tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871365457465349102024-03-13T17:03:34.044-04:00FrugalNYCYOUR RESOURCE TO FRUGAL CITY LIVINGFrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.comBlogger281125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-58612013169406758522014-08-15T00:03:00.000-04:002014-08-15T00:08:11.057-04:00Entertainment Book Digital Access Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi everyone, I'm doing a quick review of the <a href="https://www.entertainment.com/coupon/">Entertainment Book Digital Access</a>. Before I go on, Entertainment.com provided me free digital access in exchange for this review. All opinions on this post are my own.<br />
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For those who have never seen or used the Entertainment Book - It's basically an archive of coupons relevant for the city you purchased it for. I'm reviewing the greater New York area book in Digital Access form. I've read several other online reviews and most people who have reviewed the digital access did not mention too many specific deals that they used. Personally, I've found numerous deals listed near me but none that applied to my shopping, eating or entertainment habits so far. I'll update this post when I do.<br />
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On to the specifics. I tried the app on an iPhone and it found coupons near me based on my location. You can also browse to different locations in preparation for your travels. Some coupons are digital and others must be printed. I suggest taking a look and print any relevant coupons ahead of time.<br />
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In general, you'll find some deals, if you happen to be purchasing certain specific items - just like most paper coupons. It is, in extension, a digital version of the book. I think the book version may be easier to browse and find relevant items in preparation of your daily shopping journey. The digital access can get you specific deals near you.<br />
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As of this blog post, I don't find the digital access all that helpful. You won't find too many local restaurants listed. I've mostly found McDonalds, Burger King, and specific sandwiches at Subway chains to be somewhat helpful. These are for specific sandwiches or drinks, so it will only be relevant if you buy those items. I tried the app in midtown Manhattan, lower Manhattan and several parts of Queens.<br />
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If you are like using coupons and looking for deals, this app will be a helpful addition to your other coupons and deal hunting habits. I would recommend getting both the paper and Digital Access versions for best results. You can get both for $35 on their site <a href="http://entertainment.com/">Entertainment.com</a><br />
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FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-58331300588266155802014-06-13T15:00:00.000-04:002014-06-13T15:00:00.114-04:00Getting Around NYC Better With Bus Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The MTA has made many recent improvements and one of the best in my opinion are the Alerts and Timers in Train stations. Not all stations have them yet, but I am always glad to see the clocks in stations that have them. It lets me know how much longer I need to wait and my anxiety level goes down. Just knowing this fact makes my commute easier. If you are taking a bus route in NYC, you now have <a href="http://bustime.mta.info/">Bus Time</a> to help keep you posted to when your next bus will come.<br />
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I've only started using the mobile <b><a href="http://bustime.mta.info/">Bus Time</a></b> site for a few months, and these few months have been much more convenient than prior to having this. I can now see how many buses are on their way and how many stops away they are. Even if I have to wait another 20 minutes, just knowing the fact that one is on the way helps. You can even run to the nearest grocery store and grab a drink or snack while waiting without worrying about the bus leaving without you.<br />
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To use <a href="http://bustime.mta.info/">Bus Time</a>, just type <a href="http://bustime.mta.info/">http://bustime.mta.info/</a> into your smartphone and you're all set. Choose the Route you are taking and you get a map of all the stops along with where the bus is. If you are one of the few who don't have a smartphone or don't have a data plan, you can even send a text to <b>511123</b> and you'll end up with a quick list of your bus and how far away they are.<br />
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You can get detailed instructions for <a href="http://bustime.mta.info/wiki/Help/TextIt">texting Bus Time</a> here. I've tried it and it works well. Not as much detail as the full site, but enough information to get you through the wait. If you're not from NYC, and are here for a visit, get to know this system if you plan on using mass transit. It will make your travels easier.<br />
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Have you used Bus Time? Do you find it has improved your commute to an extent? Leave your thoughts in the comments.<br />
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FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-91724188671869431732014-05-09T23:34:00.000-04:002014-05-09T23:34:21.282-04:00Is A Filter Necessary For A Small Goldfish?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Lately, I've had an obsession with learning to take care of our goldfish. I've learned so much in the last year both from reading, watching videos and taking care of our pet fish. Looking back to when I first started, I've come a long way. I'll start posting all the resources I've used in the near future. The photo is a shot of three of our fish swimming by as they play and hunt for food. Two fancy and a common.<br />
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The short answer to the title of this post is YES, you should have a filter for a goldfish tank. I got away with not having one in the beginning because the fish were very small and I had a big enough tank to keep them in. Never keep Goldfish in a one gallon fishbowl, unless you want to see them die. If you change the water often enough and you only have a small fish or two, then you don't necessary need a filter in the beginning. <br />
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When we first purchased our two <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-Fantail-Goldfish">fantail goldfish</a> from Petland, we had a 20 Gallon tank filled with water from the day before, that was it. I didn't have any other tools or decorations for them. I settled them in the water, while they were in the bag, to get the water temperature in the bag to come to equilibrium with the water in the tank. Never change water temperature too quickly, this will stress the fish and get them sick.<br />
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Once in the water, they swam away whenever I got near them. The next day, I put a little decoration in for them to hide behind. I fed them tiny <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00176GXOI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00176GXOI&linkCode=as2&tag=frny0d-20&linkId=KSJ7Z3BKSQXP2YON">Aqueon Goldfish Granules</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=frny0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00176GXOI" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> that a friend had given us along with the tank. We had some minor problems with the two fish, which I'll about next time. I had no idea about the <a href="http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm">Nitrogen cycle</a>, so the tank was not cycled during beginning. Lucky for me, the fish survived the first few weeks.<br />
