyone from UK?????
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/1b64171cf8cc7700?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 8 2014 8:52 pm
From: nessshares
On Tuesday, 18 May 1999 08:00:00 UTC+1, andrea lea baker wrote:
> Hi!
>
> I'm not originally from the UK but I did live there for about 3 years.
> Are there still squatters, particularly in London? That always seemed
> like the ultimate in frugal living;-)
>
> Andrea Baker
http://bambuser.com/v/4101256
This was the High Court Eviction of the Bohemia in November last year (2013) It was occupied by a group. They didn't get IPOes but the owner still hired out private bailifs and dogs etc to get them out. It's an interesting building, go past it if you get a chance, its on Finchley High Road.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: OT: My personal test of 20 free offline Android gps map routing
applications
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/245df0dfbccb1f4c?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 8 2014 9:53 pm
From: krw@attt.bizz
On Wed, 08 Jan 2014 12:28:19 -0800, The Real Bev
<bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 01/07/2014 12:34 PM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 06 Jan 2014 22:28:29 -0800, The Real Bev
>> <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On 12/27/2013 09:42 AM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
>>>> <dannyd@is.invalid> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>About the only software I need to pay for to get good quality is
>>>>>Adobe Acrobat & TurboTax & kid's PC games.
>>>>
>>>> Better Acrobat than Acrobat can be had, free. TurboTax, obviously. I
>>>> don't have kids anymore and I don't play games.
>>>
>>>Curiously enough, HRBlock sent me a FREE one this year to encourage me
>>>to come back after using TT last year. TT never did anything like that
>>>-- they say they give you this monumental deal as a valued returning
>>>customer, but you can ALWAYS get it cheaper at
>>>Costco/Sam's/Staples/Office Depot etc. Cheesy.
>>>
>>>It's nice that both programs will suck in last year's return from either
>>>program.
>>
>> That's nice to know, thanks. My taxes this year and next are going to
>> be a RPITA (last year was no picnic) so I may have it done - haven't
>> decided.
>
>One year I persuaded my mom to use TT instead of her expensive
>accountant, to whom she always gave meticulous records. The only
>difference was where they placed some trivial amount of foreign
>investment income, but it made no difference in the totals. Her vision
>was getting worse so that was the only year she used TT, but she would
>have if I'd forced it on her earlier. OTOH, I couldn't have done it
>before we forced the computer on her...
I'm renting a house this year. Do I depreciate it and then back it
out next year as income? Might be worthwhile. Since this is the only
year (well, three months next year) that I'll have this issue, I'm not
sure there is anything to gain. I don't know how to start doing it,
either.
>Estate tax was completely different, of course. I don't think there's
>any way that ordinary humans can even understand the forms, much less
>complete them.
Silly.
>Look at the website(s) and see which version(s) provide the forms you
>need. The TT user interface seems a bit less clunky than H&RB (TaxAct?
> TaxCut? They seem to change the name from year to year.) but that
>seems to change for both programs.
The problem is knowing what forms I need. TT was pretty good at
telling me how to do some business deductions, while making sure that
they weren't giving me tax "advice". It was interesting how they
danced around that line.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Interview with Amy Dacyczyn's daughters!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6e42eaf43f260057?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sun, Jan 12 2014 1:42 pm
From: lenona321@yahoo.com
For any newcomers, Amy Dacyczyn is the author of "The Complete Tightwad Gazette," which used to be a newsletter in the 1990s.
The interviews are from last May.
Apparently, the three sons just didn't want to talk....but the daughters' interviews are pretty good. The three now range from age 22 to 28. Jamie is the oldest.
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-jamie-part-1.html
(Jamie, part 1)
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-jamie-part-2.html
(Jamie, part 2)
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-rebecca.html
(Rebecca)
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-laura.html
(Laura)
Great quote from Laura:
"My advice to parents is that children depend less on money for happiness than adults do. It doesn't matter if the toy costs fifty cents or fifty dollars, they are just going to play with the box it came in anyways. My fondest memories of childhood are not of the toys or clothes I owned, instead they are of the family I spent my time with and the general wonder of being a child. On the flip side, the most negative memories I have of childhood are in no way connected to money."
Lenona.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Credit card security
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/37c8e84f3cd045aa?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 14 2014 8:43 am
From: KenK
I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
was some other alternative that was secure.
Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
recipts too.
When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
What best to do.
Comments?
TIA
--
"Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon
== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 14 2014 1:36 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 14, 2014 8:43:52 AM UTC-8, KenK wrote:
>
> When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
>
> and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
>
> charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
>
> record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
>
>
>
> What best to do.
>
>
If you are worried about CC theft, ala Target, not much to worry about, the bank already knows about it and you would have to just point out the bad charge.
If it is an individual thing, a little perseverance works good enough. Thing is with thieves, once is usually not enough, they tend to make a habit of their criminality, so once again you're not alone in your claim.
The biggest risk comes from dealing with small, new businesses. I recently dealt with the CC people over a shuttle driver that was using my card to buy male potency pills. After a few weeks, the CC people recognized that the shuttle driver had stolen several card numbers and was making the same purchases. So, the charges were reversed in short order- no harm, no foul.
The big advantage to using a credit card (besides the fraud protection built in) is that muggers now know most people don't carry cash. They instead focus their stealing to shoplifting or identity theft, which results in fewer deaths and injuries.
Life- you pays your money and you takes your chances.
== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 14 2014 5:20 pm
From: The Real Bev
On 01/14/2014 08:43 AM, KenK wrote:
> I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
> the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
> Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
> on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
> of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
> Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
> was some other alternative that was secure.
Use your credit cards. Watch your statements. If you see something you
didn't do, notify the CC company immediately.
Target is giving everybody (or an least everybody they have email
addresses for, maybe real addresses too) a free year of Experian
monitoring, which is what AAA gave me when they were hacked last year.
No problem so far.
> Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
> repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
> Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
> conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
> with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
> recipts too.
You still get cancelled checks? I don't even get prints any more. Not
that I use that many checks, I use Bank of America's bill-paying
function. Banks have to be reliable or nobody would use them.
> When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
> and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
> charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
> record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
>
> What best to do.
Do what's convenient. If they want your money, they'll get it.
Fortunately the CC companies are good about fraudulent charges -- they
have to be or nobody would use their services.
I don't have any automatic payments -- I figure if something goes
belly-up with the payees it WILL be a bitch to straighten out.
A friend's trust account was wiped out and transferred to an account in
Panama or someplace by an employee of the trust company who forged the
friend's signature on an actual piece of paper. He got it all back, but
it was a nuisance too.
--
Cheers, Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Screw the end users. If they want good software,
let them write it themselves." -- Anon.
== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 15 2014 1:08 pm
From: "Annie Woughman"
"KenK" wrote in message news:XnsA2B562FEEF563invalidcom@130.133.4.11...
I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
was some other alternative that was secure.
Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
recipts too.
When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
What best to do.
Comments?
TIA
--
"Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon
Credit cards are by far the safest way to shop anywhere. Like Bev said, pay
attention to your statements every month and if there is anything on there
you didn't buy, call the CC company and report it and they will send you new
cards immediately. No hassle. It is so much easier to dispute charges made
on a credit card than on your debit card. The debit card sucks the money
out of your checking account immediately and you don't get that money back
until the situation is settled. Credit cards don't use a dime of your money
until you pay the bill. And checks--like you said, you hand them your name,
address, phone number, bank account number and routing number on the
spot--not a good idea.
Another up side to credit cards--get one that pays you for using it.
Bankamericards not only pay you money back, they give you a 10% bonus if you
have them deposit your rewards into one of their checking or saving
accounts.
== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 15 2014 1:55 pm
From: sms
On 1/14/2014 8:43 AM, KenK wrote:
> I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
> the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
> Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
> on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
> of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
> Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
> was some other alternative that was secure.
>
> Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
> repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
> Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
> conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
> with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
> recipts too.
>
> When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
> and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
> charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
> record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
>
> What best to do.
For non-recurring online purchases you can use a credit card provider
that provides virtual credit card numbers. BOA offers this service but
it isn't all that common, see
<https://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/accounts-cards/shopsafe.go>.
Paypal also shields a company from seeing your actual credit card
number. Actually there is a way to do recurring payments with a virtual
account.
I'd avoid checks at all costs. All of your checking account information
is on your check.
I'm a lot more inclined to pay cash at restaurants and for small
purchases than in the past. Several times I've had to replace a credit
card when it was compromised, and it is indeed a PITA.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Inexpensive commuter car
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ea340ea468b880bd?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 20 2014 12:56 pm
From: BrianRosenthal
Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
* 49/84 MPG
* Fully enclosed
* Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
* 5 star crash rating
All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
ElioMotors dot com.
== 2 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 20 2014 2:48 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Monday, January 20, 2014 12:56:23 PM UTC-8, BrianRosenthal wrote:
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
>
>
> * 49/84 MPG
>
> * Fully enclosed
>
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
>
> * 5 star crash rating
>
>
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
>
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
5 star? Show me.
84MPG? Show me.
I don't like motorcycles, three or two wheeled.
== 3 of 11 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 20 2014 2:57 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Monday, January 20, 2014 12:56:23 PM UTC-8, BrianRosenthal wrote:
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
>
>
> * 49/84 MPG
>
> * Fully enclosed
>
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
>
> * 5 star crash rating
>
>
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
>
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
Or you can get the electric version for $139/mo. and get 122/mpg equiv.
Four wheels AND air bags
== 4 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 8:24 am
From: brian@rosenthalmn.com
On Monday, January 20, 2014 4:57:57 PM UTC-6, wilm...@gmail.com wrote:
> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
>
> Or you can get the electric version for $139/mo. and get 122/mpg equiv.
>
> Four wheels AND air bags
Lease requires $999 down, only covers 10K miles per year, and the Smart car only gets 34/38 mpg.
The Elio will have air bags, too. If they actually get to building them.
== 5 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 8:44 am
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 8:24:57 AM UTC-8, br...@rosenthalmn.com wrote:
>
>
> Lease requires $999 down, only covers 10K miles per year, and the Smart car only gets 34/38 mpg.
It is a commuter car, not a road trip car. And the electric version gets 122MPG equiv.
>
>
>
> The Elio will have air bags, too. If they actually get to building them.
If!
They still would be considered a motorcycle. They would require a motorcycle license. Your insurance company may raise an eyebrow. And don't forget, you'll have to wear a helmet.
Why wait to drive a tin can, when you can get one now? With four wheels!
Besides, if you want to be frugal, buy two really cheap used cars- one to drive while the other is in the garage. Eight years ago I bought a Ford Aspire, I paid $2,100 and today KBB says it is worth $1,600. I put about $500 in tires and a starter. I drive less than 1,000 miles a year. Total cost has been about $1,000 divided by eight, and you can see I have been a frugal car owner.
== 6 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 8:52 am
From: brian@rosenthalmn.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 10:44:51 AM UTC-6, wilm...@gmail.com wrote:
> They still would be considered a motorcycle. They would require a motorcycle license. Your insurance company may raise an eyebrow. And don't forget, you'll have to wear a helmet.
Some states don't require a motorcycle endorsement for an enclosed three-wheeller (Elio is working on the rest). Motorcycle insurance is cheaper than car insurance. Most states waive the helmet law for enclosed vehicles.
> I drive less than 1,000 miles a year. Total cost has been about $1,000 divided by eight, and you can see I have been a frugal car owner.
Very! The best way to be frugal driving is to not drive...but I need to get to work.
== 7 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 12:10 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 8:52:31 AM UTC-8, br...@rosenthalmn.com wrote:
>
> Very! The best way to be frugal driving is to not drive...but I need to get to work.
Bicycle, public transportation, walk, move closer, or change jobs. I drove a taxi for many years, more than 50K miles a year. There are many ways to avoid driving, and I am trying to figure them all out.
Eliminating an automobile commute (see above) can save more than $10,000 a year just in car expenses, not even considering the health benefits. And that $10K is after taxes $10K which is like $15K salary.
== 8 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 5:33 pm
From: "terrable"
"BrianRosenthal" <brian@rosenthalmn.com> wrote in message
news:1b12877e-908b-4d00-a933-e3915a54838b@googlegroups.com...
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
> * 49/84 MPG
> * Fully enclosed
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
> * 5 star crash rating
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
Just a modern ripoff of the Messerschmitt KR200.
== 9 of 11 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 11:15 am
From: sms
On 1/20/2014 2:57 PM, wilma6116@gmail.com wrote:
<anip>
> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
It should be called the "Dumb Car" since you have to be really dumb to
buy one.
== 10 of 11 ==
Date: Sat, Jan 25 2014 4:56 pm
From: Ivan The Not-So-Bad <1suf41n@yahoo.com>
On 2014-01-22, sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
> On 1/20/2014 2:57 PM, wilma6116@gmail.com wrote:
>
><anip>
>
>> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
>
> It should be called the "Dumb Car" since you have to be really dumb to
> buy one.
>
Were you going to follow up with some reasons or...?
== 11 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 28 2014 6:35 pm
From: Sofa Slug
On 1/25/2014 4:56 PM, Ivan The Not-So-Bad wrote:
> On 2014-01-22, sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>> On 1/20/2014 2:57 PM, wilma6116@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> <anip>
>>
>>> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
>>
>> It should be called the "Dumb Car" since you have to be really dumb to
>> buy one.
