Have you read Frugal Zeitgeist recently? I say recently as in the last year?

A lot of people have passed by and left very quickly.  A few people stick around but I am not sure why! I have to put my hands up and say quite honestly that it has been awful. I’ve written a lot of content but much if it easily forgettable, much of it off-topic and some even on topics I know very little about.

I have to say I am very sorry. I’m not after forgiveness though.  You reap what you sow.

So what am I going to do about it?

I fully intend to turn over the field, re-plant the seeds and get the crop back to it’s full health. If I don’t take action the blog will die a slow death and my pride in my work will too.

New posts are going to be of a much higher and well thought out quality with subjects I enjoy writing about and that are close to my heart as well as things I have properly researched rather than hashed together.

Old posts that have potential will be updated, sometimes republished as new. A lot of the completely irrelevant content is going to be taken down bit by bit.

I intend to get back to interacting a lot more with you all, rather than just throwing a link on Facebook and calling myself a social media user! I want to engage and give this small corner of the huge net some kind of purpose.

Here are some areas I expect to be working on:

• Talk on sustainability
• Minimising and downsizing
• More saving money posts from my perspective
• Travel tips and thoughts
• Recipes
• More video and graphical content in general
• Featured reader businesses and high quality guest posts

What can you do?

I don’t deserve anything from you, but if you could find some kindness in your heart I would love your help.

Let me know where you want the blog to go, things you would find interesting and just spur me on, correct me, keep me on my toes and of course keep (or even start) reading.

Thank you.

755 Restaurant Corporation Georgia Franchise Has 32 Restaurants - 755 Restaurant Corporation was founded by Hank Aaron and his wife in 1995 and opened for business January 1, 1996 with 32 restaurants in total. The corporation has in its portfolio 18 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchens, 12 Burger Kings, and 2 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.

755 Restaurant Corporation Georgia Franchise Has 32 Restaurants

The baseball great is an incredible example of how truly successful people just never stop. Hank Aaron has a legacy of an incredible baseball career that not only broke homerun records but also broke social barriers. And yet after he retired, he decided not to stop going. He and his wife Billye Aaron opened the 755 Restaurant Corporation in Georgia because it meant something to them. Said Aaron:

“… little did I know that one day I would come back [to Atlanta] to be awarded this franchise. It’s something that I’ve dreamed about.”

The Corporation is made up of a series of the aforementioned franchises. They have 32 restaurants in total. It’s called “755″ because that was the number of homeruns hit by the baseball legend and he is often remembered for breaking the homerun record set by Babe Ruth. He signed to the Major Leagues in 1954 when he joined the Atlanta Braves and was an all-star every year from 1955-75.

Aaron isn’t the only celebrity to have an entrepreneurial inclination. Many people, once their career is winding down, decide to start a new professional adventure. In reality this is best thing anyone can do for their mental and physical health– studies have shown that people who retire young are more likely to die within 10 years that people who continue working.

Hank Aaron has it right. It’s good to keep going– no reason to ever stop, no matter what your age may be.

755 Restaurant Corporation Georgia Franchise Has 32 Restaurants

Recent: How Much Coffee Should You Drink?

755 Restaurant Corporation Georgia Franchise Has 32 Restaurants

Lost Credit Cards What to Do – If you’ve lost your credit cards and you’re not sure what to do, it’s imperative that you take action immediately! There’s no worse feeling in the world than losing your wallet and/or credit cards but by no means should you let this feeling overwhelm you to the point that you don’t act. The longer you wait to take action, the more difficult it can be to get your money back.

Lost Credit Cards What to Do

Let’s go over the steps of what you must do if your credit card gets stolen and then we’ll review how to protect yourself from identity theft in the future.

If your credit card is stolen…

1) Gather your information.

- When did your card go missing? What happened? Are there fraudulent charges? Make sure that you’re as clear on everything as you can be.

- Have your account information/number ready.

