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McDonalds Breakfast All Day?

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mcdonalds-Egg-McMuffinSo, today is the day: the day McDonalds begins serving breakfast all day. If you watch the foodie news (who doesn’t, right?) this started as a rumor many months ago, along the lines of “OMG you guys, have you heard?”

This was probably about the time Taco Bell started breakfast. Many people laughed about that, too, but breakfast has quickly jumped to 7% of Taco Bell’s business, and is wildly popular on the West Coast.

So, the answer to “Why is McDonalds breakfast all day considered news?” is that it’s BIG news to McDonalds and its shareholders. And it’s likely the first big news in a while that doesn’t have the franchisees and store managers tearing their hair out.

According to some, a few of Mickey D’s recent menu introductions are items that are hard to make, take time to make, cost too much, and they have to keep fully in stock – even though nobody orders them. Hint: if you see a commercial for some new item, and you say “that seems odd for McDonalds…” BINGO.

Breakfast is something they already do. People like it. It’s the only reason some people go there. So it makes sense that if I love a McMuffin, I might visit more often – even at 4:30pm!

So, how about you? Is this big news to you, or just a shrug? Is breakfast the only time you visit, and will this make you visit more? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page. Order up!

Financial Hurricane Preparedness

It seems lately that we have not had too much trouble with hurricanes on the East Coast. This new one, Hurricane Joaquin, is causing concern though. A whole bunch of people up and down the East Coast are expected to be affected in one way or another, even if Joaquin doesn’t make a significant landfall. It has been raining 3 solid days here in SC, and they say it will rain all weekend, maybe 10 inches or more!

So, preparation. Of course, you need to protect your family. But you have to protect your home and your stuff too. Sometimes, that means replacing your stuff if it gets ruined or blown away. And that can take time. To get your life and home back in order after a big event like this, it often helps to have certain things in order beforehand.

That’s the gist of a timely article on NBCNews.com: “Hurricane Joaquin: Get Your ‘Home Insurance Go Bag’ Ready.”  Here’s the opener: “Getting ready for Hurricane Joaquin isn’t just about tossing some water and flashlight batteries in a go-bag. With property damage possible, you also need check your insurance to safeguard your home and belongings.”

What kinds of insurance details should you have in order? Here are the bullet points…

  • Gather your documents:  Paper, digital and, these days, online also.
  • Know your coverage: Wind damage? Water leaks? Removing downed trees? Replacing furniture? Damaged cars?
  • Have contact numbers ready: Not just your folks or kids, but your insurance agent, as well.
  • Secure your home: Not just locking the doors, but bringing in the lawn furniture and trimming that tree branch before it crashes through your window.
  •  Know how the claims process works: If you can get an understanding of how settling a claim works, it can remove the headache later (but likely not.)
  • Other types of insurance: Are you traveling to the East Coast during a hurricane? Why? Anyway. Know your travel insurance!

As usual, LOTS more at the original piece, so check it out…please! Stay safe folks, and have a great weekend.

Millennials and Credit Cards

good bad creditI remember my first credit card – an Elder-Beerman’s department store charge card with the astronomical limit of $500. I had just turned 22, and by age 22 and 1 month my ex had maxxed the thing out. Talk about starting your credit history with a bang!

People that age are called Millennials now, and many of them are making the same mistakes, according to a sobering but helpful article entitled “Credit Card Mistakes Are Costing Millennials Plenty: What Not to Do.”  Here are the common pitfalls the Millennials find themselves in..

  • Applying for too many cards and too often: You need a certain level of income to qualify for a credit card. If you don’t have it, you are rejected, and that goes against your credit score. Second, after a rejection, too many young folks just walk to the next kiosk in the mall and apply for a different card. Applying too often is another stain on your record. This article suggests waiting 6 months to a year between applications.
  • Avoiding credit cards altogether: Surprisingly, over 30% do this. It’s not enough to avoid bad credit, you also have to build GOOD credit. Having a credit card with a modest balance and making regular, timely payments is how you get auto loans, mortgage loans and good insurance rates later in life.
  • Taking it to The Max! Maxxing out your credit card suggests you are not in control. It’s also costly. If you hit the max, most credit cards will hit you with punishing interest rates of 25% or more! And yet, it happens, which is one reason why 21-25 year olds have $13K in debt, and by age 30 it has TRIPLED.
  • Last-second payments. Late fees, man, determined partly by your balance. High balance late fees hurt! The good news is that if it’s a rare occurrence, you have a very high chance (over 80%!) of getting the late fees waived.

So, the hazards are real. Best to be aware of them, and watch your step, because it can take YEARS to straighten this stuff out (trust me.) Be sure to read the original piece for more info about services that can help you stay on the straight path.  How about you? Are you of that age, making common mistakes? Or was that you 10 or 15 years ago? How did you pull it out? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Haggling Over Your Bills?

pay billsThe opening line of this article is a direct hit (for me, anyway.) “Does the thought of haggling over your monthly bills make you break out in a cold sweat? You’re not alone…”

Man, do I hate to haggle. I only do it once every six years or so when it’s time to replace one of the cars. At a yard sale, if they want $3, I pay it! So, the idea of calling up your cable company, the landlord or the wireless provider and negotiating monthly bills is a no-go for me.

