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This guest post is written by Jason, from New SUV.org. I was especially interested in publishing this article as El Carino and I are starting our search for a replacement vehicle for our 1998 SUV. Every 10 to 15 years we consider buying a new car, whether we need one or not.

Buy a Car For the Holidays?

December is a great time to buy a new vehicle. And no vehicle is better to have in the winter than an SUV. While most people are more preoccupied with buying holiday gifts; car dealers and salespeople are anxious to clear models off their lots and boost their 2011 sales totals.

Here are the top 7 tips to save when buying new SUVs:

#1. Know Your Credit Score. Financing deals are only good if you qualify for them. If you are planning on financing a new vehicle, do all you can to raise your credit score. That way, you will have a better chance of qualifying for the best financing deals. (Barb’s tip-put as much down as you can possibly afford.)

NEW SUV

#2. Look at Financing and Rebate Deals. Many automakers are enticing buyers to purchase with great incentive packages. Compare deals and evaluate what they will mean to vehicle pricing. Saving several percentage points on a loan rate can add up to a lot of money over a five year loan period. (Barb’s tip-Why not try for a shorter loan period?)

#3. Consider Buying Online. While no one should buy a car without a test drive, more people are going online to buy vehicles. Websites such as truecar.com allow you to research car insurance prices and lock in the lowest rate at participating local dealers. One buyer reported paying $3,850 below invoice for his model via truecar. (Barb’s comment-I’ve had great luck getting bids online.)

#4. Know Invoice Pricing Ahead of Time. Dealers can put a dizzying array of price add-ons that can make it difficult to determine what are actually mark-ups. Don’t let the dealers solely dictate pricing. Bring invoice pricing information with you for SUV models you are interested in.

#5. Know Your Trade-In Value. If you are looking to do a trade-in, it can be a good idea to see what dealers are offering on it prior to shopping for a new vehicle. In high sales tax states, trade-in value is especially important as you can offset the value of the trade-in towards the purchase price of your new SUV. ( (Barb’s tip-Consider selling the car yourself, you’re likely to get a higher price for the vehicle.)

#6. Evaluate Your Vehicle Needs and Vehicle Quality. Buying the right vehicle can save you a lot of money in the long run. Some people buy a car only to realize a few years later it no longer fits their needs. Plan ahead and carefully review total vehicle ownership costs. Purchase price alone doesn’t tell the whole story. You want a vehicle that is reliable, practical, fuel-efficient, and a style you can live with. (Barb’s tip; Don’t forget to review the cost to insure the new vehicle.)

#7. Don’t Buy More than the SUV from the Dealer. Car dealer’s make a lot of money from add-ons. Stay away from buying “fabric protection”, “VIN etching”, “paint protection” and other dealer services. This is where dealers make a significant portion of their profits.

By following these tips, you will be on your way to saving on your new SUV purchase. Vehicles are one of the largest expenditures people have so it is important to plan and spend the time necessary to save on vehicle costs.

Any other recommendations to consider when buying a new vehicle?

image credit; cartradeindia

How to Live Well if You Work in a Low Paying Field

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In Part 1,  I responded to a reader who wondered Why I Freelance for pay well below my normal hourly rate of pay. I talked about a variety of satisfactions I get from educating others about personal finance and wealthy living.

In Part 3; How You Turned Your Passion Into Cash, others share success stories and welcome your input as well.

This question got me thinking about the millions of folks out there who are passionate about doing work that does not pay well. These fields include acting, music, the arts, social work, community service, non profit work, lower pay administrative work, service jobs, restaurant work, retail sales, and many other jobs. In fact, there are probably more lower paying jobs than those that pay well.

Pay level satisfaction is impacted by your own perceptions. Many newly employed college grads, are thrilled to have a job at any pay grade!

I am certainly not imposing my personal values on whether your job is ”well or poorly” paid. I’m offering suggestions to live wealthy, regardless of income.

You may be in a lower paying job, either by choice or by default. Here are some ideas about how to live well and build some wealth in spite of your pay grade.

Adjust your expectations; Forget how anyone else lives. I’ve been fortunate to travel the world. In most countries even the wealthy live in what we in North America would consider small apartments. No matter the size of your family, you do not need a large home. Scale back, live in a smaller home or apartment than you thought was comfortable. Add a roommate or two. You may be surprised at how little you really need. Want some privacy? Go to the library or for a walk.

Take public transportation; Although El Carino and I both have (old) cars, I take the train or walk whenever possible. Jennifer from Little House in the Valley rides miles on her bike.

