by Mike on February 18, 2010
I’m sick with a fever and my daughter is home from kindergarten with pneumonia so I’m kind of kicking back my feet a bit and catching up on some reading. This morning I was browsing around the halls of Reddit when I noticed this fascinating article from New Scientist that claims Google pulls in half a BILLION dollars each year thanks to typos.
I have no idea if those numbers are accurate but I wouldn’t be surprised. There’s a whole industry that revolves around typed in domain names. “Domainers” as they’re sometimes called buy up lots of lots of domains with no intention at all of developing them into a website. Instead they simply leave them “parked” and when visitors arrive at them all they see are a bunch of ads.
The whole business model revolves around domains that are either:
1. Typos of well known sites. If you’re trying to visit Copyblogger.combut forget a “g” you’ll be taken to a site that consists solely of ads. If your site becomes big enough you’ll start to see copycats trying to steal some of your traffic like this too.
2. Keyword phrases that naturally get lots of searches and potential type in traffic. For example, let’s say you are going to a show in Manhattan and you want to find a nice place to eat while you’re there. You might open your browser and type in a phrase like “restaurantsinny.com”. If you do you’ll be taken to another site with nothing but ads.
When you click on any of the ads on these sites the owner gets paid. And if they’re using AdSense ads then Google gets a cut too.
Now, historically Google has always demanded that AdSense publishers deliver unique, quality content. In fact you could be denied participation in the program if your site isn’t up to snuff.
But with the launch of Google AdSense for Domains the Big G seems to have changed its tune. There’s no content at all on these parked sites yet they are allowed into the club. I guess half a billion dollars is too good to pass up…even for Google.
by Mike on February 16, 2010
How closely do you pay attention to the cashier at your local supermarket? Do you check your receipt to make sure you’re not being overcharged?
Sunday evening I ran to Shoprite to pick up a couple of things. While I was trying to explain to my daughter that no she can’t have the giant, overpriced Blue’s Clues balloon I was overcharged for 2 bags of cheesy popcorn.
They were supposed to be on sale for 2 for $3, which would be $1.50 each. But when I got home I scanned the receipt and they had rung up at the full price of $2.99 a bag. Because I was distracted with my daughter I was overcharged $2.98.
Now…what to do?
My wife said I should go back and complain and get my money back. But is it really worth it? Let’s let some basic math decide for us.
The Shoprite I went to is about 6 miles from my house. My wife’s minivan gets about 18 miles per gallon in city driving, so the 12 mile trip to Shoprite and back would burn about 2/3 of a gallon of fuel. At $2.58 per gallon (which is what I paid to fuel up this morning) that little trip would cost me $1.72 in fuel costs.
It would cost me $1.72 to get back my $2.98 so in reality I’d only be ahead $1.26.
If you want to get technical you could factor in wear and tear on the car too. Twelve miles is pretty insignificant in the long run but for laughs let’s work in the cost of an oil change.
If I get the oil changed every 3000 miles and it costs me $26 at the local garage, each mile driven costs $0.0086.
26 / 3000 = 0.0086
Multiply that number by 12 miles driven and it adds a little over 10 cents to the trip. Now it’s actually costing me $1.82 to get my $2.98 refund. I’d end up ahead a measly $1.16.
Is it worth it?
What about the time I’d waste trying to get my refund? I figure it would take me about 30 minutes to drive to Shoprite, park, walk inside, stand on line, explain what happened, get my refund and drive home. Thirty minutes for $1.16.
That’s an hourly rate of just $2.32. If someone offered you a job for $2.32 an hour you’d probably laugh in their face yet you’ll gladly give up your time for the same amount?
My time is valuable to me. I’d rather take that half an hour and write a post for this blog, or work on another site that can earn me far more than $1.16. Or I can take those 30 minutes and spend it doing something fun with my family. Or reading and learning something new. Or pretty much anything other than stand on line in Shoprite.
Yes, I know if I had been paying closer attention in the first place I would have spotted the mistake and had it corrected immediately. But I’ll accept the small loss in exchange for teaching my daughter a small lesson about the difference between “wants” and “needs.” Plus it gave me material for this post…so it wasn’t all bad.
PS – I do realize I could ask for my refund on my next trip to Shoprite but we don’t usually shop there. It’s an inconvenient location and I only stopped there because it was on the way home that evening.
by Mike on February 15, 2010
You’re getting married? Congratulations!
It’s such a wonderful time and it can be so much fun. But it can cost you a fortune too.
Between the wedding dress, limos, food, flowers, and music, you can easily drop tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding.