>>
>
> Were you going to follow up with some reasons or...?
>
How about...
- Slow; scary to drive on the freeway, especially in windy conditions
- Very limited carrying capacity
- Crappy transmission is notorious for failures
The 2014 Ford Fiesta is close in price & fuel economy but is a much
better vehicle. For a bit more $, the Honda CR-Z is even better, and
gets about the same mileage as a Smart. You also don't look like a dork
driving it :)
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Fake microsoft "your computer is infected" call
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fc91538c09253cb0?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 5:45 am
From: Shoe-Chucker 2
In article <l60emd$j8u$1@dont-email.me>,
Moe DeLoughan <moe@notmine.null> wrote:
> On 11/13/2013 10:35 AM, Bob F wrote:
> > I just got my second one of these calls.
> >
> > Hi: I'm from microsoft support calling to warn you that your computer has
> > many
> > infections...... and I am calling to help you get rid of them"
> >
>
> > I wonder how many people get scammed by this? Must be a lot to have a room
> > full
> > of people doing this.
>
> One of my sisters was taken in by this, because she was desperate for
> help regaining access to her third Gmail account (she keeps losing her
> password and totally losing access, thus requiring her to create a new
> account). He strung her along using the standard ploy and she bought
> into it completely - well, until he told her he needed $300 to clean
> her pc and regain her password. She's broke and unemployed. She told
> him she didn't have that much in her savings account. He obligingly
> lowered the fee to just below what she told him was left in her
> savings account. She belatedly acquired some common sense, declined,
> and hung up.
>
> He called back. This time the fee was a mere ninety-nine cents. She
> refused and hung up again.
>
> He kept calling the rest of the afternoon.
>
> >
> > If you get such a call, have a little fun too. Let's really waste their
> > time.
> > Anyone think my action will get me off their call list?
>
> No, because they haven't got a call list. They have sequential
> diallers that phone numbers in sequence.
>
> If you annoy them, they're ready and willing to annoy you right back.
> Personally, I see nothing to be gained by interacting with criminals.
> Safer and faster to just hang up.
Once , I got such a call. They asked for me and I said Oh, I'll go get
him. then I left the phone off the hook for 1/3 hour. I wonder how long
they waited for me to come back. Hey, I'll never know.
Another thing i'll never know.
Oh, well.
Now, I let the machine field all incoming calls. My friends don't call
the land line.
--
Karma ; what a concept!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Expensive new glasses!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c47878997e4a5f21?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 5:51 am
From: Shoe-Chucker 2
In article <b6383d65-e19a-4955-b40d-6e3e79d1343e@googlegroups.com>,
21blackswan@gmail.com wrote:
> i got a little carried away and
> bought about 6 pairs of glasses,
> for under $100, from
>
> ZenniOptical.com
>
> can't be beat
>
> marc
Some can actually improve their vision and not need glasses at all.
Hey, I've done it.
Google; Vision Improvement.
--
Karma ; what a concept!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Montreal Wedding Dresses
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/bacbe7b3c15162ba?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 24 2014 10:12 pm
From: Montreal wedding
Montreal weddings celebrations can be done without the help of a wedding planner. Partly true but there are actually a number of benefits that couples get when having a professional wedding planner plan out everything for their wedding compared to planning everything for themselves.
See more at: http://www.marketplaceweddings.com/Montreal
==============================================================================
TOPIC: alternative to Google Voice to use with Obihai voip?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8927d6ec9e4423a8?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 29 2014 11:35 pm
From: SMS
On 1/6/2014 10:08 PM, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 12/28/2013 09:45 PM, Ohioguy wrote:
>
>> I have a ~30 Obihai VOIP box that I use with Google voice to get free
>> phone service. I hooked up a cordless phone, and can't tell the
>> difference between this and a landline.
>>
>> Trouble is, I've read that as of about 130 days from now, Google
>> Voice will no longer work with these little boxes, so I'm looking for an
>> alternative.
>>
>> Everything else I've seen charges a cent per minute or more. That
>> doesn't sound like much, but it is a lot more than free. I was hoping
>> to find something that charged about a tenth of a cent per minute.
>>
>> Anyone else on here use Google Voice with a voip box like the Obihai?
>> Have you found any cheap alternatives to Google Voice?
>
> Ooma uses its own VOIP system. The device is $100-$140 and service is
> $5-$15 month.
You can get outgoing service for 0.5¢/minute with Localphone. It's the
most like Google Voice. No E911 service.
This whole situation is being discussed on the Obihai forums
<http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=6968.0>, you must log in
to see them.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Google Worsening Google Voice on May 15, 2014. Dropping XMPP support.
No more free "landline" service.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/dd2212bdda4c6b03?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Jan 30 2014 5:56 am
From: SMS
Google is dropping support for Extensible Messaging and Presence
Protocol (XMPP) in Google Voice on May 15, 2014.
If you are using Google Voice with an ATA (analog telephone adapter),
such as one of the Obihai or Grandstream VOIP devices (or a hacked
MagicJack Plus), this combination will no longer work after May 15,
2014. Google Voice is very popular with these devices since together
they enable local phone service completely free of any monthly charges
(but no E911).
The reason for this change is probably because users of these devices
are not seeing any advertising when using Google Voice.
There are no no-cost alternatives, though Localphone and Callcentric are
pretty low cost alternatives, especially if you're not making thousands
of minutes of local calls per month. Ooma is a good alternative as well,
but it costs a bit more and you must use their VOIP adapter.
<http://blog.obihai.com/2013/10/important-message-about-google-voice.html>
==============================================================================
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Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/?hl=en
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 8 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:
* Micorwave went south and now we need - 4 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6a1f96c5bc329e10?hl=en
* OT: My personal test of 20 free offline Android gps map routing applications
- 4 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/245df0dfbccb1f4c?hl=en
* Are there still squatters in the UK? Was: Re: anyone from UK????? - 1
messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/1b64171cf8cc7700?hl=en
* Interview with Amy Dacyczyn's daughters! - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6e42eaf43f260057?hl=en
* Credit card security - 5 messages, 5 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/37c8e84f3cd045aa?hl=en
* Inexpensive commuter car - 8 messages, 3 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ea340ea468b880bd?hl=en
* Fake microsoft "your computer is infected" call - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fc91538c09253cb0?hl=en
* Expensive new glasses! - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c47878997e4a5f21?hl=en
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Micorwave went south and now we need
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6a1f96c5bc329e10?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 6 2014 10:22 pm
From: The Real Bev
On 12/28/2013 03:53 PM, BigDog811 wrote:
> Oh, by the way. If your coffee is lukewarm by the second cup, you
> need a new coffeemaker too. The heating element under the carafe is
> burned out.
I turn mine off as soon as it's finished working and just heat up a cup
when I want one. A 12-cup pot lasts perhaps 1.5 days. A friend stopped
leaving her coffeemaker on all the time and saved 50% on her electric bill.
--
Cheers, Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The early bird gets the worm, the second mouse gets the cheese.
== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 7 2014 11:26 am
From: BigDog811
On Monday, January 6, 2014 11:22:12 PM UTC-7, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 12/28/2013 03:53 PM, BigDog811 wrote:
>
>
>
> > Oh, by the way. If your coffee is lukewarm by the second cup, you
>
> > need a new coffeemaker too. The heating element under the carafe is
>
> > burned out.
>
>
>
> I turn mine off as soon as it's finished working and just heat up a cup
>
> when I want one. A 12-cup pot lasts perhaps 1.5 days. A friend stopped
>
> leaving her coffeemaker on all the time and saved 50% on her electric bill.
>
>
>
> --
>
> Cheers, Bev
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> The early bird gets the worm, the second mouse gets the cheese.
Oh my! I never reheat coffee by any method. My brewer is set turn off after 1 hour. I brew a half pot every morning from freshly ground premium beans from a local small batch roaster. What's not drunk within that hour gets poured down the drain. If I want another cup later in the day I do a pour over from a smaller batch of freshly ground beans.
Yeah...I'm a proud coffee snob.
== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 7 2014 11:34 am
From: The Real Bev
On 01/07/2014 11:26 AM, BigDog811 wrote:
> Oh my! I never reheat coffee by any method. My brewer is set turn
> off after 1 hour. I brew a half pot every morning from freshly
> ground premium beans from a local small batch roaster. What's not
> drunk within that hour gets poured down the drain. If I want another
> cup later in the day I do a pour over from a smaller batch of freshly
> ground beans.
>
> Yeah...I'm a proud coffee snob.
I'm not. I once drank half a cup of hot water in a brown cup and
thought in the back of my mind "This is AWFULLY weak, I wonder who made
it..."
--
Cheers, Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My life outside of USENET is so full of love and kindness that I have
to come here to find the venom and bile that I crave." --R. Damiani
== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 8 2014 9:58 am
From: BigDog811
On Tuesday, January 7, 2014 12:34:56 PM UTC-7, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 01/07/2014 11:26 AM, BigDog811 wrote:
>
>
>
> > Oh my! I never reheat coffee by any method. My brewer is set turn
>
> > off after 1 hour. I brew a half pot every morning from freshly
>
> > ground premium beans from a local small batch roaster. What's not
>
> > drunk within that hour gets poured down the drain. If I want another
>
> > cup later in the day I do a pour over from a smaller batch of freshly
>
> > ground beans.
>
> >
>
> > Yeah...I'm a proud coffee snob.
>
>
>
> I'm not. I once drank half a cup of hot water in a brown cup and
>
> thought in the back of my mind "This is AWFULLY weak, I wonder who made
>
> it..."
>
>
>
> --
>
> Cheers, Bev
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> "My life outside of USENET is so full of love and kindness that I have
>
> to come here to find the venom and bile that I crave." --R. Damiani
You made me smile, Bev. Reminds me of my father. He was the most non-discriminating coffee drinker I ever knew. When I was growing up we made coffee at home in one of those old fashioned stove top percolators. Left to his own devices he'd burn it every time. Then thought it was perfectly acceptable to cut it with hot tap water. I took over coffee brewing duties at home in my mid-teens.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: OT: My personal test of 20 free offline Android gps map routing
applications
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/245df0dfbccb1f4c?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 6 2014 10:28 pm
From: The Real Bev
On 12/27/2013 09:42 AM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
> <dannyd@is.invalid> wrote:
>
>>About the only software I need to pay for to get good quality is
>>Adobe Acrobat & TurboTax & kid's PC games.
>
> Better Acrobat than Acrobat can be had, free. TurboTax, obviously. I
> don't have kids anymore and I don't play games.
Curiously enough, HRBlock sent me a FREE one this year to encourage me
to come back after using TT last year. TT never did anything like that
-- they say they give you this monumental deal as a valued returning
customer, but you can ALWAYS get it cheaper at
Costco/Sam's/Staples/Office Depot etc. Cheesy.
It's nice that both programs will suck in last year's return from either
program.
--
Cheers, Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The early bird gets the worm, the second mouse gets the cheese.
== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 7 2014 12:34 pm
From: krw@attt.bizz
On Mon, 06 Jan 2014 22:28:29 -0800, The Real Bev
<bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 12/27/2013 09:42 AM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
>> <dannyd@is.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>>About the only software I need to pay for to get good quality is
>>>Adobe Acrobat & TurboTax & kid's PC games.
>>
>> Better Acrobat than Acrobat can be had, free. TurboTax, obviously. I
>> don't have kids anymore and I don't play games.
>
>Curiously enough, HRBlock sent me a FREE one this year to encourage me
>to come back after using TT last year. TT never did anything like that
>-- they say they give you this monumental deal as a valued returning
>customer, but you can ALWAYS get it cheaper at
>Costco/Sam's/Staples/Office Depot etc. Cheesy.
>
>It's nice that both programs will suck in last year's return from either
>program.
That's nice to know, thanks. My taxes this year and next are going to
be a RPITA (last year was no picnic) so I may have it done - haven't
decided.
== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 8 2014 12:28 pm
From: The Real Bev
On 01/07/2014 12:34 PM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
> On Mon, 06 Jan 2014 22:28:29 -0800, The Real Bev
> <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On 12/27/2013 09:42 AM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
>>> <dannyd@is.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>>>>About the only software I need to pay for to get good quality is
>>>>Adobe Acrobat & TurboTax & kid's PC games.
>>>
>>> Better Acrobat than Acrobat can be had, free. TurboTax, obviously. I
>>> don't have kids anymore and I don't play games.
>>
>>Curiously enough, HRBlock sent me a FREE one this year to encourage me
>>to come back after using TT last year. TT never did anything like that
>>-- they say they give you this monumental deal as a valued returning
>>customer, but you can ALWAYS get it cheaper at
>>Costco/Sam's/Staples/Office Depot etc. Cheesy.
>>
>>It's nice that both programs will suck in last year's return from either
>>program.
>
> That's nice to know, thanks. My taxes this year and next are going to
> be a RPITA (last year was no picnic) so I may have it done - haven't
> decided.
One year I persuaded my mom to use TT instead of her expensive
accountant, to whom she always gave meticulous records. The only
difference was where they placed some trivial amount of foreign
investment income, but it made no difference in the totals. Her vision
was getting worse so that was the only year she used TT, but she would
have if I'd forced it on her earlier. OTOH, I couldn't have done it
before we forced the computer on her...
