Home > 2009 > August

Because Nobody Likes Moldy Bread

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I buy most of my bread at Trader Joe’s. The bread is preservative-free, which is great, until I discover fuzzy green spots growing on the slices three days after I bring the loaf home.

Then I discovered from Mom a wonderful trick that will ward off moldiness and keep the bread good way past expiration date: freezing bread.

All I do is toss the bread up in the freezer. That’s it. No need for special packaging, bags, or enclosures. I don’t freeze my bread for long (a week or two, max), so I’m not worried about freezer burn.

Freezing bread is so easy and convenient, and also saves me money now that I can finish every loaf I buy.

Possibilities and Uncertainties

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A lot has happened in the past couple of weeks. The biggest piece of news is that I’ve joined the ranks of the unemployed. This situation is a mixed blessing – on the one hand, having no income is of course a scary experience. On the other hand, this development will give me more time to explore other ventures.

My feelings can best be summed up as “the possibilities are exciting, the uncertainty is unnerving.” I appreciated the experience at my job, but in many ways, the timing worked out and this was just the push I needed. I am really excited about pursuing other opportunities.

In the first week of unemployment, I’ve applied for UI (still waiting on the paperwork), taken 3 dance classes, cooked a nice sit-down dinner for two, revised my resume, attended an industry event, and planned a trip to New York City (informational interview + friend visit) for September. I’ve also caught up on several loads of laundry, learned to perfectly poach an egg, made cupcakes and frosting, and mastered a complex turn in salsa. Another goal is to do a Couch to 5K program before the end of the year.

During the past week, I’ve also reached out to some people that I’ve met through the blog. These people, who have started off being strangers (but whom now I consider my mentors) have generously taken hours of their time to advise me on career opportunities and review my resume. I am deeply grateful to them.

So as I look down the road to the next 6 months, I’ve feeling little apprehensive, but I’m also invigorated by the sense of possibility. I want to make sure that I take advantage of this period of time in my life – I have more time now, so there’s no excuse not to follow up on some things that I’ve always wanted to do. And on the personal finance front – yes, am I ever glad that I’ve been saving all along.

The One In Which I Fall For A Commercial

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Yoplait brand managers should be proud!

I’ve always liked the fluffy texture of Yoplait Whips, but recently, I’ve seen a couple of commercials (Yoplait Whips Freezing) that touted the deliciousness of Yoplait Whips yogurt in a whole new way – “put it in the freezer, and voila, Yoplait Whips become a luscious frozen treat.”

In these hot days of summer, who wouldn’t want a luscious frozen treat (that is also purportedly healthier than the pint of ice cream I’m eyeing)? So when I stopped by a local supermarket with a big yogurt sale ($1 for two), I loaded up on Yoplait Whips.

I just had one now, and the commercial’s right: it tastes pretty darn good frozen. I wonder why I never thought of the idea before I saw the commercial.

Interesting factoids: “lait” means “milk” in French. “plait” means “please”. Yoplait is owned by French companies.

$330 Pair of Flip-Flops

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You read the title right.

I am usually an advocate of spending more on quality shoes, but, as I’ve come to realize, “more” and “quality” are all in the eyes of the beholder.

Now, behold this pair of Hermes calfskin flip-flops.

Hermes flipflops $330 Pair of Flip Flops

On the one hand, I wonder how in the world a pair of flip-flops can reach 3 figures. I hope the little illustrated wings are real because for $300+ a pair these babies better be able to make me fly.

On the other hand, this pair of flip-flops is probably the most affordable item at Hermes, given that a Hermes Birkin bag costs $5,000+. Yet, I can more easily justify the purchase of a bag – wouldn’t flip-flops just get dirtied and ruined?

How much would you spend on flip-flops? I say my thereotical limit is around $20, but the most I’ve spent on a pair is probably ~$15. Secretly, though, I wonder if there’s something extra special about calfskin flip-flops.

Guess I’ll never know! icon wink $330 Pair of Flip Flops

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Trader Joe’s and the Mystery of the Spoiled Milk

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A week ago, I purchased a 1/2 gallon of milk from Trader Joe’s for $1.49. The expiration date was for August 26. On Sunday, I used it to make French toast – and everything came out fine. When I poured the milk into the glass, however, I knew it had gone bad. Instead of a fragrant milkiness, there’s a weird aftertaste.

I thought about just dumping out the milk and chalking it up to a fluke, but I had only finished half the bottle. So even though I felt a little strange about it (it’s only $1.50, after all, and I didn’t have my receipt anymore), I decided to head back to Trader Joe’s and ask for a refund.

