Finding Some Extra Jingle, Jingle For the Holidays

December 23, 2014

As I pulled into the unmanned toll booth on 90W in Chicago recently, I was glad to find I had quite a bit of change in the bottom of my purse since the toll was $1.90 and took coins only.  That got me thinking about all the loose change many people have in their pockets or car cup holders and all the extra coins sitting around in coffee cans, piggy banks, and like in my house – a huge plastic pretzel jar.  The average household has about $58 in loose change based on the typical amount of coins cashed in at Coinstar. Continue reading “Finding Some Extra Jingle, Jingle For the Holidays”

Happy Holidays Now and in January

December 01, 2014

The holiday season is officially here and I can honestly say that it may take me a few days to fully recover from Thanksgiving dinner (and a few rounds of leftovers). Despite spending about 20 hours in a car, it was fun setting some time aside to do nothing but eat, watch football, and express a little gratitude. In our household, the peaceful tradition of starting an Advent calendar on December 1st is usually countered by the hectic activity of trying to coordinate family logistics for the next month. Continue reading “Happy Holidays Now and in January”

Timing is Everything: Why You Should Wait for the “Right Moment”

May 02, 2013

Yesterday, my colleague Greg Ward published a blog post about a friend who was awarded a $1k vacation that he has yet to use in 2 years because he’s waiting for the “right moment.” Greg then points out how many gift cards and reward points go unspent each year by people who may be doing the same thing. Well, I am that friend so let me explain why it actually can make sense to wait for the “right moment.” Continue reading “Timing is Everything: Why You Should Wait for the “Right Moment””

Don’t Wait for “Just the Right Moment”

May 01, 2013

As I prepared my bath this Sunday, I noticed a brand new package of epsom salt on the edge of the tub. My daughter and I like to pour it into the tub to help relax aching muscles, but as I stared at the unopened package, the thought occurred to me that if I opened this package I would no longer have a brand new bag of salt.  For some reason the thought of not having a brand new bag of salt was holding me back from actually opening and using the salt. Continue reading “Don’t Wait for “Just the Right Moment””

What Are The Worst Ways To Redeem Your Credit Card Rewards?

September 05, 2012

There’s certainly no shortage of websites that gloat about credit card rewards (admittedly, mine is one of them) so it’s safe to assume that you’ve already heard plenty about the advantages of cash back, airline miles, and the like. But what about the disadvantages? Even the best reward programs have hidden pitfalls. Depending on how you redeem them, you may be taken for a ride. Here are the worst choices you can make. Continue reading “What Are The Worst Ways To Redeem Your Credit Card Rewards?”