Comments on: Take Care of Financial Business Challenge

By: Katy

Katy — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:24:37 +0000

Robbie Kay,

Columbia Sportwear will take back items to repair, and I know this to be true, as I have done this before. Twice, I have taken in coats for new zippers. They are a local company here in Portland, Oregon, so it is easy to drop off an item at the store. No hassle.

Katy Wolk-Stanley
The Non-Consumer Advocate

By: Robbie Kay

Robbie Kay — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:17:19 +0000

I can’t believe how much he was able to do in one day! While I don’t think I’ll be taking a fiscal health day anytime soon, I do every once in a while go through my To Do List and highlight in green (symbolic) those To Dos that would bring me in some money–bottle returns, items to return, checks to deposit, etc.

I just heard some people talking on the train last night about how if something goes wrong with an item from Columbia they just take it in and they’ll repair it free of charge. Mind you, I can’t confirm this is true (and you still have the hassle of the errand).

By: Amy H.

Amy H. — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:01:18 +0000

I heartily applaud the financial-health day concept. Just wanted to add, though, that 1.4% interest is not 12 times .2% interest, only 7 times. Now, if ING Direct were paying 2.4% interest! That would be wonderful, and they used to pay that, but not right now . . . .

By: karen

karen — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:43:26 +0000

I recently went through a 3 ring binder of all past financial statements to add the more recent ones & weed out the older, no longer needed ones. Lo & behold! I found my passport! only 3 months too late to get it renewed…. so now must start the process over again. On the other hand, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. Any extra money is going towards an extra mortgage payment at the end of the year ( the foreclosure homes in my neighborhood are making me nervous) instead of any travel plans. Put it on my to do list for next year…

By: WilliamB

WilliamB — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:22:15 +0000

Good point! Update my tip to: if you’re using a motor vehicle (and to a lesser extent, bicycle), try to have only right turns. Not having to cross back and forth will save you time if you’re walking – especially if it’s across a big road – but the difference is much smaller.

On my (driving) errands trip this weekend I laid it all out nicely – then had to skip to the end because that store closed first. That cost me 15-20 min of inefficiency, I was quite annoyed at myself for the late start that made it necessary.

By: thenonconsumeradvocate

thenonconsumeradvocate — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:58:42 +0000

And I am lucky to be able to walk or cycle for most of my errands.

Katy

By: thenonconsumeradvocate

thenonconsumeradvocate — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:56:33 +0000

William,

The right-hand side of the street is intriguing. However . . . I can always cross the street.

Katy Wolk-Stanley
The Non-Consumer Advocate

By: WilliamB

WilliamB — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:06:44 +0000

I rarely have a whole day just for financial tasks; more frequently it’s a day for tasks, some of which are finanical.

Sometimes these overlap unexpectedly. This weekend I exchanged a pair of running shorts. Why did a straight exchange get me money? I happened to mention to the clerk that I’d forgotten the store discount. He suggested I return and rebuy not only the shorts but the running shoes as well. That was nice of him – it was my fault for forgetting.

Here’s a tip: when you’re planning your errands (you do plan your errands to be efficient, right?), set up the stops so that every one is on the right hand side of the street. You save time and money not trying to make a lot of left turns. FedEx saved tens of millions with this trick.

By: Jinger

Jinger — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:27:05 +0000

Yes, I have small gift cards at Whole Foods and Chico’s to use, an item to return to WalMart, letters to mail and a few more random errands that I put off. Tomorrow is my day…car being serviced today.

By: Leigh @ compactbydesign

Leigh @ compactbydesign — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:16:00 +0000

I am just incredibly grateful that those tasks are primarily done by the husband. I have to clean up the piles and the filing but the actual paying and such is taken care of. Love that man!!