Just to be safe, I lugged the bottle of milk with me. At Trader Joe’s, I went to the customer service desk and explained the situation to the crew member. The nice gentlemen behind the desk immediately wrote me a refund for $1.49. “You can smell the milk,” I said eagerly. But he made a face and shook his head. Hah! That was probably the smart decision. (I smelled the milk and it was definitely funky!) 

I left the store with a new 1/2 gallon of milk and a further appreciation of Trader Joe’s customer service. I still have no idea what happened – maybe I just got a bad batch, or the date was mislabeled, etc. Anyone with a theory, please feel free to chime in! 

But at least now I have a new bottle of milk. So lessons learned: if the food is bad or spoiled, Trader Joe’s will issue a replacement / refund promptly. It never hurts to ask!

August 26, 1920: Women’s Vote

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Today, 89 years ago, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution became law, and women could vote in the fall elections, including in the Presidential election.

A century is not a very long chapter in the annuals of human history, and it’s amazing how much women’s roles and perceptions have changed. 

As an aside, I first became interested in the suffrage movement after I read American Girl Samantha’s story. Her aunt Cordelia was a suffragette who eventually won over Samantha’s grandmother, who previously insisted that women’s place wasn’t in the voting booths. So yes, life lessons learned from dolls. Wait, am I further reinforcing gender norms…? Isn’t it great that women’s “place” has expanded so widely?

I’ve voted in presidential elections, but the biggest impact of my vote will be in local and special elections (in fact, because I live in California, my vote for the President is almost meaningless in terms of how the electoral structure is set up – i.e. the “winner-takes-all” system in which a majority of popular vote will yield 100% of electoral votes).

But, like many people, I don’t really vote in local elections. Because I don’t feel educated enough on the issues, because it’s hard to figure out when and where the elections are held, because even though my vote will count more in a smaller election, I still don’t think it will make a difference.

That’s a sad way to think, isn’t it? I should be a better citizen, given all the tears and sweat that went into the suffrage movement.

The Luxury of Fresh Flowers

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My fascination with Mrs. Dalloway began with the first sentence, in which the female heroine decided that she was going to buy the flowers herself for her party that night.

Well, my friend bought me a gorgeous bouquet of purple, blue, and pink hydrangeas for a get-together this weekend. The bouquet was so big that I split them into two arrangements – a smaller one to place in the living room and a larger one to serve as the dining room table centerpiece. 

hydrangeas The Luxury of Fresh Flowers

To keep my flowers fresh for as long as I can, I follow these steps:
(1) cut the stems at an diagonal
(2) change the water every day
(3) make sure there’s enough water in the vase
(4) trim the low-hanging leaves so none is submerged in the water
(5) remove the wilting flowers
(6) keep flowers out of direct sunlight

These steps should help me to keep my flowers alive for maybe two weeks. I didn’t start buying (and appreciating) fresh flowers until a few months ago. Before, it seemed like an extravagance. But now that I have had blooms gracing my coffee table or brightening up the kitchen, it’s hard not to just stop by the local farmer’s market and pick up a small bouquet for $3…

Do you buy fresh flowers? What are your favorite kinds?

Cream Cheese Frosting: Easy and Cheap and Oh So Delicious

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8 oz. Trader Joe’s light cream cheese: $1.69
5 tablespoon unsalted butter: $1.25
1.5 to 2 cups powdered sugar: $1.00
2 teaspoons vanilla extract: $0.75
Electric handheld mixer: free (borrowed from landlady)

Combine cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Mix well. Add in powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time until you achieve the desired taste and texture. Mix until entire mixture is thick and creamy.

I’m sure there are things more beautiful in this world than thick, luscious ribbons of frosting, perfectly balanced between the slight tangyiness of cream cheese and sweetness of sugar.

But I can’t think of any right now. Excuse me while I go eat my 3rd cupcake in 10 minutes.

Entertaining At Home > Restaurants (Sometimes)

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Lately, I’ve been trying to cook more. As a rite of passage into “adulthood”, I’ve began inviting friends over and hosting dinner parties.

In the past 3 months, I’ve had a housewarming party, a brunch gathering (featuring eggs benedict with homemade hollandaise sauce and cinnamon swirl french toast), two dinners with a girlfriend, and a dinner party, all held at my much-beloved apartment, which includes a common area with a patio set surrounded by 3 tiny fish ponds, small planted trees, tomatos ripening on a vine, and a miniscule fresh herb “garden”.

