by Trent Hamm
11.07.2008
Some Things You Can Do With Old Cell Phones
A friend of mine was about to chuck her old cell phone in the trash, without a second thought. When I suggested that she might be able to do something else with it, she just shrugged and said, “What use is an old junk cell phone?” While she didn’t throw it away right then, I’m quite sure that the phone wound up in the trash before long.
by Trent Hamm
01.13.2009
Review: Scratch Beginnings
One of the most common complaints I hear about is that I’m writing financial suggestions for people who have already “made it.” To a certain extent, it’s true - many of the situations I write about assume you already have a certain level of income and financial security.
But what of those situations where such financial security isn’t a given? I hear often from readers who are truly stretching every dime they can get, even without the burden of a house payment or any significant debt - they simply aren’t bringing in much money, and they have to be creative with their choices. What can we learn from them?
That’s basically the premise behind Scratch Beginnings. The author, Adam Shepard, decided to take on the myths about what it takes to be successful in America. He started off with $25 in cash, the clothes on his back, and a gym bag (no job or anything else) and attempted to build the American dream in one year without using any of his contacts or personal accomplishments (in other words, a blank resume). His goal was to have, after one year, $2,500, a working automobile, and a furnished apartment.
by Trent Hamm
10.20.2008
18 Things a New Homeowner Should Do Immediately to Save Money
So you’ve just moved into your nice new home. You’ve unloaded the boxes, unpacked most of your stuff and are just starting to settle into your residence.
Right now is the perfect time to walk through a checklist of ways to save money on your home. Starting on these things as early as possible will allow you to start saving money sooner rather than later.
by Trent Hamm
01.05.2009
Hand-Me-Down Clothes in the Post Hand-Me-Down Era
For those of you who haven’t heard the news yet, on February 10 the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act comes into effect. One of the major changes that this program will bring into play is a mandate that everything sold for children 12 and younger will have to be tested for lead and phthalates, and anything that isn’t tested (or that fails) will be considered hazardous and can't be sold. Read more about the CPSIA at the L.A. Times and some interesting blog commentary from the fashion industry.
by Stephen Carter-Novotni
10.09.2008
What Makes a Good Neighborhood?
My wife and I chose our home in Norwood because more than two dozen of our friends live within a couple of blocks of our house. Camaraderie, to me, makes for a good quality of life in a neighborhood. It’s a friendly place and people frequently greet each other on the street.
Norwood also has its share of problems. Parts of the city are very nice, but in others, the effects of domestic violence, drug addiction, alcoholism and family breakdown are readily visible on its streets. It’s a far different place than Mariemont, which was recently voted one of the nation’s ten best neighborhoods by the American Planning Association.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer:
The association, which promotes good planning, announced its top 10 neighborhood list Wednesday. The 10 Great Neighborhoods list is part of the association's Great Places in America program, which singles out communities with exceptional character that were shaped by intelligent planning.
The association didn't rank the 10 neighborhoods.
Since Cincinnati philanthropist Mary Emery founded Mariemont, the village has been regarded as a paragon of planning and design.
"Given the critical need for all of our cities and neighborhoods to reduce carbon emissions because of climate change, Mariemont provides us with a timely model of how to plan, build and adapt places for compactness, walkability and sustainability," said Paul Farmer, the American Planning Association's executive director.
I have no idea how friendly Mariemont residents are, so I won’t try to compare it with Norwood in that way, but there are some objective facts to consider.
- Norwood has a Kroger store, a viable retail strip and restaurants at its center, within walking distance of most residents. Mariemont’s nearest grocery store is of a mile east of the town square, more than a mile from residents on the west side of Mariemont. Mariemont’s central square is limited to entertainment and dining.
- Norwood is mixed income, including poor, Appalachian and Mexican residents, middle and working class folks and high-income residents.
