Saving Money on Gas

If you are running low on cash, a tank of gas can really hit your wallet hard.  It can be worth it to change your driving habits to squeeze every last mile out of a thank of gas.  I often coast down hills and even cut the car off sometimes at long lights.  But, there is a group of people called hyper-milers who really take it to the limit and make dramatic improvements in fuel economy.

You can make big improvements even if you drive what could be considered a gas guzzler, consider John Teach's article on maximizing the fuel economy of his Corvette.

Dr. Hyper-Mile Or:  How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Save Fuel

Even if you don't have a Corvette, you can save gas by easing up on the gas, coasting down hills, and taking 55 mile an hour bi-ways instead of 80 mile an hour highways.

Buying a Stereo When You Are Flat Broke

Being broke doesn't have to stop the music.  You can still put together a pretty awesome stereo even on the tightest of budgets.  All you have to do is set aside fashion, expectations, and marketing hype.  Then, go out, shop super cheap, and get what you need for a kicking sound system.  I recently built a pretty decent system from thrift store stereo component.  The total price of my system was a whopping $40.  Yes, $40!  Here's how I did it:

How I Built a Component Stereo for $40

Technics SU-V76 Amplifier & Technics ST-S76 Receiver

1 of 2 Sharp Compact Stereo Speakers

While I can certainly improve on this system, it sounds pretty darned good.  Now, I have something to build on and expand on in the future.  This whole stereo started on a shoestring budget at a thrift store.

Of course, if you want to go low with all new gear, you could start with a mini stereo amplifier like this one:

How to Use a Magic 8 Ball in Your Job Search

The Classic Toy from Mattel Has the Answers You Need

When you are searching for a job, your world is full of questions. Your family will face a lot of uncertainty and stress. Until a job offer is on the table, there are no answers. You find yourself waiting for decisions by HR and by hiring manages. If you are relocating, there is even more uncertainty in the equation. Fortunately, a classic American toy, the Magic 8 Ball from Mattel, has some of the answers. Those answers can, at least, temporarily relieve you of many job search anxieties.

The Magic 8 Ball is a larger than normal plastic billiard ball containing a 20-sided die immersed in a dark fluid. You look at the 8, ask it a question, and then flip it over to see the answer revealed in a transparent plastic window. The Magic 8 Ball is quick and it's all people had before Yahoo, Google, and Bing. It's a mysterious entity and there are a few guidelines that can help you get the most out of it:

1. Ask Yes/No Questions. When asking a question to the Magic 8 Ball, you must phrase your questions in the form of yes/no questions. Open-ended questions are not really the plastic oracle's strong point.

2. Ask questions that are about intuition, feelings, and actions beyond your control. The Magic 8 Ball seems to get insulted when asked questions that are better answered by online research. If you ask, the Magic 8 Ball if there are rattlesnakes in Austin, it may give you the wrong answer just out of spite. However, if you ask about whether a recruiter will call today or whether you'll get a move package, the Mattel version of the old Syco-Seer does much better.

3. Pay Attention to Your Own Desires. While the Magic 8 Ball reveals simple answers, if you pay attention and are self-aware, you might just learn a little something about yourself. For example, if you ask a question, you may realize that don't like the answer and re-phrase the question or shake twice for for a best two out of three answer. If you find yourself, playing for two out of three or rephrasing questions, it is very revealing of your own desires.

4. Know the Odds. According to Magic8ball.org, the Magic 8 Ball has twenty possible answers. 10 are positive, 5 are negative, and 5 are neutral. So the Magic 8 Ball is a generally positive and supportive entity.

I'm not sure that a Magic 8 Ball is a good replacement for a career coach. It's a random answer generator intended for entertainment purposes only. However, an answer from a Magic 8 Ball sure beats fretting and worrying about something beyond your control. That HR department will eventually call you.

Habits for Success

Everyone has secrets for success.  It's a multi-million dollar industry.  But, success has simple roots.  Success is a product of good habits.  As Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."  If you'd like to be successful, you have to develop a good work ethic and show it through good habits.  I have identified some of these habits here -

Seven Habits for Success in Life

You could pay some late night infomercial guru $29.95 for this information, but I'm giving it away for free.  Everyone in this country can and should succeed in life.  However, if you want to learn more and expand upon the theme, I recommend reading Stephen R. Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Refurbishing Your Laptop for a Longer Life

We have another laptop that is near death.  The hard-drive has failed and we are running from time to time with a Linux LiveCD that runs everything from the CD-ROM drive.  It works, but it is cumbersome.  We are going to have to repair it.

Here are some basic steps that we are going to take in order to refurbish our old laptop computer on our own.

How to Refurbish Your Old Laptop

Stretching Your Laptop's Life with a Make Over!

It would be nice if we could just drop everything and rush out to buy a new PC.  But, sometimes, it can be difficult to come up with $300 or $400 for even a basic new PC.  Refurbish units beckon, but even they cost about $150 for a capable machine.  So, instead, we are stretching the last bit of life out of our old computer.

One way we can do that is with a laptop computer make-over.  We are transforming our old laptop into more of a desktop machine.  Here's how --

How to Give Your Laptop Computer a Makeover

Save Money by Carrying Out Your Pizza

If you are looking to save a little money, you can call or just pop into your local Pizza and order a pizza for carry out instead of for delivery! 

This Pizza Not From Domino's - Does Wikimedia Commons deliver?

Our local Domino's sells a large 14-inch pizza as a carry-out special for only $8.40.  You can't beat that and you can easily skip all the high calorie extras like cinna-sticks and lava cakes.  Instead of paying $20 to $30 for a pizza with extras and a tip for the delivery driver, we can eat for less than $10.  It's an awesome deal!