- Confirm when your last valid purchase was.

2) Contact your card issuer.

- Every card issuer has a specific phone number for reports of lost/stolen credit cards. If you’re not sure which extension to dial call customer service or explain to whoever you can get a hold of about what’s happened. They’ll be able to connect you to the right source and you can report your card lost/stolen.

3) Follow up with a letter.

- Make sure you also send your card issuer a letter after you hang up the phone, reiterating that your card is lost/stolen and that you called (provide the date) and made a report. Include as many details as you can.

4) Deal with fraudulent charges.

- Federal law protects you from paying all charges made to your card after you report it missing and most of the charges made that you claim were fraudulent. Your card issuer is allowed to dispute up to $50 of the charges, so if there’s a problem you’re entitled to contact the Credit Bureau about your rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act.

5) Prevent future theft.

- It’s important that you protect yourself from further theft in the future. Figure out how your card information was taken from you and consider changing your passwords, and boosting up security in whatever ways possible.

I originally wrote these steps in an article on The Random Forest.

Most Common Identity Theft Schemes:

- Going through your trash : If you don’t shred your mail and personal information, it becomes available for thieves to piece together who you are and where your credit card and bank information is.

- Stealing your mail : Even though it’s a federal offense, that won’t stop some of the scum bags out there who will steal mail at any given opportunity. Consider switching to online banking and set up as many passwords and protection methods as possible.

- Skimming : Identity theft criminals carry devices that read the magnetic strip on the back of your credit cards. There are protective cases available that can prevent skimming, but also make a point of only carrying cards when you need them and checking your credit card statements regularly.

- Phishing : Phishing is the broad term used for computer identity theft. Phishing can be performed by the perpetrators through email, social networks, text messages and mediums.

How to protect yourself from identity theft schemes:

- Minimize how much personal information about you and your accounts is available : Do as much as you can online and try not to leave any paper trails. Try to minimize how many cards you carry or even have, it’ll be easier to keep track of your money.

- Shred everything: Make sure it’s near impossible for anyone to read anything about you or your money

- Trust no-one : No one should ever ask for your credit card information. Ever. Except if you are purchasing something safely online, like a plane ticket.

- Check  your accounts regularly: The easiest way to catch identity theft and get all of your money back is to recognize it early on. Make a habit of checking your accounts several times a week to make sure that all of the purchases are your own.

Keep yourself safe by being cautious! There are a lot of bad people out there looking to steal from anyone they can.

Lost Credit Cards What to Do

Recent: Rent a Tree House!

Lost Credit Cards What to Do

Recent reports from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) have shown that the top 1% keep getting richer over the years. The middle and lower classes, however, haven’t been so lucky.

Stated the CBO:

“Over the past three decades, the distribution of income in the United States has become increasingly dispersed — in particular, the share of income accruing to high-income households has increased, whereas the share accruing to other households has declined.”

The report found that for the 1% of wealthiest Americans, the average inflation-adjusted household income grew by 275%. The rest of wealthiest 1/5th of the population, (not including the top 1%), saw household income grow by 65% during that time, far faster than the rest of the population. And the poorest people in America, the bottom 1/5th, have only seen an 18% increase over the past 30 years.

275% increase of annual income in the already richest 1% of the population compared to the 18% increase for the poorest segment of the population. How on Earth did this happen?

The CBO report offered some explanation, although not really enough of one.

“The rapid growth in average real household income for the 1% of the population with the highest income was a major factor contributing to the growing inequality in the distribution of household income between 1979 and 2007. Shifts in government transfers and federal taxes also contributed to that increase in inequality.”

Others point to the fact that climbing the economic ladder– aka the American Dream– has becoming increasingly difficult.

Perhaps one of the best qualities about U.S. society has been lost– recent research has indicated that Americans are less economically mobile than ever. Could it be? The the land of opportunity, where rags-to-riches stories make up our citizenry’s landscape may be on the verge of extinction?

