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The Infamous Mystery Means
Dear Mary: My husband has two jobs — he is an artist and a salesman. He earns commissions from both jobs, so we never know what our income will be. I work part-time and am paid hourly. How do we go about setting up a budget? — Carol, …Read more.
Handy Tools Ease the Pain
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Let the Decluttering Begin
I know it's time. It's been time for at least five years, possibly longer. I need to clean my kitchen. Now, before you send the Health Department to my address, let me explain. What I mean by "clean" is that I need to clean out and …Read more.
A Glimmer of Hope to Cling To
Think back to a low point in your life. Don't struggle with this, just try to recall when you were going through a difficult season and life seemed bleak. Now recall that first glimmer of hope you clung to as you could see that things were beginning …Read more.
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Club Membership Has Its PrivilegesEvery fall, my husband and I sneak away for a vacation in New England. We fly into the same airport, drive the same routes, and stay at the same inns. It's become quite a tradition, a romantic getaway that we look forward to every year. Here's the remarkable thing: We pay for our fall trip almost completely with reward miles and loyalty points that we've earned throughout the year. How do we do that? We collect free points, rewards and miles wherever and whenever we can. Then we hoard them.
If you think we can do this because we are big spenders throughout the year, you're wrong. We're quite frugal. What makes the difference is that we capitalize on and fully exploit every possible opportunity to collect points and miles. You can, too. You just have to know what clubs to join and then remember to use these loyalty programs to their fullest potential. Even if you do not travel often, take the time to join airline clubs. There is no charge, and it takes only a few minutes at each company's Web site. While you're signing up, make note of the basic club rules. Some have limits on how long you can hold miles and points before they expire. These days, most retailers, restaurant chains, fast-food restaurants, supermarkets, drugstores, airlines, hotels and car rental companies offer some kind of program to encourage customer loyalty. As long as it's free to join, do it. Join all the birthday clubs, too. You can go to www.FreeBirthdayTreats.com to find all the retailers in your area that offer free stuff on your birthday.
T.G.I. Friday's gives you a free appetizer after you join its E-Club. At Pick Up Stix, you'll get a free Wok Combo just for signing up. Red Lobster has this deal: Purchase two entrees and get a free appetizer or dessert after joining "The Club." Member perks change frequently, so check your favorite restaurant's Web site to learn about its current e-club offerings. One club you need to know about is Priority Club Rewards (www.PriorityClub.com), with which you can earn points toward free stays at InterContinental Hotels Group hotels. PCR also offers points toward everything from air miles to cruises to electronics and thousands of other items and services. The best thing about Priority Club Rewards is that, unlike other clubs and programs, PCR points never expire. Joining these clubs is going to generate a lot of e-mail. Sign up for a free Yahoo or Hotmail e-mail account to use only for your e-club accounts. Then it will be a cinch to manage your e-mail and keep the junk out of your regular inbox. After that, join Points.com, where you can track and manage your reward programs in one convenient location. Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living." You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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