Use your tax dollars; You pay for parks, libraries, free community art and theatre programs with your tax dollars. Get that money back by using those resources for your entertainment and enjoyment. There are tons of “free” events in most major cities, especially around the holidays.

Eat well and cheaply; Stick to a simple diet. Consider some vegetarian dishes spiced up to make flavorful and delicious. I love a meal of beans and rice. Make a big batch and freeze some for later. Buy in season fruits and vegetables. Go light on meat and prepackaged processed foods. You’ll be thinner and healthier as well.

Spend mindfully; Make it difficult to overspend, don’t spend your leisure time at the mall near temptation. Think before you spend and plan your shopping trips.

Save something, no matter the amount; Get in the habit of saving. Have a small amount transferred from each paycheck into a savings account.

Get out of debt; However you do it, you cannot live on less with debt! For debt help, read these recommendations from top personal finance bloggers; Consumerism Commentary, NoDebtMBA, Debt Sucks Blog, Debt Free by Thirty, Fat Guy; Skinny Wallet, and Money Help for Christians.

Enjoy what you have!

Make sure to read Part 1: Why I Freelance; How to Live Well When your Passion Doesn’t Pay Well.

And Part 3; How You Turned Your Passion Into Cash; be sure to chime in with your story.

image credit: Cuba Gallery

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Newsweek’s cover story, “Money Brain, the New Science Behind Your Spending Addiction”, posits a biological basis for overspending. Apparently, the brains of savers and spenders are different. That’s right, now you can blame your biology for your debt!

Call me harsh and unfeeling, but I throw that science in the same pot as the findings which purport that there is a “fat gene”, or an “addiction” gene. Not that I’m suggesting the science is not there. It probably is accurate. Nor would I be surprised if there was a “moneybrain” predisposed to instant gratification in lieu of delay.

Regardless of the biological underpinnings, a predisposition is not the same as a certainty. And even if there is a biological basis, it does not mean that we have no ability to control the propensity.

Neruoeconomist Paul Zak of Claremont Graduate University reminds us that “you develop willpower and patience through practice. If you defer gratification, the payoff can be greater than with immediate gratification, but you brain has to learn that.”

In other words, practice makes permanent. The more you practice something the more it becomes a part of your life. Practice eating healthy and it becomes a habit. Practice exercise and you become fit. Practice saving and investing and you become wealthy.

What if I Have the Brain of a Spender?

• Do you feel as if you want to buy and have difficulty deterring spending?
• Do you have a tendency to shop now, and regret later?
• Is your closet filled with items with their tags still attached?
• Do you have a big credit card bill that does not get paid off every month?

You may have a spending brain!

As with any predisposition, you must ask, is it working for you? If you can afford what you buy while still saving for your future. If you’re not in debt, then maybe it’s not a problem. Obviously, if your income is large enough, and you commit to some saving, then your spending isn’t dangerous.

But, if you are in debt and can’t seem to stop spending, then you need to change or risk great financial and personal distress.

I WANT TO STOP SPENDING, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

ACTION STEPS

Get a notebook and label it: “(your name) Personal Finance” and keep it by the computer. Use it for all of your personal finance thoughts, activities, and plans.

As with any type of addiction or bad habit, you need to decide that you want to change. There are multiple ways to stop overspending and start saving. Try these out:

1. Automate your savings. Make sure you have a set amount taken out of every paycheck and transferred to a retirement, savings, and/or investment account.
2. Don’t tempt yourself. Just as alcoholics are better off staying away from bars, you need to avoid malls, electronics shops, on line shopping, or whatever venues trigger your spending impulse.
3. Substitute spending with another activity. Make a list of pleasant activities that don’t cost money. Playing games and spending time with family is something I recommend. Think about things that you and your friends and family can do together.

Spending gene or not, you have ultimate control over your life. Don’t squander it.

What do you think, is there a biological basis for overspending? Do you think you might have a moneybrain?

image credit; Pictorial Life

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In what began as an afterthought to Black Friday, Cyber Monday has become the No. 1 online shopping day of the year. There are signs that consumers plan to  spend heavily online this holiday season. LA Times in Cyber Monday Retail Sales May Hit Record

Health Benefits of Daily Shopping Revealed

Finally, there is scientific proof that shopping improves your health!