Occupy Wall Street seems to have shown a spotlight on the issue. With an emphasis on the “we are the 99%”, it has become painfully clear that the disparity between the rich and wealthy has reached extreme levels. But does that mean that mean the possibility for a Jefferson ‘s experience of “movin’ on up to the East side” is no longer within the average Americans reach?

Related: Summer Jobs and Tough Competition

Jason DeParle thinks so. Back in January the journalist penned an article for the New York Times entitled “Harder for Americans to Rise from Lower Rungs“. In it, he argues that the evidence for America’s lack of economic mobility is staggering:

“A project led by Markus Jantti, an economist at a Swedish university, found that 42 percent of American men raised in the bottom fifth of incomes stay there as adults. That shows a level of persistent disadvantage much higher than in Denmark (25 percent) and Britain (30 percent) — a country famous for its class constraints.”

The study also found that 62% of men and women raised in the top 5th of incomes stay in the top 2/5ths. Likewise, 65% of men and women born in the bottom 5th stay in the bottom 2/5ths. This lack of mobility is not shared by Canada and Western European countries.

Between unfair taxation and a less mobile society, it’s no wonder that the rich continue getting richer and the poor, poorer.

How Much Should Preschool Cost – You might be surprised at just how much the cost of preschool is compared to what you think it should be. Taking naps, coloring– sounds pretty simple and yet it somehow costs thousands of dollars a year.

Apparently, however, some preschools stand out from the rest. According to Baby Center a good preschool should have the following:

- A good reputation

- A stimulating curriculum

- A qualified, caring staff

- Established ground rules

- Clean, safe facilities

- A current license

Sounds pretty good to me. I can’t imagine anyone trying to pass off anything less for people’s kids. Then again, I’m sure there are plenty of parents with horror stories. But back to pricing– how much should a preschool cost if it’s met the above standards?

How Much Should Preschool Cost

According to The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies:

• Full-time preschool averaged $3,800 -$10,900 in 2006.  The average annual cost of a 4-year-old in preschool care varies by state, according to a ranking prepared by USAToday.com. The most affordable states are Alabama, $3,000, and Nevada $3,200. The District of Columbia leads the pack at$10,900, followed closely by Massachusetts with an annual average of $10,700.
• Parents home schooling preschoolers use a combination of “park” time with other children and at-home projects to socialize and teach the child. Everything preschool.com offers tips and project ideas to keep preschoolers engaged.

How Much Should Preschool Cost

How Much Should Preschool Cost

Tips for Filling Out Job Applications – This might sound ridiculous but the number of times I’ve filled out job applications and messed it up are far too many. In the past I had a tendency to be careless and unprepared and as a result I feel like I ended up not getting the job.

After all, there’s tough competition out there when it comes to employment. Even with easy, part-time summer jobs. The market is cutthroat and you need to stand out from the pack. Preferably not by having the worst spelling.

Tips for Filling Out Job Applications

The following are some tips I feel like I sorely needed when I filled out job applications in the past:

#1) Do it right. The worst thing you can do when filling out a job application is to do it in a half-assed way. The less effort you visibly put into it, the less serious you will come across to your prospective employer. Come with your reference/employment information ready or take the application home.

#2) Start with pencil. I can’t tell you how many times I started filling out a job application in pen before realizing that I somehow really screwed it up, in pen! The worst is crossing something off in pen or even white-out looks kind of cheap. I say, start with light pencil you can either erase or write over. Or write everything out on a separate paper before putting in your final draft.

#3) Take your time. If you rush filling out an application it probably will appear so or you’ll get some information wrong. Take some time and do it right– it’ll pay off.

#4) Write legibly. Does your handwriting stink? Try writing slowly, or print as best you can when filling out an application. It’ll make you appear more professional. Or get someone with good handwriting to do it for you.