Of course, it’s much cheaper to have friends over at home than to go out to a restaurant. But I’ve realized that the joy of entertaining at home isn’t really about the savings, per se. The best part about having dinner parties instead of heading out to restaraunts is this: there’s no waiting for a table, no feeling pressure to finish dinner quickly, and no need to figure out how to split the bill. 

Of course, there are special dining occasions, but many of the restaurants I’ve been to had uninspired choices. I went to those restaurants more for meeting with friends, not for the food. But hey, I can make mediocre food at home! My last dinner party lasted almost 4 hours – even when the food was all gone most people stuck around and talked. This would’ve never happened at a restaurant. Dining at home is a much more relaxed experience.

I make it even more relaxed by:
(1) having some premade treats on hand (Trade Joe’s sweet potato fries are a huge hit) and
(2) using paper plates, plastic forks, and disposable cups for larger gatherings (my set of dishes only has 4 place settings).
(3) inviting friends to bring wine or desserts if they’d like.

So my dinner parties are not exactly impeccable masterpieces a la Julia Child, but the food is all eaten up, the wine is free-flowing and the laughter’s contagious. And at the end of the night, isn’t that what makes dinner with friends an awesome experience?

The bad part about entertaining at home (sans dishwasher), though, is all the dirty pots, pans, and plates!

Profits & Markups in the Fashion Industry (or, Did Banana Republic Make Money Off My $20 Dress?)

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Given the proliferation of recession sales lately, I’ve been wondering about its effects on retailers, specifically women’s apparel. I recently purchased a linen dress from Banana Republic. It’s MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) is $98, but after several discounts, I purchased the dress for $20. So, how much of a markup did Banana Republic still receive? Did the retailer still make a profit off that dress?

According to my research, the clearest and most straightforward explanation on profit margins / markups in the fashion industry came from the Toronto Fashion Incubator website.

What are the profit margins in the fashion industry? What is the mark up for retail?

Susan Langdon (executive director of Toronto Fashion Incubator) says:

The basic costing formula for ready-to-wear apparel is this:

a) total of all raw materials (fabric, notions, cutting, sewing cost i.e.labour, label, ) x 2 = wholesale price

b) wholesale price x 2 = suggested retail price**

**You always need to provide the suggested retail price because this gives all of your retailers the same opportunity to sell the goods at the same price. It puts all of your customers on a fair playing field so that no one undercuts another.

The above basic formula is called “keystone” pricing and it’s suitable for selling in domestic markets. It builds in a basic profit margin of 100% from raw material cost to wholesale and again from wholesale to retail.

If you find that the suggested retail is higher than you would like it to be, you’ll have to reduce your raw material costs somehow by finding less expensive fabric or streamlining your production methods.

If you wish, you can also choose to increase the profit margin to be more than 100% between raw material cost to wholesale (not between wholesale to retail) so that it covers additional expenses like retailer discounts, sales rep commissions etc., but be careful not to price yourself out of the market. Look at where your competition is priced (both the high and low ranges) and try to remain around that.

Taking my $98 MSRP dress as an example:

The wholesale price will be 50%, or rounded to $50. To get down to the raw materials price, will be 50% of $50, or $25. Following the “keystone” pricing model discussed above, the price of the dress should be $25. But, since Banana Republic is part of the largest U.S. specialty apparel company by revenue (the Gap, Inc.) and have most of its clothing made overseas, I would assume the comapny was able to purchase the dress for much less than $25. This is because of (a) the volume discounting the Gap receives from manufacturers and (b) cheaper cost of labor and raw materials (although there will additional shipping costs).

As of the quarter ended in March 2009, Gap Inc’s shows a gross profit margin ( gross profit divided by total revenue) of almost 40%. Assuming a 40% profit margin and $20 sales price, Banana Republic made less than $8 in profit. That means the the cost of the dress to Banana Republic is around $12. (Banana Republic probably made less than 40% profit on this sale. This is because on full-priced sales, the company must be making much more than a 40% profit margin. Discounts are a way of life for mid-tier retailers, and would’ve been taken into account in company’s strategy and forecasting).

The cost of labor and raw materials of the dress is one factor, but taking into account the rent for stores, employee costs, advertising to broadcast sales, general and administrative costs, etc. etc., and the cost of that dress may have very well been close to $20.

So, did Banana Republic make money off the $20 dress?