You’re smart for looking for ideas for wedding receptions on a budget.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a beautiful and memorable wedding. Let’s look at a few ways that other bride and grooms have thrown wedding receptions on a budget:
If you live near the coast and are getting married in the warmer months, a wedding on the beach is perfect. The sound of waves crashing into the beach sets the mood and a spectacular ocean backdrop makes for stunning pictures. How about a clam bake and late night bonfire? You’ll save a fortune over more formal affairs.
If the beach is too far or you just don’t like getting sand all over you, getting married in a park is a good alternative. Look for a park that’s clean with lots of scenic views. You won’t need to spend much on a florist if you choose a site already loaded with lots of greenery and flowers.
For those on a real shoestring budget, a backyard barbecue can be the best option. One of the best weddings I ever attended was in my friend’s backyard. It was informal and cozy, and the food was fantastic (My buddy’s dad is from Texas…and he knows how to GRILL!!).
Obviously you’ll need a yard that’s large enough to fit your guests and tidy enough to not embarrass you. Mow the lawn, trim the bushes, and hide the gardening tools in the shed. You should also consider renting a tent in case the weather doesn’t work out the way you plan.
More Money Saving Tips for Weddings
I’ve just given you three different options for throwing wedding receptions on a budget. But there’s a lot more to planning a wedding on a small budget than just location:
1. Who pays for wedding expenses? This is an important concern for many couples. If your families offer to help great. If not, you’ll have to start saving some serious cash ASAP!
2. Food. Buffets are usually much cheaper than sit-down dinners, and many guests prefer buffets because they get to try out all of the dishes instead of just one.
3. Music. Live bands are great, but going with a DJ can easily save you a couple grand. If you can’t live without live music, try to find a college band that will play for less money.
4. Flowers. Using flowers that are in season can save you a bundle. Out of season varieties may have to be shipped halfway around the world and you’ll be footing the bill.
5. Video and Photo. Prices vary wildly from one vendor to another. Shop around before making a choice, and ALWAYS ask to see samples of their work. Also make sure you meet with the person who will actually be working your wedding. You’ll eliminate potential personality conflicts later.
6. Transportation. Skip the Hummer and Rolls Royce models (and don’t even think about a horse-drawn carriage). These specialty choices will cost you an arm and a leg. Stick with the standard limo and save the money for something else.
Planning a wedding on a small budget does create some challenges. You may have to make some tough choices and eliminate something you really want, but the money saving tips for weddings I just gave you will help.
And remember money isn’t everything. Wedding receptions on a budget can be just as fun and memorable!
by Mike on February 11, 2010
When you look at your phone bill do you ever wonder why the hell you’re paying so much?
With all the taxes and surcharges it can be hard to figure out what exactly what you’re paying for. Which is why it’s important to take a closer look at your bill and check for BS charges like inside wire maintenance.
Inside wire maintenance is an optional monthly service offered by your telephone carrier that provides repair protection for the telephone jacks and wires inside your home.
That sounds nice until you really think about it.
In my town inside wire maintenance plans costs $6.99 per month and it’s probably similar in your area. That’s $83.88 a year for “insurance” on a bunch of wires.
Now ask yourself…have you EVER had someone come to your home to “maintain your wires”?
Seriously, telephone wire and jacks really don’t require much maintenance at all. Once it’s installed it will probably be good for 30 years. Maybe a loose connection will need to be tightened once a decade or so and that can easily be done by anyone with a screwdriver.
Even if you do need to replace a jack or rerun some telephone wire…it’s a piece of cake. I’ve done it many times myself and if you don’t know what you’re doing you can always ask a friend to help. And the jacks and wire you need can be purchased at Home Depot for less than $10.
Do yourself a favor and ditch the ripoff inside wire maintenance plan. Put the $83.88 you save towards your credit card debt or take your family out for dinner instead.
by Mike on February 11, 2010
We got about a foot of snow here in New Jersey yesterday. Took this pic of my backyard while I was playing with the girls in the snow.
Looks like a winter wonderland huh?
by Mike on February 9, 2010
When most people hear the words “green living” they think it means driving a hybrid car, installing solar panels on their roof, or building a backyard wind farm to power their home. While those are all noble efforts, they’re also pretty expensive. But living a green lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to drop tens of thousands of dollars. It’s more about making simple choices and subtle changes to your lifestyle that help reduce your impact on the environment.
Take your workplace for example. Whether you work in a cubicle, a garage, a restaurant, a dentist’s office, or wherever…I guarantee you can find ways to reduce waste and conserve energy. Let’s brainstorm a few ideas together shall we:
Starting a carpool with coworkers will keep a couple of cars off the road. You’ll be saving money on gas while reducing nasty emissions that clog up the atmosphere. Working from home a few days a week will have the same effect.