#5) If you’re not sure how to spell a word– look it up. There’s nothing worse than poor spelling to make you look unemployable. Get it right.

#6) Don’t lie. It’ll come back to haunt you.

#7) Double check your work. Take a few minutes to re-read everything and make sure you’re happy with your responses and that all your references are correct.

Once you’re done filling out your application, put in a folder so that it doesn’t get beat up or coffee spilled on it. Then head off to your prospective employer and hand it to someone in management. Ask for the manager, shake their hand and let them know that you’ll be checking in with them soon.

Congratulations! You’re one step closer to becoming gainfully employed.

Tips for Filling Out Job Applications

Tips for Filling Out Job Applications

2012 Summer Job Prospects in the U.S. + Tough Competition – Summer 2012 is right around the corner and with it comes the tough competition that many U.S. teens and college students must endure when trying to get a job.

The already tough job market makes it exceptionally difficult for many young people to land a 3-month summer job. Last year the numbers were particularly bleak with the U.S. Department of Labor reported that summer employment among kids was around 24%.

Why was the competition tougher than ever?  The combination of employers are offering fewer position along with the high levels of unemployed people looking to land any sort of paying gig– full time or summer.

2012 Summer Job Prospects in the U.S. + Tough Competition

That’s not to say that all hope is lost. A new study that came out last month shows evidence that opportunities for summer teen employment are going to start increasing soon and 2012 might just be the beginning. HuffPo reports:

“The report, which was released by employment network Snagajob, surveyed more than 1,000 hiring managers and found a six percent increase in the number of managers who think that teens now have a more even playing field in the job market. Thirty percent of hiring managers surveyed also believe it will be easy for teens to secure a job this summer, up nearly 10 percent from two years ago.

Others are not as optimistic about the teen job market. CNN Money reports that while the national unemployment rate has fallen to 8.3 percent, the rate for youth has remained above 20 percent for 40 consecutive months.”

If you’re looking to beat the rush and get a good summer job, it’s important to remember that the clock is ticking. According to report, 79% of all of the summer jobs are taken by the end of May. As of right now, roughly 45-60% of summer jobs prospects are already taken.

So, how can you beat the tough competition? According to MoneyLand, employers are looking for the following qualities in the summer employees:

• Flexibility This tops the list for the first time. One in three hiring managers say it is critical that summer help be able to work when and wherever they are needed.
• Positive attitude This one is a staple. Can-do spirit is important in any job interview.
• Job experience It’s always helpful to have experience but not always necessary. Still, returning employees will fill 65% of summer jobs.

Other things to consider to improve your chances when dealing with the competition:

- Tap into every resource/network available: teachers, friends, neighbors, relatives

- Consider taking on multiple jobs throughout the summer

- If it’s getting late (end of May, early June) don’t be picky. Take the paying job, no matter how un-fun it is.

- Get an unpaid internship– worst case scenario, it’ll look good on your resume.

It is still disputed whether or not things are looking up for 2012 summer employment, but if you hit the ground running and really reach out to all of your options there’s a good chance you might be able to snag a paying-gig before they’re all gone.

2012 Summer Job Prospects in the U.S. + Tough Competition

Tree Houses for Rent – If you’re planning a fun, different kind of vacation this summer, why not rent a tree house? There are some amazing structures out there among the treetops that are just waiting for you and your beloved. Finally! A chance to hang with the squirrels.

All I wanted to do as a kid is live in a tree house. I think it was watching Swiss Family Robinson too many times. Anyway, I composed a list of some of the most popular tree houses out there that are available for rent.

Tree Houses for Rent

Turns out lots of people want to try sleeping out in a tree house, even as adults!

Out’N'About Treehouse Treesort – Oregon

“This bed & breakfast resort offers several treehouse accommodations to choose from, with prices ranging from $120 for the 2 person “Serendipitree” to $250 for the 4 person “Schoolhouse” treehouse. All prices include breakfast.”