Estate tax was completely different, of course. I don't think there's
any way that ordinary humans can even understand the forms, much less
complete them.
Look at the website(s) and see which version(s) provide the forms you
need. The TT user interface seems a bit less clunky than H&RB (TaxAct?
TaxCut? They seem to change the name from year to year.) but that
seems to change for both programs.
--
Cheers, Bev
================================================================
"Is there any way I can help without actually getting involved?"
-- Jennifer, WKRP
== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 8 2014 9:53 pm
From: krw@attt.bizz
On Wed, 08 Jan 2014 12:28:19 -0800, The Real Bev
<bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 01/07/2014 12:34 PM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 06 Jan 2014 22:28:29 -0800, The Real Bev
>> <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On 12/27/2013 09:42 AM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
>>>> <dannyd@is.invalid> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>About the only software I need to pay for to get good quality is
>>>>>Adobe Acrobat & TurboTax & kid's PC games.
>>>>
>>>> Better Acrobat than Acrobat can be had, free. TurboTax, obviously. I
>>>> don't have kids anymore and I don't play games.
>>>
>>>Curiously enough, HRBlock sent me a FREE one this year to encourage me
>>>to come back after using TT last year. TT never did anything like that
>>>-- they say they give you this monumental deal as a valued returning
>>>customer, but you can ALWAYS get it cheaper at
>>>Costco/Sam's/Staples/Office Depot etc. Cheesy.
>>>
>>>It's nice that both programs will suck in last year's return from either
>>>program.
>>
>> That's nice to know, thanks. My taxes this year and next are going to
>> be a RPITA (last year was no picnic) so I may have it done - haven't
>> decided.
>
>One year I persuaded my mom to use TT instead of her expensive
>accountant, to whom she always gave meticulous records. The only
>difference was where they placed some trivial amount of foreign
>investment income, but it made no difference in the totals. Her vision
>was getting worse so that was the only year she used TT, but she would
>have if I'd forced it on her earlier. OTOH, I couldn't have done it
>before we forced the computer on her...
I'm renting a house this year. Do I depreciate it and then back it
out next year as income? Might be worthwhile. Since this is the only
year (well, three months next year) that I'll have this issue, I'm not
sure there is anything to gain. I don't know how to start doing it,
either.
>Estate tax was completely different, of course. I don't think there's
>any way that ordinary humans can even understand the forms, much less
>complete them.
Silly.
>Look at the website(s) and see which version(s) provide the forms you
>need. The TT user interface seems a bit less clunky than H&RB (TaxAct?
> TaxCut? They seem to change the name from year to year.) but that
>seems to change for both programs.
The problem is knowing what forms I need. TT was pretty good at
telling me how to do some business deductions, while making sure that
they weren't giving me tax "advice". It was interesting how they
danced around that line.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Are there still squatters in the UK? Was: Re: anyone from UK?????
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/1b64171cf8cc7700?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 8 2014 8:52 pm
From: nessshares
On Tuesday, 18 May 1999 08:00:00 UTC+1, andrea lea baker wrote:
> Hi!
>
> I'm not originally from the UK but I did live there for about 3 years.
> Are there still squatters, particularly in London? That always seemed
> like the ultimate in frugal living;-)
>
> Andrea Baker
http://bambuser.com/v/4101256
This was the High Court Eviction of the Bohemia in November last year (2013) It was occupied by a group. They didn't get IPOes but the owner still hired out private bailifs and dogs etc to get them out. It's an interesting building, go past it if you get a chance, its on Finchley High Road.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Interview with Amy Dacyczyn's daughters!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6e42eaf43f260057?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sun, Jan 12 2014 1:42 pm
From: lenona321@yahoo.com
For any newcomers, Amy Dacyczyn is the author of "The Complete Tightwad Gazette," which used to be a newsletter in the 1990s.
The interviews are from last May.
Apparently, the three sons just didn't want to talk....but the daughters' interviews are pretty good. The three now range from age 22 to 28. Jamie is the oldest.
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-jamie-part-1.html
(Jamie, part 1)
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-jamie-part-2.html
(Jamie, part 2)
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-rebecca.html
(Rebecca)
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-laura.html
(Laura)
Great quote from Laura:
"My advice to parents is that children depend less on money for happiness than adults do. It doesn't matter if the toy costs fifty cents or fifty dollars, they are just going to play with the box it came in anyways. My fondest memories of childhood are not of the toys or clothes I owned, instead they are of the family I spent my time with and the general wonder of being a child. On the flip side, the most negative memories I have of childhood are in no way connected to money."
Lenona.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Credit card security
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/37c8e84f3cd045aa?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 14 2014 8:43 am
From: KenK
I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
was some other alternative that was secure.
Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
recipts too.
When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
What best to do.
Comments?
TIA
--
"Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon
== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 14 2014 1:36 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 14, 2014 8:43:52 AM UTC-8, KenK wrote:
>
> When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
>
> and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
>
> charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
>
> record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
>
>
>
> What best to do.
>
>
If you are worried about CC theft, ala Target, not much to worry about, the bank already knows about it and you would have to just point out the bad charge.
If it is an individual thing, a little perseverance works good enough. Thing is with thieves, once is usually not enough, they tend to make a habit of their criminality, so once again you're not alone in your claim.
The biggest risk comes from dealing with small, new businesses. I recently dealt with the CC people over a shuttle driver that was using my card to buy male potency pills. After a few weeks, the CC people recognized that the shuttle driver had stolen several card numbers and was making the same purchases. So, the charges were reversed in short order- no harm, no foul.
The big advantage to using a credit card (besides the fraud protection built in) is that muggers now know most people don't carry cash. They instead focus their stealing to shoplifting or identity theft, which results in fewer deaths and injuries.
Life- you pays your money and you takes your chances.
== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 14 2014 5:20 pm
From: The Real Bev
On 01/14/2014 08:43 AM, KenK wrote:
> I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
> the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
> Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
> on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
> of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
> Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
> was some other alternative that was secure.
Use your credit cards. Watch your statements. If you see something you
didn't do, notify the CC company immediately.
Target is giving everybody (or an least everybody they have email
addresses for, maybe real addresses too) a free year of Experian
monitoring, which is what AAA gave me when they were hacked last year.
No problem so far.
> Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
> repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
> Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
> conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
> with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
> recipts too.
You still get cancelled checks? I don't even get prints any more. Not
that I use that many checks, I use Bank of America's bill-paying
function. Banks have to be reliable or nobody would use them.
> When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
> and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
> charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
> record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
>
> What best to do.
Do what's convenient. If they want your money, they'll get it.
Fortunately the CC companies are good about fraudulent charges -- they
have to be or nobody would use their services.
I don't have any automatic payments -- I figure if something goes
belly-up with the payees it WILL be a bitch to straighten out.
A friend's trust account was wiped out and transferred to an account in
Panama or someplace by an employee of the trust company who forged the
friend's signature on an actual piece of paper. He got it all back, but
it was a nuisance too.
--
Cheers, Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Screw the end users. If they want good software,
let them write it themselves." -- Anon.
== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 15 2014 1:08 pm
From: "Annie Woughman"
"KenK" wrote in message news:XnsA2B562FEEF563invalidcom@130.133.4.11...
I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
was some other alternative that was secure.
Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
recipts too.
When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
What best to do.
Comments?
TIA
--
"Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon
Credit cards are by far the safest way to shop anywhere. Like Bev said, pay
attention to your statements every month and if there is anything on there
you didn't buy, call the CC company and report it and they will send you new
cards immediately. No hassle. It is so much easier to dispute charges made
on a credit card than on your debit card. The debit card sucks the money
out of your checking account immediately and you don't get that money back
until the situation is settled. Credit cards don't use a dime of your money
until you pay the bill. And checks--like you said, you hand them your name,
address, phone number, bank account number and routing number on the
spot--not a good idea.
Another up side to credit cards--get one that pays you for using it.
Bankamericards not only pay you money back, they give you a 10% bonus if you
have them deposit your rewards into one of their checking or saving
accounts.
== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 15 2014 1:55 pm
From: sms
On 1/14/2014 8:43 AM, KenK wrote:
> I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
> the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
> Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
> on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
> of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
> Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
> was some other alternative that was secure.
>
> Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
> repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
> Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
> conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
> with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
> recipts too.
>
> When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
> and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
> charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
> record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
>
> What best to do.
For non-recurring online purchases you can use a credit card provider
that provides virtual credit card numbers. BOA offers this service but
it isn't all that common, see
<https://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/accounts-cards/shopsafe.go>.
Paypal also shields a company from seeing your actual credit card
number. Actually there is a way to do recurring payments with a virtual
account.
I'd avoid checks at all costs. All of your checking account information
is on your check.
I'm a lot more inclined to pay cash at restaurants and for small
purchases than in the past. Several times I've had to replace a credit
card when it was compromised, and it is indeed a PITA.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Inexpensive commuter car
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ea340ea468b880bd?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 8 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 20 2014 12:56 pm
From: BrianRosenthal
Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
* 49/84 MPG
* Fully enclosed
* Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
* 5 star crash rating
All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
ElioMotors dot com.
== 2 of 8 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 20 2014 2:48 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Monday, January 20, 2014 12:56:23 PM UTC-8, BrianRosenthal wrote:
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
>
>
> * 49/84 MPG
>
> * Fully enclosed
>
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
>
> * 5 star crash rating
>
>
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
>
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
5 star? Show me.
84MPG? Show me.
I don't like motorcycles, three or two wheeled.
== 3 of 8 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 20 2014 2:57 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Monday, January 20, 2014 12:56:23 PM UTC-8, BrianRosenthal wrote:
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
>
>
> * 49/84 MPG
>
> * Fully enclosed
>
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
>
> * 5 star crash rating
>
>
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
>
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
Or you can get the electric version for $139/mo. and get 122/mpg equiv.
Four wheels AND air bags
== 4 of 8 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 8:24 am
From: brian@rosenthalmn.com
On Monday, January 20, 2014 4:57:57 PM UTC-6, wilm...@gmail.com wrote:
> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
>
> Or you can get the electric version for $139/mo. and get 122/mpg equiv.
>
> Four wheels AND air bags
Lease requires $999 down, only covers 10K miles per year, and the Smart car only gets 34/38 mpg.
The Elio will have air bags, too. If they actually get to building them.
== 5 of 8 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 8:44 am
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 8:24:57 AM UTC-8, br...@rosenthalmn.com wrote:
>
>
> Lease requires $999 down, only covers 10K miles per year, and the Smart car only gets 34/38 mpg.
It is a commuter car, not a road trip car. And the electric version gets 122MPG equiv.
>
>
>
> The Elio will have air bags, too. If they actually get to building them.
If!
They still would be considered a motorcycle. They would require a motorcycle license. Your insurance company may raise an eyebrow. And don't forget, you'll have to wear a helmet.
Why wait to drive a tin can, when you can get one now? With four wheels!
Besides, if you want to be frugal, buy two really cheap used cars- one to drive while the other is in the garage. Eight years ago I bought a Ford Aspire, I paid $2,100 and today KBB says it is worth $1,600. I put about $500 in tires and a starter. I drive less than 1,000 miles a year. Total cost has been about $1,000 divided by eight, and you can see I have been a frugal car owner.
== 6 of 8 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 8:52 am
From: brian@rosenthalmn.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 10:44:51 AM UTC-6, wilm...@gmail.com wrote:
> They still would be considered a motorcycle. They would require a motorcycle license. Your insurance company may raise an eyebrow. And don't forget, you'll have to wear a helmet.
Some states don't require a motorcycle endorsement for an enclosed three-wheeller (Elio is working on the rest). Motorcycle insurance is cheaper than car insurance. Most states waive the helmet law for enclosed vehicles.
> I drive less than 1,000 miles a year. Total cost has been about $1,000 divided by eight, and you can see I have been a frugal car owner.
Very! The best way to be frugal driving is to not drive...but I need to get to work.
== 7 of 8 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 12:10 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 8:52:31 AM UTC-8, br...@rosenthalmn.com wrote:
>
> Very! The best way to be frugal driving is to not drive...but I need to get to work.
Bicycle, public transportation, walk, move closer, or change jobs. I drove a taxi for many years, more than 50K miles a year. There are many ways to avoid driving, and I am trying to figure them all out.
Eliminating an automobile commute (see above) can save more than $10,000 a year just in car expenses, not even considering the health benefits. And that $10K is after taxes $10K which is like $15K salary.
== 8 of 8 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 5:33 pm
From: "terrable"
"BrianRosenthal" <brian@rosenthalmn.com> wrote in message
news:1b12877e-908b-4d00-a933-e3915a54838b@googlegroups.com...
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
> * 49/84 MPG
> * Fully enclosed
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
> * 5 star crash rating
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
Just a modern ripoff of the Messerschmitt KR200.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Fake microsoft "your computer is infected" call
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fc91538c09253cb0?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 5:45 am
From: Shoe-Chucker 2
In article <l60emd$j8u$1@dont-email.me>,
Moe DeLoughan <moe@notmine.null> wrote:
> On 11/13/2013 10:35 AM, Bob F wrote:
> > I just got my second one of these calls.
> >
> > Hi: I'm from microsoft support calling to warn you that your computer has
> > many
> > infections...... and I am calling to help you get rid of them"
> >
>
> > I wonder how many people get scammed by this? Must be a lot to have a room
> > full
> > of people doing this.