I don’t know. Working on limited information and broad generalizations, I can only offer a vague answer: I think if Banana Republic did make a profit off the $20 dress, it must’ve not made a healthy profit margin. Sales with 80% discounts will work short-term to move excess inventory, but such drastic discounting is not sustainable nor viable as as long-term strategy.

Fortunately for Banana Republic, most consumers have purchased the dress at higher prices ($98 MSRP, $75 first discount, $50 second discount, $35 third discount), which means higher profits for the retailer. I picked up my dress during the final sale.

I love shoes and clothes, but the intersection of fashion and finance is almost more fascinating! If any readers work in the industry, please share your insights in the comments!

Personal Finance Blog Crush: The Recap

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A week ago I did a little interesting post on all the crushin’ that’s going on in the world of personal finance blogs.

Apparently, many money-savvy girls are a little starry-eyed over J.Money of Budgets Are Sexy (not quite fair, I say – the name clearly sends a sublimal message!) and Debt Ninja of Punch Debt In The Face. Both guys, coincidentally, are in committed relationships. Sorry girls!

The other boys to be mentioned are Ramit of IWTYTBR, Clever Dude, Single Guy Money, and Frugal Bachelor.

On the ladies’ side, My Pretty Pennies, Krystal, Money Mate Kate, Stacking Pennies, Fabulously Broke, Squawk Fox, and many more have received blog crush designations from boys AND girls. Yet more proof that money-savvy people are hot comodities!

As for my blog crush, it has to be what I think of as the quintessential  personal finance blog and one of the first blogs I’ve started reading – Jonathan of MyMoneyBlog! (I also think his avatar is really cute). Let’s see if this mention can entice him over here and leave a comment. icon wink Personal Finance Blog Crush: The Recap

Label Then Archive: How to Manage Emails in Gmail

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I have come to realize that the trick to managing Gmail correctly is to master both an art and a science. My email system (Gmail) was a BEAST. Imagine 5 years of emails in one inbox with nothing deleted, nothing archived, and everything haphazardly labeled or not at all. My Gmail was a big hot Gmess. I finally couldn’t deal with it anymore, and spent 3 hours going through my account.

Here’s how I cleared up my Gmail email account, revamped my organizational structure, and got clean from the messy inbox addiction. I’ve used a modified version of Dave Allen’s Getting Things Done, and I think it’s this method of managing emails in Gmail works quite well for me.

Create 6 labels:

  • 1. To Be Reviewed
  • 2. Wait for Action
  • Career
  • Personal
  • Finances
  • Reference

The first 2 labels are what I call Master Labels (put a number or an underscore in front so they will always show up first in your Gmail sidebar).

The other 4 labels are what I call Categorical Labels. On a side note, I’ve found that more general labels work better for me. Previously, I’ve had as many as 20+ different labels. But I wouldn’t use them consistently, because there are so many choices to select from. Pretty soon, instead of spending a minute pondering if a resume-related email should be labeled Career, Work, Resume, or Applications, I just threw my hands up and left that email unlabeled and unarchived in my inbox.

Not a good system.

Now, my new and much-improved system is basically this: See an email in the inbox, asks self.

Can I deal with this email in 5 minutes?

  • Yes -> Read and/or respond. Then tag with appropriate Categorical Label (for example, a email about a friend’s travel plans would be labeled Personal) then archive.
  • No -> Label the email To Be Reviewed. Archive. Go back to To Be Reviewed folder later. Then repeat the process above.

If I am waiting for something (say, a refund confirmation with the customer service department of a web retailer), I’ll tag that email with the Wait For Action label. This means that the email’s issue has not been resolved yet. I’m waiting for someone else to act on a request, or that they owe me additional information. Then I’ll label and archive the email.

The key is to never let the emails pile up (especially not for 5 years….).

Breaking free from the clutter of emails made me feel so… free! Having a clean, empty inbox is quite invigorating. I like it. Managing emails in Gmail doesn’t have to be hard, but it does require a certain degree of discipline. It’s easy to let the system slide… but as long as you don’t let it go for too long, the situation is easily remedied.

Women Hold Up Half The Sky

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Today New York Times published a very well-written and compelling story (The Women’s Crusade), part of a special issue on Saving The World’s Women.

In the 19th century, the paramount moral challenge was slavery. In the 20th century, it was totalitarianism. In this century, it is the brutality inflicted on so many women and girls around the globe: sex trafficking, acid attacks, bride burnings and mass rape.