What really makes a great neighborhood? Is it a resort styled community or one in which we can really live, work and engage with people from a variety of backgrounds?
by Stephen Carter-Novotni
10.13.2008
Make Your Own Cereal Bars
If you use cereal bars as a quick snack (as I often do), you might be concerned about the ingredients (high fructose corn syrup) and maybe even interested in making your own.
I tried this a couple of years ago and ended up with some rather dry fare. I learned that I didn't use a binder. A binder is exatly what it sounds like--a sticky substance used to tie grains and nuts together. Maybe I'll take these tips and try again. What have been your experiences with trying to make healthier food?
by Trent Hamm
01.14.2009
Update on Reselling Used Clothing
After my recent article about new restrictions on used children’s clothes from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), I received a flood of correspondence from angry and confused readers who were quite upset with the proposed changes. I compiled a number of these emails and forwarded them on to a few email addresses at the Consumer Product Safety Commission and to my local congresspeople.
by Andy Brownfield
10.11.2012
CityBeat's Vice Presidential Debate Drinking Game
Because it's going to suck anyway
Debates are... well, debates. They can be enlightening and informative, or they can be boring. Think back to the last time you heard someone say, "boy golly, that was an exciting debate!" Yeah. We didn't think so.But don't worry, your friends at CityBeat are going to get you out of this jam. The only thing more exciting than watching two people whose Constitutional job descriptions are virtually nonexistent debate overplayed policy points is doing it while drinking.To that end, we've come up with a drinking game. You're welcome. And we're sorry.
- If either candidate tells an inane personal anecdote about Kentucky to make themselves more folksy and relatable because that’s where they’re holding the debate, take a smug drink since you don’t live there.
- If the camera pans to Jill Biden, take a drink.
- If Jill Biden looks embarrassed, take two drinks.
- If Joe Biden says “GM is alive and Osama bin Laden is dead, pour some out to your homies and take a drink.
- If Joe Biden screws up and says “Obama is dead” finish your drink.
- If either candidate mentions the age gap between them take a sip.
- If Paul Ryan talks about Dodd-Frank or Bowles-Simpson or something else nobody knows about, take a drink.
- If Paul Ryan does math, take a drink.
- If Joe Biden says “literally” when he actually means “figuratively” take a drink.
- If Joe Biden says “literally” and actually means “literally” chug.
- If Paul Ryan mentions his mother, take a drink.
- If Paul Ryan’s mother is in attendance, chug.
- If Joe Biden awkwardly mentions Paul Ryan’s physique or workout regimen, take a begrudging sip.
- If either candidate mentions Ayn Rand, take an individualistic drink.
- If the camera stops on an audience member gazing dreamily at Paul Ryan, take two drinks
- If Joe Biden brings up Big Bird, turn off the debate because this election season is SO OVER.
- If Paul Ryan tries to relate to young voters by bringing up the contents of his iPod, scoff and take two drinks while mentally reminding yourself to introduce him to Passion Pit if you ever see him in person.
- If anyone mentions P90X trade in your beer for a light beer and timidly sip it while resolving to hit the gym tomorrow.
- If Joe Biden misstates the name of the place/city/state where he is debating, chug.
- If either candidate mentions the “47 percent” chug. If you are part of the 53 percent that actually pay income taxes and Mitt Romney cares about you, buy someone else a drink.
- If Joe Biden mentions anything about him and Barack Obama being "friends" or "buddies," drink.
- If Paul Ryan mentions Joe Biden saying the middle class has been "buried," chug.
- If Joe Biden mentions taking the train to work, finish your drink.
by
12.01.2008
City Offers Free Flu Shots
Anyone who wants a flu shot can receive one at several of the city of Cincinnati’s public health clinics.
by Trent Hamm
10.29.2008
How To Earn Regular Income from Stock Investing
A few days ago, I had the opportunity to sit down with a fellow in his early sixties who has already retired. He had been self-employed his entire life. I told him about my blog, The Simple Dollar,� and I asked him, if he didn’t mind, if he would tell me about how he had invested for retirement.