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So we had the two fantail goldfish without a proper filter for over a week. Yes they can survive, but you will have to do lots of water changes if you don't get a filter. In this time, I changed the water several times. Each time, it was a 30-50% water change, just as I read in all the online articles. I think changing the water often was good for the fish and kept them healthy. I always used water that sat at room temperature overnight, even to this day. I don't put any chemicals in the water. <br />
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If you are thinking about getting a Goldfish for a pet, I urge you to get as big a tank as you can afford (both money and space wise) and get a good filter. An HOB filter to start would be good. If you have goldfish of your own, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment if you've read this far. :)<br />
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In a future post, I'll write about what I've learned about the nitrogen cycle and how it works in my own experience. I'll also explain how a simple filter works - I recently made my own and it works fairly well as a secondary filter - for very little cost from things you probably already have.<br />
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FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-46723579375955878262014-05-07T23:00:00.000-04:002014-05-07T23:00:04.495-04:00App Stores<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This will be a very short post. I'm just putting a list of all the "Platform" app stores for my own reference and yours. If you find this helpful, please leave me a comment and perhaps ideas for what else to include!<br />
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Here are the office app stores in alphabetic order.<br />
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/">Apple App Store</a> - biggest of the bunch for now. Cannot manage apps without iTunes installed.</div>
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<a href="https://appworld.blackberry.com/">Blackberry App Store</a> - Still revelant for those with Blackberry devices, at least for now. You can manage your apps and games.</div>
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<a href="https://play.google.com/store/">Google Play Store</a> - Will likely be the largest store soon. Most likely used by the masses since Android devices can be cheapest of the bunch (Though windows may be catching up). You can install apps from this portal directly to your device.</div>
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<a href="http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store">Windows Phone Store</a> - Growing on a regular basis, Microsoft is finally making a good push to make Windows phone relevant. You can install, remove, purchase apps from this store.</div>
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Do you use the App stores to manage your apps and games? I find it much more convenient than doing so via the devices - if I'm installing and discovering several things at once from a computer.</div>
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div>
FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-8442148686947265072014-04-03T20:00:00.000-04:002014-04-03T20:00:06.317-04:00Free GPS For Nokia Lumia 520<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the greatest features of my <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/2014/03/nokia-lumia-520-windows-phone.html">Nokia Lumia 520 Windows Phone</a> is the FREE GPS feature. This feature lets you download offline maps, which Google and Apple both do not have on their devices and apps. Once you have your local or destination maps downloaded, you can use the phone's GPS feature as a totally free GPS.<br />
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I've purchased a standalone GPS before, it did a good job for me and helped me get to my destinations while driving. The cost of that was about the same as what the Lumia 520 cost me. With all the choices of devices out there, I think the Lumia 520 is one of the best if you are looking for some specific features.<br />
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If you are looking for a FREE GPS device, meaning you don't have to pay for the updates to apps and maps etc.. this is one of the best options right now.<br />
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You can still pick up the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E45043A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00E45043A&linkCode=as2&tag=frny0d-20">Nokia Lumia 520 on Amazon</a> for under $60 (affiliate link).<br />
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With Windows Phone 8.1 coming out, it the Nokia Here Drive+ feature will be free for all Windows Phone devices. Do you own a Windows Phone? What you think of this news? Share your thoughts in the comments.<br />
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FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-23112054011630852062014-03-27T23:00:00.000-04:002014-05-07T23:04:22.014-04:00My One Year Old Goldfish Aquarium<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A Goldfish aquarium entered into our lives last winter. I never planned to have an aquarium. Having a home aquarium didn't interest me in the least. When I used to visit family or friends with an aquarium, it never seemed very interesting. I watched fish swim around in a tank, what's the big deal. Sometimes they will come up and want food or something. Mostly the fish just hid when they saw people.<br />
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So how did I end up having a home aquarium? Things just fell into place - the kids wanted a pet and we did not want to train a cat or dog in our small apartment. I did some research into what kind of fish are "hardy" and a good start for the first time fishkeeper. I decided on Goldfish, they are very hardy and can live up to ten or more years if well taken care of. They've survived a year with me so far, so I must be doing something right.<br />
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One of the things I found in my research before getting fish is to do water changes often. Keeping the water clean will help keep the fish alive longer. Makes perfect sense, they swim and breathe in the water, just like we want clean air. Another very important thing I read is <b>Don't overstock</b> - basically don't have more fish than your tank can keep alive. I read all these stories of people keeping fish in a bowl and they would be gone within days. I'm still reading up on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle">Nitrogen cycle</a>, which basically can keep your fish alive and well or you could watch them all float.<br />
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I'll write more about my experience and some lessons learned in some future posts. For now, my 20 gallon fish tank is doing very well with 2 fancy goldfish (the ones we started with), 2 common goldfish (don't think they are comets), and 8 Rosy Red/ Fathead minnows (started with 10, I lost 2). They are very happy and come up to me when I feed them. I do partial water changes usually twice a week because I feel I am overstocked. I may have to give some of the bigger fish away in the near future. For now, they are all happy.<br />