The story of Saima illustrates how education and economic empowerment can help women bridge the wide gulf between servitude and fulfillment.

Saima is a Pakstani woman who was beaten by her husband and ostracized for not bearing sons. Her mother-in-law suggested that her husband take a second wife. That changed when Saima built a successful embroidery business (started with microfinance loans).

Now, she is no longer beaten. Her mother-in-law and husband have stopped mentioning the second wife issue. And Saima’s daughters are going to school.

In developed countries, economic empowerment might not mean the difference between life and death. But I do believe it can mean the difference between life and a better life. I suppose that’s why the topic of personal finance is such a compelling issue for me, and why I’m so interested in the intersection of economic issues, women’s development, and the expanding role of women in society.

Political and social empowerment are important, but women’s economic empowerment is a crucial ingredient in enforcing laws and changing societal attitudes.

Since I was young, my mother has drilled into me the importance of financial empowerment. There’s not much emphasis on the acquisitive power of wealth, but very heavy emphasis on the security and independence that financial independence brings.

My mother always said, “money doesn’t mean that you are more valuable as a person or you are smarter or that you’re better or that you’ve lived a more honorable life. But money will give you choices. Money will make you heard.”

The title of this post, “Women hold up half the sky” comes from a Chinese saying. There’s another Chinese saying that I think is equally applicable:  “Those who have money have a loud voice.” For women’s voices to be heard, economic empowerment has to be a goal.

New Laptop On a Budget: Lenovo G530

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Thank you to everyone who has made suggestions on my can I get sub-$800 laptop question!!

After getting a crash course in laptop specifications and searching various online deals, I’ve discovered that I can go lower than $800 for my needs. Much lower. Oh my how the world has changed. Six years ago, I was scraping the bottom of the barrel with a $880 Compaq Presario (that has, surprisingly, held up really well). Now, I am again scraping the bottom of a much bigger and better-constructed barrel.

Lenovo offers 3 lines of laptops, the warrior Thinkpads, the classy Ideapads, and the much-less-mentioned “value line” G530s. I originally concentrated my search on Ideapads (recommended in a couple of comments), and came really close to buying a U350 or a Y550.

But then boyfriend and I found this Newegg deal for a G530 (see Newegg.com deal here). We thought it fits my needs (I am a fairly undemanding user) and budget. Fast-enough processor. Adequate RAM. Good-sized screen. At 6 pounds, it’s slightly heavier than I would’ve liked, but that’s a small quibble.

At $450, the price IS right.

Add on taxes and fees, and the grand total comes out to $510. The comprehensive reviews I found of the G530 all gave the laptop good ratings for a budget laptop (see reviews by notebookreview.com, hothardware.com, about.com, and pcworld.com). The consensus seems to be: “Nothing fancy. Just a solid, budget laptop fit for basic computing needs.” And that was exactly what I was looking for.

Tip Inflation: Is 20% the New Norm?

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When I was growing up, I always though the rule of thumb was a 15% tip for breakfast / lunch and a 18% tip for dinner. Recently, however, I’m wondering if my rule of thumb has become outdated and that guidelines for the appropriate tip amount, like almost everything else, have inflated.

Last Saturday, boyfriend and I went to a pizza restaurant where we received okay service. The server was somewhat inattentive and slow, but she was nice enough and the pizza was delicious. Boyfriend generously treated me to dinner and gave a 20%+ tip. I probably would’ve given ~19% (doubled the tax) but no more. Maybe this is another instance of men being better tippers, but maybe I just haven’t kept up with the times.

According to some online research, 20% has become more popular because it’s easier to calculate – just take 10% of the bill and double it. Also, people tend to tip on the total bill, which includes tax. I don’t know if I’m being stingy or what, but I always tip on the pre-tax portion of the bill.

If I receive excellent service, I try to tip 22% to 25%. If I receive good but not outstanding service, I tip 18%-20%. If I receive truly bad service, I STILL tip over 15%. Example: I gave 18% even when boyfriend and I visited a restaurant where we waited 2 hours for our (admittedly delicious) food. But has tip inflation gotten out of hand?

I used to feel pretty good when I tipped 20% – I thought it was a rate that let the server know his/her service is appreciated and recognized. Now, has that percentage become meaningless?

Or am I out of date on the whole tipping scheme?

Is 20% the new 15%? Do you tip 20% for “baseline” service or for “good” service? Is there a convention tipping pre-tax vs. total bill?

When To Spend Money On Hobbies?

