Car Buying Tip of the Day

How to Buy a Car in 6 minutes:

Warning: Picture of rude gesture for 15 seconds

Chick-fil-A Tip of the Day

Chick-Fil-As in Lexington, KY are at it again. This week they are (again) giving away free breakfast.

Here is the menu:

• This morning - Sausage Biscuit
• Wed and Thurs - Chicken Minis
• Fri and Sat - Chicken Biscuit

Dishwasher Tip of the Day

Lots of lots of dishwashers, but how do you pick? What do you need?

These days, being 2008, all dishwashers clean pretty well. They are all reasonably quiet, aka. quieter then your old dishwasher. So you have the basics covered. There is one other hidden bit to watch out for (da da dun): squishy racks. That right, squishy racks. The racks that hold the dishes in place. On the lower end models, the coating on the racks, over time can crack and flack off. That leaves rusting metal exposed in your dishwasher, touching your otherwise clean dishes.


Dishwasher with minor rack damage, showing a little bit of rust

In some cases in can get so bad that it may ruin and entire set of dishes but covering them in rust if your continue to use the dishwasher with large amounts of rust exposed. The solution is to look for racks you can't squish with your fingernail. When that is the case, you've likely found racks with a nylon coating.

Also, Bosch has been long esteemed as making some of the quietest dishwashers out there. They achieve this by doing something a little bit different. Instead of running the top and bottom spinny-water-shooty-thingies at the same time, they alternate. You may or may not like the idea of that. The other way they do that is by being really expensive and using three layers of insulation. But recently they have started to make cheaper models, and even the less expensive models have gotten good reviews.

Consumer Reports has some additional notes on buying a dishwasher.

Coupon Tip of the Day

So the savvy shopper picks through the coupons they get in the mail and throws out the rest. But sometimes the coupons are so good and they are to places you would visit anyway that you wish you had more. Well now you do. If you get Family savings Magazine in your area, they reprint online. (Just click on the "Now in Digital Online" button.) Love getting a Burrito from Sonic for 99¢? Now you can get one every day! You are only limited by your printer paper!

Less Wal-Mart Tip of the Day

Thanks to the new thing called the internets, you can actually subscribe to your groceries, or Marketplace: your favorite toilet paper. It is a new program from Amazon.com where you can have items from their Grocery department shipped to you every month. Plus you save 15%!

Speeding Tip of the Day

A little birdie told me that from May 19 through June 1, the Kentucky State Police have received a federal grant for writing tickets for speeding. Speaking of getting speeding tickets, I have also recently been informed about a useful website (whose interface could really use some maps) that lists common speedtraps around the country, called speedtraps.org.

Sonic Tip of the Day

Sonic – Americ'a Drive In, is obviously a sucker for praise. One time I noticed on my reciept, that they, like many other places these days, have a phone customer satistfaction survey that they would like you to complete. And instead of entering you in a drawing (lame), it said that I would receive a coupon code for $1 my next visit. I throughly enjoy their sausage breakfast burrito - not the SuperSONIC Breakfast Burrito mind you, just the regular one. Unfortunately, its price has risen in recent months, up from $1.29 to $1.89. So I thought, it may be worth the 5 minutes to get the price of this thing under a buck. So I called the number and pressed 1 through 5 of my touch tone phone, it was relatively quick and painless. Happily got my code and the end and used it. Much to my surprise, when I got the receipt for my 94¢ burrito (after tax), there was another invitation to fill out the same survey!

As of this moment, I am on my third dollar off coupon, and plan to eat 94¢ breakfast burritos every Friday for the rest of my life.

Telemarketing Tip of the Day

I got a phone call this evening asking for Mr. Morris. I immediately knew this was going to be fun. "This is CSA calling on behalf of…blah blah blah…firefighters…blah blah blah". As she was rattling off her script, that she has said one too many times to avoid blurring the words together, I remembered a tip I had heard somewhere, sometime before. When she got done explaining that they have a gold level of support front $50 and a silver level of support for $25. I asked her what cut of the money the company receives for their fund raising efforts. She instead told me how much the firefighters get: 25%! Can you believe that? She went on to tell me there was a bronze level of support for $15. Doing some quick math, that means that the firefighters would be getting $3.75 of every $15 I were to donate.