>
> One of my sisters was taken in by this, because she was desperate for
> help regaining access to her third Gmail account (she keeps losing her
> password and totally losing access, thus requiring her to create a new
> account). He strung her along using the standard ploy and she bought
> into it completely - well, until he told her he needed $300 to clean
> her pc and regain her password. She's broke and unemployed. She told
> him she didn't have that much in her savings account. He obligingly
> lowered the fee to just below what she told him was left in her
> savings account. She belatedly acquired some common sense, declined,
> and hung up.
>
> He called back. This time the fee was a mere ninety-nine cents. She
> refused and hung up again.
>
> He kept calling the rest of the afternoon.
>
> >
> > If you get such a call, have a little fun too. Let's really waste their
> > time.
> > Anyone think my action will get me off their call list?
>
> No, because they haven't got a call list. They have sequential
> diallers that phone numbers in sequence.
>
> If you annoy them, they're ready and willing to annoy you right back.
> Personally, I see nothing to be gained by interacting with criminals.
> Safer and faster to just hang up.
Once , I got such a call. They asked for me and I said Oh, I'll go get
him. then I left the phone off the hook for 1/3 hour. I wonder how long
they waited for me to come back. Hey, I'll never know.
Another thing i'll never know.
Oh, well.
Now, I let the machine field all incoming calls. My friends don't call
the land line.
--
Karma ; what a concept!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Expensive new glasses!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c47878997e4a5f21?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 5:51 am
From: Shoe-Chucker 2
In article <b6383d65-e19a-4955-b40d-6e3e79d1343e@googlegroups.com>,
21blackswan@gmail.com wrote:
> i got a little carried away and
> bought about 6 pairs of glasses,
> for under $100, from
>
> ZenniOptical.com
>
> can't be beat
>
> marc
Some can actually improve their vision and not need glasses at all.
Hey, I've done it.
Google; Vision Improvement.
--
Karma ; what a concept!
==============================================================================
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Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/?hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en
misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com
Today's topics:
* Micorwave went south and now we need - 4 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6a1f96c5bc329e10?hl=en
* OT: My personal test of 20 free offline Android gps map routing applications
- 4 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/245df0dfbccb1f4c?hl=en
* Are there still squatters in the UK? Was: Re: anyone from UK????? - 1
messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/1b64171cf8cc7700?hl=en
* Interview with Amy Dacyczyn's daughters! - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6e42eaf43f260057?hl=en
* Credit card security - 5 messages, 5 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/37c8e84f3cd045aa?hl=en
* Inexpensive commuter car - 8 messages, 3 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ea340ea468b880bd?hl=en
* Fake microsoft "your computer is infected" call - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fc91538c09253cb0?hl=en
* Expensive new glasses! - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c47878997e4a5f21?hl=en
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Micorwave went south and now we need
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6a1f96c5bc329e10?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 6 2014 10:22 pm
From: The Real Bev
On 12/28/2013 03:53 PM, BigDog811 wrote:
> Oh, by the way. If your coffee is lukewarm by the second cup, you
> need a new coffeemaker too. The heating element under the carafe is
> burned out.
I turn mine off as soon as it's finished working and just heat up a cup
when I want one. A 12-cup pot lasts perhaps 1.5 days. A friend stopped
leaving her coffeemaker on all the time and saved 50% on her electric bill.
--
Cheers, Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The early bird gets the worm, the second mouse gets the cheese.
== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 7 2014 11:26 am
From: BigDog811
On Monday, January 6, 2014 11:22:12 PM UTC-7, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 12/28/2013 03:53 PM, BigDog811 wrote:
>
>
>
> > Oh, by the way. If your coffee is lukewarm by the second cup, you
>
> > need a new coffeemaker too. The heating element under the carafe is
>
> > burned out.
>
>
>
> I turn mine off as soon as it's finished working and just heat up a cup
>
> when I want one. A 12-cup pot lasts perhaps 1.5 days. A friend stopped
>
> leaving her coffeemaker on all the time and saved 50% on her electric bill.
>
>
>
> --
>
> Cheers, Bev
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> The early bird gets the worm, the second mouse gets the cheese.
Oh my! I never reheat coffee by any method. My brewer is set turn off after 1 hour. I brew a half pot every morning from freshly ground premium beans from a local small batch roaster. What's not drunk within that hour gets poured down the drain. If I want another cup later in the day I do a pour over from a smaller batch of freshly ground beans.
Yeah...I'm a proud coffee snob.
== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 7 2014 11:34 am
From: The Real Bev
On 01/07/2014 11:26 AM, BigDog811 wrote:
> Oh my! I never reheat coffee by any method. My brewer is set turn
> off after 1 hour. I brew a half pot every morning from freshly
> ground premium beans from a local small batch roaster. What's not
> drunk within that hour gets poured down the drain. If I want another
> cup later in the day I do a pour over from a smaller batch of freshly
> ground beans.
>
> Yeah...I'm a proud coffee snob.
I'm not. I once drank half a cup of hot water in a brown cup and
thought in the back of my mind "This is AWFULLY weak, I wonder who made
it..."
--
Cheers, Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My life outside of USENET is so full of love and kindness that I have
to come here to find the venom and bile that I crave." --R. Damiani
== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 8 2014 9:58 am
From: BigDog811
On Tuesday, January 7, 2014 12:34:56 PM UTC-7, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 01/07/2014 11:26 AM, BigDog811 wrote:
>
>
>
> > Oh my! I never reheat coffee by any method. My brewer is set turn
>
> > off after 1 hour. I brew a half pot every morning from freshly
>
> > ground premium beans from a local small batch roaster. What's not
>
> > drunk within that hour gets poured down the drain. If I want another
>
> > cup later in the day I do a pour over from a smaller batch of freshly
>
> > ground beans.
>
> >
>
> > Yeah...I'm a proud coffee snob.
>
>
>
> I'm not. I once drank half a cup of hot water in a brown cup and
>
> thought in the back of my mind "This is AWFULLY weak, I wonder who made
>
> it..."
>
>
>
> --
>
> Cheers, Bev
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> "My life outside of USENET is so full of love and kindness that I have
>
> to come here to find the venom and bile that I crave." --R. Damiani
You made me smile, Bev. Reminds me of my father. He was the most non-discriminating coffee drinker I ever knew. When I was growing up we made coffee at home in one of those old fashioned stove top percolators. Left to his own devices he'd burn it every time. Then thought it was perfectly acceptable to cut it with hot tap water. I took over coffee brewing duties at home in my mid-teens.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: OT: My personal test of 20 free offline Android gps map routing
applications
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/245df0dfbccb1f4c?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 6 2014 10:28 pm
From: The Real Bev
On 12/27/2013 09:42 AM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
> <dannyd@is.invalid> wrote:
>
>>About the only software I need to pay for to get good quality is
>>Adobe Acrobat & TurboTax & kid's PC games.
>
> Better Acrobat than Acrobat can be had, free. TurboTax, obviously. I
> don't have kids anymore and I don't play games.
Curiously enough, HRBlock sent me a FREE one this year to encourage me
to come back after using TT last year. TT never did anything like that
-- they say they give you this monumental deal as a valued returning
customer, but you can ALWAYS get it cheaper at
Costco/Sam's/Staples/Office Depot etc. Cheesy.
It's nice that both programs will suck in last year's return from either
program.
--
Cheers, Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The early bird gets the worm, the second mouse gets the cheese.
== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 7 2014 12:34 pm
From: krw@attt.bizz
On Mon, 06 Jan 2014 22:28:29 -0800, The Real Bev
<bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 12/27/2013 09:42 AM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
>> <dannyd@is.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>>About the only software I need to pay for to get good quality is
>>>Adobe Acrobat & TurboTax & kid's PC games.
>>
>> Better Acrobat than Acrobat can be had, free. TurboTax, obviously. I
>> don't have kids anymore and I don't play games.
>
>Curiously enough, HRBlock sent me a FREE one this year to encourage me
>to come back after using TT last year. TT never did anything like that
>-- they say they give you this monumental deal as a valued returning
>customer, but you can ALWAYS get it cheaper at
>Costco/Sam's/Staples/Office Depot etc. Cheesy.
>
>It's nice that both programs will suck in last year's return from either
>program.
That's nice to know, thanks. My taxes this year and next are going to
be a RPITA (last year was no picnic) so I may have it done - haven't
decided.
== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 8 2014 12:28 pm
From: The Real Bev
On 01/07/2014 12:34 PM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
> On Mon, 06 Jan 2014 22:28:29 -0800, The Real Bev
> <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On 12/27/2013 09:42 AM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
>>> <dannyd@is.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>>>>About the only software I need to pay for to get good quality is
>>>>Adobe Acrobat & TurboTax & kid's PC games.
>>>
>>> Better Acrobat than Acrobat can be had, free. TurboTax, obviously. I
>>> don't have kids anymore and I don't play games.
>>
>>Curiously enough, HRBlock sent me a FREE one this year to encourage me
>>to come back after using TT last year. TT never did anything like that
>>-- they say they give you this monumental deal as a valued returning
>>customer, but you can ALWAYS get it cheaper at
>>Costco/Sam's/Staples/Office Depot etc. Cheesy.
>>
>>It's nice that both programs will suck in last year's return from either
>>program.
>
> That's nice to know, thanks. My taxes this year and next are going to
> be a RPITA (last year was no picnic) so I may have it done - haven't
> decided.
One year I persuaded my mom to use TT instead of her expensive
accountant, to whom she always gave meticulous records. The only
difference was where they placed some trivial amount of foreign
investment income, but it made no difference in the totals. Her vision
was getting worse so that was the only year she used TT, but she would
have if I'd forced it on her earlier. OTOH, I couldn't have done it
before we forced the computer on her...
Estate tax was completely different, of course. I don't think there's
any way that ordinary humans can even understand the forms, much less
complete them.
Look at the website(s) and see which version(s) provide the forms you
need. The TT user interface seems a bit less clunky than H&RB (TaxAct?
TaxCut? They seem to change the name from year to year.) but that
seems to change for both programs.
--
Cheers, Bev
================================================================
"Is there any way I can help without actually getting involved?"
-- Jennifer, WKRP
== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 8 2014 9:53 pm
From: krw@attt.bizz
On Wed, 08 Jan 2014 12:28:19 -0800, The Real Bev
<bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 01/07/2014 12:34 PM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 06 Jan 2014 22:28:29 -0800, The Real Bev
>> <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On 12/27/2013 09:42 AM, krw@attt.bizz wrote:
>>>> <dannyd@is.invalid> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>About the only software I need to pay for to get good quality is
>>>>>Adobe Acrobat & TurboTax & kid's PC games.
>>>>
>>>> Better Acrobat than Acrobat can be had, free. TurboTax, obviously. I
>>>> don't have kids anymore and I don't play games.
>>>
>>>Curiously enough, HRBlock sent me a FREE one this year to encourage me
>>>to come back after using TT last year. TT never did anything like that
>>>-- they say they give you this monumental deal as a valued returning
>>>customer, but you can ALWAYS get it cheaper at
>>>Costco/Sam's/Staples/Office Depot etc. Cheesy.
>>>
>>>It's nice that both programs will suck in last year's return from either
>>>program.
>>
>> That's nice to know, thanks. My taxes this year and next are going to
>> be a RPITA (last year was no picnic) so I may have it done - haven't
>> decided.
>
>One year I persuaded my mom to use TT instead of her expensive
>accountant, to whom she always gave meticulous records. The only
>difference was where they placed some trivial amount of foreign
>investment income, but it made no difference in the totals. Her vision
>was getting worse so that was the only year she used TT, but she would
>have if I'd forced it on her earlier. OTOH, I couldn't have done it
>before we forced the computer on her...
I'm renting a house this year. Do I depreciate it and then back it
out next year as income? Might be worthwhile. Since this is the only
year (well, three months next year) that I'll have this issue, I'm not
sure there is anything to gain. I don't know how to start doing it,
either.
>Estate tax was completely different, of course. I don't think there's
>any way that ordinary humans can even understand the forms, much less
>complete them.
Silly.
>Look at the website(s) and see which version(s) provide the forms you
>need. The TT user interface seems a bit less clunky than H&RB (TaxAct?
> TaxCut? They seem to change the name from year to year.) but that
>seems to change for both programs.
The problem is knowing what forms I need. TT was pretty good at
telling me how to do some business deductions, while making sure that
they weren't giving me tax "advice". It was interesting how they
danced around that line.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Are there still squatters in the UK? Was: Re: anyone from UK?????
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/1b64171cf8cc7700?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 8 2014 8:52 pm
From: nessshares
On Tuesday, 18 May 1999 08:00:00 UTC+1, andrea lea baker wrote:
> Hi!
>
> I'm not originally from the UK but I did live there for about 3 years.
> Are there still squatters, particularly in London? That always seemed
> like the ultimate in frugal living;-)
>
> Andrea Baker
http://bambuser.com/v/4101256
This was the High Court Eviction of the Bohemia in November last year (2013) It was occupied by a group. They didn't get IPOes but the owner still hired out private bailifs and dogs etc to get them out. It's an interesting building, go past it if you get a chance, its on Finchley High Road.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Interview with Amy Dacyczyn's daughters!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6e42eaf43f260057?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sun, Jan 12 2014 1:42 pm
From: lenona321@yahoo.com
For any newcomers, Amy Dacyczyn is the author of "The Complete Tightwad Gazette," which used to be a newsletter in the 1990s.