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Hobbies are fun, but if you’re not careful, hobby-related expenses can really add up.

Right now, my most enjoyable hobby is salsa. So far, my investment in this budding pastime has been (1) the $12 fee per class and (2) the one hour lesson per week.

My lessons are one of the highlights of my week, but now I find myself impatient at how slowly the class is going. I know I can improve faster if I went to salsa camps ($60 for four-hours) and got private instruction ($75 per hour). But both of those things cost money. I also wanted new Latin dance shoes ($75-$150).

So how did I decide that it was the right time to invest in my hobbies? I asked myself 3 questions:

1. Am I committed to this activity?

There’s no need to spend money if I’m not going to stick with salsa for the long term. But I have been dancing salsa for the past seven weeks, and I plan to continue my classes. I enjoy salsa – it’s a fun, social activity and a good form of exercise. Not to mention, it’s good for my relationship!

2. How necessary is this equipment / lesson to my safety and health?

In sports or dance, equipment is very important. In dance, proper footwear make all the difference. I have been wearing regular heels, which, really, have done a number on my feet and back. If I want to continue dancing, I should pluck down the cash for a pair of proper dance shoes.

3. Can I find deals or specials within my budget? If not, can I wait until I can?

I’ve already waited for almost 2 months! So when my instructor offered students the chance to purchase shoes at the wholesale price, I jumped at the opportunity. In the spirit of compromise with my budget, I decided to forgo the salsa camps for now. And instead of buying a pair of shoes for $65, I chose a plainer style for $55.

I am so excited to pick up my shoes next week and dance up a storm in my new and suede-soled 3-inch T-strap Latin heels!

Cheap Ways to Keep Flames Alive in Your Relationship

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Forget about romantic weekends at a bed & breakfast or island cruises. Those are wonderful ways to rejuvenate your relationship, but recessionary times calls for tighter budgets.

Besides, simply spending time together (even in a relaxing, romantic setting) might not be enough to keep the flames burning. According to a study detailed in the New York Times, couples who try new activities together will get that extra brain chemistry akin to those-newly-in-love.

Rather than visiting the same familiar haunts and dining with the same old friends, couples need to tailor their date nights around new and different activities that they both enjoy, says Arthur Aron, a professor of social psychology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. The goal is to find ways to keep injecting novelty into the relationship. The activity can be as simple as trying a new restaurant or something a little more unusual or thrilling — like taking an art class or going to an amusement park.

With that criteria in mind (who am I to question science?), here are some cheap and scientific ways to make your relationship sparkle like a vampire (please forgive the Twilight reference):

1. Ballroom or Latin dance class. Even if you have two left feet, try it out. It’s a fun, social activity where close embrace is encouraged, the man gets to be the leader and the woman is treated as a lady. If you have rhythm, Argentine tango is a good dance to try. After all, it’s a dance described as the vertical expression of horizontal desire. Classes are affordable at $10-$15 per session.

2. Kayaking. Rent a kayak for $20 to $30 an hour and you’ve got a exciting trip out into the big blue ocean. Take turns paddling or try to keep time together. But you don’t need to achieve perfect synchronization for brain chemistry to turn on.

3. Amusement parks. What better way to act like giddy teenagers than to scream your head off on the top of a rollercoaster, munch on calorie-laden treats, and hold hands as you stroll through Cinderella’s Castle? For 2009, Disneyland and Disney World are offering free admissions on your birthday. Split the remaining ticket’s difference and enjoy Disney-brand happiness for less. Or, visit a lesser-known amusement park – they often offer specials that makes a day affordable. $15-$35 per person.

*By the way, all the methods above are tested by yours truly. They work.

New Laptop Computer On A Budget

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My first (and only) laptop has lasted me 6 years. It is still functional, but I can’t go on with it any more. The computer doesn’t have Microsoft Office (somehow it stopped updating) and has become increasingly slow. Now, I use it as a very bulky, very slow version of a netbook – only good for web browsing.

Looks like I can’t hold off getting a new computer.

I would like something less than $800 (preferably around $700 if that’s possible), with MS Office functionality (so a netbook is out), relatively portable and reliable, with a decent battery life (4-5+ hours). My first laptop cost my ~$880 six years ago… so it’ll be a trip to see how much more I can get for my money now, thanks to the continually decreasing cost of technology.

My 6-year old computer is a Compaq (do they even make those anymore?) and since it’s lasted me this long, I don’t mind looking at HPs/Compaqs again.

Anyone have suggestions? Is my price point realistic?