All of a sudden, I'm not the one who feels bad for turning down telefundriasers, I would feel worse if I actually donated.

Battery Tip of the Day

Car batteries can range from $50 to $200. But how much power do you really need? Consumer Reports has a handu car battery buying guide.

The single best tip from the guide: "The time to think about buying a new auto battery is before the old one fails."

Pricing Tip of the Day

Round numbers can cost you money. If your bidding on a website or selling your house, people are less likely to haggle if you don't use round numbers. That's why Wal-Mart's $2.74 feels like they cut the price by as much as they can because it's not $2.99

Chick-fil-A Tip of the Day

Chick-fil-A sells calendars that have coupons for every month. The calendars are only $5. January's coupon is a free chicken sandwich. You can also purchase a coffee mug for around $20 and get free refills for the year. If you go to Chick-fil-A often and/or like coffee, this is a great deal.

Also, they are serving free breakfast on Mondays during the month of January at the Lexington branches.

Hidden Fee Tip of the Day

Sick of getting screwed by you cell phone, cable, financial and other "services"? Listen to How hidden fees can getcha, and what you can do about it

Update: More

4x6 Tip of the Weekend

Expecting a digital camera for Christmas? Now you just need to print some of your best shots. There are lots of companies providing that service these days, and most of them will give you some free prints just for signing up. Dealmac.com has a complete list totaling 380 Free Prints

Free Tip of the Weekend

For those designers out there needing affordable stock photography, nothing is more affordable than free. Even though it is not advertised when you sign up, StockXpert evidently gives you 5 credits just for registering! That is enough to buy a couple of images, in a pinch they may be all you need.

Mattress Tip of the Day

Mattress makers, like others in the specialty store industry, are really good at marketing. Remember the true purpose behind getting a good mattress, so you'll be comfortable sleeping and when you wake up. Ignore coil counts, and all that other stuff the sales person will confuse you with. Just get a comfy matress Debumking the mattress myths.

Greesy Tip of the Day

Sometimes it happens, a bottle of motor oil gets crushed and leaks all over your duffel bag. It happens to everyone. But instead of doing what you have always done, and just throw those clothes away, try this. Goo Gone is basically citrus powered magic. Spray it on, follow the directions and rub the grease out with a clean rag. It may take a couple of applications and the rest of your afternoon, but you won't have to throw your clothes away again.

Whiteboard Tip of the Day

Hopefully this hasn't happened to you, but that you have seen it happy to someone else because it is pretty funny. A little over zealous about scribbling some notes on the white board, you grab the nearest marker and go to town. Only after you fill up the entire board with notes do you realize that Sharpies™ and white boards don't mix. Luckily the solution to this otherwise expensive problem is fairly simple. You have to trick the white board into thinking it was written on by a dry erase marker. Just mark with a dry erase marker (double check this time) over all of the "permanent" markings, and then erase as normal. White boards aren't very bright, so this is all it takes to get them to release the Sharpie marks.

Alcon Tip of the Day

So the day has come when it is not just Used Car Salesmen you have to watch out for. Now you have to check your back at every turn…eyecare companies are trying to jip you.

See these two different but very similar in size bottles from Alcon? One is for Opti-One and the other for Opti-Free RepleniSH. The solution in the two bottles do the same thing, they clean soft contact lenses. Notice in the picture below that they bottles look like they hold the same amount of solution



The two bottles come in the same size boxboard packaging. But on the side of the Opti-Free RepleniSH bottle, I noticed this very interesting "Fill Line" on the side, kind of buried in all this other text you'll never read:



Ahha, they are up to something here. Closer inspection, identifies the problem!



Turns out that is why the prices on the shelf aren't that much different! They are selling you what looks like the same size product for what looks like about the same price.

After using Alcon products exclusively since I got my first contacts over 10 years ago, I guess it is time to switch brands.

Car Buying Tip of the Day

I learned something very valuable when "dickering" around with the salespeople when buying my car. While we all know salespeople prey on customer's inherent "niceness," there are ways to combat this without having to be mean. I call it "being direct," something I'm getting a bit better at.

