HOW TO INVEST IN THE NEXT BULL MARKET

Okay, so we're not there yet.....but Team CHEAPIOSITY likes to think ahead, and it's never too early to prepare.

We thought this article from The Wall Street Journal is a good read and sound advise. Hence, dear reader, we pass it along in the spirit of optimism and positive thinking:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124120132592977825.html

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FREE FOOD

In tough economic times like these, we start thinking about how we can cut back on the cost of living. We're ever on the lookout for good deals and trying to see if we can get anything for free. Every little bit helps. And this includes food.

With a little legwork and a little research, it should be possible to find a free meal. With that goal in mind, here are 25 Ways You Can Eat For Free.

Forage. Look for wild growing foods. Nuts, fruits, and other plants can provide sustenance for free. Martha Stewart had one of her cooks on the show demonstrating an Asian recipe and told the audience that the cook goes through her gardens and pulls out what Martha considered weeds and cooks them up into delicious dishes. If Martha will eat it, then so can you. Take dandelions as an example.....dandelion salad anyone?? Foraging can also be a fun family activity. Just make sure you understand what is safe to eat, and what is not. Check locally to find out if wild food tours are offered, or try to locate a master gardener, agricultural extension or horticulturist to help you identify edible plants. If foraging seems too risky, spend a few dollars for a range of seeds or flats and plant a garden. If it's good enough for the First Lady...

Fish. Learn how to fish. Learn how to clean and prepare fish, and you can prepare a free meal easily. You might even consider Hunting. Acquiring appropriate gear and the license fees cost more, and many people are not comfortable with this option. Thank you, Bambi.


Go to church or synagogue. Many other religious denominations offer free food at activities ranging from scripture study to fellowshipping events to holiday programs.

Mystery shopping. Sign up to be a 'mystery shopper' and sometimes it's to try a restaurant. Watch out for scams, however. Not all mystery shopping opportunities are legitimate.

Barter. As the recession deepens, Bartering is actually making a bit of a comeback. If you have skills and knowledge that others can use, trade them for a free meal or for some kind of foodstuffs.

Free grocery samples. Have you ever been to a Sam’s Club or Costco on a Saturday afternoon? You can eat an entire meal for free by moving around the samples stations. Many stores offer free samples, and many of them do it on a predictable schedule. Get a feel for when stores are offering freebies, and get in line.

Go home. Nothing beats a home-cooked, free meal from Mom. And you’ll get in some quality bonding time.

Continental breakfast. When you travel, check to see whether your hotel/motel offers a free continental breakfast. This usually includes cold cereal, bread products and juice.
Special promotions. Keep an eye out for special promotions. Many restaurants offer them, especially fast food restaurants. Recent promotions we've spotted include: Senior promotions for those 55 and older, college student promotions and discounts with school ID, and promotions recently run by chains like Quizno’s (first 1 million people get a free sub) and Denny’s (free Grand Slam breakfast).
Coupons. Careful couponing can lead to free food. Buy food on sale with coupons. We're not coupon experts, but when you know how to properly use your coupons, you can get your groceries for very, very little — and many items for free. And, of course, there are those coupons that allow you a buy one, get one free on some items, as well as restaurant coupons that help you get a free entree or drink.

Become a freegan. Perhaps you’ve heard about freeganism. It’s all about foraging for used, still in good condition items, from urban dumping grounds. It’s extreme, and many people are uncomfortable with it. Perfectly good — or nearly perfectly good — food is often tossed out from grocery stores and restaurants. I think you know where this is going.
Eating free in COLLEGE.

College students are notoriously hungry — and poor. Here are some places you can go if you are looking for a free meal in college:
Campus food services. We worked at the campus cafeteria for two years while in college. At the end of every shift, workers were allowed to have a free meal. If there were enough leftovers, we could even box up some of the food and take it home. Many campuses also have grills, cafes and catering services. Even working in a restaurant off-campus can lead to free food. (This trick works even if you aren’t in college.)

Clubs. Join a club, get free food. Many clubs include some money for food at events in their budgets. Attend an “information” meeting, and you’ll most likely see some form of free food.
Art openings and films. Student art shows and film festivals are great places to score free food. Most of the time, a “reception” is held with food and beverage. You can go nosh a little and enjoy the arts.

Get to know your professors. Lots of professors like to be buddies with their students. If you show initiative in class, and an interest in the subject matter, you might find yourself invited over for dinner.

Conferences and seminars. Many campuses host professional and academic conferences and seminars. In many cases, students are allowed to some of the sessions. It is often possible to get free food at a reception or meeting during the course of the conference or meeting.