There is empirical evidence that daily shopping may cut women’s risk for early death by 23% according to this months More Magazine, Retail Therapy Works! Wow, More found the best research around when it hit on this research reported in The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Frankly, I’m speechless. If this is in fact true, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this concept. Could daily shopping actually be healthy? What a paradigm shift!

Summary of the benefits of shopping:

• Fun to spend.
• Personal interaction with fellow shoppers and sales people along the way.
• Get out of the house.
• Restock the home with food and sundry items.
• Expend physical energy while running errands.

Actually, it makes sense that shopping keeps you engaged with the world around you and keeps you off the couch! Think of those folks in other countries who head to the market daily for their food items. It’s a satisfying and fulfilling lifestyle.

Does Cyber Monday Count?

If I were to use my incredible intelligence to analyze the “cyber Monday” shopping phenomenon, I’d have to say that it probably does not improve our health. After all, there’s not much exercise in sitting on your butt clicking the keys on your laptop and taking your credit card in and out of your pocket!

ACTION STEP

Get a notebook and label it: “(your name) Personal Finance” and keep it by the computer. Use it for all of your personal finance thoughts, activities, and plans.

• Use this news not to shop til you drop. Use the research to enjoy the errands that are part of daily life and to eradicate the guilt that may accompany shopping.
• Continue to shop mindfully and sensibly.

What do you think? Is shopping health promoting?

image credit; Kangaroobie

Holiday Shopping Tips

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VIDEO SERIES; PART 4

Welcome to Part 4 of my YouTube video series, Learn Money from Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance.com. This tour of the grocery and the mall shows you how to get what you want at a price you can afford. Come with me to get the secrets to shopping smart. Make sure to check out parts 1, 2, and 3.

Part 1, Talks about how I went from a scared girl to a confident and successful adult. The video showcased a first attempt video project with Hints for Holiday Shopping. The tips work well for any season. And the article championed getting started now!

Part 2; New College Grads; Get Smart About Money is dedicated to those just starting out, lays out money ideas for the 20-somethings and smart money reminders for the more established.

Part 3; Learn the importance of personal branding in Use a Commercial to Promote Your Brand.  View this quick introduction to Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance.

Save Money on Your Holiday Shopping

I’ve been trained from birth in the ways of looking great for less. My dad was the master at buying a gently used luxury model car for a song. And my mom knew every trick about how to make that dollar go on and on. We shopped everywhere from the outlets, to the discount stores, to the mall, looking for high quality goods at reasonable prices. In this recently released video, I’m going to take you on a shopping trip, from the grocery to the mall and show you how it’s done.

These tips are all about making good decisions, practicing them until they become habits.

Like any good habit, smart small, watch your spending, and shop smart.

ACTION STEPS

Get a notebook and label it: “(your name) Personal Finance” and keep it by the computer. Use it for all of your personal finance thoughts, activities, and plans.

Take a moment and review your spending over the last few weeks. If you have no idea what you’ve spent, then keep track of all spending for a week.

Consider how you might reduce some of your expenses (use the ideas from this videotape) and give it a try. Better yet, write down one strategy you will employ to reduce spending for the next week.

In Investing and in Life; Ignore Sunk Costs

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“Sunk costs: Cost already incurred which cannot be recovered regardless of future events.” Investor words

Our new home is practically unpacked and set up. But that pesky makeshift coffee table in front of the couch has been the cause of controversy. In the vein of “use what you have” theory, I stuck a small wooden table in front of the couch. But, since the table was small, and I had a large piece of glass from another unused coffee table, I stuck it on top. Brilliant! Make a small coffee table large.

Here’s the problem; the table was too large for the space and everyone was banging into the edges and leaving with big bruises.

Solution

I went to glass shop and had a smaller piece of glass cut. Problem solved.

When El Carino came home, he immediately ran into the “new” table. In his frustration, he took it off and stuck it into another room while declaring, “No glass on the coffee table!” (And he was not kidding)

So, after paying $67.00 for the glass, it is deemed useless.

Options

1. Go back to glass store and see if they will give me something for it.
2. Use it somewhere else.
3. Stick it in the garage and forget about it.

Seth Godin’s Take on Sunk Costs

“When making a choice between two options, only consider what’s going to happen in the future, not which investments you’ve made in the past. The past investments are over, lost, gone forever. They are irrelevant to the future.” Seth Godin

In Godin’s article he went on to state how money previously spent should not be a factor in future decisionmaking.

When selling a stock, many investors want to “get even” and won’t sell until the price rebounds to their initial purchase price. Sunk costs are in play here as well.  What you paid for the stock is irrelevant. The decision to sell is based on the stock’s profit potential for the future.