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Now that I'm a fish owner, I am much more interested in having pet fish and keeping them happy. I'd love to hear your home aquarium stories or just let me know your thoughts on what I'm doing right or wrong.<br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div>
FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-27140573427691859172014-03-25T23:30:00.000-04:002014-03-25T23:30:02.411-04:003 YouTube Apps for Windows Phone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you read my last post, you'll know that I've been playing with a <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/2014/03/nokia-lumia-520-windows-phone.html">Nokia Lumia 520 Windows phone</a>. One of the things I mentioned I do with the phone is browse the web via WiFi. That includes YouTube videos. The problem is, there is no official Google YouTube app for the Windows phone.<br />
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Here are three 3rd party Windows Phone YouTube Apps currently available:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/mytube/d994dce8-38f9-4ed3-ae6c-e334d4bd558c">myTube</a> - 99 cent</li>
<li><a href="http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/metrotube/8d93224f-2808-e011-9264-00237de2db9e">Metrotube</a> - 99 cent</li>
<li><a href="http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/toib/d68b807e-40d3-4931-8e70-827b006e4288">Toib</a> - 99 cent, but there is a free trial</li>
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I have not used these apps before, as I did not want to pay for an app that I would used occasionally. I have only viewed YouTube videos right within the built in Internet Explorer browser. These apps provide some additional functionality like playlists, HD video, and other fine details you may not get with the browser based viewing.<br />
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My favorite browser for viewing YouTube videos for the Windows Phone is <a href="http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/uc-browser/6cda5651-56b9-48b0-8771-91dbc188f873">UC Browser</a>. This browser is free and it allows you to save offline content to view and show your friends later. One of the best features of the Nokia Phone is the offline music, Maps and YouTube videos. I'll go into detail on how I do this in a future post.<br />
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How do you view YouTube videos on your Windows phone?<br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div>
FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-81677761338616824022014-03-24T22:47:00.002-04:002014-04-30T23:28:25.853-04:00Nokia Lumia 520 Windows Phone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I recently bought an AT&T Nokia Lumia 520 Windows Phone. I'm not an AT&T subscriber, but I am interested in trying out the software and hardware. For the price, you can't find a better bargain of a smartphone. I purchased it to gain the experience of using a windows phone device. I saw a deal for a few weeks and took the plunge. I bought the Lumia 520 direct from Microsoft for $60 plus tax.<br />
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You can now find the same deal on Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E45043A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00E45043A&linkCode=as2&tag=frny0d-20">Nokia Lumia 520 GoPhone (AT&T)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=frny0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00E45043A" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>* Updated 4/30/14 *</b> - You can get a <a href="http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/nokia/lumia520-black-refurb.html">refurbished one for 39.99</a><br />
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There is another deal, which is even better than what I paid - the <a href="http://www.metropcs.com/metro/category/PhonesandMore/Phones/detail/Nokia_Lumia_521/610214633262">Metro PCS Nokia Lumia 521</a> for $49 ($29 if you decide to get phone service for a few months or more). This works on the T-Mobile LTE network.<br />
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You can find the <a href="http://www.nokia.com/us-en/phones/phone/lumia520/specifications/">full specifications for the Lumia 520 here</a>. The <a href="http://www.nokia.com/us-en/phones/phone/lumia521/specifications/">521 specs are here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Hardware specs:</b><br />
Here are the ones that matter to me:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Charging connectors: Micro-USB ( universal to most recent chargers )</li>
<li>AV connectors: 3.5 mm audio connector</li>
<li>Wi-Fi: WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n</li>
<li>Battery capacity: 1430 mAh</li>
<li>Removable battery: Yes</li>
<li>Processor name: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4</li>
<li>Processor type: Dual-core 1 GHz</li>
<li>User data storage: In device, Memory card, OneDrive cloud storage</li>
<li>RAM: 512 MB</li>
<li>Mass memory: 8 GB</li>
<li>Expandable memory card type: MicroSD</li>
<li>Free cloud storage: 7 GB</li>
<li>Main camera sensor: 5 MP</li>
<li>Radio features: Internet Radio, FM Radio (yes, a radio without using up data!)</li>
</ul>
<br />
RAM is on the lower end, but for this price it's very hard to find hardware with 1GB RAM.<br />
Mass memory storage is high for the price range. Being able to expand storage through MicroSD is a big bonus.<br />
<br />
The processor is one of the best you can get for this low end price range. The windows OS makes very good use of the processor features.<br />
<br />
If I decide to use it as a phone - the below just means it will work with most us and international networks. It doesn't quite support full LTE speed, but 4G speed it does.<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>WCDMA network: 850 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz</li>
<li>WCDMA max data speed DL: HSDPA - 21.1 Mbps</li>
<li>WCDMA max data speed UL: HSUPA - 5.76 Mbps</li>
<li>GSM network: 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz</li>
<li>GSM max data speed DL: EGPRS 236.8 kbps</li>
<li>GSM max data speed UL: EGPRS 236.8 kbps</li>
</ul>
<br />
OneNote - a great app for taking all kinds of notes. The windows phone eco system has been getting better and better lately, so you will be able to find most apps you are looking for. It's not as robust as the Play Store or Apple App Store yet, but it's good enough for most.<br />
<br />
I have iOS devices and android devices, but up to now, I never had access to a windows Phone.<br />
<br />
The Nokia 520 family of phones is THE MOST POPULAR Windows Phone out there. I really like the phone and use it on a regular basis for games, browsing, email, music, videos - basically anything you can do with a smartphone these days.<br />
<br />
I'll write more about my Windows Phone 8 experience with the Nokia Lumia 520 in some future posts.<br />
<br />
If you have a Windows Phone, share your thoughts in the comments.<br />
<br />
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i><br />
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FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-21297836056202466942014-02-11T23:05:00.001-05:002014-02-11T23:05:12.345-05:00My Replacement Metrocard is Here<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Back in October 2013, I mailed out my expired Metrocard and waited for a replacement card to show up. I'm happy to say my <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-recent-metrocard-troubles.html">Metrocard Troubles</a> have not gotten worse since then.<br />
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<br />
Yesterday, I received the replacement card. I'm glad I have my new card. This just makes me wonder why it takes the MTA so long to process a replacement for an expired card. Are they understaffed or just very inefficient? Since both my replacement and refund issues took nearly the same amount of time, I'm guessing this is the norm.<br />