Alaska’s Treehouse B&B

“This bed & breakfast resort offers several rooms in the treehouse, which is located two hours south of Anchorage. Off-season (Oct 1-April 30) rates are $80 to $125. In-season (May 1-September 30), rates range from $125 to $145. All prices include breakfast.”

Hana Lani Treehouses

Hawaiian Treehouse rental for the eco-friendly traveler.

“These treehouses are bare bones. No electricity, no running water, partially open roof areas. So why would anyone want to rent them? Because they sit in the middle of a Hawaiian jungle on the island of Maui, with views of the ocean, that’s why. Rates run $250 to $400, depending on the size of the treehouse.”

Outa-The-Woods Treehouses

Located in B.C. and for only $150 a night, these beautiful tree houses can provide the ultimate romantic get away. Your accommodation will include:

• spacious 2-sided front deck with barbeque,
• main floor with dining area, kitchen, bathroom and lounge,
• loft bedroom with walk-out balcony and double hammock,
• propane kitchen with a full set of pots, pans, dishes and cutlery,
• An attractive propane fireplace,
• solar electric outlets for low amp appliances,
• 3 piece bathroom with all bath, bed and kitchen linens supplied,
• Queen bed in loft, queen futon on main floor,
• running hot and cold water, and solar powered lights

If all of this is sounding really good, but you’re not sure if taking a big trip to rent a tree house is worth it, despite whatever childhood dreams you too might have, consider building a tree house! Then you can sleep outside whenever you damn well please.

Tree Houses for Rent. Source : Wikipedia

Who are the Richest Celebrities – Every year Forbes announces who the richest celebrities are in the world. Not surprisingly, most of these individuals make regular appearances on the “richest” list. Either because they have built an empire for themselves that just won’t quit or have products that will get bought again and again, forever!

Who are the Richest Celebrities

Let’s take a look at who the richest celebrities are by how much they’re “worth”– this isn’t how much they have liquid, sitting in their bank account.

1. Oprah Winfrey - $290M
2. U2 – $195M
3. Tyler Perry - $130M
4. Bon Jovi - $125M
5. Jerry Bruckheimer - $113M
6. Steven Spielberg - $107M
7. Elton John - $100M
8. Lady Gaga - $90M
9. Simon Cowell - $90M
10. James Patterson - $84M
11. Dr. Phil Mcgraw - $80M
12. Leonardo Dicaprio - $77M
13. Howard Stern – $76M
14. Tiger Woods – $75M
15. Dick Wolf – $70M
16. Jerry Seinfeld – $70M
17. James Cameron – $70M
18. Paul McCartney - $67M
19. Rush Limbaugh - $64M
20. Black Eyed Peas - $61M

It’s not surprising that Oprah is number one on the list. I mean, it’s Oprah! She will reign supreme forever and ever! I am surprised that U2 is worth so much money. What have they done recently?

Anyway, a lot of celebrities don’t just get big, fat paychecks from movies and magazine sales, but rather from product endorsements. Tiger Woods has essentially made all of his money from endorsing products like Nike.

Tiger Woods has made over $1 billion in endorsements since his career started back in 1996. Says Wikipedia:

“Woods has been called the world’s most marketable athlete. Shortly after his 21st birthday in 1996, he began signing endorsement deals with numerous companies, including General Motors, Titleist, General Mills, American Express, Accenture, and Nike, Inc. In 2000, he signed a 5-year, $105 million contract extension with Nike. It was the largest endorsing deal ever signed by an athlete at that time.“

Michael Jordan is another example of a celebrity who has made a killing from product endorsements. His deals have included Nike, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Ball Park Franks, Wheaties and Hanes. His annual income for endorsements is still about $40 million a year and it’s estimated that he makes Nike $1 billion.

