Robert Scoble - Likes TransFORM (trans4m) Scobleizer: Technology, innovation, and geek enthusiasm » Blog A The other day I was talking with someone who works at Facebook. She and I were having a fun conversation about number of followers and all that. At one point she emailed back that I was “destroying the utility of the social graph.” How did I do that? I asked her to define “real.” Anyway, this morning, in the comments of my Facebook post I saw a comment from someone named “facebook user” that said “people may not be leaving, but i know plenty of folks who are trimming their friend lists down to true personal friends.” Ahh, have you ever thought that this is behavior that Facebook wants you to do? After all, how can they recommend the best sushi restaurant to you if you’ve added people you don’t even know? Hint: the Facebook employee is right. Which points to what I want in the future: multiple social graphs for different things. See, I know that Dori Smith (she’s one of the two people who convinced me to start blogging) is a Javascript expert who works in Sonoma. Think that’s not important?
Lindsey Nobles (lnobles) 5 Ways to Use Craigslist to Save and Make BIG Money | A Personal Email Save Money with Craigslist I’m not a Craigslist ‘power user’ by any means (OK, maybe I AM a Craigslist power user), but I have been able to successfully use Craigslist’s free classified ads to better my financial situation a few times, and I’m envisioning a few additional possible uses as well down the road and I’d love to hear your Craiglist success stories as well. 1. When I sold my house for sale by owner, the eventual buyer ended up finding out about the house through drive-by traffic. That wasn’t a fluke either. The next time I go FSBO, Craigslist will be one of my marketing tools again. 2. Towards the middle of last year I put my car on Craigslist. 3. Get your mind out of the gutter. 4. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Being a minimalist is liberating. 5. People look to unload stuff they don’t want any more for dirt cheap prices. Craigslist Tips Don’t put your real email in the listing – use a generic reply-to.Never take a check. Craigslist Discussion: Related Posts:
Three Ways to Ask for More Money | Mint.com Blog | Personal Fina Remember when your mom told you that if you wanted something from someone, you should ask nicely? “Make sure to use ‘Please,’ ‘May I,’ and ‘Thank you,’” She’d remind you. And even today, we’re here to tell you, it’ll usually work. You’ll get what you want, and everyone’s happy. One of the easiest ways to save some money is to simply ask for it. Internet cable bill too high? Below are some steps you can try out. Ask for a Lower Cable Bill Asking for a discount on your cable TV, internet, DSL, and other bills is one of the easiest ways to save money — especially if you’ve been a long-time subscriber to the service. Here’s what to do: Find the customer service number on your bill and make the call.Once you’ve reached a representative, ask for a retention specialist or cancellation department.They may immediately transfer you or simply ask you what the problem is.Politely ask for a discount. “Hi. What happens if you still don’t get a discount? No worries. How much money can you save? Here’s how:
How I Saved $1,700 By Being a Craigslist Subletting Nomad | A Pe Email In a follow-up to yesterday’s 5 Ways to Use Craigslist to Save and Make Big Money post, there is one Craigslist use that I didn’t cover, because I thought it warranted its own post – how to be a Craigslist subletter nomad. This is a true story that illustrates how to use Craigslist when you are in a situation where a long-term or contractual housing arrangement just doesn’t make sense. It’s another Craigslist power user tip. The Big Move Back in June of 2007, I started a new job in a new city. Big Complications To complicate things, I had to take the following into consideration: I had no idea where my wife’s new job would be locatedI had no idea when my wife would find a job in the areaWe couldn’t afford two mortgages at the same timeI had no idea when we would be able to sell the house we were moving out ofWe had too much stuff to move into an apartment Down to the Wire I hit week 3 of my corporate housing stay, and had a week of borrowed time left. Deja Vu The 2 Week Whirlwind
The 5 Best Ways to Sell your Stuff | A Personal Finance Blog for Email How to Sell Stuff Online Purging stuff around the house to get rid of stuff you no longer have a need for provides two great benefits. First off, it allows you to de-clutter, which is satisfying for the psyche as it detaches you from being owned by your possessions. Additionally, it’s a means to gaining some value in stuff that you no longer find value in – and then using that money in a productive way. I’ve used a number of different outlets to get rid of old goods, and each has their own unique benefits that comes in handy for different situations. Selling on EBay Ebay is great for rare stuff that there is a niche market for – typically branded items or sought after rarities. Selling on Amazon I sell all of my generic CD’s, DVD’s, and books on Amazon. Amazon is also a great outlet for rare items that are found in Amazon’s list of SKU’s due to the huge user search volume it gets for these formats. Selling on Craigslist Selling in Garage Sales Selling Online Discussion: Related Posts:
A Personal Finance Blog for 20-Somethings Tax Tips - Advice on Last Minute Tax Filing | Mint.com Blog | Pe (ckaroli) It’s crunch time. We are less than a month away from the tax deadline, but if you have not filed your 2008 taxes yet, you’re definitely not alone. According to the IRS, 1 in 5 taxpayers don’t file their taxes until the final week ahead of the April 15 deadline. Filing your taxes early is definitely encouraged, but if you’re one of the many who has not yet filed, you may be surprised to know that there are a still few ways to maximize your tax return. Contribute to a Traditional IRA For those making last minute attempts to reduce their tax payment, or get a bigger refund, you can contribute to your traditional IRA up until April 15th. E-File your Taxes If you e-file your federal return and request direct deposit, you can expect to receive your return within 10 business days. Hold on to your Cash Owe money on your return? Get a Second Chance at Last Year’s Stimulus Itemize your Taxes The standard deduction in 2008 is $5,450 for singles and $10,900 for married couples filing jointly.
Mint.com Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice The appeal of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs, for short) is simple: They trade like stocks, but contain a basket of assets, much like a mutual fund. This provides instant diversification, without the need to research every last stock or bond. For example, an S&P 500 ETF covers all (or most) of the stocks on the... Read more According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average American spends over $1400 on buying clothes and related items per year and it’s been estimated that most people only wear 20% of the clothing they own. Whether you’re religious or not, Easter can be an incredibly fun time of year — delicious candy, beautiful eggs, fluffy bunnies, and pastel everything. Zillow real estate investment writer and long-term investor Leonard Baron, MBA, is answering questions from MintLife readers. Filling up your child’s Easter basket can be an expensive endeavor. Happy Financial Literacy Month! “John, I applied for a credit card about 3 weeks ago.