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Have any of you had similar issues with getting refunds or replacement Metrocards? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.<br />
<br />
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div>
FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-42789424697244630832013-10-29T17:30:00.000-04:002013-10-29T17:30:01.415-04:00My Recent Metrocard Troubles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've had to send in a two MetroCards to the MTA recently. Neither one could be addressed by the online <a href="https://efixmetrocard.mtanyct.info/">eFix system</a>.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
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<br />
The first issue I had was with an unlimited MetroCard, it stopped reading and the booth clerks told me I have to mail it in. It had about a week left on it. After several MONTHS of waiting after mailing it, I received a refund in the original form of payment - credit to my credit card.<br />
<br />
A few days ago, I found an expired MetroCard in my drawer, along with some old credit cards. This was my own fault for not going through my things regularly. This card was expired for "over a year" as 2 clerks I asked told me. I was hoping I could just get the card changed at the booth.<br />
<br />
So now, I have mailed in another card and I'm waiting to get my credit. I'm hoping they will send a replacement, since they now charge $1 for each new card we purchase. Though if you buy it from a third party authorized vendor, such as your local grocery store - you don't get charged the fee.<br />
<br />
If you use MetroCard vending machines like I do. This calculator may help you figure out how to get all the rides out of leftover MetroCard change. The <a href="http://www.metrocardbonuscalculator.com/">metrocard bonus calculator</a>.<br />
<br />
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div>
FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-19080618381823392372013-10-26T10:10:00.000-04:002013-10-26T10:10:01.319-04:00Free Clinic in the Rockaways<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Rockaways have been an underserved community in NYC, after superstorm Sandy, many parts have been abandoned and there is still continuing construction to bring some businesses and homes back. Many doctors offices were washed away with the storm and many continue to lack medical coverage.<br />
<br />
In recent years, surfers have flocked to the beach for the wave. I've personally been to the Rockaways beach area only a handful of times. The area was quiet to start with, after the storm, it seems to be an abandoned child of NYC.<br />
<br />
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<br />
The good news is, now there is a free medical clinic opened by the Non-profit <a href="http://doctorsoftheworld.org/">Doctors of the World</a>. The clinic opened this week and is located at 2-30 Beach 102nd St. They will provide primary and preventive care to uninsured adults Thursdays 12pm to 8pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm.<br />
<br />
The also provide the following services:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Referrals to specialty care and chronic disease management</li>
<li>Basic cancer screenings, mental and womens health services</li>
<li>Locals can also get help signing up for services like Medicare and insurance through the Affordable Care Act.</li>
</ul>
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For more info see their web page <a href="http://doctorsoftheworld.org/rockawaysfreeclinic/">Rockaways Free Clinic</a> or call <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 26px; text-align: center;">(718) 634-4941</span><br />
<br />
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div>
FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-76093246871589396902013-09-17T16:01:00.002-04:002013-09-17T16:01:42.429-04:00Tracfone Dilemma - via Shopcelldeals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<b>Background</b>: I purchased a spare TracFone with triple minutes for life from Amazon, through a third party seller - Shopcelldeals, at the end of last year. I left this device in the box and never used it. Buying this was cheaper than buying a yearly card - with the same amount of minutes and a year of usage time. I've had good experience purchasing a couple of other times from Shopcelldeals in the past.<br />
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<b>Dilemma</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I purchased two of these phones, one was activated in May, no problems. Last week, as I tried to activate the other one, I ran into multiple issues. First the phone would not charge normally. It would blink show a charging screen for a second and then shut off. I thought maybe it's a bad battery for leaving it in the box for too long. So I took the charged battery from the working phone, and put it in the brand new phone. Still the phone does not turn on. After trying to get the phone working plugging the ac adaptor in and changing the battery several times, I decided to give up on the phone.<br />
<br />
<b>It Gets Worse</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I took the PIN number from my purchase (the PIN provides the added minutes and time), and tried to add the minutes to my existing phone. Shopcelldeals provides the PIN number on a sticker that is put on a printed instruction sheet. I try to add minutes online using the PIN provided, I get an error. Now I'm very fraustrated, the main reason I purchased this phone was to get the additional time and minutes that came with it.<br />
<br />
Fraustrated from this experience I decide to just add minutes from a spare "official" (green and white) Tracfone card I had purchased separately. It was my last day of service on my existing phone and I didn't want to take the chance of dealing with more problems and losing all my existing minutes - quite a bit since I'm a very light cell phone user.<br />
<br />
The next day, I contact the reseller Shopcelldeals, through Amazon's email form. I would have called them directly but I could not find their customer service number anywhere. I chose one of the default methods - to return the defective device / PIN. All I really wanted were the minutes attached to the PIN - but I didn't see any option to choose that from the form.<br />
<br />
After some back and forth emails with Amazon and Shopcelldeals - both of whom tells me it's been too long and they can't refund or exchange - I ask them for help to get the minutes I purchased. They both refused to help further - pointing to their "policies". What happened to customer service? I just wanted the minutes I purchased.<br />
<br />
<b>Resolution</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Now the story gets interesting - this past Saturday I called TracFone customer service - long story short, after spending about an hour on the phone with a supervisor - she tells me someone else has used the PIN on a phone I don't own. The supervisor tells me that I will need to contact my vendor and get a confirmation number to confirm I made the purchase. This number is usually found on the Green and White TracFone card but since I only have a sheet with instructions and a PIN supplied by Shopcelldeals I'm stuck until I can get this number.<br />
<br />
I decide to pursue the confirmation on a working day, so I wait till Monday. On Monday, I email Shopcelldeals, explaining my call with TracFone. They confirm with me that they can "add" the minutes from their end if I provide them the cell phone number I want the minutes added. No further explanation. A few emails later, I get the minutes and time added along with the bonus code for the additional bonus minutes. Case closed.<br />
