Free Photo Books Every Month

Do you have a ton of photos living online on Facebook, Flickr, your blog and a ton of photo sharing sites? Sharing it online is great, but sometimes its nice to have a physical photo to pass around at party. Wouldn't it be great if you can print it for free?

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Some of you may have signed up to photo sites because they had a "deal" that gave you free photo prints or other photo goodies. Today I wanted to share my latest discovery, HotPrints. How would you like to get photo books printed for FREE, one every month! The best part, if you live in the US, UK or Canada, shipping is free too!

I have not tried the service yet, but will be signing up and giving it a go! If you are on Facebook, you may have seen them already. Their primary product is HotBook, which is the free product. This sounds too good to be true right? How do they make money? Well, they sell advertisements, so you will see some ads in your free HotBook. Is it worth it? I think so, but I leave that judgement up to you.  Have a question about their product?  They're on Twitter too!

Have you tried HotPrints? If you have I'd love to hear what you think of their product.

Recommended Book: The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.

Love Reading? Get the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Are You Getting A Tax Refund?

Are you expecting a tax refund this year? The average tax refund is $2700 this year.

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If you are getting a refund of $2700 or more, perhaps you should adjust your W4 withholdings for 2010 and keep more of your hard earned money. Instead of giving Uncle Sam an interest free loan, you could be giving yourself $50 more a week. Just make changes to your W4 and you are on your way to a self provided raise! You can use the IRS's W4 withholding calculator to do this.

There are reasons to withhold a bit more. If you under pay Uncle Sam, you'll be charged interest and perhaps even a penalty. If you are making estimated quarterly taxes because you are an independent contractor or in similar situations, then perhaps you should withhold a little more so you don't get penalized next year.

So tell us, are you getting or expecting a refund this year?

Recommended Book: The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.

Love Reading? Get the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)


For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Thunder Ridge Ski Resort

We've had a good amount of snow this winter in NYC.  Some of you have gone skiing and some may have even taken advantage of the snowfall and went cross country skiing in the streets! If you have never tried skiing or are just a beginner, like myself, you will love this deal. No car necessary!

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Thunder Ridge Ski is just 70 miles north of the city in Patterson, New York. Thunder Ridge Ski Area's scenic slopes are perfect for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, from beginner to expert. There are slow and gentle trails, which I would be on, as well as advanced trails to challenge the adventurous!

You can find a great package from the Metro North One Day Getaway. The Day package includes: Discount round-trip rail fare, all-day/all-night lift ticket, shuttle to/from the train station to the ski area and a $5 discount on rental equipment. If you have kids, this is an even better deal.

Cost:
From Grand Central Terminal or Harlem-125th Street: adults, $51.50; seniors, $35; children 12, $39.50; children 6-11, $19.50; children age 5, $6.50; children under 5, $5. Save an additional 5 percent on rail fare when you purchase this package through WebTicket.

To get there:
Take the Harlem Line to to Patterson Station where a shuttle bus meets designated a.m. trains to take you to the ski area. Later in the day (or the following day for "Ski and Stay" package), a shuttle bus will return you to Patterson Station to meet designated p.m. trains returning to Grand Central Terminal. Check here for an ITINERARY.

I'm thinking of doing the Metro North Package.  Have you been to Thunder Ridge? Did you enjoy your time there? Did you use the Metro North Package? Please share your experience with us in the comments.

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

12 Frugal Ways To Burglarproof Your Home

Technology is not the the only way to protect yourself from burglars and would be thieves.  Sure you can spend thousands of dollars on a security system, but you can have peace of mind for less.  Jeff Cambron wrote a post about ways to burglar proof your home without breaking the bank at mrfreestuff.com called 16 Ways to Burglarproof your house for Free.  I took his list and cut out a few items, making it more relevant for urban city dwellers.

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12 Frugal Ways To Burglarproof Your Home

1. Take your name off your mailbox - No name equals no target.
2. Watch what you put in the trash - Shred important documents and cut up boxes to big purchase items like computers and big screen TVs
3. Ringing telephone - A ringing phone equals nobody home.  Silence your home phone when you are not home for long periods.
4. Lock-up when you go out - Common sense, lockup when you are out.
5. Don’t hide a spare key - Don't invite a thief by leaving your door fully open, which is what a hidden spare key is.
6. Light up your house - Leave a light or two on when going out.  Not energy efficient, but is a theft deterrant.
7. Be careful with voice mail messages - Don't tell would be thieves when you are on vacation.  Leave your voicemail simple, ask for a quick message - and check in.
8. Leave the radio or TV on - Leave a low power radio or tv on for sounds that make it seem like someone is home.
9. Use a house-sitter - Having someone actually in the house is the best way to deter a burglar.
10. Start a neighborhood watch program - Get a group friendly neighbors together and help each other out.
11. Pause mail and newspaper deliveries - A full mailbox or unread papers are a sure sign no one is home.
12. Stock up on some cardboard cutouts - If you've watched Home Alone, you know how to use cardboard cutouts.