The interviews are from last May.
Apparently, the three sons just didn't want to talk....but the daughters' interviews are pretty good. The three now range from age 22 to 28. Jamie is the oldest.
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-jamie-part-1.html
(Jamie, part 1)
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-jamie-part-2.html
(Jamie, part 2)
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-rebecca.html
(Rebecca)
http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-laura.html
(Laura)
Great quote from Laura:
"My advice to parents is that children depend less on money for happiness than adults do. It doesn't matter if the toy costs fifty cents or fifty dollars, they are just going to play with the box it came in anyways. My fondest memories of childhood are not of the toys or clothes I owned, instead they are of the family I spent my time with and the general wonder of being a child. On the flip side, the most negative memories I have of childhood are in no way connected to money."
Lenona.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Credit card security
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/37c8e84f3cd045aa?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 14 2014 8:43 am
From: KenK
I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
was some other alternative that was secure.
Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
recipts too.
When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
What best to do.
Comments?
TIA
--
"Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon
== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 14 2014 1:36 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 14, 2014 8:43:52 AM UTC-8, KenK wrote:
>
> When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
>
> and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
>
> charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
>
> record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
>
>
>
> What best to do.
>
>
If you are worried about CC theft, ala Target, not much to worry about, the bank already knows about it and you would have to just point out the bad charge.
If it is an individual thing, a little perseverance works good enough. Thing is with thieves, once is usually not enough, they tend to make a habit of their criminality, so once again you're not alone in your claim.
The biggest risk comes from dealing with small, new businesses. I recently dealt with the CC people over a shuttle driver that was using my card to buy male potency pills. After a few weeks, the CC people recognized that the shuttle driver had stolen several card numbers and was making the same purchases. So, the charges were reversed in short order- no harm, no foul.
The big advantage to using a credit card (besides the fraud protection built in) is that muggers now know most people don't carry cash. They instead focus their stealing to shoplifting or identity theft, which results in fewer deaths and injuries.
Life- you pays your money and you takes your chances.
== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 14 2014 5:20 pm
From: The Real Bev
On 01/14/2014 08:43 AM, KenK wrote:
> I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
> the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
> Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
> on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
> of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
> Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
> was some other alternative that was secure.
Use your credit cards. Watch your statements. If you see something you
didn't do, notify the CC company immediately.
Target is giving everybody (or an least everybody they have email
addresses for, maybe real addresses too) a free year of Experian
monitoring, which is what AAA gave me when they were hacked last year.
No problem so far.
> Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
> repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
> Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
> conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
> with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
> recipts too.
You still get cancelled checks? I don't even get prints any more. Not
that I use that many checks, I use Bank of America's bill-paying
function. Banks have to be reliable or nobody would use them.
> When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
> and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
> charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
> record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
>
> What best to do.
Do what's convenient. If they want your money, they'll get it.
Fortunately the CC companies are good about fraudulent charges -- they
have to be or nobody would use their services.
I don't have any automatic payments -- I figure if something goes
belly-up with the payees it WILL be a bitch to straighten out.
A friend's trust account was wiped out and transferred to an account in
Panama or someplace by an employee of the trust company who forged the
friend's signature on an actual piece of paper. He got it all back, but
it was a nuisance too.
--
Cheers, Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Screw the end users. If they want good software,
let them write it themselves." -- Anon.
== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 15 2014 1:08 pm
From: "Annie Woughman"
"KenK" wrote in message news:XnsA2B562FEEF563invalidcom@130.133.4.11...
I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
was some other alternative that was secure.
Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
recipts too.
When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
What best to do.
Comments?
TIA
--
"Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon
Credit cards are by far the safest way to shop anywhere. Like Bev said, pay
attention to your statements every month and if there is anything on there
you didn't buy, call the CC company and report it and they will send you new
cards immediately. No hassle. It is so much easier to dispute charges made
on a credit card than on your debit card. The debit card sucks the money
out of your checking account immediately and you don't get that money back
until the situation is settled. Credit cards don't use a dime of your money
until you pay the bill. And checks--like you said, you hand them your name,
address, phone number, bank account number and routing number on the
spot--not a good idea.
Another up side to credit cards--get one that pays you for using it.
Bankamericards not only pay you money back, they give you a 10% bonus if you
have them deposit your rewards into one of their checking or saving
accounts.
== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 15 2014 1:55 pm
From: sms
On 1/14/2014 8:43 AM, KenK wrote:
> I'm begining to wonder how to pay for groceries, etc. any more, with all
> the security breaches such as Target's and many others. I shop mostly
> Walmart for groceries and other stuff they carry. (Price is important to me
> on my slender income.) If I use checks I suspect the store keeps a record
> of check bank account numbers and other info which could be stolen.
> Carrying that much cash or even keeping it at home bothers me. Wish there
> was some other alternative that was secure.
>
> Then there's the problem of mail order purchases, on line purchases,
> repeating monthly or annual non-local charges best paid by credit card.
> Then untilities and mailed bills such as trash, electric, etc.,
> conveniently paid by check rather than driving to their office and paying
> with cash. Cancelled checks and credit card reports make nice payment
> recipts too.
>
> When your credit card number is stolen it is a real PITA, answering many
> and often repeated letters from the card company concerning the illicit
> charges, getting a new card, notifying everyone who has the number on
> record for monthly, annual or whatever charges, etc. BTDT
>
> What best to do.
For non-recurring online purchases you can use a credit card provider
that provides virtual credit card numbers. BOA offers this service but
it isn't all that common, see
<https://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/accounts-cards/shopsafe.go>.
Paypal also shields a company from seeing your actual credit card
number. Actually there is a way to do recurring payments with a virtual
account.
I'd avoid checks at all costs. All of your checking account information
is on your check.
I'm a lot more inclined to pay cash at restaurants and for small
purchases than in the past. Several times I've had to replace a credit
card when it was compromised, and it is indeed a PITA.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Inexpensive commuter car
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ea340ea468b880bd?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 8 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 20 2014 12:56 pm
From: BrianRosenthal
Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
* 49/84 MPG
* Fully enclosed
* Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
* 5 star crash rating
All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
ElioMotors dot com.
== 2 of 8 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 20 2014 2:48 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Monday, January 20, 2014 12:56:23 PM UTC-8, BrianRosenthal wrote:
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
>
>
> * 49/84 MPG
>
> * Fully enclosed
>
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
>
> * 5 star crash rating
>
>
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
>
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
5 star? Show me.
84MPG? Show me.
I don't like motorcycles, three or two wheeled.
== 3 of 8 ==
Date: Mon, Jan 20 2014 2:57 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Monday, January 20, 2014 12:56:23 PM UTC-8, BrianRosenthal wrote:
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
>
>
> * 49/84 MPG
>
> * Fully enclosed
>
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
>
> * 5 star crash rating
>
>
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
>
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
Or you can get the electric version for $139/mo. and get 122/mpg equiv.
Four wheels AND air bags
== 4 of 8 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 8:24 am
From: brian@rosenthalmn.com
On Monday, January 20, 2014 4:57:57 PM UTC-6, wilm...@gmail.com wrote:
> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
>
> Or you can get the electric version for $139/mo. and get 122/mpg equiv.
>
> Four wheels AND air bags
Lease requires $999 down, only covers 10K miles per year, and the Smart car only gets 34/38 mpg.
The Elio will have air bags, too. If they actually get to building them.
== 5 of 8 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 8:44 am
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 8:24:57 AM UTC-8, br...@rosenthalmn.com wrote:
>
>
> Lease requires $999 down, only covers 10K miles per year, and the Smart car only gets 34/38 mpg.
It is a commuter car, not a road trip car. And the electric version gets 122MPG equiv.
>
>
>
> The Elio will have air bags, too. If they actually get to building them.
If!
They still would be considered a motorcycle. They would require a motorcycle license. Your insurance company may raise an eyebrow. And don't forget, you'll have to wear a helmet.
Why wait to drive a tin can, when you can get one now? With four wheels!
Besides, if you want to be frugal, buy two really cheap used cars- one to drive while the other is in the garage. Eight years ago I bought a Ford Aspire, I paid $2,100 and today KBB says it is worth $1,600. I put about $500 in tires and a starter. I drive less than 1,000 miles a year. Total cost has been about $1,000 divided by eight, and you can see I have been a frugal car owner.
== 6 of 8 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 8:52 am
From: brian@rosenthalmn.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 10:44:51 AM UTC-6, wilm...@gmail.com wrote:
> They still would be considered a motorcycle. They would require a motorcycle license. Your insurance company may raise an eyebrow. And don't forget, you'll have to wear a helmet.
Some states don't require a motorcycle endorsement for an enclosed three-wheeller (Elio is working on the rest). Motorcycle insurance is cheaper than car insurance. Most states waive the helmet law for enclosed vehicles.
> I drive less than 1,000 miles a year. Total cost has been about $1,000 divided by eight, and you can see I have been a frugal car owner.
Very! The best way to be frugal driving is to not drive...but I need to get to work.
== 7 of 8 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 12:10 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 8:52:31 AM UTC-8, br...@rosenthalmn.com wrote:
>
> Very! The best way to be frugal driving is to not drive...but I need to get to work.
Bicycle, public transportation, walk, move closer, or change jobs. I drove a taxi for many years, more than 50K miles a year. There are many ways to avoid driving, and I am trying to figure them all out.
Eliminating an automobile commute (see above) can save more than $10,000 a year just in car expenses, not even considering the health benefits. And that $10K is after taxes $10K which is like $15K salary.
== 8 of 8 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 5:33 pm
From: "terrable"
"BrianRosenthal" <brian@rosenthalmn.com> wrote in message
news:1b12877e-908b-4d00-a933-e3915a54838b@googlegroups.com...
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
> * 49/84 MPG
> * Fully enclosed
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
> * 5 star crash rating
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
Just a modern ripoff of the Messerschmitt KR200.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Fake microsoft "your computer is infected" call
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fc91538c09253cb0?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 5:45 am
From: Shoe-Chucker 2
In article <l60emd$j8u$1@dont-email.me>,
Moe DeLoughan <moe@notmine.null> wrote:
> On 11/13/2013 10:35 AM, Bob F wrote:
> > I just got my second one of these calls.
> >
> > Hi: I'm from microsoft support calling to warn you that your computer has
> > many
> > infections...... and I am calling to help you get rid of them"
> >
>
> > I wonder how many people get scammed by this? Must be a lot to have a room
> > full
> > of people doing this.
>
> One of my sisters was taken in by this, because she was desperate for
> help regaining access to her third Gmail account (she keeps losing her
> password and totally losing access, thus requiring her to create a new
> account). He strung her along using the standard ploy and she bought
> into it completely - well, until he told her he needed $300 to clean
> her pc and regain her password. She's broke and unemployed. She told
> him she didn't have that much in her savings account. He obligingly
> lowered the fee to just below what she told him was left in her
> savings account. She belatedly acquired some common sense, declined,
> and hung up.
>
> He called back. This time the fee was a mere ninety-nine cents. She
> refused and hung up again.
>
> He kept calling the rest of the afternoon.
>
> >
> > If you get such a call, have a little fun too. Let's really waste their
> > time.
> > Anyone think my action will get me off their call list?
>
> No, because they haven't got a call list. They have sequential
> diallers that phone numbers in sequence.
>
> If you annoy them, they're ready and willing to annoy you right back.
> Personally, I see nothing to be gained by interacting with criminals.
> Safer and faster to just hang up.
Once , I got such a call. They asked for me and I said Oh, I'll go get
him. then I left the phone off the hook for 1/3 hour. I wonder how long
they waited for me to come back. Hey, I'll never know.
Another thing i'll never know.
Oh, well.
Now, I let the machine field all incoming calls. My friends don't call
the land line.
--
Karma ; what a concept!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Expensive new glasses!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c47878997e4a5f21?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 5:51 am
From: Shoe-Chucker 2
In article <b6383d65-e19a-4955-b40d-6e3e79d1343e@googlegroups.com>,
21blackswan@gmail.com wrote:
> i got a little carried away and
> bought about 6 pairs of glasses,
> for under $100, from
>
> ZenniOptical.com
>
> can't be beat
>
> marc
Some can actually improve their vision and not need glasses at all.
Hey, I've done it.
Google; Vision Improvement.
--
Karma ; what a concept!
==============================================================================
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Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/?hl=en
misc.consumers.frugal-living - 18 new messages in 8 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:
* Inexpensive commuter car - 5 messages, 5 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ea340ea468b880bd?hl=en
* Fake microsoft "your computer is infected" call - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fc91538c09253cb0?hl=en
* Expensive new glasses! - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c47878997e4a5f21?hl=en
* Montreal Wedding Dresses - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/bacbe7b3c15162ba?hl=en
* alternative to Google Voice to use with Obihai voip? - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8927d6ec9e4423a8?hl=en
* Google Worsening Google Voice on May 15, 2014. Dropping XMPP support. No
more free "landline" service. - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/dd2212bdda4c6b03?hl=en
* Montreal Weddings Planner - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/4c1e35f66d8bc57b?hl=en
* Online Tea Source - 7 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ba10f265d783c389?hl=en
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Inexpensive commuter car
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ea340ea468b880bd?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 12:10 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 8:52:31 AM UTC-8, br...@rosenthalmn.com wrote:
>
> Very! The best way to be frugal driving is to not drive...but I need to get to work.