<br />
<b>Unanswered Questions</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Why did my PIN code that I originally purchase get used by someone else?<br />
Did another customer purchase this after my code was sitting idle?<br />
Shopcelldeals - via email - explained that they keep PIN numbers on record for 6 months - but why would someone else end up with the number?<br />
<br />
I will continue to purchase from Shopcelldeals via Amazon - they have some of the best prepaid phone prices. This experience did leave a sour taste and I will be sure not to purchase too far ahead of use.<br />
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What you do think of all this? Has this happened to you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.<br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div>
FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-32989975249389169562013-07-18T21:19:00.002-04:002013-07-18T21:19:55.421-04:00Zipcar Without A Membership Fee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you live in NYC, you don't really need a car. However, having access to one when you need it is very handy. I've been a member of Zipcar for about 2 years now and used their basic (occasional driving) plan for a few trips. Recently I decided to put the membership on hold, but there was no way to do so without canceling the service.<br />
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I called Zipcar's representatives 2 times in the span of about a month. Both times, I was told I will need to cancel my membership and I can sign up again when I need it. If I re-enabled my account within 90 days I will not have to pay an additional application fee, which includes a search they do on your driving records.<br />
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If I were to re-join after the 90 day period, there would be a $25 application fee and I'll wait a few days for it to clear before I can use the service as normal.<br />
<br />
I decided to cancel before I was charged my usual yearly membership fee, since I have no need for a car in some time now. Surprise! I was told there is a plan that I can use without a yearly fee! It's call the Access plan and you can ask for it instead of cancelling your membership. I'm not sure why they keep it so secret, since I cannot find any info on this plan online. I was not told about this until I called to cancel.<br />
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I'm glad they have such a plan, as I'd love to remain a member without paying the fee. The catch, of course this is one, is that you can only rent cars from Monday - Friday, only the non-luxury cars, and you are limited to 100 Miles a day instead of the usual 180 Miles.<br />
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I plan on staying on this plan until I know I have a need for a car, which can be enabled pretty much instantly once I pay my yearly member fee for the usual plans.<br />
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Have you had such an experience? Has this information helped you stay a Zipcar member? Leave me your thoughts in the comments.<br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div>
FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-78865528061318912582013-06-12T11:00:00.000-04:002013-06-12T11:00:01.926-04:00Ride Vintage NYC Trains 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This Summer, you can take a ride into the past on a vintage NYC train, courtesy of the New York Transit Museum. You will have three opportunities this summer, starting on June 29th, 2013.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Saturday, June 29th, 2013 take the train from the Brooklyn Transit Museum to Coney Island</li>
<li>Saturday, July 13, 2013 from the Grand Central Shuttle platform to Orchard Beach and Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx.</li>
<li>Thursday, August 25, 2013 from Grand Central Shuttle platform to Van Cortlandt Park. </li>
</ul>
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Let me know if you do take one of these rides. Would love to hear what you think about the experience.<br />
<br />
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div>
FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-58239442546255771972011-08-26T11:00:00.005-04:002011-08-26T11:00:09.874-04:00Success Starts with Failure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Success is the result of failure and like Thomas Edison, in order for us to really succeed we must fail and fail again. Through our failure, we learn to adapt and learn from our personal experiences. Such is the premise Tim Harford draws in his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0374100969/?tag=frny0d-20">Adapt Why Success Always Starts with Failure</a>. You can grab a copy of the book from this link (Amazon referral) or from your local library like I did.<br />
<br />
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<br />
For the majority of the book, I enjoyed reading the stories Harford guides us through. Most of the stories are familiar, if you've kept up with the world, ranging from fighting insurgents in the middle east to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. He also mentions several companies that are successful because they fail, A LOT! He tells us that success and successful ideas are like evolution. Many ideas are necessary, few will succeed and many will fail. Business, biological evolution and economics are all tied together through the idea of success through failure.<br />
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In the end, we can take the lessons from the book and put it to work for ourselves. Let us learn to fail without taking it personally. We will learn and grow in that way, just as evolution, economies and successful companies grow.<br />
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Have you read this book? Let me know your thoughts on it.<br />
<br />
What inspiring or thought provoking books have you read lately? I would love to hear from you.<br />
<br />
Love Reading? Get the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015TG12Q?ie=UTF8&tag=frny0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0015TG12Q">Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frny0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0015TG12Q" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-13640301131534959922011-02-20T20:57:00.000-05:002011-02-20T20:57:06.983-05:005 Free Songs From iTunes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Own an American Express card? If so, you can get 5 Free Songs from iTunes. Just buy 5 songs of your choice, from iTunes and American Express will pay you back for the cost of the songs.<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<br />
From now through March 15th, you will get reimbursed for the price of any 5 songs plus applicable taxes you purchase from the iTunes store with a registered American Express card. You can <a href="https://enroll.amexnetwork.com/US/iTunes2011/">register your American Express card here</a>. You'll get the money in about 5 business days. There's nothing written about buying specifically songs, so you may even be able to purchase games for your iPod, iPad or iPhone!<br />