What other frugal and cheap methods do you have to burglarproof your home?  Share your ideas in the comments.

Recommended Book: The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.

Love Reading? Get the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

File Your Taxes With Help From Cupid

Nothing is certain but death and taxes.  We can't avoid either one, but we can make filing our taxes less taxing on the wallet.  H&R Block is promoting their new H&R Block At Home online product for only $14, from now until Sunday February 14.  They are showing us all some love.


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I've noticed a number of giveaways for online versions of tax software on numerous personal finance blogs.  If you are like me and missed those giveaways, you can wait for others, or you can take advantage of this offer from H&R Block.  I'm definitely thinking about taking the offer, since it is a 70% savings off regular pricing on the Premium product.

I've used the H&R PC products for numerous years and have found it to be a solid product.  PC magazine rates H&R Block a close second to Turbo Tax, which has always taken the lead.  The advantage of H&R Block is, it is a bit less pricy than Turbo Tax, and I find it just as good.

You can register for the $14 offer from now until Valentines day, February 14th.  Doing so will lock-in the price and you won't have to actually DO your taxes until you are ready; as long as it's before the tax man comes knocking.  Hopefully you'll be getting your refund check sooner with this offer.  You can even get your tax questions answered free at http://getitright.hrblock.com/.

You can register for this special offer at http://www.hrblock.com/valentine.

As consumers, we will receive the full menu of advanced features that H&R Block At Home Basic, Deluxe and Premium offer, such as:

• Audit support from a live tax professional
• Import last year's tax data from TurboTax® or TaxCut®
• Automatic import of data from your employer and financial provider
• Tailored guidance for your personal situation or occupation
• Easy-to-use tax calculator

What do you think about this offer?  Do you do your own taxes with Tax software?  What product do you use and why?  Share your thoughts.

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Earning More With Online Banks

Are you earning 0.01% interest on your savings account?  Thanks to historically low interest rates, you are probably earning near zero interest on the money you worked hard to earn.  Have you looked into online savings accounts?  I've noticed more and more online savings accounts popping up lately and I think you may like the extra interest it can earn you.

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I joined ING Direct several years ago and have loved it since joining.  It has earned more money in interest than any of my other bank accounts.  They have great customer service, and they have nearly all the services a physical bank has, though you may have to get the services in a more creative way.

So what kind of interest can you earn with Online savings accounts?  Recently I saw these rates:

• ING Direct 1.20% APY
• Ally 1.49% APY
• HSBC 1.35% APY

All three have very low minimum requirements to open an account.  These three are some of the highest paying accounts I've seen.  Compare this to the 0.01% you are getting from Chase, yes that's 1% of a percent.  Just by opening an online bank account, you'll be earning 100x more interest!  I also noticed CapitalOne Direct Banking, which offers Business and personal accounts at over 1% APY

OK, I admit there are reasons for not using online bank accounts.  In fact About.com lists 3 reasons not to use online bank accounts.  The reasons are: bad customer service, speed of clearing, and not being able to spend it from your online bank account.

These are good reasons, though I find them all to be false, at least for ING Direct.  I find ING Direct to have great customer service.  You get someone live nearly instantly, every time you call.  The speed of clearing checks can be a drawback, though you can get around it if you plan a little bit ahead.  As for spending your money, ING's Electric Orange checking account lets you access your cash instantly via ATMs in your neighborhood.  I've also recently called Ally bank to find out about it.  The customer service seems just as friendly as ING Direct.

If you are thinking of opening an online bank account, what bank will you go with and why?  Want to join ING Direct?  Find a friend with an account and you'll earn a bonus just to sign up.  If you don't have a friend with an ING Direct account, send me a tweet and I'll send you a referral, we'll both earn a bonus!

Shouldn't your money be earning you a little more pocket change in the Great Recession?  What are your thoughts on online bank accounts?

Recommended Book: The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.

Love Reading? Get the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)


For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

9 Books To Bring You Closer To Success

Do you read a lot of books? What about books on success and productivity? I admit I read more than I should when it comes to these topics.  I should be putting some of the concepts into practice. Had I put all of the lessons learned in these books into practice, I'm sure I would be more successful at what I do.  So like many of you, I'm still learning and doing what I can to apply the lessons I learn.

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Here are the books.  I've arranged the nine books in a tic-tac-toe format, or the Brady Bunch format if you prefer.  Aren't you glad I still remember how to do tables in HTML?  These books used to be on my sidebar, I decided to do some cleaning up and so I'm putting them on this post.


These are all great books. At the moment, my favorite book from the above list is The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.  This version contains additional content found on Tim Ferriss' blog along with testimonials from others who used some of the concepts and achieved success.  It gives you a blueprint of how to make the best use of your time so you can do the more important things in life, whatever that may be.

If you love reading, you might want to get the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation).  I think it's a better product than the Apple iPad for reading books.

What about you?  Have you read any of the books from the above list?  What is your favorite?  Do you have other books you would like to suggest?

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.