What slimy salespeople will try to do is squeeze the absolute most out of you, hiding numbers in your trade-in value, etc. They'll say things like, "OK, the manager said you're gonna have to work with me. Can't we do another $200?" In your head you're thinking, "Sure I could do $200, but I don't want to, nor do I feel like I should pay that much for the car, and sure it's only a 'little more money,' but you already talked me into 'a little more money'." But, I've learned, you don't give them anything to go with. When they say, "Can't you do just $200 more?," just look at them, dead in the eye, and say, "No." Say NOTHING else. That simply "NO" will get you anywhere you want to go. If they respond with another question, say "No." If you say, "well, it's out of my price range," you'll get "well, what IS your price range?" and you'll be dickering all day. Just say no.

Oil Tip of the Day

If you are going to get your oil changed at Valvoline Instant Oil Change, don't unless you have a coupon. They charge 50% more then other oil change providers.

Gas Tip of the Weekend

For reasons unbeknownst to Tip of the Day staff, gas prices are the cheapest on Sundays, according to an unnamed Speedway/SuperAmerica employee, who also didn't know the reason. Still, they would know, and reliable sources say, get your gas on Sunday!

Car Tip of the Day

If you're ever in the process of making an offer on, and buying a car, there is one thing that is for certain. If your salesperson gets up to "talk to the manager" and comes back, smirking, and begins his/her sentence with, "Ok, now hear me out--I have an idea..." you KNOW you are in for it. Just stop him/her right there. What you are about to hear will be a far worse idea than you could ever imagine, and will probably involve them trying to thwart an additional several thousand bucks on you. Additionally, after said comment, if the sun suddenly breaks trough the clouds and your salesperson says, "Look, it's a sign!," you should immediately disregard it as well.

Direct Deposit Tip of the Day

Turn up the volume on your speakers for this and enjoy.

iTunes Tip of the Day

Ticketmaster will give you credit for five free songs of your choice on iTunes, just for joining their Facebook group! The code for the free credits appear after you join, the offer ends in mid November. While most of Tip O Da Day staff hates Ticketmaster, most of the staff also love free iTunes credits.

Thanks Ars Technica

Sale Tip of the Day

Speaking of starting your Christmas shopping early. Here is a quick tip for something that is sure to be on your family's list. Harbor Freight Tools, "America's Favorite Tool Store®" has a great price right now on motion activated pigs. But hurry their sale ends October 15th.

Speaking of 38% off, that is also how much you can save if you buy an iPod shuffle refurbished over its original price.

Rebate-and-Switch Tip of the Day

Has it been weeks, or even months, and your rebate still hasn't shown up?

It could be that the company in question is just inefficient, and needs a little encouragement to follow through on their promises.

But sometimes it's because your rebate is in a dumpster in San Jose!

Fie!

Christmas Tip of the Day

People who start shopping now for Christmas are not just Christmas-obsessed shopaholics who buy too much, like your Aunt Hilda. The smart start early too. Here’s a few benefits to this.

First of all, it spreads the cost of the holidays out over several months, instead of all at once.

Secondly, it gives you the chance to scope out more sales and bargains in two distinct ways.

Way 1: You may know exactly what you want to buy someone, but if you wait until December, that item may never be on sale. As of now, you have three whole months to keep your eye on that item for any sales.

Way 2: You have no idea what to get someone. When you see a sale or clearance rack/table, stop by for 5 minutes with your friends and family in mind. See where inspiration takes you.

Finally, if you start thinking about Christmas now, and you have the great idea to MAKE your gifts, you actually still have time to do it! No need to stay up until the wee hours in December trying to finish knitting Aunt Hilda’s scarf.

Remember to keep a list, not unlike Santa’s, and when you buy someone a gift, cross them off. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the buying once you’ve started. Hang on to all receipts until the holidays have passed. That way if you find something in November that you HAVE to get, you should still be able to take back the gift you purchased for that person in September.

Scotland Tip of the Day 1

When arriving or leaving Scotland's Preswick Airport, train tickets to anywhere in Scotland are half price for passengers. So, as long as you don't mind a little extra time on a train, it's best when arriving to go ahead and buy your ticket for your final destination (provided you'll arrive there the same day), no matter how far. It will save lots of money! I'm not sure whether or not it's also true for the Edinburgh airport, but it's sure worth looking into before choosing your flights!