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If you've taken advantage of this offer, let us know what you bought!<br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i></div></div>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-35761755236853895682010-10-26T12:00:00.026-04:002010-10-26T12:08:22.997-04:00Free Tickets to The 39 Steps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nMXan4Sxt4c/TMb8iTcxAII/AAAAAAAAA8c/alEM_M7vEaM/s1600/39_Steps_Broadway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nMXan4Sxt4c/TMb8iTcxAII/AAAAAAAAA8c/alEM_M7vEaM/s1600/39_Steps_Broadway.jpg" /></a></div>We know many of you have enjoyed the complementary Broadway tickets. We are once again giving away two pairs of tickets to a couple of lucky FrugalNYC subscribers! The tickets are for The 39 Steps.<br />
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The tickets expire at the end of October, so we are making this very easy for you to win!<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>RULES</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Leave a comment on this post </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">AND</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Send us an email</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>WINNERS</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The first person to comment and send an email starting at noon today will win one pair of tickets.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The second pair of tickets will go to the 5th person who comments and sends us an email.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yes, You can get your friends to comment and email!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You Will receive your Prize in the form of a voucher, good for two tickets.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Just redeem the voucher per the instructions on the voucher (basically select the day of show and fax it in).</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nMXan4Sxt4c/TMb8tzUI5GI/AAAAAAAAA8g/R3Sk0T9zf9k/s1600/StubDog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nMXan4Sxt4c/TMb8tzUI5GI/AAAAAAAAA8g/R3Sk0T9zf9k/s1600/StubDog.png" /></a> The tickets are provided by <a href="http://stubdog.com/">StubDog.com</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sam from StubDog describes StubDog:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Basically: our service is free to join and we offer half price tickets to Broadway, Concerts, Comedy, Sports and more. We email our members weekly (Tuesday's) on new events added to our site. Our service is really easy to use and buying tickets is simple. We work directly with the venue/production who release tickets to us and offer our customers a great way to enjoy a night out. We want you to go out more!</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thank you Sam and StubDog!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We are working with StubDog to get you better discounts / Freebies in the future!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Leave a comment and win the tickets today - and redeem them ASAP. We don't like things to go to waste here at FrugalNYC!</div><div><br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-23841824015033701532010-10-21T17:45:00.005-04:002010-10-21T17:45:00.297-04:00NYC King Tut ExhibitionLoren DiBlasi alerted me to a deal at <a href="http://www.kgbdeals.com/new-york-city/?id=2444">kgbdeals.com</a> for the King Tut Exhibition. We wanted to share this deal so you can save a few dollars, if you were planning on seeing this exhibition.<br />
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Here is what she wrote:<br />
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"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I am reaching out today to share a great opportunity with you on behalf of kgbdeals. The famed King Tut Exhibition on display in Times Square, NYC will only be here for a little while longer. I thought since you and your readers have expressed interest in exciting opportunities of this kind then you would like to take advantage of our ticket offer to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>save 40% off the regular price of admission.</b></span>"<br />
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Here's the <a href="http://www.kgbdeals.com/new-york-city/?id=2444">link to the deal</a>.<br />
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<b>Have a deal you would like to share? Send us an email at FrugalNYC @ gmail.com</b><br />
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</b><br />
<b>Recommended Book:</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/055380684X?ie=UTF8&tag=frny0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=055380684X">The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frny0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=055380684X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-85147788350898134572010-09-23T08:25:00.003-04:002010-10-26T22:02:55.254-04:00Cheap Pizza and Other tidbitsI've been finding more and more 99 cent pizza places around midtown lately. A few days ago, I came across a blog post that listed many more that I did not know about. You can find the <a href="http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2010/03/where-to-get-99-cent-slices-2-bros-dollar-pizza-in-nyc-with-map.html">Dollar Pizza places here</a>, it comes with a map to make it easier for you to find one near you!<br />
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The one I've enjoyed the most is located at 44th Street and 3rd Ave, which is not listed on the above map. This place doesn't have a traditional oven, they have a conveyor belt like cooking contraption that cooks the pizza in about 10 minutes. I usually top the plain slices off with garlic powder and one or two other spices.<br />
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<b>Dollar Pizza places I've tried</b><br />
<ul><li>42 Street and 9th Ave (SE Corner)</li>
<li>41 Street and 9th Ave (NE Corner)</li>
<li>41 Street and 9th Ave (SE Corner)</li>
<li>43 Street, between Lexington and 3rd Ave</li>
<li>44 Street and 3 Ave (SW Corner)</li>
<li>Lexington Ave between 45th and 46th Streets</li>
</ul>Enough about Pizza. If you find any cheap eats around midtown, please drop me a line and let me know! Even better, healthy cheap eats would be the best. The corner fruit stands don't count! <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/dining/22doctors.html?_r=2&8dpc">Eat Well, Be Well</a> - as that NYTimes article says. Though I wouldn't go as far as <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/dining/22bug.html?8dpc">eating worms</a>.<br />
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Some interesting articles I've read recently:<br />
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<ul><li><a href="http://unclutterer.com/2010/09/21/knowledge-as-motivation/">Knowledge As Motivation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2315-Job-Info-and-Trends-10-Ways-the-2020-Workplace-Will-Work-For-You/?SiteId=cbmsnhp42315&sc_extcmp=JS_2315_home1&gt1=23000">10 ways the 2020 Workplace will work for you</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2010/09/22/2010-09-22_luna_treats_coney_to_hween.html">Luna Park is open till Halloween</a></li>
</ul><br />
Hope you've all enjoyed your summers! It's officially autumn!<br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-60876611741120895762010-04-22T10:00:00.002-04:002010-04-22T10:00:09.171-04:00Happy Earth Day 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nMXan4Sxt4c/S8_dahY3dvI/AAAAAAAAA7o/k6LjINjkvQI/s1600/EarthDay2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nMXan4Sxt4c/S8_dahY3dvI/AAAAAAAAA7o/k6LjINjkvQI/s320/EarthDay2010.jpg" /></a></div>It's been a while since I've posted. For those of you reading this, Thank you for your continued readership and support!<br />