Oprah doesn’t peddle any products besides her own media, but that’s not to say she doesn’t have clout when it comes to affecting the sales. Her “Oprah’s Book List” can put books on the New York bestsellers list and an offhanded comment on her show about beef several years ago made sales plummet. And of course Dr. Phil has made some good money off of his buddy Oprah, and yet I still find it surprising that he made the top 20 richest list.

Who are the Richest Celebrities

Recent: Summer Fun!

Best Family Theme Parks- With summer right around the corner, it’s time to start planning fun family adventures including visits to the country’s best theme parks. Well, if you have kids and listen to their demands. Or something.

There’s a lot of debate as to what the best family theme parks are. Wildest rides, animals, water parks, games– everybody wants something a little different in a theme park. I did a little research and picked out the following which I think sound like the top 5 in the country.

Best Family Theme Parks

* All quotes are sourced from Forbes.

#1 SeaWorld!

Who doesn’t want to hang out with fun, aquatic animals? I grew up dreaming of Free-Willying, Shamu. Apparently the park started out as an idea for an aquatic restaurant. All days for 12+ is $36.99.

“In San Diego, visitors can participate in the Dolphin Interaction Program, where they can wade into shallow water to feed and touch the animals. San Diego also has the Cirque de la Mer, an acrobatic water show. San Antonio has the Sea Lion Interaction, and Orlando just introduced its first roller coaster, the Kraken, which is floorless so riders’ feet dangle. All three locations have an emphasis on learning and animal rescue. Teenagers interested in marine biology can sign up for SeaWorld Adventure Camps (some are sleepovers).”

#2 Legoland

For kids enjoy geeking out with the building toy. Okay, and adults too. $39.95 for an all-day pass, 30 million lego blocks, reconstructions of American monuments– and rides!

“The park also has 50 rides (including three roller coasters) and a “clubhouse” where kids can take tips from Lego Master Model Builders (yes, these are adults who play with Legos all day). There’s also a Lego Driving School where kids test their skills on faux city streets, and perhaps coolest of all is the Mindstorms robotic sessions, where pre-teens can build and program their own robots in conjunction with MIT’s Media Laboratory. There are also Legolands in Billund, Denmark, and Windsor, England. A third Legoland, in Gunzburg, Germany, is under construction.“

#3 Hershey Park

Chocolate and rides. Yes! First you enter the Hershey’s Chocolate World where you watch the goods getting made and then you can head off to the zoo or the amusement park itself. $34.95 a day– Pennsylvania never looked so good.

“Chocolate magnate Milton Hershey founded the town of Hershey, Pa., in 1903, and today it has become a Willy Wonka-type playland for children and adults, with golf courses, theme parks, zoos, streetlamps shaped like Hershey Kisses and a chocolate spa where you can get covered in cocoa.”

#4 Busch Gardens

For more of the traditionalist who enjoys roller coasters and mini-zoos. A kid’s all-day pass is $40.95 and an adult all-day pass is $49.95.

“The Williamsburg park is known for its nausea-inducing roller coasters. The Apollo’s Chariot ride has nine drops, the first plunging 210 feet (or 21 stories.) The park is divided into nine European “hamlets” that celebrate English, Scottish, German and Italian culture. Since Virginia is too cold for zebras and elephants, Busch Gardens Williamsburg has Jack Hann’s Wild Reserve, where guests can spot wolves and lorikeets. Animals aside, parents will appreciate that the parent company is beer conglomerate Anheuser-Busch.”

#5 Disney

There doesn’t seem to be any other place that excites little kids like Disney. Tons of rides and cartoon characters– it’s been a family favorite for ages! Kids 9 and younger get to go for the day for $35 while “big kids” go for $45.

“All four locations (Anaheim, Calif., Orlando, Fla., Tokyo and Paris) are staggeringly huge and have everything from rides, games, restaurants, animals and water parks to learning centers and spas, all with the backdrop of the ubiquitous mouse and kids clamoring for Disney-related merchandise.”

Best Family Theme Parks

Best Family Theme Parks