London Tip of the Day Part 10

Flying out of London...
Sure, it's easy to get in. That 2 hour time you have to show up at the airport at most airports, not entirely necessary. But in London...they mean business! There, when RyanAir says one bag for carry on, they mean it! I had a purse and a lap top, and they made me put my purse in the laptop bag to pass through security! Luci's bag weighed 10.3 kilos, and they made her adjust it to be less than 10! She'd gotten to London with a backpack and a suitcase both as carry-ons, but as we went back, not only did she have to take stuff out of the suitcase, but she had to pay an extra fee to check her bag.
Here's a tip though, they had her mark it as fragile so it would get put up at the front of the plane! Apparently, you can request that.
Because she'd gotten stopped at the security gate and sent back to check her bag, they shuffled her to the front. But I was still in line! We'd gotten there two hours early and finally made it to the gate when the plane was boarding! We were delayed about 10 minute taking off to unload the luggage for 12 passengers who had not made it through security on time! And, they close the check-in counter 40 minutes before boarding, so you know they were on time!

And, as this is the tip at the airport going home, yes, it's the last London tip. I know you're all so sad about that. But, I'll keep taking trips to random places so I can contribute to the wonderful tip of the day! My research is all for you! Next stop, Scotland!

London Tip of the Day Part 8

Booking things in advance...
Generally, booking things in advance is a good idea. You typically get better prices, better seating, etc...But, when you book a tour in advance, you pay the same price and you run the risk of losing that money if you have to cancel. Usually, in the states, if someone gets sick, you can get a refund if you are reasonable about it and cancel before hand. Unfortunately, customer service is a little lacking here. We called to cancel a tour, first of all they asked why they didn't get more notice. Their line was busy all morning. They also didn't get more notice because I'd just gotten sick. They told us the best they could do was 50% back, but as soon as we let them know that wasn't good enough, they sent us to expedia, who we booked through. Of course the best they could do was a $25 gift certificate! No go on that. So, lesson learned, if it's not a hotel room, a play, or a movie, I'm not booking in advance! Besides, since I've gotten here, I've discovered other tours that I'd like to do just as well, such as the "Jack the Ripper" tour!

Free Tip of the Day

We interupt our regularly scheduled London tip for this important announcement.

You can't even believe it, unless you first saw it on Facebook, but TODAY, at the University of Kentucky campus Chipotle, you get a FREE burrito! It's all day long! (Well, from 11:00 to 10:00). The best part is, there's no gimmicks, nothing to pay for, no dressing up as a burrito or any other crazy nonsense. Just show up, and eat in glory.

NOTE: This is only going on at the UK campus Chipotle, don't go to the Mt. Tabor or Hamburg locations thinking it's going on there too.

Thanks Jay & Facebook

Cheap Tip of the Day

So your reception is already 4k over budget, you gotta cut costs somehow. Why not make you're dress out of Quilted Northern. It's probably cheaper than buying a dress plus you might even win a couple hundred dollars.

Shopping Tips of the Day

Tip #1: Amazon often has some great deals and rebates on cellphones.

Tip #2: If you find that your $150 rebate is taking longer than the 8 to 12 weeks that they promised, try calling to complain. When they tell you that an error in their database caused your rebate to be erased, ask them to reissue it.

Tip #3: If you find that your rebate still has not come after 20 weeks, try calling to complain. When they tell you that another error in their database caused your rebate to be erased, ask them to reissue it.

Tip #4: If you find that your rebate still has not come after 28 weeks (7 months), try calling to complain. When they tell you that your order is processing and there is nothing they can do to speed it up, ask them how long it will take. When they tell you another 5-6 weeks, kindly hang up the phone and go to ftc.gov. An online complaint form awaits you there. Simply fill out said form and forward a copy of it to someone at Amazon. You should receive a response from Amazon letting you know that you will receive your rebate in 2 to 3 business days.

-Thor

London Tip of the Day Part 5

Still trying to save money on the big trip to London, but you really want to see some shows. They do have half price and discount ticket sales here. The only thing with these is that you should have looked up the prices on-line to see what you're willing to pay, and you'll need to ask them where the seats are. Seat pricing is odd here...you even pay more for certain seats in the movies! You in fact pay more to sit in the balcony at the movies! There is one theater here, I believe called the National Theater, where you pay 10 pounds and they have multiple stages with multiple productions going on. So with one price, you have a selection of plays from which to choose. So, if you're in town and want to see a play just to say you saw a play in London...there is one way to go! But if there is something specific, try the discount ticket places, you may just find a good deal.