The money is spent, the glass is unuseable, and I need to move on. It is a SUNK COST. In this case, money I might recoup going back to the shop to resell the glass is not worth the time and gas spent.

What sunk costs have you incurred? Is it easy or difficult for you to move on or do you dwell on the loss?

 image credit: images_of_money

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I’m intrigued by the magazine articles that specify how to get a designer look on a budget. But there is a fallacy with these articles and I’ll tell you why.

Main topic; HI versus LOW

The premise is that a designer spent $40,000.00 designing this room, and you can get an approximate look for $9,000.00. Think about it for a moment. Do you think $9,000.00 on furnishings and decoration for one room is an affordable price? Who are they writing for? The budget room is usually HIGH priced too.

The article continues by explaining that the couch in the HI priced designer room cost $20,000.00 and the low priced copy is only $4,5000.00.

$4,500.00 is a lot of money for a couch!

Is that really the lowest price for a comparable sofa? No way! There are high quality sofas for $1,000.00 or less.

Yet, if you believe the Hi versus Low, then you will get on the bandwagon that trumpets $4,500.00 as a bargain couch and $9,000.00 as a low priced room.

This is a lie!

$9,000.00 is a lot  of money for most folks to spend decorating one room!

The Takeaway; What is Your Perception?

There is a psychological premise called “anchoring“. Your mind latches on to the first price as an anchor, then the subsequent price is compared with the initial one, and if it’s lower, it seems like a bargain.

Perception is everything.

What if I came up to you and said I could redo your room for $9,000.00. Would you immediately think, “Wow, what a bargain?” I don’t think so. You’d probably think it’s a bit pricey, especially if you’ve ever shopped at Ikea!

In fact, I doubt if you would hire a decorator for that price quote!

Here’s what I would spend decorating that room from scratch (and I am no professional decorator);

Couch: $900.00

Chair: $250.00

2 Stools: $100.00

Window treatment: $100.00 (I’d skip the valence, because I don’t like it)

Rug: $300.00

Art: $200.00 (buy the frames on sale with precut mats included and blow up some photographs)

Coffee table (acrylic tables): $150.00

Lamps: $200.00

Accessories: $150.00

TOTAL: $2,350.00

$40,000.00 versus $2,350.00 now that’s more like a true HI versus LOW room. And if I reallly tried, I’m sure I could get the price down even lower.

DO NOT LET ADVERTISERS, MARKETERS or, MERCHANDISERS SET YOUR PRIORITIES

Don’t worry abou keeping up with the Joneses, because they are in debt and broke.

Don’t kill yourself trying to have the latest and greatest.

You can look awesome in a sale outfit for under $50.00. You can decorate a room beautifully with thrift store finds and bargains from TJMaxx.

You can live an awesome life without spending a fortune.

Drive an old car and put the money you save on payments in an investment account.

Be aware of your income, your savings and your spending. You can live great on your own terms! Don’t let others dictate what you “need or want.”

image credit; bluestvenus

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Guest author, Helen Fabe, successful real estate professional and life long volunteer

El Carino, Zoey, Simon, and I have been living with my folks now for almost one month as we wait for our short sale condo purchase to finalize in our new

Spend Smart

far away land. Although disruptive in some ways, there are also quite a few benefits; In addition to mom’s good cooking, she is also contributing her second article to this blog.

As one of my biggest fans, mom is also a long time student of personal finance. Read these three real life stories and learn from her observations about how to make smart money decisions.

Mr. Money is No Object

Mr. Money is No Object is a member of a moderate means couple with two working seniors. For their anniversary, he spends $100.00 on their celebration dinner. I was a bit surprised at that type of extravagance and wondered, “Wouldn’t a $50.00 celebration dinner be just as festive?” After
all, he’s also saving for an expensive watch. I continued to ponder, “Does he have a rainy day fund?” In Mr. Money is No Object’s case, I believe he might have received equivalent satisfaction from a $50.00 dinner as from double the amount.

(Barb’s comment; this also raises the question of his values, if expensive dining is extremely important to him, maybe the value of a $100.00 dinner out, outweighed the $50.00 savings of a more moderate dinner!)

Mr. Want versus Need

My next friend is selling his home and is sprucing up the patio. Although he wanted huge pots to dramatically improve the curb appeal, he was concerned with the $100.00+ price tag. After careful consideration, he realized his goal could be reached with several smaller pots grouped together. Just as beautiful for a fraction of the cost.