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I chose <a href="http://www.earthday.org/">Earth Day</a> to get back from my absence for a reason. Without the little blue planet we live on, nothing we experience would be possible. I believe it is all of our responsibilities to do what we can to extend our stay on this fragile planet.<br />
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I'll make this post very brief. Frugality to me means we take as little from this planet as possible, and put back as much as we can. If we each put back more than we take, our world can drastically change for the better.<br />
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<b>Simple Ideas To Help Our Earth</b><br />
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<ol><li>Consume less food - you'll lose weight and save money.</li>
<li>Buy fewer electronics - you can get that iPad if you really want it. Just don't buy 10 other gadgets because others have them.</li>
<li>Use less fuel - Drive less. Use public transportation. Car pool.</li>
<li>Use less water - NYC is lucky to have one of, if not the best, water supply in the world. Don't waste it. Take shorter showers, use water saving devices to help save water.</li>
<li>Use less plastic - less bottled water, more tap. Use less disposable utensil, buy good quality utensils you can use over and over.</li>
<li>Reuse and recycle paper, aluminum and plastic.</li>
<li>Print less - save your information to pdf files instead of printing.</li>
<li>Use the library or rent instead of buying books or DVDs.</li>
<li>Plant a tree, learn to garden and grow your own fruits or veggies.</li>
</ol><br />
What ever you are consuming, you can use less. You'll save money and the planet in the process.<br />
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You don't have to do much to make a difference. The ideas I listed above are very small steps you can take today. Start today, continue everyday to make our Earth a better place for you, me and all our children.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">What about you, what ideas do you have to help save our Earth?</span></b><br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-4479463894955993722010-03-26T10:00:00.001-04:002010-03-26T10:00:00.686-04:008 Creative Uses For Your Mobile DeviceWhether you have an iPhone, Blackberry or just a simple cell phone, you are probably not using your mobile gadget to its full potential. Instead of getting the latest and greatest gadget that everyone is getting, like the iPad, why not figure out new creative uses for your current tech toy? You'll save hundreds of dollars that can be put to better use, like a suit for your next interview!<br />
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<b>Here are 8 uses for your mobile device:</b><br />
<ol><li>Counter - Have you ever had to count a large number of things, but got interrupted and lost count? Well that will no longer be a problem if you have a calculator function in your phone or PDA device. Just start the calculator, press 1 plus 1 and then keep hitting the "=" button (whatever button that may be on your device) for every additional count. Instant bean counter!</li>
<li>Tip Calculator - One of my cell phones contain a tip calculator. Even if your's does not, as long as the calculator function is there, it's easy to calculate a tip. Just type in the amount and then multiply it by "1.xx" where xx is the percent tip you want to leave.</li>
<li>Watch - I hardly ever use my watch since I always have my Blackberry and phone with me. How many of you actually have a watch that you use to tell time? I bet most of you use your watch more as an accessory than a watch.</li>
<li>Alarm clock - Since most people have a cell phone, you no longer need another alarm clock. Just download your favorite tune to wake up to and you have a customizable alarm clock.</li>
<li>Flash light - I use my blackberry for a night light / flash light. Since it's usually near me, it's easier to find than a regular flashlight which sits in a drawer that never gets put to use.</li>
<li>Password generator and manager - My blackberry has an application that stores passwords and generates secure random passwords. All I ever need is to memorize one password to get into the application and I'll never have to remember hundreds of passwords again! Your iPhone or Droid probably have similar applications, use it!</li>
<li>Draft your next book - no worrying about fonts and typefaces, just type away and you'll soon have your next best seller!</li>
<li>Emergency Phone - old phones can be recycled. If you have an old phone with good battery life, but no longer under contract, you can still use it as an emergency phone. Calling 911 does not require service. I keep one around just in case.</li>
</ol>I know some of these are not very creative, but I bet you never thought about using your phones / handhelds for some of the creative uses mentioned above. You probably have creative uses of your own. Please share your ideas in the comments!<br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-8818212268410882172010-03-12T10:00:00.000-05:002010-03-12T10:00:08.571-05:007 Habits to Boost Your SavingsThe savings rate for US households has steadily gone up in the last couple of years. One benefit to the Great Recession is that it makes people think about what is necessary and putting everything else in the nice to have category. Ask any personal finance blogger, and you will get a list of ways to save and boost your savings rate. Here is my take on some habits that can help you boost your savings, so you can get what you really want in the near future.<br />
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<b>Seven Habits Of Saving:</b><br />
<ol><li>Use your neighborhood library for books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, video games and all sorts of entertainment. I bet you didn't know half that list was offered by the NYC library system.</li>
<li>Eat home cooked meals. Bring food from home. Doing this can save you an average of $50 to $70 a week, assuming your lunch costs around $10 to $15 each. Yes, you can find cheaper fare, such as the $1 pizza slice I tweeted about several months ago, but how much pizza can you really eat? Home cooked / prepared is usually much healthier to boot!</li>
<li>Commute by mass transit. Living in NYC has many benefits, one of which is having a very good public transportation system. Yes we all gripe about it from time to time, but if you journey to other cities and compare their mass transit options, you'll know you are getting a good bargain using the trains and buses. Compare the monthly cost of an unlimited metrocard to driving back and forth to work, you'll most likely save $100 or more a month since you don't pay for insurance, upkeep, gas, parking and other car related expenses. That's at least $1200 a year you are saving on travel compared to a car owner.</li>
<li>New Yorkers love to shop. If you are one to shop for clothing quite often, you should cut back or scale down. Shop less, shop for only items you need, shop for basics that you can mix and match. Buying the latest in fashion trends can cost you thousands every year. If you can't help but buy name brands, I suggest you check out outlets, thrift shops and other such stores. They often have goods at half the cost you would normally spend.</li>
<li>Love Music? Who doesn't? Music can get expensive though. Thanks to technology, you can find your favorite music free! You've probably used <a href="http://www.pandora.com/">Pandora</a> or other related sites for music. Online radio, regular FM radio, your existing CD/MP3 collection, are some other ways to enjoy music for no cost at all.</li>
