It's Never Too Earlier to Think About Black Friday

Let's face it, in these tough economic times everyone can use a deal. If you are a fan of shopping for Christmas gifts on Black Friday then you should bookmark this site for 2008 thanksgiving specials. Things can get pretty hectic at these stores so you need to know what time they open and who has the best deals. When it gets closer to Black Friday 2008, they will be posting sale information complete with ad scans. If you think it’s too far away to remember to check back with their site, you can sign up and they’ll send you an email announcement when the latest Black Friday ads are posted (and Cyber Monday, too)

BestBuy is a great store to find the latest electronic gadgets and they really slash their prices on certain items for Black Friday. If you love the craziness of actually going to the store at 5 AM, you’ll be one up on the crowd by knowing exactly what TV, computer or camera is the hottest deal. Even better, save yourself the trip and order online.

And then there's Target. My grandmother would take us to the store a couple of days before the post Thanksgiving sale and let us scout out our desired items. She would pour over all of the newspaper flyers for the best deals but keeping track of everything was tough. Imagine if she had had access to a site like this that lists all the deals by store and category.

Divided We Fail

Blue Cross, my health insurance company, sent me a letter in February stating that my monthly payment was increasing by about $65 or nearly $800 for the year - this for major medical with a $2500 deductible. And this isn't the first increase. My premium has gone up about $500 a year for the past couple of years.

My friends in Canada pay about $600 a year for full coverage and they all complained loudly a few years back when massage was no longer covered. Granted it can take a long time to see a specialist or get a date for elective or a non emergency surgical procedure. But at least their health care is affordable. And Canadians don't have to declare bankruptcy because they are sick or have had a terrible accident and can't pay their medical bills.

We really all should be jumping up and down demanding affordable health coverage. This site discusses the issues debated by the current presidential candidates and their stand on health care. Plus they offer some thoughts on access to health care and some ideas as to what you can do regarding these issues.

Another Reason Why You Should Only Eat Humanely Raised Meat

I was just reading (or rather trying to read about - it's a horrible story) about the recent beef recall. Really - if you can watch this video: without tearing up and still have an appetite for anything other than grassfed, humanely raised beef (or any other kind of meat) you're one tough cookie. You know what they say, 'garbage in, garbage out.' But besides us, what about these cows. It's shocking that anyone could treat animals that are in such bad shape so cruelly.

Next time you're in the supermarket remember the choice is yours - Niman Ranch, Prather Ranch (etc) - OR mass produced, inhumane, sick, abused but yes, cheap beef.

It's Time to Consider Refinancing

We chose an ARM type mortgage when we bought our house a couple of years ago because our mortgage banker kept saying, 'no one keeps these mortgages for 30 years any more, you'll be paying too much for a 30 year fixed.' Maybe that's true in some cases, but we do want to keep our house and we don't want to get stuck paying more than we're paying now for the monthly payments.

One thing that's definite - mortgage rates are going down. It's the perfect time for California Refinance to lock into historically low rates. I am looking at DollarBlvd because they offer 5 free comparison quotes at no obligation. And right now they have special deals for California residents. It will give us a better idea of what our options are.

this post sponsored by: dollarblvd.com

The Slowest Tacos in the West

We were on our way back from Tahoe the other day and ended up stopping at Grass Valley for a something to eat - something fast because we wanted to get home. The first thing we saw on Main street was a tacqueria - perfect!

Things went downhill from there. All my best efforts could not get the attention of the waitress. We ended up grabbing some menus and seating ourselves at one of the dirty tables. While perusing the menu I had time to survey the restaurant and realize how dire things really were. Even though there were only about 12 people in the restaurant, no one seemed to be getting any service - or food. A couple of people who had been waiting for food-to-go, finally left empty handed. The three people at the table across from us looked like they were sharpening their plastic knives in preparation for a revolt.

Finally the waitress arrived to take our order. 'We're in a hurry,' we told her. 'It's going to take awhile,' she advised us, 'some people have been waiting 20 minutes.' The optimist in me took hold and I went ahead and placed an order. I mean really, how long can it take for a couple of tacos?

A couple of bowls of chips and 20 minutes later we received a status report that it might be another 20 minutes. The odd plate of food was arriving at tables here and there - nothing together. One person at the table was eating while the others looked hungrily on. The waitress herself seemed to be advising us to bail and if we did she wouldn't even charge us for the coke.

We did and spent part of the drive back wondering - what was going on in that kitchen? Two cooks in the kitchen, yet no food seemed to ever appear? Mysterious.

Want to Lower Your Auto Insurance?

Looking for a better rate on your auto insurance? If you think you might be paying too much with your current policy and want to drive insurance lower, check out Cost U Less Insurance. Cost U Less is an insurance broker with a focus on cheap rates. They've been around since 1980 and are currently expanding their California presence. They already have 70 locations state wide, with ten locations in Southern California (serving cities in and around Anaheim, Palmdale, Long Beach, Whittier, Pomona, Torrance, Santa Ana, San Bernardino, Victorville, Tarzana and Lancaster).

No time to for an in person visit to their office? You can also reach them via their toll free number: 1-888-884-4443, or visit their web site, where you can email them, request an online insurance quote or chat live with a customer service representative.

There are many factors that can put you in a higher insurance bracket, such as the number of accidents you've had, your age, your zip code, the car you drive and so on, so sometimes it’s helpful to discuss your situation with an insurance professional. And what better company to talk to than one that says their aim is to get you the lowest rate possible on your auto insurance.


this post sponsored by: costulessins.com

I'll Miss This Crazy Building

According the SF Chronicle, the Hugo Hotel, that 'decrepit landmark on Sixth street' is enjoying its last moments. Redevelopment plans are underway. I know this area of the city can use all the help it can get but I'll miss the inside out look of that building with all its Dr Suess furnishings stuck to the outside.