Open houses and orientations. Many organizations on campus offer open houses. Greek societies, honor societies, new buildings recently constructed and new programs offer open houses so that you can visit the premises. And one of the draws is free food. Orientations offer similar opportunities. Even as a senior, it is possible to score free food when you attend freshman orientation.

Web sites to help you find free food

Thanks to the Internet, it is possible to find even more free food. Go online to find good deals and places where you can eat free. Here are some Web sites that can help you enjoy food at little to no cost.

My Kids Eat Free provides a list of more than 2,500 locations in all 50 states that allow your kids to eat free. You can get free kids meals and more when you look for the right deals. (Locally, check for “kid’s night” at buffets, pancakes houses and other restaurants.)
TheFreeSite.com includes a list of freebie Web sites that can point you to special offers on food. And there’s more than just food here — there are freebies on a number of other products and services.
Restaurant.com Can help you find great deals and get you restaurant gift certificates on discount. You can get $25 certificates by paying $10. That’s $15 of free food!
FreeMania can help you find free food from grocery stores, restaurants and other sources. Plus, there are free recipes (to help you cook your free food) and other savings. FreeMania also offers directories to other free items.
Grocery Coupon Guide helps you develop strategies to maximize your grocery (and other) coupons to help you get the most bang for buck — and even get items for free.
FreakyFreddies.com provides access to free food samples. A great list of food manufacturers and restaurants from Quaker, Betty Crocker, Splenda, Red Bull, Starbucks, Chili’s, Arby’s and much, much more.
ShotAtHome.com provides coupons and other savings from a number of stores — including grocery stores and health food stores and co-ops. Sign up for emails for free coupons and other savings.
FreeRice.com is an interesting and fun site for wordsmiths who want to help provide free food for others. Answer a series of questions about word meanings, and every time you get one right, ten grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Program. A free way to help others get free food.

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CREDIT REPORT ERRORS

Keeping your good credit is top of everyone's to-do list these days; to that end, Team CHEAPIOSITY wants to share this article from MSNBC about how to complain about errors. Take a read:

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2009/04/everybody-makes.html

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MONEY LESSONS FOR COLLEGE GRADS

If either you, your kids, or your friends' kids are graduating, then reality is about to hit them. Like a big shovel in the face. A very expensive dangerous scarey honkin' shovel. It's almost enough to make us glad we're not young any more. Almost, but not quite...

Here's an article with some good advice to prevent them from finding themselves in debt.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124130827824380583.html

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RID YOURSELF OF PESKY FEES

What's the deal with all these additional fees on everything? Booking fees for travel, ATM fees, transaction fees, restocking fees.....enough already. (Not to mention those 'energy cost' fees when gas prices went up last year....why haven't they disappeared now that gas prices are down?) Team CHEAPIOSITY is as sick of paying pesky fees as you are. Companies think we don't notice. Yeah, right. Here are some tips to eliminate some fees and save you hundreds of $$$ a year. Let's see if the companies notice.

Household bills

1. From small home security firms and heating oil delivery services to major telecom providers, a growing number of companies are charging "manual billing" fees for sending paper bills and statements, sometimes up to $3.50 a month. Sign up for e-mail billing or check your statements online instead, and save up to $42 a year.

2. Homeowners and auto insurance can often be paid in installments, but spreading out the payments comes at a price. Fees vary, but expect $4 or $5 tacked on each month for installments, or up to $30 extra for a six-month policy.

3. Utilities, cable and Internet providers now commonly charge as much as $15 for making a payment over the phone - what Mierzwinski calls a "pay to pay" fee. These fees are often waived online, so set up your accounts on the company Web sites in case you have to make a last-minute payment.

Gift cards

4. Gift cards in the rack at your local supermarket can contain a rack of fees. For those with bank card logos like MasterCard, Visa and American Express, you may pay purchase fees up to $6.95. There can also be separate charges for activation, ATM withdrawal, and monthly maintenance if the card sits unused. Fees and regulations vary from state to state, so check the fine print on the packaging. Also check with your bank to see if they sell gift cards with lower fees.

Phone bills

5. Cell phone companies will charge up to $200 in "termination fees" if you cancel a contract early. Some prorate the fee to reflect the time left on the contract, but check your end date before switching services. If riding out your plan isn't an option, check out a contract trading service, like Celltradeusa.com, ReCellular.com or Cellswapper.com, where someone else may bid to take over the remaining portion of your contract.

6. Telephone companies often charge separately for services like voice mail, call waiting and caller ID, along with local and long distance calling. Some of these features may duplicate service you have on your cell phone. Compare both bills, and cut out services you don't need.