London Tip of the Day Part 2

We all know that London is super expensive. The US dollar will only buy us half a pound. And, you see prices over here like 10 pounds for a hamburger at a restaurant after tips and such...just like in the states where it's $10, but here, that makes that hamburger $20! It's outrageous! So, we have to find ways to cut the cost a bit. One way to do that is to purchase the "London Pass" and include travel on it. The London Pass gets you %15 off certain restaurants and stores. It gets you entry into things that normally charge admission such as the Tower of London, Shakespeare's Globe Theater, the London Aquarium and such things. I'd recommend getting a 3-day pass so you can really make some good use of it! I've been told that one day just doesn't do the city justice. And the travel pass gets you on every subway and DLR (district line rail) to get you everywhere in London and its suburbs.

Speaker Buying Tip of the Day

When buying computer speakers, since it is near impossible to fine reviews on cheap speakers, you have to find other means of evaluating the quality of the devices. Here is our basic guide, just look for the LED color on the front of one of the speakers:

• Red LED: These speakers are alright
• Greed LED: Better than red, but still not your best buy
• Blue LED: Buy these ones, Blue LED are always a sign of quality products.
  

Thanks Dave

Google Tip of the Day

Refuse to pay $1.79 to call 411? Google has a great little solution for you. Call 1-800-GOOG-411 and they'll give you the 411 on whatever business you're looking for info on. If you are trying to get to that business just say "map it" and you'll get a Text Message with the Map. Now instead of being screwed by your cell phone company for $1.79, you'll just get screwed by 25¢.

Computer-on-the-Cheap Tip of the Day

If your budget is too limited for the high-end models, but you still need a computer for a very specific purpose, Popular Science has step-by-step instructions on how to build your own for only $72.

I was gonna save up for a couple months to build my next computer, but now I learn that I'm already there!


While you're at it, you can build your own lightsaber for only $11.20!

Driving in Germany Tip of the Day Part 5

Speed limit going from 130 to 100 on a rainy day? A recommended speed of 130? Yes, I said that. Just remember that speed limits in Germany, where they drive on the right side of the road (it's England that drives on the left), are in km/h, not mph. So, 100 really means 62. And, 130 is around 80. So, it's really not quite as fast as you'd think. It's also interesting looking at cars without American specifications, as they always tell you how many kilometers are on the car, and how many kilometers you get per liter of gas. Prices of gas are insane. They look great when you get here...€1.35 for regular fuel. But, that's Euro's per liter. So, you're looking at $6.84 gallon. Feel lucky when you go to the pump today! I hear Italy had a week long gas strike last week! And, I don't want to drive in England where the dollar is doing even worse!

MacBook Tip of the Day

Even though it's not officially supported, Final Cut Pro will run on a MacBook (non-Pro). Color and Motion won't though, but who uses those anyway. Hello $1100 mobile edit bay!

Cow Appreciation Tip of the Day

Cowboy (girl) up . . .

Mark it on your calendar now, July 13th. It's your freebie tip 'o the day. In honor of "Cow Appreciation Day," Chik-fil-a is giving out a free combo meal or a free kids meal for anyone who comes in dressed from head to toe as a cow on July 13th. If you come in partially dressed (i.e. a cow purse or a cow hat, etc.) you can get a free entree. There are ideas at this link and more details, too. For instance, they suggest coloring an old white t-shirt with a marker to make cow shirts . . .

From: Cherie

Save Moo-lah Tip of the Day, Part 3

9. Refill and Reuse Cups
"Many of us get take our coffee in the morning and were using plastic and cardboard cups," said Plenty Magazine Managing Editor Deb Snoonian. "Bring your own mug. You can leave one at work; you can even often times bring a reusable mug as you're commuting in your car. It can be refilled over and over again. Wash it at home it's a nice habit to get into that saves you one cup a day (Ah Ms. Snoonian, I've missed you since last week. What would I do without your wisdom in my life?).

10. Pay Your Bills Online
It's not only quicker and easier to pay by computer, it also puts a major dent in the paper waste pile.

