When making an online purchase, it's common to see a box where you can enter a promotion code. But where do you get the code? An entire cottage industry of coupon code web sites has emerged to answer that question. Do a Google search for "coupon codes" and you'll see what I mean. Personal finance writer Mary Hunt recently recommended two of her favorites: Currentcodes.com
and MommySavesBig.com
.
Matt's View
You'll find other suggested coupon code sites on Mary's blog
. On a related topic, credit card company web sites are also good sources of retailer and e-tailer discounts. Check out the cardholder offers from Visa
, MasterCard
, and American Express
.
The push to unplug is gaining momentum. A couple of months ago I highlighted a simple way to save on electric bills: unplug electric devices when not in use. More recently, CNNMoney.com reported that California lawmakers are working on legislation dubbed the "Vampire Slayers Act" which would require electric products to carry labels stating how much electricity they use when on, off, or in standby mode. Apparently the state's legislators think of plugged in but not used TVs, coffee makers, and cell phone chargers as having their fangs attached to the necks of our electric outlets. And maybe they're not far off. Such "passive" electric use accounts for anywhere from 5 to 40 percent of a typical homeowner's electric bill.
Matt's View
One simple solution is to plug multiple devices into a power strip and then turn off the strip when the devices are not in use. Speaking of energy, with winter fast approaching, you might consider a home energy audit
. A recent Yahoo Finance article recommended the government's Energy Star web site
for additional ideas on making your home as energy efficient as possible.
By the time this year is through, I will have written 24 issues of this eNewsletter and summarized 96 of the best personal finance articles I could find. However, one of my favorite ideas from the year did not come from a newspaper, magazine, or web site. It came from a couple that graciously shared some of their story with me for a book I'm writing. Throughout the year, whenever they experience some unexpected blessing--whether large or small--they jot down what happened and put the note in what they call a "blessing box." On Thanksgiving Day they read the notes aloud while their family is gathered around the dinner table. It helps them remember and acknowledge God's goodness, and they hope it fosters hearts of gratitude in their children.
Matt's View
Those two simple words--"thank you"--are a proven source of happiness for those who take the time to take stock of what they are grateful for, and a powerful antidote for the many marketing messages that are intent on making us dissatisfied. Here's wishing you a Thanksgiving that's rich in meaning and gratitude.
Malnutrition takes the lives of five million children every year--the equivalent of one child every six seconds, according to a story by 60 Minutes. In the West African country of Niger, the problem is so acute that "most mothers have watched at least one of their children die." To address the issue, the Nobel Prize-winning relief group Doctors Without Borders
has come up with an inexpensive remedy. "Plumpynut" is being called "the most important advance ever to cure and prevent malnutrition." The simple vitamin-enriched concoction is made of peanut butter, powdered milk, and powdered sugar. A daily dose costs just one dollar. In a land with no electricity for refrigeration and little clean water to mix with powdered milk, Plumpynut is proving to be a lifesaver.
Matt's View
A little bit of money goes an incredibly long way
in the fight against hunger. If you're looking for a great return on your money, this is a highly rated
, highly recommended charitable organization.
