Yesterday was quite a day for me. The Miami Herald announced staff reductions. A lot of us will have to go. Some people can leave voluntarily. Others must leave. One person has to leave from my reporter class. It will go by seniority, so I am in a good position. But we will know by next Wednesday how it all works out. We’ve had buyouts before. It’s the economy and our industry. We knew they were coming soon. The blogosphere was alive with speculation since last month.
If you are facing layoffs/buyouts, here are some tips about what you should do with your finances. If you need to make a quick buck, here are some tips.
Here is an earlier post I did about what to do if you are laid off from work.
Are you facing buyouts? If so, do you have an exit strategy? How do you rebound after losing your job?
People in San Diego are driving to Mexico to get cheaper gas. Mexico has an inflation subsidy to keep prices low for its citizens. A gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in San Diego retails for an
average price of $4.61 a gallon. A few miles south, in Tijuana, it’s
about $2.54 — even less if you pay in pesos, according to the article.
I know some people who make it a point to fill up their gas tank anytime they see it at a lower price, even if the tank is near full. Here is a tool to help you find the lowest priced gas in your area.
What are your tricks of the trade to save on gas?
The Boston Globe ran an article about teenagers cutting back on driving and complaining about gas prices. When I was a teen, I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license. I was an angel. I always got driving privileges. Well, maybe saying I was an angel is a stretch. I just knew how not to get caught. 
The teens in the article are doing things like riding their bikes more. The thought of me at age 19 riding a Huffy. *shudders*
What do you think about teens running on empty? Are our streets safer now? Or are kids missing out on the American rite of passage:keys to the ride?
Thanks G-Money for the tip!
Every Saturday until Aug. 2, you can visit CVS pharmacies with a photo center and get a lesson on how to make the most of your digital pictures. The workshops are from 2 to 4 p.m. Bring your digital camera. It’s free. Call your local CVS for more information.
I am going through credit card detox. I don’t use them anymore. I carry a balance, and I’m in debt slaying mode. However, for people who are responsible with credit cards and pay off their balances each month, there are big perks.
A new book, How You Can Profit from Credit Cards by Curtis E. Arnold, the founder of cardratings.com, will be out in July. Also, Liz Pulliam Weston wrote an article about credit card perks such as warranty protection and help with dispute resolutions with companies. She has a love fest with her credit cards.
I admire those who use plastic responsibly. I have friends who have taken trips to Mexico after getting credit card perks. Once I get through slaying the cards, I won’t put them back in rotation for perks. It’s too risky for my personality.
Do you use credit cards? If so, do you get perks or rewards? Do you think the hook ups given to credit card users are worth the risk of carrying a balance?
Ouch! This article hits close to home! Time magazine wrote a nice feature story about the movement for people to get rid of clutter. There’s a 100 Thing Challenge underway, for people to only own 100 things. WOW! I think this is extreme but necessary. On the good side, a pair of shoes may count as one item. Rejoice!
Every year when my mother comes to visit, we tackle a clutter project. One year, it was my drawers. I felt like I had done a mall run. So much stuff in the drawers I forgot I bought. The other year, we cleaned out the trunk in my car. You DO NOT want to know what I found in the trunk. Think college notebooks. After chucking the clutter, I felt AWESOME.
I live in a small space and even the tiniest item can be overwhelming. I’m all for getting rid of stuff. The actual act of it is serious work
Dave Bruno is running a blog on his 100 Thing Challenge. Check him out at guynameddave.com.
Could you live with just 100 things? Where would you cut first? Does clutter make you feel comfortable? Are you a minimalist or pack rat? Are you going to do the challenge?
Thanks Deborah for the tip!
If you are 30 and want to become a millionaire, you must save and invest reasonably for the next 35 years about $450 a month, according to this article by Kiplingers.
Oh really? Among the suggestions to find the extra $450 hanging around is raising your auto insurance deductible to $1,000, buying generic-over-the-counter medicine and taking advantage of tax exemptions.
Out of all the suggestions in the article, I think finding tax exemptions is the one I need to work on the most. Part of me is a little wary of all the paper work, but it’s costing me money in the long run. The suggestions seem pretty sensible. Bringing lunch to work is like the cornerstone of frugality, nowadays.
What would you do to try to become a millionaire, if you aren’t one already? Are you O.K. with bringing your lunch to work everyday? Would you feel comfortable with a $1,000 deductible on your car insurance? My deductible is $500 and I’m at peace with that. Would you buy generic medicine? Or should people simply get better paying jobs or create their own businesses? Talk to me!
Former Heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield is getting knocked out financially.
Holyfield’s $10 million estate in suburban Atlanta is in foreclosure, according to the Associated Press. His mansion has 17 bathrooms, three kitchens and a bowling alley. Whew!
Holyfield defaulted on a $10 million loan to Washington Mutual Bank, which will auction off his home on the courthouse steps, says the article.
Mr. Real Deal had a long and great boxing career. Sure, Mike Tyson chewed his ear off , but for the $200 million earned during his career, he could take the chewing like a champ.
How can he get back on his feet? Should Evander go on Dancing with the Stars again? Should we send him a link to this blog? What do you do with 17 bathrooms? Now, he has a lot of children, but 17 bathrooms? Should rich people just decide to live off half their income?
Thanks Jasmine for the tip!
Who: The Frugalista Files and the South Florida Black Journalists Association
What: First Friday Happy Hour
When: 6 p.m. to midnight on June 6
Where: Mr. Chu’s, 890 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach
Cost: FREE!!!!!
Hook up: $5 valet parking, free appetizers and earlybird two-for-one drink specials. Live D.J.