Use recycled or refillable ink cartridges in copy machines and printers.
Set up a recycling area and encourage employees to separate glass, plastics, and paper for recycling.
Send correspondence through email instead of a letter whenever possible.
Stop printing every email you get! Most of it just ends up in the trash anyway so print only what you need.
Don’t just toss out your used printer paper. Save it and use it for scrap and writing notes or shred it and use for packing material.
Switch to energy efficient light bulbs. They cost more upfront but last longer and use only a fraction of the energy that traditional bulbs use.
Encourage employees to shut down or use power-saving modes on their computers each night.
Most of us drink coffee at work and all those paper and styrofoam cups are clogging up our landfills. Ditch them for good and use a coffee mug instead.
If you’re an employer or office manager you can begin implementing these ideas right away. If not, you’ll have to go to your boss and make some suggestions. Emphasize the financial savings the company stands to gain and they’ll be more willing to hear you out.
These simple green living tips may not seem significant by themselves but if you add them all up they can have a huge impact on our environment as well as the company’s bottom line.
by Mike on February 8, 2010
A few weeks back I read Frugal Dad’s post about his quest to start walking 10,000 steps a day. He had purchased a pedometer and started tracking how many steps he was taking and worked out an exercise walking plan to reach his goal.
That post inspired me to pick up a $5 pedometer at Target and start tracking my own steps each day. Well after using it for about 2 weeks (less really since I keep forgetting to put it on in the morning) I’m only averaging about 4,000 steps each day.
I gotta say I’m shocked how low that number is. Even though I spend much of my day sitting at a desk I still assumed I was walking double that or 8,000 steps a day. But I may be thinking back to when I was working part time in a retail store and I was on my feet non-stop for 5 hours a night…walking from one end of the store to another, stocking shelves, climbing ladders, etc. I used to go through sneakers like crazy.
But since I quit the part time job I’m moving a lot less and it shows. I’ve put on a couple pounds since quitting and now I see why. I need to start moving more and getting regular exercise walking certainly helps.
So now that I have a baseline to go by I’m going to start following Frugal Dad’s tips for adding extra steps into my day. I already follow some of them…I’ve never been one to drive around parking lots trying to find a closer spot, and pacing around while trying to get the baby to fall asleep could add a few hundred steps with ease.
I’ll report back in a couple of weeks to let you know how my exercise walking program is going. Hopefully by then I’ll be breaking the 10,000 step barrier!
by Mike on February 5, 2010
Okay, I admit it…I’m a bit of a Star Wars nerd. I used to beg my dad non-stop for the newest Obi-Wan or Admiral Ackbar figures. And I completely wore out my VHS tapes of the original trilogy until they were virtually unwatchable (much like any of the prequels when Natalie Portman was not on screen).
So as I sat brainstorming for new ideas to write about, I naturally wondered what the great Lord Vader would do to save some cash.
I mean let’s face it, running a Galactic Empire isn’t cheap. And how embarrassing would it be to call home to Palpatine begging for beer money?
So here you are…Darth Vader’s top 5 tips for saving money:
- Some of your senior officers nearing retirement age? Not a problem. Just use the force to choke them to death before they’re eligible for retirement benefits. Cha-Ching!
- Shields are expensive…way too costly to install on tens of thousands of TIE fighters. Replacing pilots killed in action is much more cost effective. On the other hand, you may want to shell out the cost of shielding exhaust vents on massive, planet-destroying space stations. Especially when they lead directly to the main reactor. I’m just saying.
- Suddenly realize you made a bad deal and want to get out of it? Just say you’re changing the terms of the contract. Then lean in close, and in your most menacing voice say, “Pray I don’t alter them any further.”
- Outsource some of your less desirable jobs to some good old-fashioned bounty hunter scum. You only pay when the job is complete, they’re not entitled to benefits, and they don’t even need a company car. Just don’t complain if Boba Fett gets carried away and incinerates someone you wanted alive.
- No one likes paying for insurance, but it can be a life saver if you suffer a serious financial disaster. Our favorite Sith Lord used the insurance money from the first Death Star to build a bigger and more powerful version.
There were rumors at the time that Vader took out a huge policy on the first Death Star just a week before it was destroyed…by a handful of out-dated and out-gunned fighter ships no less. Pretty convenient how he decided to step outside for a smoke just minutes before the whole thing blew, huh?
by Mike on February 5, 2010