11. Become Battery Smart
Stretch your battery use. A battery too drained to power a flashlight might be perfect to operate your TV remote. Before you pitch it - switch it!

12. Car Air Conditioning
It's practically standard on modern cars. Use it wisely. At higher speeds, open windows create drag and lower your mileage. Roll them up and use the air and recirculation. At slower speeds and around town, roll down your windows and catch a cool breeze.

13. Drive Thru
Avoid the drive thru. Instead of idling in line with your engine running for several minutes, save the gas by parking and going inside for your order.

14. B.Y.O.B.
Bring Your Own Bag. Some grocery stores give you cash toward your next purchase for every bag you bring in to use again. It saves them and you money. "In the U.S., we use five hundred billion plastic bags every single year and only three percent of those get recycled," said Deb Snoonian, Managing Editor of Plenty Magazine. "You can also buy permanent bags with designer colors." (It never even occurred to me to grab from the pile of plastic Wal-mart bags before I headed back to said store. Although I’m a little nervous about the look the cashier is going to give me when I tell her I’ve brought my own.)

Mo Money Mo Problems Tip of the Day

Looking to save a little more money when eating out? Get gift certificates here for 50% off.

Update: For none Lexington, KY readers, check HalfOffDeals.com

You can save when eating in, too. Couponmom.com has all sorts of suggestions. You don't even have to be a mom to follow them. Here's a strategy: use an online 50%-off coupon to buy gift certificates from a [participating] website where they are already 50% off, and you could turn a $40 meal into a $10 one!


BONUS ETIQUETTE TIP: Please remember to tip your waiter according to the regular value of your meal!

Game Tip of the Day

The highly addictive game Wingnuts is now free for Mac users. They came out with a sequel, so they're giving away the old one now. Just go to Wingnuts 2 homepage and look in the right hand column for "Download WingNuts1 for FREE!"

Save Gas, Burn more Jetfuel Tip of the Day

There's a new airline called Skybus operating out of Columbus, Ohio that is positioning itself to offer ridiculously cheap flights.

Columbus to Seattle? $75
Columbus to Los Angeles? $100
Columbus to Boston? Freaking $10!

They are also running a current special where the first ten seats sold on any flight will be only $10 - regardless of the destination.

Okay, you might notice a pattern - for the time being (until they expand), you have to fly in or out of Columbus. A little inconvenient perhaps, but we're just close enough to make it worthwhile.

How do they offer flights so cheap? By cutting back on a lot of luxuries we take for granted. Flight times are somewhat limited at this point. Checked bags cost extra ($5 each for the first two bags). Pretzels and mini-Sprites cost extra. Tickets are nonrefundable. There is no first class.

But there are some positives, too (besides the ridunk cheap prices). For example, they fly in and out of secondary airports, avoiding the crowds and delays that are common with the big airports. The seats are leather. They fly orange planes. Also, their website is pretty amusing.

Save Moo-lah Tip of the Day, Part 1

I recently received in my inbox a list of 50 things you can do to help take care of our world and save some money in the meantime. That email was titled "Going Green" although my husband would rather emphasize the fact that it saves you money, rather than worry about the possibility that he accidentally married a liberal. Some of the suggestions were easier than others. For example, I don't currently have $8500 for a solar water heater, even if it will pay for itself in six years. Sooo, that one's not likely to happen. My condensed list of "so easy it's stupid" things we can all be doing, will follow over the next few days.

1. Update your lighting
Make it a policy to buy energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. You can now get a variety of shapes and perfectly match the color hue and lighting for each room. They look good and use at least two-thirds less power than regular lighting.

2. Wall Warts
Those clunky power adapters draw energy from the wall all the time. Unplug them individually or attach them to a power strip and turn off the whole switch when not in use. Around 75-percent of all electricity in a home comes from appliances that are turned off, but are still plugged in. Make sure that you only have those appliances plugged in where you're actually using the electricity. You will save on bills and we as a society will save on energy

3. Save Water
Place a water bottle filled with liquid or pennies into your toilet's water tank. This will cause the tank to use less water every time you flush. Plenty Magazine Managing Editor Deb Snoonian estimates it wil save you about a quart to half a gallon per flush. (Seriously - her name is "Snoonian?")

