Bruce Barber's Real Life Survival Guide » Money http://reallifesurvivalguide.com ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MODERN LIVING... Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:11:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MODERN LIVING... Bruce Barber's Real Life Survival Guide no 2010 Barber Productions, Inc. ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MODERN LIVING... Bruce Barber's Real Life Survival Guide » Money http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/category/money/ How do you manage your documents for easy access at tax time? http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2012/01/12/how-do-you-manage-your-documents-for-easy-access-at-tax-time/ http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2012/01/12/how-do-you-manage-your-documents-for-easy-access-at-tax-time/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:52:24 +0000 Bruce http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/?p=4166 I was sitting in front of my accountant on January 3rd. (Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.)

 

The move was brought about by our unprecedented need for financial aid (from institutions of higher learning in New Haven, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island). I digress.

 

Our conversation turned to the issue of managing tax documents; which inspire the question, How do you manage your documents for easy access at tax time?

 

]]> http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2012/01/12/how-do-you-manage-your-documents-for-easy-access-at-tax-time/feed/ 0 What’s a reasonable budget for holiday spending? http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/12/22/whats-a-reasonable-budget-for-holiday-spending/ http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/12/22/whats-a-reasonable-budget-for-holiday-spending/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:41:15 +0000 Bruce http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/?p=4061 I am the first to admit that our family has, in the past, fallen into the “obscene-number-of-gifts-with-no-apparant-budget” category.

 

(We actually buy a few things for the kids, too.)

 

I’m kinda interested, though; what’s a reasonable budget for holiday spending?

 

]]> http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/12/22/whats-a-reasonable-budget-for-holiday-spending/feed/ 0 Who should you tip at the holidays, and how much? http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/12/14/who-should-you-tip-at-the-holidays-and-how-much/ http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/12/14/who-should-you-tip-at-the-holidays-and-how-much/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:40:23 +0000 Bruce http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/?p=3905 This week we discussed the paper delivery method for obtaining a tip: the inclusion, in some cases, of a self addressed envelope. (Which does make showing your gratitude just that much easier!)

 

Susannah Bailin advocated tipping anyone who can help you when problems arise.

 

How about you – who should you tip at the holidays, and how much?

 

Please let us know in the Comments…

 

]]> http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/12/14/who-should-you-tip-at-the-holidays-and-how-much/feed/ 0 What are some of your favorite small, local gift ideas for the holidays? http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/12/07/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-small-local-gift-ideas-for-the-holidays/ http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/12/07/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-small-local-gift-ideas-for-the-holidays/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:17:50 +0000 Bruce http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/?p=3759 When I was growing up, we always looked forward to the box of special chocolates we’d get from my mom’s family in Michigan.

 

This got me thinking about how meaningful (and inexpensive) small local gifts can be.

 

What are some of your favorite small, local gift ideas for the holidays?

 

]]> http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/12/07/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-small-local-gift-ideas-for-the-holidays/feed/ 1 How do you deal with “choice paralysis” when deciding which products to buy? http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/08/19/how-do-you-deal-with-choice-paralysis-when-deciding-which-products-to-buy/ http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/08/19/how-do-you-deal-with-choice-paralysis-when-deciding-which-products-to-buy/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:16:54 +0000 Bruce http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/?p=2934 Randye Kaye brought up the topic of “choice paralysis” this week – the feeling of being overwhelmed by the seemingly endless number options we’re presented with on a daily basis.

 

Randye’s example: “I used to go buy shampoo. Now I go in the supermarket … I’m looking all the way to the left and I’m looking all the way to the right, and it ‘s for curly hair, color-treated hair, not really color-treated hair … and I don’t buy anything.

 

So, here’s the question we’re crowdsourcing: how do you deal with “choice paralysis” when deciding which products to buy?

 

]]> http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/08/19/how-do-you-deal-with-choice-paralysis-when-deciding-which-products-to-buy/feed/ 2 What’s the secret to receiving good customer service? http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/08/10/whats-the-secret-to-receiving-good-customer-service/ http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/08/10/whats-the-secret-to-receiving-good-customer-service/#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:58:22 +0000 Bruce http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/?p=2769 A story from Gary Choronzy during this week’s pitch meeting involved his frustration with cell phone and cable companies – and this evolved into a conversation about how tough it can be to get good customer service from any company.

 

The recurring theme was how difficult it’s become to speak directly with a decision maker, particularly where large companies are involved. Harlan Brothers sees it through the eyes of the mathematician:  ”these companies … have calculated what the tradeoff is”.

 

SO… what is your secret for receiving good customer advice?

 

]]> http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/08/10/whats-the-secret-to-receiving-good-customer-service/feed/ 4 What’s the most effective way to cut back on spending? http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/04/27/whats-the-most-effective-way-to-cut-back-on-spending/ http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/04/27/whats-the-most-effective-way-to-cut-back-on-spending/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:46:34 +0000 Bruce http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/?p=1981

When you’re single, you don’t need much money. You need a place to live, a nice TV, and hopefully some cash left over for a social life.

 

If the social life works out, you get married. Then there’s the mortgage, and the baby, and the minivan, and before you know it, the lessons and the private school, and you have no money whatsoever. (Add “The Great Recession” to the mix and you’ve got a real party.)

 

What are the most effective ways you’ve discovered to cut back on your spending? Clipping coupons? Fewer meals out? Rethinking that scuba diving trip to the Maldives? Please let us know in the Comments section…

 

]]> http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2011/04/27/whats-the-most-effective-way-to-cut-back-on-spending/feed/ 2 What’s your favorite inexpensive form of entertainment? http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2010/07/13/whats-your-favorite-inexpensive-form-of-entertainment/ http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/2010/07/13/whats-your-favorite-inexpensive-form-of-entertainment/#comments Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:09:59 +0000 Bruce http://reallifesurvivalguide.com/?p=1460 I know this is going to make me sound old, but I can’t believe how expensive something as simple as going to the movies has become. With popcorn, candy and soda, a family of four can easily run up a tab in the hundred dollar range. I’m sorry, but when I spend a hundred bucks, I need to have something tangible to show for it. (Like a hangover.)

Here’s another one: golf. When you add up the greens fees, cart, and in my case, lost balls and damaged clubs, it can also be a short trip into into that territory north of the dreaded a c-note. call me crazy, but shouldn’t frustration be free?

 

So, how about you: where do you find fun “on the cheap”?

 

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