But your mileage may vary. And that extra 10 or 15 bucks here and there can add up to real savings. So, this article in GoBankingRates.com, “6 Basic Bills You Should Always Negotiate,” may appeal to you. Here are the bullets:

  1. Medical Bills: I have heard of taking extra time to pay these, but actually cutting the price? There are online resources that tell you the average or “fair” cost of procedures, to give you a haggling starting point.
  2. Wireless Phone Service Bill: Do your research, know your provider’s competition (and their plans and prices) and you can almost always save money.
  3. Cable or Satellite TV: My mother’s favorite haggle! You got a sweet deal when you signed up. Now, it’s about to expire. Tell them you’re going to switch if they don’t play ball. They usually will.
  4. DSL Internet Service Bill: See Cable/Satellite TV
  5. Rent: Didn’t expect to see this one. If you are a long-standing tenant, solid record, good credit – and it’s a renter’s market – go for it. There’s a rule in renting: It’s easier to keep a tenant than find a new one.
  6.  School Tuition Bills: Another surprise. More than one kid attending? Ask for a group rate.

As usual, these are the highlights. You’ll find valuable online resources (and a bonus 7th tip!) at the original piece, so check it out!  How about you? Are you a haggler? Have you tried any of these? How did it work out? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

How We $pent Our Labor Day 2015

labor day spending

The last bash of the summer has come and gone. Now, it’s back to work and school with barely a break until Thanksgiving – though Columbus Day and Veterans Day certainly help!

So how did we spend our precious final summer weekend? Here are some stats:

Travel: The LA Times says that 35.5 million of us traveled at least 50 miles for the holiday weekend, and we spent an average of $380.

U.S. travelers spent an estimated $13.5 billion, a 2% increase over last year.

Gas Money: We spent an average of $2.45 per gallon of regular gasoline, the lowest gas prices for Labor Day weekend since 2004. (It was $1.84 in Charleston SC!)

Yahoo Finance says that overall, we have saved over $1 Billion at the gas pump this year.  BUT… that hasn’t translated into a bunch of extra spending. One estimate says that for every dollar we save, we are putting one-third toward our credit cards, ne-third into savings, and one-third into new spending. Good news, right?

Movies: Labor Day weekend is never the biggest money-earner, as everybody is doing other stuff. But, according to Rotten Tomatoes, this year was terrible – the worst in 15 years. The top 20 films earned $79 million, down from a typical $90-110 million. This weekend’s winner was the religious-themed War Room.

So, how did you spend Labor Day 2015, and how much did you spend doing it? At my house, we bought a tank of gas for a 200-mile day trip, spent $60 on clearance items at Kmart, $30 on food…and that’s about it. How about you? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Shopping: Online vs. In-store

shop online
photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net/sixninepixels

The mix between online vs in-store shopping continues to evolve. As of now, in-store is still the preferred method. One survey of 19,000 consumers worldwide says that 40% of us buy something in-store once a week, while 27% buy something online.

Pros and Cons:

Of course, in the store, you can touch and feel the item. You take it home right now. And returns are much easier. Online, if you pretty much know what you want, it’s a matter of picking the right make and getting a good price. Enter your card number, and the item shows up at your door!

Showrooming:

We talked about this previously. Showrooming is going to the physical store, getting that “touch and feel” experience, and then going home and ordering online. Even this has evolved. Today, we are just as likely to research a potential purchase online, and then go buy it at the store!

To Buy or Not to Buy?

Consumer Reports offers advice on good online deals vs not-so-good. Here are the bullets:

Buy Online:

  1. Electronics
  2. Small Appliances
  3. Pet Supplies
  4. Theme Park Tickets
  5. Baby Supplies

Don’t Buy Online:

  1. Paint
  2. Office and School Supplies
  3. Drugs From Overseas

Why these items? You’ll have to read the article! How about you? Are you buying more online than you used to? Why or why not? Do all the identity theft scares have you spooked? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

Changing the Way We Shop?

shopcart 02So, has the years-long economic downturn forever changed the way we shop? Maybe so. For years now, people have been tightening their belts. At the grocery store, things like “big national name brand loyalty” have taken a big hit, while store brands and generics have prospered.

Now, with a perceived (!) improvement in the economy, things are thawing out a bit. But, again, it may be that these past years have changed the way we think about grocery shopping. That’s the gist (or one of them) of the latest Deloitte Pantry Survey 2015:

A key finding is that eight in 10 Americans believe “the American economy has fundamentally changed and that thriftiness and challenging economic conditions are the new normal.”  The Tennessean

They surveyed 4000 shoppers, and found that they seem to split up in 4 categories. Do you see yourself in any of these?