7. Conversely, if you use a service and pay extra fees - like roaming charges on your cell when you're traveling or if you've started texting frequently but still pay for each message - you may be able to save by adjusting your plan to one that includes more options.

Travel

8. Ask hotels and resorts if they charge fees for amenities like fitness centers or pools when you make a reservation, and again when you check in, advises David Lytle, editorial director of Frommers.com. If you're not going to use certain facilities, negotiate with the hotel before you sign anything that allows them to bill your credit card.

9. When booking a flight, watch out for charges like selecting an exit row seat ($20 at AirTran Airways), seats with more legroom ($35 at Spirit Airlines) and even picking a seat in advance of the flight ($5 to $35 at Northwest Airlines). Wait until you get to the airport on the day of travel and you may be able to avoid fees like charges for certain seats. Common fees charged by airlines are detailed on the travel site Kayak.com.

10. Pack light. Airlines won't just charge you for checking your bags, they'll sock you with another fee if any are too heavy - up to $175 on Delta, for instance. If that heavy bag is also "oversized," you'll be hit up for more, as much as $175 on United. With most carriers, including American, Continental, Delta, and United, these fees can be cumulative, so check the airline's Web site for its baggage restrictions before you pack. Bag fees are less common on international flights. Plus, you may be able to get some fees waived if you are a member of certain frequent flyer programs, like American Airlines premium programs, or if you hold an airline-linked credit card like Continental Airlines Chase cards.

11. Mid-range and discount hotels often offer free Internet service, but higher-end locations tend to charge, sometimes as much as $19.95 per day. If your hotel won't waive the fee, check out WiFiFreeSpot.com or JiWire.com to find free service nearby.

12. If you travel with your pet, you are likely to find yourself lapping up extra fees. Even self-proclaimed "pet friendly" hotels typically charge daily fees, starting at about $10 per pet, and in some cases additional per-stay fees up to $200. Ask clear questions when making reservations, and check out Web sites like PetsOnTheGo.com, PetTravel.com or DogFriendly.com to find no-fee or low-fee deals.

13. For years, savvy travelers have known using a credit card overseas could help save on exchange rates and fees. But credit card companies now typically add a foreign currency conversion charge of up to 3 percent. Lytle, of Frommers.com, said a strategy that will save on fees is to use a credit card only for large purchases, and use ATMs to withdraw cash infrequently for minor spending.

Banking and investing

14. Banks charge $10 to $38 for overdrafts, with the median about $27, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data says. These fees are getting more common as debit card use grows. So be keep your account register current, and be mindful of debit card spending, ATM withdrawals and any automatic payments that you have set up.

15. The fees for using another bank's ATM have crept higher, and it's not uncommon to see $3 to $4 charges. Using another bank's machine may also trigger a fee from your bank. Search for your own bank when you need cash, or try getting cash back when making debit-card purchases. Even if your bank also charges a fee for debit-card purchases, that may be a less costly option than using an ATM.

16. Banks may charge fees for frequent teller transactions or even for calling customer service. Wells Fargo, for instance, will charge you $2 to speak with a person, if your request could have been handled by its automated service. Check your bank's Web site and the fine print on your statements to learn your bank's policies.

17. If you've switched jobs and left 401(k) accounts sitting in former employers' programs, you're likely paying unnecessary management and servicing fees. These fees are often deducted directly from the assets of the funds you hold. Check the literature or Web site for your program to find out what's charged, and consolidate accounts to save what could add up to thousands of dollars over time.

Credit cards

18. Pay your bill late and expect to get socked with a fee of $30 or even $45. If you're prone to forgetting the due date, set up an automatic payment through your bank account.

19. Rather than decline a purchase, credit card issuers now are just as likely to allow you to go over your limit and charge you a fee, typically about $35, says Adam Levin, chairman and founder of Credit.com. You'll get charged even if you're just a few cents over your limit, and even if it's something like a late payment fee that puts you there.

20. Annual fees are less common than they used to be. Now appearing mostly on rewards cards, the size of the fees has risen to $50 to $150. If you pay an annual fee, make sure you're getting a worthwhile return from your rewards. If you're not, ask to have the fee waived or try to switch to a no-fee card.

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FREE and DISCOUNTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

We blogged to you about prescription drugs last June (http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/06/prescription-drugs.html) and we hope it helps you find the best price for drugs.

We were shocked to read a recent survey that showed 1 in 5 Americans skip dosages, split pills or go without medication due to high prices. Team CHEAPIOSITY can't stand idly by while consumers risk their health like this. There is help out there!