Insurance Tip of the Day

This tip is special thanks to Chad at the Cre8tive Group, who didn't realize his helpful information would become a tip for the world to see!

You'd think that if you have a high-price item in your home or business that it would be covered, in almost any circumstance by your homeowner's insurance. But you may not realize that most insurance policies only cover individual personal items up to $1,000, often times close to your deductible. Of course, if your house burned down, flooded, or was otherwise destroyed, of course insurance would replace the home and the items inside. But, if someone broke in, stole that one item, and left, it would only be covered to $1,000, unless you have a separate type of insurance for the item.

So, Chad informed me that a type of insurance offered by most providers is a great solution. It's a type of insurance called inland marine insurance, which you can use to insure any piece of property at almost any value. The best part is that this insurance is cheap, and it covers the item inside or outside your home, and in almost any situation of damage, theft or destruction. It could be stolen, ran over by your car, rained on, thrown into a lake or dropped off a cliff. And the best part is, there's no deductible. You're insured for whatever amount you specified. The only scenarios in which inland marine insurance does not cover you are 1. intentional damage or destruction, or 2. if the item was being used in a felony.

But, this insurance is especially useful if the item will be rented to other people, traveling on delinquent airlines, or being shipped. Laptops, cameras, videocameras, jewelry, etc. would all be good candidates for this insurance.

State Farm offers inland marine, and for my HD videocamera, it was only $1.55 per $100 for a year. Well worth the peace of mind!

Burger Tip of the Day

Those of us who live in the Lexington area have probably driven past that sketchy, yes this clown's name is Sketchy, place on the sketchy north side of town that totes "79 Cent Burgers and Shakes" in a 50s-esque sign. You know you've been curious as to whether or not it's any good. Well, our insiders have tested it, and we're proud to say it's actually a good burger! You probably now have two questions. First, what's it like? And second, how are they able to stay in business? The place is a little "trek back in time." You'll walk in and there will be two old yocals who have been sitting there since '53 when the place opened. They'll stare at you and wonder why you're in "these parts" and expect you to be wearing a varsity letter jacket for admission. You'll then notice a scary contraption, which leads me to answer two. You see, much like Ford discovering the assembly line to lower production costs on their vehicles, the "79 Cent Burger Shack" has learned a valuable lesson. They have a machine that's been churning out delicious burgers since the place opened in '53. I hear it's never shut down. I think it self-maintains itself with burger grease. At any rate, the burger patty is picked up from a pool of indigenous greasy water. It's then put on a metal-runged conveyor belt, and slides out a little chute (so disturbing, right?) that looks like a waterslide. It then passes through the top of the iron-clad beast to be kissed by flames shooting out the top, for a quick second. It then slides down the chute, soon to slide down your intestines.

Derby Tip of the Weekend

We've developed a great strategy for betting at the races that guarantees you not swindling too much money, and benefiting those you care about. Oh, and not giving "the house" one penny. It's simple. You and your group of friends each decide to throw a set amount of money in a pot, and the person whose horse finishes closest to the top wins the pot. That way no one gambles away their life savings, and even if you lose, you know a good friend got your cash, and not Biggs Casino. And, you can probably con the day's "big winner" into buying everyone dinner or drinks afterward. :-)

Change Tip of the Day

Heard the old phrase "not worth the paper it's printed on"? Well, as it turns out, a variation of that is true. "Not worth the metal it's minted on" is true of some older US coinage. Coinflation has the full details.

AAA Tip of the Day

Do you think that the AAA card is only good for a tow or getting your car unlocked? Well, think again...Show your Card & Save! You can save money at hotels, airlines, car rentals, restaurants, retail stores, etc. Specifically, you can save 15% at New York & Co. (even on sale items) and 20% at Payless for the month of March.

Fraud Tip of the Day

So we've already covered that you're not all that liable for fraudulent Credit Card activity. Well did you also know that your liability is limited for regular bank accounts too? (in the U.S.) The only trick is you have to catch it early. If you notice fraudulent activity within 2 days you are only liable up for $50. Some banks, like ING Direct want their customers to feel so safe, they go above and beyond the law and you are liable for $0. You just have to catch it early. So sign up for online banking and check your account every other day. It could get to be a pain, but at least you won't have your bank accounts completely drained!