  • Super Savers(26%): You focus on coupons and loyalty programs. You will switch brands to save. Tracking down the lowest price is fun.
  • Sacrificers(23%): You are the most affected by the economy. You are younger, lower income and less educated. You avoid higher-cost items.
  • Planners(21%): You also save with coupons and loyalty programs. You also save by not buying prepared foods.
  • Spectators(30%): You were least affected by the recession. You are younger, more educated, higher income. You buy store brands, less prepared foods and you buy in bulk.

Personally, I don’t see myself in any of these categories, not neatly anyway. I do steer away from prepared foods, though. How about you? Have your habits changed? How so? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page! And read the original article…tons more consumer insight!

Men, Women and Shopping

his her shop2
Somewhere lost in the thumb-drives of history, I have this great photo I took at the greeting card counter at Walmart on Mother’s Day, and it’s just what you’d expect – 50 dudes elbowing their way to the front, trying to buy the last 3 terrible leftover cards for their wives.

Apparently, I must have imagined that. The Christian Science Monitor says that most of the clichés we be believe about men and women and shopping are just myths. So, let’s play a little True or False!

  • Men Are Last-Minute Shoppers. FALSE. Apparently, 75% of men buy at least 2 weeks before the holiday.
  • Women Do the Grocery Shopping. FALSE.  Men go to the grocery 8.2 times per month, women 7.5 times
  • Women Spend More Time Picking Out Gifts. FALSE. An odd way to measure this, but 46% of women simply ask what you want for a gift. 40% of men do that.
  • Men Don’t Shop for Grooming Products. FALSE (?) I’m not so sure. Just because “90% of men use a grooming product” doesn’t mean they are buying them.
  • Men Research, Women Impulse Buy. FALSE. People do their research these days, men and women equally.
  • Women Buy More than Men. MAYBE. Women still do the majority of household shopping in the stores, but online men and women spend pretty much equally.

Ehh, I don’t know. If you change the way you measure each item, you can reach any conclusion you like. Overall, though, it really does seem like the reality is outgrowing the myths. What’s it like at your house? Do you recognize these old clichés? Has the “balance of power” changed in your “his/hers” shopping habits? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

How About More Money Saving Tips?

ID-100178555Time for the ol’ Friday standby: Money saving tips! There’s a realy good piece at The Simple Dollar called “How to Save Money: 100 Great Tips to Get You Started.” Lots of common sense – and otherwise – ideas, some straight out of everyday life, some that require making some changes. Let’s take a look at some highlights.

  • 51. Don’t fear leftovers: I had an ex-brother-in-law who would dump whatever was left after the meal into the garbage – like, two more meals! Apparently this was some declaration of independence from his crappy childhood. It’s your money, man.
  • 52. Go through your clothes: You know how they say “shop from your pantry?” Avoid buying things you already have? Same thing. You probably have a new pair of pants in the closet you have never worn. (I know I do.)
  • 53. Brown bag your lunch: My wife does it every single day. It takes planning to keep from being boring, but you really save.
  • 54. Learn how to dress minimally: Mix and match to make several outfits. Or, do like me and keep shirts for 20 years!
  • 55. Ask for help and encouragement from your inner circle: I don’t know…it would have to be my SERIOUSLY inner circle. The hardest thing to admit to friends is that you may have money problems.
  • 56. Try to fix things yourself: My dad was a construction worker. I am a writer. So that’s my handicap. But I HAVE taught myself things, and I have saved over the years.
  • 57. Keep an idea notebook in your pocket: for me, it’s on the nightstand. I am forever bolting awake with some idea. If I don’t write it down, it’s gone.
  • 58. Invest in a deep freezer. BUT…only if you use it. That seems like a big IF for me.
  • 59. Look for a cheaper place to live: I knew a couple that moved to Kansas. They realized they were saving so much money that they started traveling extensively. So, I guess they didn’t actually save, but they got to do something fun that they wouldn’t otherwise.
  • 60. Check out free events in town: Excellent idea, but you have to keep up. I am always discovering that cool thing that happened yesterday!

As always, just the highlights. More ideas, and more detail, at the original piece, so check it out! How about you? See any good money savings here? Have you tried them? Do they work? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

Thrifty or Theft-y?

Also on the list...
Also on the list…

That’s the question in the latest Dave Ramsey newsletter.  I think it’s sort of meant to be a tongue-in-cheek look at the ways we justify certain money saving behaviors, and whether or not those behaviors might actually be, well, STEALING. He lays out ten scenarios. Here are some highlights, with bonus dumb commentary!

  1. Taking extra motel toiletries: Yep. Guilty. Every time.
  2. Taking fast food napkins and condiments: I once saw this old lady steal a freshly opened box of 500 straws from a buffet.
  3. Using your neighbor’s wi-fi signal: Hey, if he’s dumb enough to not encrypt… just kidding.
  4. Taking advantage of the store return policy: Like returning a used prom dress. No, as a dude, I have never returned a used prom dress.
  5. Skipping the “suggested donation” box. I never “skip,” but I often “skimp.” The “suggestions” can be pretty ridiculous sometimes.

There are a more scenarios at the original piece, so check it out! How about you? Which of these behaviors have you done? Don’t say “zero”! Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!