Bicycle, public transportation, walk, move closer, or change jobs. I drove a taxi for many years, more than 50K miles a year. There are many ways to avoid driving, and I am trying to figure them all out.
Eliminating an automobile commute (see above) can save more than $10,000 a year just in car expenses, not even considering the health benefits. And that $10K is after taxes $10K which is like $15K salary.
== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 5:33 pm
From: "terrable"
"BrianRosenthal" <brian@rosenthalmn.com> wrote in message
news:1b12877e-908b-4d00-a933-e3915a54838b@googlegroups.com...
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
> * 49/84 MPG
> * Fully enclosed
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
> * 5 star crash rating
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
Just a modern ripoff of the Messerschmitt KR200.
== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 11:15 am
From: sms
On 1/20/2014 2:57 PM, wilma6116@gmail.com wrote:
<anip>
> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
It should be called the "Dumb Car" since you have to be really dumb to
buy one.
== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Sat, Jan 25 2014 4:56 pm
From: Ivan The Not-So-Bad <1suf41n@yahoo.com>
On 2014-01-22, sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
> On 1/20/2014 2:57 PM, wilma6116@gmail.com wrote:
>
><anip>
>
>> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
>
> It should be called the "Dumb Car" since you have to be really dumb to
> buy one.
>
Were you going to follow up with some reasons or...?
== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 28 2014 6:35 pm
From: Sofa Slug
On 1/25/2014 4:56 PM, Ivan The Not-So-Bad wrote:
> On 2014-01-22, sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>> On 1/20/2014 2:57 PM, wilma6116@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> <anip>
>>
>>> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
>>
>> It should be called the "Dumb Car" since you have to be really dumb to
>> buy one.
>>
>
> Were you going to follow up with some reasons or...?
>
How about...
- Slow; scary to drive on the freeway, especially in windy conditions
- Very limited carrying capacity
- Crappy transmission is notorious for failures
The 2014 Ford Fiesta is close in price & fuel economy but is a much
better vehicle. For a bit more $, the Honda CR-Z is even better, and
gets about the same mileage as a Smart. You also don't look like a dork
driving it :)
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Fake microsoft "your computer is infected" call
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fc91538c09253cb0?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 5:45 am
From: Shoe-Chucker 2
In article <l60emd$j8u$1@dont-email.me>,
Moe DeLoughan <moe@notmine.null> wrote:
> On 11/13/2013 10:35 AM, Bob F wrote:
> > I just got my second one of these calls.
> >
> > Hi: I'm from microsoft support calling to warn you that your computer has
> > many
> > infections...... and I am calling to help you get rid of them"
> >
>
> > I wonder how many people get scammed by this? Must be a lot to have a room
> > full
> > of people doing this.
>
> One of my sisters was taken in by this, because she was desperate for
> help regaining access to her third Gmail account (she keeps losing her
> password and totally losing access, thus requiring her to create a new
> account). He strung her along using the standard ploy and she bought
> into it completely - well, until he told her he needed $300 to clean
> her pc and regain her password. She's broke and unemployed. She told
> him she didn't have that much in her savings account. He obligingly
> lowered the fee to just below what she told him was left in her
> savings account. She belatedly acquired some common sense, declined,
> and hung up.
>
> He called back. This time the fee was a mere ninety-nine cents. She
> refused and hung up again.
>
> He kept calling the rest of the afternoon.
>
> >
> > If you get such a call, have a little fun too. Let's really waste their
> > time.
> > Anyone think my action will get me off their call list?
>
> No, because they haven't got a call list. They have sequential
> diallers that phone numbers in sequence.
>
> If you annoy them, they're ready and willing to annoy you right back.
> Personally, I see nothing to be gained by interacting with criminals.
> Safer and faster to just hang up.
Once , I got such a call. They asked for me and I said Oh, I'll go get
him. then I left the phone off the hook for 1/3 hour. I wonder how long
they waited for me to come back. Hey, I'll never know.
Another thing i'll never know.
Oh, well.
Now, I let the machine field all incoming calls. My friends don't call
the land line.
--
Karma ; what a concept!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Expensive new glasses!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c47878997e4a5f21?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 5:51 am
From: Shoe-Chucker 2
In article <b6383d65-e19a-4955-b40d-6e3e79d1343e@googlegroups.com>,
21blackswan@gmail.com wrote:
> i got a little carried away and
> bought about 6 pairs of glasses,
> for under $100, from
>
> ZenniOptical.com
>
> can't be beat
>
> marc
Some can actually improve their vision and not need glasses at all.
Hey, I've done it.
Google; Vision Improvement.
--
Karma ; what a concept!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Montreal Wedding Dresses
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/bacbe7b3c15162ba?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 24 2014 10:12 pm
From: Montreal wedding
Montreal weddings celebrations can be done without the help of a wedding planner. Partly true but there are actually a number of benefits that couples get when having a professional wedding planner plan out everything for their wedding compared to planning everything for themselves.
See more at: http://www.marketplaceweddings.com/Montreal
==============================================================================
TOPIC: alternative to Google Voice to use with Obihai voip?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8927d6ec9e4423a8?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 29 2014 11:35 pm
From: SMS
On 1/6/2014 10:08 PM, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 12/28/2013 09:45 PM, Ohioguy wrote:
>
>> I have a ~30 Obihai VOIP box that I use with Google voice to get free
>> phone service. I hooked up a cordless phone, and can't tell the
>> difference between this and a landline.
>>
>> Trouble is, I've read that as of about 130 days from now, Google
>> Voice will no longer work with these little boxes, so I'm looking for an
>> alternative.
>>
>> Everything else I've seen charges a cent per minute or more. That
>> doesn't sound like much, but it is a lot more than free. I was hoping
>> to find something that charged about a tenth of a cent per minute.
>>
>> Anyone else on here use Google Voice with a voip box like the Obihai?
>> Have you found any cheap alternatives to Google Voice?
>
> Ooma uses its own VOIP system. The device is $100-$140 and service is
> $5-$15 month.
You can get outgoing service for 0.5¢/minute with Localphone. It's the
most like Google Voice. No E911 service.
This whole situation is being discussed on the Obihai forums
<http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=6968.0>, you must log in
to see them.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Google Worsening Google Voice on May 15, 2014. Dropping XMPP support.
No more free "landline" service.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/dd2212bdda4c6b03?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Jan 30 2014 5:56 am
From: SMS
Google is dropping support for Extensible Messaging and Presence
Protocol (XMPP) in Google Voice on May 15, 2014.
If you are using Google Voice with an ATA (analog telephone adapter),
such as one of the Obihai or Grandstream VOIP devices (or a hacked
MagicJack Plus), this combination will no longer work after May 15,
2014. Google Voice is very popular with these devices since together
they enable local phone service completely free of any monthly charges
(but no E911).
The reason for this change is probably because users of these devices
are not seeing any advertising when using Google Voice.
There are no no-cost alternatives, though Localphone and Callcentric are
pretty low cost alternatives, especially if you're not making thousands
of minutes of local calls per month. Ooma is a good alternative as well,
but it costs a bit more and you must use their VOIP adapter.
<http://blog.obihai.com/2013/10/important-message-about-google-voice.html>
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Montreal Weddings Planner
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/4c1e35f66d8bc57b?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 31 2014 4:08 am
From: Montreal wedding
Marketplaceweddings.com introduces you the unique and best florists in Montreal for Weddings and the wonderful impact the floral designs and floral center pieces will have on your Montreal Wedding.
website:http://www.marketplaceweddings.com
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Online Tea Source
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ba10f265d783c389?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 31 2014 12:46 pm
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
http://uptontea.com/shopcart/catalog.asp?begin=0&parent=Teas%3EBlack%3ECeylon&category=All+Ceylon+Teas
On Thu, 30 Jan 2014 18:30:48 -0500, Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
>Since the online tea merchant, "Specialteas", was assimilated by the
>"Teavana" amoeba there has been a dearth of online sellers offering
>quality estate-grown teas at moderate prices. Finally "found" Lupicia,
>a Japanese firm with a large USA presence, online at:
><http://www.lupiciausa.com/>. The loose Pettiagalla OP1 (sorry, no FOP)
>is right nice at only $6.00 (plus s&h) for 50g.
>
>Hey: Tea drinkers want to know these things. It's one of life's little
>relatively inexpensive pleasures.
== 2 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 31 2014 6:07 pm
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
On Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:55:33 -0500, Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
>hchickpea@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>>http://uptontea.com/shopcart/catalog.asp?begin=0&parent=Teas%3EBlack%3ECeylon&category=All+Ceylon+Teas
>>
> Thanks, Harry. Didn't see any Pettiagalla or Kenilworth, my Celon
>preferences. As a rule, I don't buy the lowest price because there's
>always a reason that it is and with tea that reason usually is old age
>but will check out their keemun and/or lapsang souchong very soon.
Friend of mine uses the site and has sent me some samples of Earl Grey which I
like (yeah, I know, the stuff is shamelessly plebian and floor sweepings of
stems masked with OOB.) The lavender accented one is interestin, but I may have
to toss it on the floor and mix in some straw to get the dusky flavor I like..
RE the PS
I have the various disks from about 6 years ago, is there something you need?
== 3 of 7 ==
Date: Sat, Feb 1 2014 10:20 am
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
Yeah, Bergamot and dirt. :-) Guess it relates to my liking scotch (except
Laphroaig, which tastes similar to an anti-dandruff shampoo I once used)
I've been considering dumping my hard copies from the 1970s or turning them into
art projects as the company has trashed any value to collectors. For a while
TMEN had the archives available for free online (soon after I bought the CD
set). They now have them on a DVD and readable in various formats for $50 The
CDs are a pain in the tuckus and I wouldn't recommend them. At least the DVD
has enough space that it is a unit search.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/shopping/detail.aspx?itemnumber=6899
I've referenced the wood gas articles a couple times, but there is better info
in one of the Yahoo groups. Didn't the early issues have yearly indexes?
On Sat, 01 Feb 2014 00:06:35 -0500, Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
>hchickpea@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>>The lavender accented one is interestin, but I may have
>>to toss it on the floor and mix in some straw to get the dusky flavor I like..
> Never could get to like Earl Grey, guess it's the ergamot or
>whatever it is that's added. Have you tried keemun or lapsang souchon?
>Fully fermented and then dried over fire and smokey, the keemun less so
>than the other.
>>
>--
>>RE the PS
>>I have the various disks from about 6 years ago, is there something you need?
> I have the original hard copies from issue 1 through year 1984,
>when I stopped subscribing. Never bought the index and thought I might
>bum a copy from you, since I'm dragging the mags out of storage to
>reference a couple of things I remember and an index would save some
>page-tuming and cussing. Could kick myself for not buying the indexes
>back in the day. Frankly, I haven't even checked the web site to see
>whether it's available online free or cheap. What years do your disks
>cover and might they be for sale?
> Take this to email, if you want; it don't matter to me. The "real"
>addey still works. If you've 86'd it, use
>money_for_nothing@earthlink.net (those spaces are underlines).
== 4 of 7 ==
Date: Sat, Feb 1 2014 8:01 pm
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
On Sat, 01 Feb 2014 16:39:08 -0500, Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
>hchickpea@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>>
>>I've referenced the wood gas articles a couple times, but there is better info
>>in one of the Yahoo groups. Didn't the early issues have yearly indexes?
>>
> Don't remember; guess I'll unpack a few and see. I'm investigating
>low voltage or direct wind-powered well pumps--home-brew, if possible.
>Low volume against one atmosphere, 20' suction, 12' lift. Want to keep
>the pump at the well head, if that's practical. Thought "mother" might
>offer some guidance from the dark ages ;-)
The 20' suction is right at the upper limit because of atmosphere pressure. If
you want the pump on the surface, a jet pump is the usual way to go. I have one
on a well. It pushes water down a small pipe which then goes through a 180
angle and an eductor (pointy nozzle) and uses B's principle to force up more
water than was used in a larger pipe, in the jet stream. Problem is that it
does take some power and a pressure tank is needed. It also needs a good foot
valve.
One of the cooler things I've seen is a coarse rope, with a pulley at the bottom
of the well and a simple pvc sleeve where the rope is coming up. At the top is
the motor, which drives a top pulley at a fair rate of speed. The rope goes
down, around the bottom pulley and pulls water along with it as it rises within
the loose fitting sleeve.
If you use a foot valve at the bottom of the well, and prime the pipe, you may
be able to use a standard 12 volt rv water pump. Those little suckers are
decent. Or... you could make a mini-jack pump.
For emergency usage, a bucket lift is just a section of pipe to fit the well
with a cap at the bottom and a leather patch on top of a hole in that cap. Tie
a rope to it, drop it in the well, wait for it to sink as the flap opens and
allows the water in, pull up.
There are (pricey) solar sumbersible pumps.
I keep all this trivia in my head.
