Pixie’s Picks: The Holiday Edition
I’m thinking of a number, and that number is 5,184,000!
No, it is not the number of items on your To-Do list for this week or the number of socks your dryer ate last year. Ladies and gentlemen it’s again time to set your clocks to countdown mode.
Join the PiggyBankPixie as I count down the five million, one thousand eighty four thousand seconds of the mind boggling, wallet wasting, and waistline busting holiday season of 2010. We promise it will be an exciting, fun filled sixty days.
We encourage you to stop by each day for the all new Piggybank Pixie’s Picks: Special Holiday Edition. Together we will count down the days and chop the holiday chores into cookie size portions. Yes, I already have visions of gingerbread cookies dancing in my head. How about you?
Visit us often, each day we will post new tips and give you valuable information that help get you through this busy holiday season. We give you cost saving techniques that keep your gift giving list from burning a hole in your wallet. Ouch! We help you stock your pantry and menus with family friendly food ideas. We even will share plenty of unique and clutter free gift giving ideas for even the most difficult ones on your gift list. Yes, I might even be talking a little bit about myself on these days. Are you strapped for time? We’ve got that covered too, by giving you the insider’s tools, like iPhone apps, gift list tools, and checklists you need to save time.
May your holidays be merry & on budget!
Got Expired or Unused Drugs?
While your doctor prescribes medicine to relieve symptoms of various illness and conditions, they often create an annoying side effect the inability to safely and easily dispose of old medications. In the past you may have flushed those unused capsules or tablets. Science tells us that practice is now a no, no as the active ingredients are readily absorbed into the municipal water supply. Another common route, simply tossing them into the household garbage, likely results in active ingredients seeping into our local landfill soil. Its left me confused on alternative options, that is until now.
On Saturday, September 25, 2010, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) is coordinating the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day with various state and local law enforcement agencies to collect those controlled substances from America’s medicine cabinets. The DEA hopes collection efforts like this will remove excess, expired, and unused supply of prescription medicines in American households that are frequent sources of illegal, prescription drug sales taking place on our streets.
The no questions asked collection activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at sites established throughout the country. The “National Take-Back Day” gives the public an opportunity surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceuticals for destruction. Many of the Rx drugs become sources for illegal use and present risks to the publics health and safety. Clear out those medicine cabinets the safe way. For more information and the PSA video visit the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day website.
Help from a Nerd That Saves You Money
Let a nerd do the credit card homework for you
Are you in the market for a new credit card? Do want rewards like airline miles or cash back? Do you spend at gas stations and grocery stores? Why spend hours searching for one that fits your spending habits and credit score. Instead, nab the best credit card for your spending habits by using NerdWallet.com. The site, ranked #1 Credit Card Site by Money, will “do the homework for you” on credit card research. http://ht.ly/2dZI3
Their Bad Weather Can Increase Your Home Insurance Rate
No surprise that bad weather increases home insurance claims & rates. D
o you think that you are protected from a rate hike just because you have a clean claims history? Think again, recent natural disaster have resulted in larger than normal payouts for insurance companies. As a result they are passing along those expense to policyholders in the form of increased premiums. Our advise, carefully review your policy statement before paying bill & avoid escrow shortfall surprise! The Information Institute offers these 12 Tips to lower your insurance premiums get the facts at http://ht.ly/2bUBz
Have you Snitch’d Yourself?
Have you snitch’d yourself? No, I am not talking about a personal hygiene issue or a medical condition. When your online reputation is important use http://snitch.name/ to see your online profiles all-in-1-place.
Here are some great times to snitch yourself:
- When You Run a Business: Make sure your online brand is current and positive. You can’t expect your team to be professional if you do not lead by example.
- When You are the “Brand”: Your looks and name are valuable resources. For Real estate agents, product spokes people, and those media personalities this is an absolute must. Make sure your profile screams “pick me” just as much as your online profile does.
- When You are Job Hunting: Make sure to put your best professional foot forward for your next employer to see. Consider this, would you hire someone who is more famous on the internet for their Saturday night antics than a Hollywood socialite?
Did you uncover things aren’t quite what you expected? For social media sites such as Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, and Flickr start by logging onto your profile. I suggest changing our profile photo, update your work experience, and double check spelling. Next, contact website owners to update inaccurate or inappropriate content. That great client endorsement wouldn’t get you very far if your name is spelled wrong. Remember that any legal actions or proceedings you are involved can not be removed without a judges order. Let’s just hope we are not dealing with this issue.
Now that you’ve cleaned up your online image be sure to keep it that way going forward. Put a reminder on your calendar to check back to ensure all those updates have taken effect and document your greatness.
10 Recognizable Brands that May Disappear
10 Recognizable brands that may disappear in 2011, including many brand names you know and loved. Read the full article from Yahoo at http://ht.ly/2dXBx
According to 24/7 Wall St. in the current, tough economic times some very recognizable brands are in danger of disappearing from and becoming part of our consumer brand memories. After reading the list, you find mind yourself musing of the days gone by when you drove to Blockbuster and rented a pile of VHS tapes for weekend or day-dreamed of the day you’d be mature enough to receive a sparkling gift box from Zales. As time passes on we’ll just have to wait and see if these predictions come true.
Visting an ATM Can Cost You: Sense and Cents
Remember to be careful when you visit any ATM! Otherwise you will lose both your sense & cents! http://ht.ly/2caMC – NY State Banking