In my opinion, that was an example of a sensible spending decision. Although he “needed” to spruce up the curb appeal of his home, he avoided the extravagant pots for a more conservative alternative.

Mrs. I Feel Guilty Whenever I Spend

My neighbor is comfortably retired with no significant financial concerns. Throughout her life she has been and still is quite frugal. For a special occasion she wants an expensive piece of jewelry and agonizes endlessly about the purchase. She repeatedly asks herself, “Do I really need it?” Well, of course she doesn’t need it, but there is no logical reason not to treat herself to the jewelry. Unfortunately, even after making the plunge and purchasing the beautiful bracelet, she continues to be racked with guilt and worries that she spent too much.

The end result, she can’t even enjoy the lovely jewelry. In fact, if you can afford a purchase, and want it, then it’s a waste to feel quilty about the spending.

THE TAKEAWAYS

• Consider your values when spending. Do you really enjoy and value the cash you are spending?
• Make a conscious spending choice. Is the expense worth the amount of time it took to earn the money?
• Be mindful about whether  your spending is a want or a need. Then make the choice to buy the item, look for a less expensive alternative, or avoid the purchase altogether.
• For those “tightwads” out there, if you decide to splurge, and can afford it, make sure not to ruin the decision with second guessing and guilt.
• Remember to enjoy your smart spending decisions.

Do you have any money tips?

image credit; Doug88888

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Welcome to encore month at Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance. We are caravanning across the country to our new home in a new land. During this major transition, please enjoy guest articles and some of my best previously published posts. Please be patient with my responses and keep visiting!

Guest Post from Paula at AffordAnything.org

This week Barb is hauling her furniture across the nation, enduring — no doubt — the sweat, frustration and expense of packing your life into cardboard boxes.

So this seems like a perfect time to talk about the surprise expenses that pop up when you move. Everyone knows to expect a few minor bills. You need to buy boxes, packing tape, and fuel. You may want to hire movers or rent a truck.

But a myriad of unexpected expenses can chip away at your wallet. Here are 10 moving expenses for which you might not have planned:

1. Shipping

You’re stashing boxes into the back of a moving truck when the realization strikes: “Hey, this truck is pretty full. And there are still a half-dozen large boxes left.”

You lack enough boxes to justify renting a second truck, and upgrading to a larger truck would take hours of unloading and re-loading. You’re left with only one choice: FedEx your possessions to yourself. And that, my friend, will take a bite out of your bank account.

2. Shopping

You’ve packed the items you’ll need during the move — a toothbrush, your phone charger — into a small backpack. Yet the evening of your move, you realize you forgot a crucial item. Where did you pack your contact lens case? Where’s the ibuprofen? Has anyone seen the cat food?

You can’t wait days to figure out where you’ve packed these essentials. You need them now, and that means you need to dash to the nearest 24-hour drugstore.

3. Eating

Your pots and pans are packed away; your microwave is in the trunk. You have some granola bars from the grocery store, but that’s not enough for a satisfying dinner. Looks like you’ll be eating three meals a day at restaurants for a week.

4. Coffee

“Don’t buy lattes” is a personal finance cliche, but your coffee maker is packed away. And there’s no way on earth you’re going to endure the next 12 hours without a cup ‘o joe.

5. Groceries

You tried to eat everything perishable item in your refrigerator before moving day, but you still had to throw away that bag of frozen chicken breasts, a container of strawberries, a gallon of milk, butter, cheese, eggs, a half-open jar of pasta sauce, and those Cheesecake Factory leftovers.

6. Trash

Some items just aren’t worth packing. Are you really going to move a rusty can opener across state lines? Are you bringing that push lawnmower built in 1992? Unfortunately, this means you’ll have to buy it new when you reach your final destination.

7. Breakage

Ceramic cups, plates, glasses, picture frames, mirrors — a lot more shatters during transit than you’d think.

8. Rent/Mortgage overlaps

Ah, the big-ticket item that makes your brand-new lawnmower seem trifling in comparison: Your current lease ends in September. Your new lease starts in August. You’ll be paying double rent for a month.

Own a home? Things become even worse. Your old home hasn’t sold yet, but you’ve closed on your new home. Congratulations, now you have two mortgages.