(We worry that many of the consumers most adversely affected might be older and not so computer-savvy as our readers. You may want to help out older neighbors, friends and family members. They probably won't come to you; you have to go to them. Armed with information and access to the internet, you may actually be able to save a life and you'll definitely help save money.)

A. Tell your doctor you need help. Your doctor may have access to samples and can tell you about drug assistance programs.

B. Your doctor can't help? You still have us. Check out these amazing resources:

Needy Meds at http://www.needymeds.org/ provides help getting more than 4,100 medicines, plus links to discount drug card and coupon programs, thousands of free or low-cost clinics around the country, programs offering medical equipment and supplies for specific diseases. You will also find a glossary of insurance and related terms, and a tool to see if you're eligible.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance at http://www.pparx.org./ links to every point for more than 475 different programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, government programs, health plans and charities.

Patient Advocate Foundation at http://www.patientadvocate.org/ is the most comprehensive patient assistance program available; they offer far more than help getting free or discount prescriptions. Provides help paying for surgery or large copayments for medical care, child care while patients are getting treatments, even transportation to treatments. Has specialized case managers who can help with a multitude of financial health care issues.

PatientAssistance.com at http://www.patientassistance.com/ has links to more than 1,000 prescription-assistance programs, free clinics and programs that help with copayments for treatment for cancer and rare and chronic diseases.

Rx Assist at http://www.rxassist.org/ links to state-run assistance programs and programs to help with drug copayments, a search by drug name for available help, and online patient education.

Rx Hope at http://www.rxhope.com/ offers online assistance applications, links to medical group, patient advocate and drug company sites.

You will find State assistance programs at www.ncsl.org/programs/health/drugaid.htm

For specific assistance with:

Heart medications, http://www.heartsupportofamerica.org/

HIV and AIDS drugs, http://www.atdn.org/

Kidney diseases, http://www.kidneyfund.org/

Lung medications, http://www.caringvoice.org/

Rare diseases, www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication

DRUG DISCOUNT CARDS
Together Rx Access, http://www.togetherrxaccess.com/. Offers free cards accepted at most pharmacies, in every state and Puerto Rico, that can get you prescription discounts of 25-40 percent. Has nearly 1.9 million members, who have saved more than $82 million since it began in 2005.

Pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Merck and GlaxoSmithKline offer discount cards.

Before applying, assemble the documents* you likely will need to get approval for a patient assistance program:

* Your last income tax return and, if you're employed, recent pay stubs.
* If you're unemployed, a letter or other document from your former employer stating you have been terminated and your health insurance has been stopped.
* Your last few months of bank statements.
* Statements covering any investments you have.
* Information on accumulated medical debt, which could affect eligibility.
* Make sure you include all requested information to avoid being turned down and having to reapply, which could significantly delay help.

Be Persistent:

Patients who have been through the process advise you not to accept rejection as final. Sometimes writing a letter detailing why a medication is so important, or applying to additional programs, brings success. A WARNING: Once you've gotten approval, you'll almost definitely have to reapply every year. That can cause a gap without the medicine, so don't wait until the last minute. Besides helping get medications free from a manufacturer or charity, assistance programs often help patients get qualified for Medicaid, which covers poor and disabled people, or other government health programs. The Patient Advocate Foundation will appeal denials to try to reverse them, help people get Social Security disability income or Medicaid coverage, and get preauthorization for expensive medical care. It does so using case managers trained in the ins and outs of specific issues.

Even people with health insurance can sometimes find help, such as when they need medicines for cancer or other complex illnesses that can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year, or when they have special circumstances.

Bottom Line:
Be your own Advocate!
Don't take NO for an answer!
There's help out there!

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HOW TO MAKE YOUR COMPUTER LAST LONGER

There's a school of thought that the average laptop computer's life is about 4 years and desktop's life is 5-6 years. Who can afford to go to that school anymore? TEAM CHEAPIOSITY certainly can't. People want the newest and fastest, but in these tough economic times, let's make the best of what we've already got.

PC users couldn't wait for Microsoft's Vista operating system, which turned out to be a bomb with lots of problems. Most PC users we know are sticking with XP until something better comes along; like Windows 7 which is being tested now. However, a new operating system costs money, and we're all about keeping what you've got and making it better. It looks like XP will be supported by Microsoft until 2014.

Everybody's wallets closed? Good. Here are 2 articles about updating your computer that will help you keep your computer running and giving you some helpful bells and whistles.....FREE!

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=Software&articleId=9129351&taxonomyId=18&pageNumber=1

and

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/18/pirillo.budget.computers/index.html?section=cnn_latest

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