== 5 of 7 ==
Date: Sun, Feb 2 2014 10:51 am
From: gheston@hiwaay.net (Gary Heston)
In article <mkpqe91d10kf1q6g8r1uagk8u5kme28fs2@4ax.com>,
Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
[ ... ]
> Don't remember; guess I'll unpack a few and see. I'm investigating
>low voltage or direct wind-powered well pumps--home-brew, if possible.
>Low volume against one atmosphere, 20' suction, 12' lift. Want to keep
>the pump at the well head, if that's practical. Thought "mother" might
>offer some guidance from the dark ages ;-)
There are other sources; here's a sampling from searching for "windmill
water pump":
Nice description of how it all works:
http://www.ironmanwindmill.com/how-windmills-work.htm
Article by a woman who installed a windmill, built a 10,000 gallon
holding tank, and piped an irrigation system, apparently by herself:
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ainsworth90.html
Article including step-by-step construction and how to build a pump
mostly from PVC plumbing pieces (Step 5):
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Wind-Powered-Water-Pump/
People who repair, rebuild, and sell windmills, parts, info on making
wood towers and holding tanks:
http://www.windmills.net/
Depending upon how ugly you're allowed to be in your area, you can also
build a windmill from three 55 gallon drums. Cut them in half top to
bottom, mount the halves in pairs facing opposite directions on a
vertical pipe, offsetting the pairs 120 degrees. Mount on a pivot and
brace the top with another pivot and use a chain or belt drive on the
top to drive your pump.
Gary
== 6 of 7 ==
Date: Sun, Feb 2 2014 11:06 am
From: gheston@hiwaay.net (Gary Heston)
In article <2qise9tq8g5m17d74enevec5l7f2h64j02@4ax.com>,
Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
[ ... ]
> Ah, but you don't know the rest of the story. It's a 3" well,
>which should give you some idea how long the casing's been in the
>ground. [ ... ]
Iron Man Windmill sells pumps as small as 1" in diameter:
http://www.ironmanwindmill.com/pricing/price-list.htm
If you have reliable wind, you can let the windmill pump continuously
and when the main tank fills, just divert the overflow to a safe place.
Gary
== 7 of 7 ==
Date: Sun, Feb 2 2014 12:42 pm
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
3" is small enough I would be half tempted to have another well driven.
Some web pages that might give you ideas:
http://www.fdungan.com/well.htm
http://web.mit.edu/2.972/www/reports/sucker_rod_pump/sucker_rod_pump.html
http://www.survivalblog.com/2009/06/seven-letters-re-advice-on-dee.html
Energy useage - the only energy you might save is in the inefficiencies of the
system being reduced or new energy you bring to the table.
The extra 12' lift is nothing worth worrying about.
If the pressure tank is a bladder tank or one that uses a compressor to inject
air, it is a lot larger than what I am used to, but one is essential to even out
the pressure from a pump and that size tank for a two family setup is likely
correct, since about 1/2 of it is air. Removing it or making it open would not
be a good thing.
What you could do is purchase one or more food grade 275 gal shipping container
(+-$100 used) and convert the well over to a sucker pump or whatever you decide
you want.
As a comparison - I push water up 100' from a creek to an 1100 gal cistern. It
requires a couple of ganged pumps and some time. 10 amps x 120 volts x 7 hours
for 500 gallons works out to about $1 at our electric rates. I fill about five
times per month, so pay about $5. However, I go through a $40 pump about once a
year, so water is a $100/year cost before it gets to the pressure pump under the
house. Neighbors pay $25/month for municipal water, so I'm $200/year ahead and
don't have to worry about fee increases.
I'd bet that your current costs are on a par with mine, even with two families.
Have you stuck a meter on the line to the pump or a flow meter on the system
output?
On Sun, 02 Feb 2014 12:08:47 -0500, Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
>hchickpea@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>>
>>The 20' suction is right at the upper limit because of atmosphere pressure. If
>>you want the pump on the surface, a jet pump is the usual way to go. I have one
>>on a well. It pushes water down a small pipe which then goes through a 180
>>angle and an eductor (pointy nozzle) and uses B's principle to force up more
>>water than was used in a larger pipe, in the jet stream. Problem is that it
>>does take some power and a pressure tank is needed. It also needs a good foot
>>valve.
> Ah, but you don't know the rest of the story. It's a 3" well,
>which should give you some idea how long the casing's been in the
>ground. 3" two-pipe extractors are inordinately expensive and, while it
>would resolve the static pressure, volume would not improve and I'd
>still be paying the electric co-op far more than I care to for its
>participation. Compounded by a 12' pressure lift into a 1250-gal
>vertical buffer/storage tank that is in series and pressurized. No, I
>didn't do any of that and the storage tank was installed vertically over
>my objections. I had considered a packer but I don't even know if 3"
>packers exist or, if they do, can be retrofitted. I've never seen one
>smaller than 6" and they all, 100%, eventually blow out. With a casing
>that old, I'm not sure I'd take the risk.
> My thought is to check off the large tank, open it to the
>atmosphere, use a low-power float-controlled pump to keep it filled and
>the existing half-horse shallow well pump to maintain service pressure
>and volume, reducing its power requirements significantly.
> The well serves two, two-person households and my drip irrigation
>system. Highest volume demands are laundry and showers, although, it is
>nice to be able to open a valve to a good high pressure stream.
> Ideally, I could simply use the existing drop pipe and foot valve
>but that works best with an open tank, which this one is not. The
>"ultimate" solution might be a submerged piston pump but, as you point
>out, low-voltage submersibles are expensive and would complicate, and
>possibly eliminate the use of of direct wind power, when available.
>Also, laying that damned stock tank down horizontally would eliminate
>some unnecessary (to my mind) pressure lift--reducing power requirements
>somewhat--but I might have to win a fight before being able to accomplish
>that.
> Prefer home-brew because keeping as much cash in my pocket as
>possible is highly desirable. I haven't sounded the well since 1996 so
>don't even know whether a simple PVC piston pump at the well head might
>be practical. I could easily set one on top of the existing drop pipe
>and use the existing foot valve as one of the checks. I have only begun
>to investigate possible solutions. At any rate, I won't begin seriously
>attacking the project until the installation of a '84 300 I-6 into a '96
>4WD F-150 chassis, a work in progress, is complete. Lordy, will I be
>glad to get rid of all of that high-maintenance plastic electronic
>crap....
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http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en
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Today's topics:
* Inexpensive commuter car - 5 messages, 5 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ea340ea468b880bd?hl=en
* Fake microsoft "your computer is infected" call - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fc91538c09253cb0?hl=en
* Expensive new glasses! - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c47878997e4a5f21?hl=en
* Montreal Wedding Dresses - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/bacbe7b3c15162ba?hl=en
* alternative to Google Voice to use with Obihai voip? - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8927d6ec9e4423a8?hl=en
* Google Worsening Google Voice on May 15, 2014. Dropping XMPP support. No
more free "landline" service. - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/dd2212bdda4c6b03?hl=en
* Montreal Weddings Planner - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/4c1e35f66d8bc57b?hl=en
* Online Tea Source - 7 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ba10f265d783c389?hl=en
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Inexpensive commuter car
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ea340ea468b880bd?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 12:10 pm
From: wilma6116@gmail.com
On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 8:52:31 AM UTC-8, br...@rosenthalmn.com wrote:
>
> Very! The best way to be frugal driving is to not drive...but I need to get to work.
Bicycle, public transportation, walk, move closer, or change jobs. I drove a taxi for many years, more than 50K miles a year. There are many ways to avoid driving, and I am trying to figure them all out.
Eliminating an automobile commute (see above) can save more than $10,000 a year just in car expenses, not even considering the health benefits. And that $10K is after taxes $10K which is like $15K salary.
== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 21 2014 5:33 pm
From: "terrable"
"BrianRosenthal" <brian@rosenthalmn.com> wrote in message
news:1b12877e-908b-4d00-a933-e3915a54838b@googlegroups.com...
> Elio is planning a 3 wheel 2 person car.
>
> * 49/84 MPG
> * Fully enclosed
> * Heat, A/C, radio, power windows
> * 5 star crash rating
>
> All for $6800. Shipping early 2014 (perhaps).
>
> ElioMotors dot com.
Just a modern ripoff of the Messerschmitt KR200.
== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 11:15 am
From: sms
On 1/20/2014 2:57 PM, wilma6116@gmail.com wrote:
<anip>
> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
It should be called the "Dumb Car" since you have to be really dumb to
buy one.
== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Sat, Jan 25 2014 4:56 pm
From: Ivan The Not-So-Bad <1suf41n@yahoo.com>
On 2014-01-22, sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
> On 1/20/2014 2:57 PM, wilma6116@gmail.com wrote:
>
><anip>
>
>> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
>
> It should be called the "Dumb Car" since you have to be really dumb to
> buy one.
>
Were you going to follow up with some reasons or...?
== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 28 2014 6:35 pm
From: Sofa Slug
On 1/25/2014 4:56 PM, Ivan The Not-So-Bad wrote:
> On 2014-01-22, sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>> On 1/20/2014 2:57 PM, wilma6116@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> <anip>
>>
>>> One can lease a Smart Car for $99 a month for 36 months.
>>
>> It should be called the "Dumb Car" since you have to be really dumb to
>> buy one.
>>
>
> Were you going to follow up with some reasons or...?
>
How about...
- Slow; scary to drive on the freeway, especially in windy conditions
- Very limited carrying capacity
- Crappy transmission is notorious for failures
The 2014 Ford Fiesta is close in price & fuel economy but is a much
better vehicle. For a bit more $, the Honda CR-Z is even better, and
gets about the same mileage as a Smart. You also don't look like a dork
driving it :)
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Fake microsoft "your computer is infected" call
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fc91538c09253cb0?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 5:45 am
From: Shoe-Chucker 2
In article <l60emd$j8u$1@dont-email.me>,
Moe DeLoughan <moe@notmine.null> wrote:
> On 11/13/2013 10:35 AM, Bob F wrote:
> > I just got my second one of these calls.
> >
> > Hi: I'm from microsoft support calling to warn you that your computer has
> > many
> > infections...... and I am calling to help you get rid of them"
> >
>
> > I wonder how many people get scammed by this? Must be a lot to have a room
> > full
> > of people doing this.
>
> One of my sisters was taken in by this, because she was desperate for
> help regaining access to her third Gmail account (she keeps losing her
> password and totally losing access, thus requiring her to create a new
> account). He strung her along using the standard ploy and she bought
> into it completely - well, until he told her he needed $300 to clean
> her pc and regain her password. She's broke and unemployed. She told
> him she didn't have that much in her savings account. He obligingly
> lowered the fee to just below what she told him was left in her
> savings account. She belatedly acquired some common sense, declined,
> and hung up.
>
> He called back. This time the fee was a mere ninety-nine cents. She
> refused and hung up again.
>
> He kept calling the rest of the afternoon.
>
> >
> > If you get such a call, have a little fun too. Let's really waste their
> > time.
> > Anyone think my action will get me off their call list?
>
> No, because they haven't got a call list. They have sequential
> diallers that phone numbers in sequence.
>
> If you annoy them, they're ready and willing to annoy you right back.
> Personally, I see nothing to be gained by interacting with criminals.
> Safer and faster to just hang up.
Once , I got such a call. They asked for me and I said Oh, I'll go get
him. then I left the phone off the hook for 1/3 hour. I wonder how long
they waited for me to come back. Hey, I'll never know.
Another thing i'll never know.
Oh, well.
Now, I let the machine field all incoming calls. My friends don't call
the land line.
--
Karma ; what a concept!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Expensive new glasses!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c47878997e4a5f21?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 22 2014 5:51 am
From: Shoe-Chucker 2
In article <b6383d65-e19a-4955-b40d-6e3e79d1343e@googlegroups.com>,
21blackswan@gmail.com wrote:
> i got a little carried away and
> bought about 6 pairs of glasses,
> for under $100, from
>
> ZenniOptical.com
>
> can't be beat
>
> marc
Some can actually improve their vision and not need glasses at all.
Hey, I've done it.
Google; Vision Improvement.
--
Karma ; what a concept!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Montreal Wedding Dresses
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/bacbe7b3c15162ba?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 24 2014 10:12 pm
From: Montreal wedding
Montreal weddings celebrations can be done without the help of a wedding planner. Partly true but there are actually a number of benefits that couples get when having a professional wedding planner plan out everything for their wedding compared to planning everything for themselves.
See more at: http://www.marketplaceweddings.com/Montreal
==============================================================================
TOPIC: alternative to Google Voice to use with Obihai voip?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8927d6ec9e4423a8?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 29 2014 11:35 pm
From: SMS
On 1/6/2014 10:08 PM, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 12/28/2013 09:45 PM, Ohioguy wrote:
>
>> I have a ~30 Obihai VOIP box that I use with Google voice to get free
>> phone service. I hooked up a cordless phone, and can't tell the
>> difference between this and a landline.
>>
>> Trouble is, I've read that as of about 130 days from now, Google
>> Voice will no longer work with these little boxes, so I'm looking for an
>> alternative.
>>
>> Everything else I've seen charges a cent per minute or more. That
>> doesn't sound like much, but it is a lot more than free. I was hoping
>> to find something that charged about a tenth of a cent per minute.
>>
>> Anyone else on here use Google Voice with a voip box like the Obihai?
>> Have you found any cheap alternatives to Google Voice?