9. Rent/Mortgage underlaps

You’ve timed your housing transition perfectly: your current lease ends September 30. Your new lease starts October 1. What are you going to do for that one night in limbo? You could stay with a friend, in theory, but you have a dog, two cats, plus a U-Haul filled with stuff. Looks like you’ll be finding a pet-friendly hotel …

10. Cleaning

Speaking of moving out, don’t forget that you’ll need to scrub every surface of your former home. Either you’ll do-it-yourself, which requires a bucket of cleaning supplies plus hours of your time, or you’ll need to hire cleaners.

Barb’s comments; Paula just skimmed the surface of our “unexpected expenses”. One cannot begin to fathom the amount of cash one needs on hand for the unexpected moving surprises.

Read more about MOVING from other personal finance bloggers:

• What You Need to Know Before Moving Out by Studenomics at Consumerism Commentary
• 5 Ways to Prepare for a Move by Thousandaire
• What Moving Expenses Can I Deduct on My Taxes? by Personal Finance Journey
• The Hidden Costs of Buying a House by Not Made of Money
• How Much Does it Really Cost to Move? by Darwin’s Finance

What are your moving stories?

image credit; lunarsea

UPDATE; Over the next month my family is moving across the country to a new home. Please enjoy a variety of guest articles from top notch bloggers and sponsors. Also, catch up with earlier favorites from Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance.

For a quick overview of Investing Strategies, pick up my FREE eBook; 20 Minute Guide to Investing (top right of the page). If you like what you’re reading, sign up for my RSS feed or email subscription and follow me on twitter so you get the word immediately.

Enjoy this guest article from Buck at Buck Inspire.com. Read more about his story and how he started out at About Me.

Since Barbara Friedberg loves personal finance stories, I dusted this one from my archives. Make sure you check out her own story at How my Parents went from Poverty to Wealth and Taught me Life Lessons for Financial Independence.

We Like The Cars That Go Boom

When I was a teenager, many light years away, I was a little different from my friends. They were big into their cars and audio equipment. If you were cool, you had to load up on your car with boom boxes, extra bass, and extra treble. Cerwin Vega anyone? The craze was everywhere. Music blaring from cars so loudly it could blow out the drivers eardrums! I don’t know what we were thinking. Honestly, it was actually too loud to think! Were we purposely trying to deafen ourselves? My wife thinks I’m deaf most of the time. Perhaps it is because of those teenage boom box years.

Psst, Yeah You, Over Here

One day, my friend and I were walking along, minding our own beeswax, when two unscrupulous characters asked us if we were interested in stereos.

My friend immediately waved him off.

I don’t know what possessed me, but I asked, “What you got?””like I was too cool for school.

Long story short, this guy had an extra set of Linear Phase speakers. (Yeah, I never heard of them either!) He said they normally go for like 800 bucks, but he would give us a deal for $300. Keep in mind, we were teenagers and $300 was a lot of money.

I was possessed and said , “I’ll take them”.

I still remember the shock and horror on my friend’s face! We had to go to an ATM, pull out the daily limit, and hand it over in a parking lot like a drug deal.

They dumped the speakers on us and took off. I still don’t know how we got the speakers home!

What Were You Thinking?

Looking back, this is what went on in my insane brain.

I’m getting something that normally goes for $800 at the amazing price of $300. My friend was big into his car and stereo system. In a warped way, I was trying to impress him. It was also a meager attempt to rid my reputation
of not being into cars, stereos, and being cheap.

Yeah, I know, real mature, Buck. Doing a little more research, we learned that this was a known scam.

Luckily for me, the boxes actually worked and I did get some use out of my insane purchase.

Final Thoughts

I still don’t know how I survived my teenage years, but I did learn some valuable lessons.

If it’s too good to be true, it probably is not true.

I was momentarily brain washed with $800 slashed to $300. What a great deal! How young and naive I was.

Don’t impulse buy as you’ll most likely regret it.

Now a days, I spend time comparison shopping, doing research, and analyzing all the options possible. I never did anything like that again.

Thankfully I learned my lesson.

Don’t buy things to impress others, only buy them for yourself.

(Those teenage years were some of the worst in my life. Puberty, zits, trying to fit in, the list goes on and on. Now that I am a little more mature, I buy things for me. Till this day, my friends occasionally rib me for those speakers.)

What’s your story?

Stay Inspired!
Buck

Buck Inspire is living a fulfilled life within his means while delving into personal finance sprinkled with dining, entertainment, pop culture, technology, and travel. If you like what you see here, please consider subscribing to his RSS feed or following him on Twitter.

image credit; Scott Spiegel