<li>Use coupons and sales whenever possible. I've gotten items free, and sometimes I even get a little money back from buying things on sale, with a coupon. It doesn't happen often, but every little bit helps in this economy, and especially those still on the lookout for a job. So stop throwing out your Sunday circulars and save the coupons. You can also print coupons from sites such as <a href="http://coupons.com/">coupons.com</a> or <a href="http://redplum.com/">redplum.com</a>.</li>
<li>Don't buy new gadgets, I tend to use my existing doodads to its full extent. Those of you with the latest Blackberry or iPhone probably only use certain features. Don't forget to use it as a temporary night light/flash light, alarm clock, notepad, calculator, etc.. Before you buy your next App, check out what's already there.</li>
</ol><div>Do you have any suggestions for habits that can boost your savings rate? I'd love to hear your ideas.</div><br />
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-79425399917795341982010-03-05T10:00:00.002-05:002010-03-05T10:00:00.492-05:005 Tax and Money Savings Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nMXan4Sxt4c/S5B4ofcBf5I/AAAAAAAAA7U/mn_zMY3a_nQ/s1600-h/tax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nMXan4Sxt4c/S5B4ofcBf5I/AAAAAAAAA7U/mn_zMY3a_nQ/s320/tax.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Tax time is almost here. If you are getting a refund, you should have filed already! If you are going to be paying taxes because you did not withhold enough, here are some tips to minimize that payment. Even if you cannot use all these tips for this tax season, they will come in handy for next year's tax season.<br />
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<b>Give</b> Giving really can be rewarding. Not only do you feel good about giving to the causes you believe in, you also get some money back from Uncle Sam. If you've given to your church, charities or other non-profit organizations - all you need is the receipt and you can deduct the amount you gave. If you need ideas, I can suggest the NYC Libraries, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Red Cross, your local church, museums and numerous other charities.<br />
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<b>Deduct Job hunting expenses</b> If you are looking for a job, and these days it seems like half the people I know are, then you should not forget about deducting your expenses. These can include printing resumes, transportation to and from interviews, cell phone bills, suits and other clothing for interviews. The catch is, you need to be looking for a similar line of work.<br />
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<b>Go Green.</b> Many people in the recent past have bought a Toyota Prius and get a deduction. But going green doesn't stop there. If you put a good amount of money into your home to improve energy efficiency such as heating or cooling systems, insulation, or alternative energy sources such as solar, you can get a nice tax credit on your return for that year.<br />
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<b>Educate Yourself.</b> Continuing your education can be good for your future earnings and your wallet. There are tax credits and deductions for you to take. Interest from student loans are deductable from your return as well. If you have a large enough loan, this can be pretty significant.<br />
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<b>Tax Preparation. </b>Books, classes, software and tax preparation services are deductible on your tax return as a miscellaneous itemized deduction. It's easy to find this tip using software such as Taxcut or TurboTax.<br />
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What tax savings tips do you have to share? What deductions and savings are you taking this year?<br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i><br />
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photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/4122172006/sizes/s/">alancleaver_2000</a>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-41916501083502382132010-02-26T09:30:00.001-05:002010-02-26T09:30:00.658-05:00Free Photo Books Every Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nMXan4Sxt4c/S4dNE1MdP2I/AAAAAAAAA6c/GZ3-VtmaJhU/s1600-h/HotPrints.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nMXan4Sxt4c/S4dNE1MdP2I/AAAAAAAAA6c/GZ3-VtmaJhU/s320/HotPrints.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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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?<br />
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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, <a href="http://www.hotprints.com/">HotPrints</a>. 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!<br />
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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 <a href="http://twitter.com/hotprints">Twitter</a> too!<br />
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Have you tried HotPrints? If you have I'd love to hear what you think of their product.<br />
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<b>Recommended Book:</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307465357?ie=UTF8&tag=frny0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307465357">The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frny0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307465357" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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Love Reading? Get the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015TG12Q?ie=UTF8&tag=frny0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0015TG12Q">Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frny0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0015TG12Q" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1387136545746534910.post-84477260395054662402010-02-22T11:00:00.001-05:002010-02-22T11:50:58.734-05:00Are You Getting A Tax Refund?Are you expecting a tax refund this year? The average tax refund is $2700 this year.<br />
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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 <a href="http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96196,00.html">IRS's W4 withholding calculator</a> to do this.<br />
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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.<br />
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So tell us, are you getting or expecting a refund this year?<br />
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<b>Recommended Book:</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307465357?ie=UTF8&tag=frny0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307465357">The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frny0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307465357" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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Love Reading? Get the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015TG12Q?ie=UTF8&tag=frny0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0015TG12Q">Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frny0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0015TG12Q" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/frugalnyc">Twitter</a>. If you would like to contribute to <a href="http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/">FrugalNYC</a> in any way feel free to contact me via <a href="mailto:frugalnyc@gmail.com">email</a>. <i><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/frugalnyc">Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader</a> or <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2765408&loc=en_US">Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email</a>.</i>FrugalNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098633530635580156noreply@blogger.com0