>
> Ooma uses its own VOIP system. The device is $100-$140 and service is
> $5-$15 month.
You can get outgoing service for 0.5¢/minute with Localphone. It's the
most like Google Voice. No E911 service.
This whole situation is being discussed on the Obihai forums
<http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=6968.0>, you must log in
to see them.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Google Worsening Google Voice on May 15, 2014. Dropping XMPP support.
No more free "landline" service.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/dd2212bdda4c6b03?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Jan 30 2014 5:56 am
From: SMS
Google is dropping support for Extensible Messaging and Presence
Protocol (XMPP) in Google Voice on May 15, 2014.
If you are using Google Voice with an ATA (analog telephone adapter),
such as one of the Obihai or Grandstream VOIP devices (or a hacked
MagicJack Plus), this combination will no longer work after May 15,
2014. Google Voice is very popular with these devices since together
they enable local phone service completely free of any monthly charges
(but no E911).
The reason for this change is probably because users of these devices
are not seeing any advertising when using Google Voice.
There are no no-cost alternatives, though Localphone and Callcentric are
pretty low cost alternatives, especially if you're not making thousands
of minutes of local calls per month. Ooma is a good alternative as well,
but it costs a bit more and you must use their VOIP adapter.
<http://blog.obihai.com/2013/10/important-message-about-google-voice.html>
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Montreal Weddings Planner
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/4c1e35f66d8bc57b?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 31 2014 4:08 am
From: Montreal wedding
Marketplaceweddings.com introduces you the unique and best florists in Montreal for Weddings and the wonderful impact the floral designs and floral center pieces will have on your Montreal Wedding.
website:http://www.marketplaceweddings.com
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Online Tea Source
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ba10f265d783c389?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 31 2014 12:46 pm
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
http://uptontea.com/shopcart/catalog.asp?begin=0&parent=Teas%3EBlack%3ECeylon&category=All+Ceylon+Teas
On Thu, 30 Jan 2014 18:30:48 -0500, Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
>Since the online tea merchant, "Specialteas", was assimilated by the
>"Teavana" amoeba there has been a dearth of online sellers offering
>quality estate-grown teas at moderate prices. Finally "found" Lupicia,
>a Japanese firm with a large USA presence, online at:
><http://www.lupiciausa.com/>. The loose Pettiagalla OP1 (sorry, no FOP)
>is right nice at only $6.00 (plus s&h) for 50g.
>
>Hey: Tea drinkers want to know these things. It's one of life's little
>relatively inexpensive pleasures.
== 2 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 31 2014 6:07 pm
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
On Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:55:33 -0500, Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
>hchickpea@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>>http://uptontea.com/shopcart/catalog.asp?begin=0&parent=Teas%3EBlack%3ECeylon&category=All+Ceylon+Teas
>>
> Thanks, Harry. Didn't see any Pettiagalla or Kenilworth, my Celon
>preferences. As a rule, I don't buy the lowest price because there's
>always a reason that it is and with tea that reason usually is old age
>but will check out their keemun and/or lapsang souchong very soon.
Friend of mine uses the site and has sent me some samples of Earl Grey which I
like (yeah, I know, the stuff is shamelessly plebian and floor sweepings of
stems masked with OOB.) The lavender accented one is interestin, but I may have
to toss it on the floor and mix in some straw to get the dusky flavor I like..
RE the PS
I have the various disks from about 6 years ago, is there something you need?
== 3 of 7 ==
Date: Sat, Feb 1 2014 10:20 am
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
Yeah, Bergamot and dirt. :-) Guess it relates to my liking scotch (except
Laphroaig, which tastes similar to an anti-dandruff shampoo I once used)
I've been considering dumping my hard copies from the 1970s or turning them into
art projects as the company has trashed any value to collectors. For a while
TMEN had the archives available for free online (soon after I bought the CD
set). They now have them on a DVD and readable in various formats for $50 The
CDs are a pain in the tuckus and I wouldn't recommend them. At least the DVD
has enough space that it is a unit search.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/shopping/detail.aspx?itemnumber=6899
I've referenced the wood gas articles a couple times, but there is better info
in one of the Yahoo groups. Didn't the early issues have yearly indexes?
On Sat, 01 Feb 2014 00:06:35 -0500, Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
>hchickpea@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>>The lavender accented one is interestin, but I may have
>>to toss it on the floor and mix in some straw to get the dusky flavor I like..
> Never could get to like Earl Grey, guess it's the ergamot or
>whatever it is that's added. Have you tried keemun or lapsang souchon?
>Fully fermented and then dried over fire and smokey, the keemun less so
>than the other.
>>
>--
>>RE the PS
>>I have the various disks from about 6 years ago, is there something you need?
> I have the original hard copies from issue 1 through year 1984,
>when I stopped subscribing. Never bought the index and thought I might
>bum a copy from you, since I'm dragging the mags out of storage to
>reference a couple of things I remember and an index would save some
>page-tuming and cussing. Could kick myself for not buying the indexes
>back in the day. Frankly, I haven't even checked the web site to see
>whether it's available online free or cheap. What years do your disks
>cover and might they be for sale?
> Take this to email, if you want; it don't matter to me. The "real"
>addey still works. If you've 86'd it, use
>money_for_nothing@earthlink.net (those spaces are underlines).
== 4 of 7 ==
Date: Sat, Feb 1 2014 8:01 pm
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
On Sat, 01 Feb 2014 16:39:08 -0500, Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
>hchickpea@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>>
>>I've referenced the wood gas articles a couple times, but there is better info
>>in one of the Yahoo groups. Didn't the early issues have yearly indexes?
>>
> Don't remember; guess I'll unpack a few and see. I'm investigating
>low voltage or direct wind-powered well pumps--home-brew, if possible.
>Low volume against one atmosphere, 20' suction, 12' lift. Want to keep
>the pump at the well head, if that's practical. Thought "mother" might
>offer some guidance from the dark ages ;-)
The 20' suction is right at the upper limit because of atmosphere pressure. If
you want the pump on the surface, a jet pump is the usual way to go. I have one
on a well. It pushes water down a small pipe which then goes through a 180
angle and an eductor (pointy nozzle) and uses B's principle to force up more
water than was used in a larger pipe, in the jet stream. Problem is that it
does take some power and a pressure tank is needed. It also needs a good foot
valve.
One of the cooler things I've seen is a coarse rope, with a pulley at the bottom
of the well and a simple pvc sleeve where the rope is coming up. At the top is
the motor, which drives a top pulley at a fair rate of speed. The rope goes
down, around the bottom pulley and pulls water along with it as it rises within
the loose fitting sleeve.
If you use a foot valve at the bottom of the well, and prime the pipe, you may
be able to use a standard 12 volt rv water pump. Those little suckers are
decent. Or... you could make a mini-jack pump.
For emergency usage, a bucket lift is just a section of pipe to fit the well
with a cap at the bottom and a leather patch on top of a hole in that cap. Tie
a rope to it, drop it in the well, wait for it to sink as the flap opens and
allows the water in, pull up.
There are (pricey) solar sumbersible pumps.
I keep all this trivia in my head.
== 5 of 7 ==
Date: Sun, Feb 2 2014 10:51 am
From: gheston@hiwaay.net (Gary Heston)
In article <mkpqe91d10kf1q6g8r1uagk8u5kme28fs2@4ax.com>,
Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
[ ... ]
> Don't remember; guess I'll unpack a few and see. I'm investigating
>low voltage or direct wind-powered well pumps--home-brew, if possible.
>Low volume against one atmosphere, 20' suction, 12' lift. Want to keep
>the pump at the well head, if that's practical. Thought "mother" might
>offer some guidance from the dark ages ;-)
There are other sources; here's a sampling from searching for "windmill
water pump":
Nice description of how it all works:
http://www.ironmanwindmill.com/how-windmills-work.htm
Article by a woman who installed a windmill, built a 10,000 gallon
holding tank, and piped an irrigation system, apparently by herself:
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ainsworth90.html
Article including step-by-step construction and how to build a pump
mostly from PVC plumbing pieces (Step 5):
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Wind-Powered-Water-Pump/
People who repair, rebuild, and sell windmills, parts, info on making
wood towers and holding tanks:
http://www.windmills.net/
Depending upon how ugly you're allowed to be in your area, you can also
build a windmill from three 55 gallon drums. Cut them in half top to
bottom, mount the halves in pairs facing opposite directions on a
vertical pipe, offsetting the pairs 120 degrees. Mount on a pivot and
brace the top with another pivot and use a chain or belt drive on the
top to drive your pump.
Gary
== 6 of 7 ==
Date: Sun, Feb 2 2014 11:06 am
From: gheston@hiwaay.net (Gary Heston)
In article <2qise9tq8g5m17d74enevec5l7f2h64j02@4ax.com>,
Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
[ ... ]
> Ah, but you don't know the rest of the story. It's a 3" well,
>which should give you some idea how long the casing's been in the
>ground. [ ... ]
Iron Man Windmill sells pumps as small as 1" in diameter:
http://www.ironmanwindmill.com/pricing/price-list.htm
If you have reliable wind, you can let the windmill pump continuously
and when the main tank fills, just divert the overflow to a safe place.
Gary
== 7 of 7 ==
Date: Sun, Feb 2 2014 12:42 pm
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
3" is small enough I would be half tempted to have another well driven.
Some web pages that might give you ideas:
http://www.fdungan.com/well.htm
http://web.mit.edu/2.972/www/reports/sucker_rod_pump/sucker_rod_pump.html
http://www.survivalblog.com/2009/06/seven-letters-re-advice-on-dee.html
Energy useage - the only energy you might save is in the inefficiencies of the
system being reduced or new energy you bring to the table.
The extra 12' lift is nothing worth worrying about.
If the pressure tank is a bladder tank or one that uses a compressor to inject
air, it is a lot larger than what I am used to, but one is essential to even out
the pressure from a pump and that size tank for a two family setup is likely
correct, since about 1/2 of it is air. Removing it or making it open would not
be a good thing.
What you could do is purchase one or more food grade 275 gal shipping container
(+-$100 used) and convert the well over to a sucker pump or whatever you decide
you want.
As a comparison - I push water up 100' from a creek to an 1100 gal cistern. It
requires a couple of ganged pumps and some time. 10 amps x 120 volts x 7 hours
for 500 gallons works out to about $1 at our electric rates. I fill about five
times per month, so pay about $5. However, I go through a $40 pump about once a
year, so water is a $100/year cost before it gets to the pressure pump under the
house. Neighbors pay $25/month for municipal water, so I'm $200/year ahead and
don't have to worry about fee increases.
I'd bet that your current costs are on a par with mine, even with two families.
Have you stuck a meter on the line to the pump or a flow meter on the system
output?
On Sun, 02 Feb 2014 12:08:47 -0500, Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote:
>hchickpea@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>>
>>The 20' suction is right at the upper limit because of atmosphere pressure. If
>>you want the pump on the surface, a jet pump is the usual way to go. I have one
>>on a well. It pushes water down a small pipe which then goes through a 180
>>angle and an eductor (pointy nozzle) and uses B's principle to force up more
>>water than was used in a larger pipe, in the jet stream. Problem is that it
>>does take some power and a pressure tank is needed. It also needs a good foot
>>valve.
> Ah, but you don't know the rest of the story. It's a 3" well,
>which should give you some idea how long the casing's been in the
>ground. 3" two-pipe extractors are inordinately expensive and, while it
>would resolve the static pressure, volume would not improve and I'd
>still be paying the electric co-op far more than I care to for its
>participation. Compounded by a 12' pressure lift into a 1250-gal
>vertical buffer/storage tank that is in series and pressurized. No, I
>didn't do any of that and the storage tank was installed vertically over
>my objections. I had considered a packer but I don't even know if 3"
>packers exist or, if they do, can be retrofitted. I've never seen one
>smaller than 6" and they all, 100%, eventually blow out. With a casing
>that old, I'm not sure I'd take the risk.
> My thought is to check off the large tank, open it to the
>atmosphere, use a low-power float-controlled pump to keep it filled and
>the existing half-horse shallow well pump to maintain service pressure
>and volume, reducing its power requirements significantly.
> The well serves two, two-person households and my drip irrigation
>system. Highest volume demands are laundry and showers, although, it is
>nice to be able to open a valve to a good high pressure stream.
> Ideally, I could simply use the existing drop pipe and foot valve
>but that works best with an open tank, which this one is not. The
>"ultimate" solution might be a submerged piston pump but, as you point
>out, low-voltage submersibles are expensive and would complicate, and
>possibly eliminate the use of of direct wind power, when available.
>Also, laying that damned stock tank down horizontally would eliminate
>some unnecessary (to my mind) pressure lift--reducing power requirements
>somewhat--but I might have to win a fight before being able to accomplish
>that.
> Prefer home-brew because keeping as much cash in my pocket as
>possible is highly desirable. I haven't sounded the well since 1996 so
>don't even know whether a simple PVC piston pump at the well head might
>be practical. I could easily set one on top of the existing drop pipe
>and use the existing foot valve as one of the checks. I have only begun
>to investigate possible solutions. At any rate, I won't begin seriously
>attacking the project until the installation of a '84 300 I-6 into a '96
>4WD F-150 chassis, a work in progress, is complete. Lordy, will I be
>glad to get rid of all of that high-maintenance plastic electronic
>crap....
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