The faucet in our kitchen sink has the traditional small sprayer on the side. But we've had nothing but trouble with that sprayer. We've replaced this faucet (and sprayer) once already since the kitchen was redone ten years ago. Clearly, they don't make 'em like they used to. I'm sure that my teenagers' enjoyment of Continue Reading
ArchivesJanuary, 2010
05JanDo As I Say, Not As I Do
Those words should have been on the large sign atop the small car. Instead, the sign read "Driving School. STUDENT DRIVER." There was no student driver in the car the day I pulled up next to it at a traffic light. The instructor was alone in the vehicle. And he was using the opportunity of Continue Reading
04JanOnline Retailers Win Big During the Holidays
by Doug Desjardins While traditional retailers are celebrating a meager increase in holiday sales, online retailers are basking in the glow of a double-digit increase that most analysts didn't expect. Using clever online promotions and taking advantage of a pre-Christmas blizzard on the East Coast, e-commerce retailers reported a 15.5 percent increase in sales from Continue Reading
04JanGift Cards Drive Post-Holiday Sales
by Doug Desjardins In 2008, the sudden economic decline couldn't have happened at a worse time for retailers, who had already placed holiday orders for a season they expected to be a little slow but ordinary. The result was a fire-sale marathon that had retailers slashing prices to sell excess inventory long after Christmas had Continue Reading
04JanDon't Eat Jello on the Couch!
There are days when I'm really thankful that we decided to slipcover the family-room sofa rather than reupholster it. Granted, that decision was all finance and no style, because the slipcover cost several hundred dollars less than a reuphostering job. But with kids in the house, a washable sofa is definitely a Good Thing. I'm Continue Reading
04JanWeird Holiday Monday: Chemical Fruitcake Edition!
Scary title, isn't it? I think it would make a great band name, though! January is National Radon Action Month! It's invisible, but it's damaging. And it's not something to ignore. Free Shipping on orders over $50 at Edmund Scientifics Valid online only. Use promotion code FGR. Valid through: Unknown See other Edmund Scientifics coupons! Continue Reading
02JanThe Savings Add Up
What are you going to do with your savings in 2010? Have you set goals to save a certain amount of money? And what do you plan to use that money to do? When I do my grocery shopping, the amount I save using store sales and coupons prints right on the receipt. On my Continue Reading
01JanOnline Holiday Sales Rebound in Big Way
by Doug Desjardins Driven by social network promotions and some bad winter weather, online sales rebounded in a big way during the holiday season, jumping more than 14 percent. According to research firm Coremetrics, online sales from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve jumped 14.6 percent compared to the same period in 2008. That estimate exceeds the Continue Reading
01JanExercise Your Right
Did you resolve to lose weight and get more physically fit in 2010? You're not alone. Most people make that kind of resolution, whether it involves starting a new diet or trying a different exercise plan. Wouldn't it be great if physical fitness was as easy for adults as it is for kids? I have Continue Reading
01JanCalendars, Containers and Checklists
I feel like I spend my days fighting entropy. As fast as I get one area cleaned up, another one gets messed up. And I don't even have any toddlers in the house to blame for this! One of the top New Year's Resolutions is always "get more organized." That's certainly true for me. The Continue Reading