My Frugal Ways

Philadelphia charges $300 for blogging

plin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:44:12 +0000

My jaw just dropped when I saw this news yesterday:

“or the past three years, Marilyn Bess has operated Ms Philly Organic, a small, low-traffic blog that features occasional posts about green living, out of her Manayunk home. Between her blog and infrequent contributions to ehow.com, over the last few years she says she’s made about $50. To Bess, her website is a hobby. To the city of Philadelphia, it’s a potential moneymaker, and the city wants its cut.

In May, the city sent Bess a letter demanding that she pay for a business privilege license — which cost $50 per year or $300 per lifetime.”

Most people blog for fun and most people (including me) doesn’t make $300 from their blog. Yet the city of Philadelphia is asking people to pay a business privilege license? How about cutting back on the benefits they pay out to union workers? How about going after the big business that stores their profit offshore so the profit won’t be taxed? Going after bloggers who are struggling to make an extra side income is simply inhumane. I would shut down my blog immediately if I received one of those notice. Even if you are making more than $300 a year from blogging, is paying $300 for “business privilege license” fair?

I won $25 from MyGoodCents sponsored by Plastic Jungle!

plin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:26:16 +0000

I received an email today from MyGoodCents that I am the winner of her $25 Plastic Jungle Gift Card giveaway! I am one of those people that rarely win anything in drawings so her email definitely brightens my day. As for Plastic Jungle, I am a fan of their site as it is an efficient way to get rid of unwanted give cards and get some money back. I wrote a review previously here. As for the $25 gift card, I am going to see how much cash I can exchange the gift card for and hold a giveaway of my own some time this month. Thanks MyGoodCents!

Self Ordering with an iPad

plin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:33:36 +0000

It seems like everyone around where I work has an iPad these days. Although I like how slick an iPad looks I can’t convince myself to purchase one due to the lack of functionality that already exist in other computing device (e.g. use USB). However, I do like this video from Japan where Sharp is creating a software that enables users to order their items directly from the restaurants menu as an app rather than go through a waiter. I can’t tell you how many times I have experienced a waiter taking down the wrong order and came back to tell me that was the exact thing I ordered. By ordering yourself, you can verify your own order and perhaps add a custom note for the chef. (e.g. less spicy). Hopefully this will receive wider adaptation in the coming years as the price of iPad or other touch screen device drops.

Now it would be funny to get the octopus virus while ordering your dinner in a Japanese restaurant!

Deal of the day: Free Zappos VIP Membership

plin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:37:43 +0000

Zappos is currently offering free VIP membership as part of back to school promotion. A VIP membership allows you to get a free upgrade to overnight delivery. All you have to do is register. This should come in handy during the holiday season for those of you who like overnight delivery.

Groupon Deal of the day (8/19): $50 worth of Gap apparel for only $25

plin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:09:37 +0000

Groupon has one of those ultra sweet deals today in which you can purchase $50 worth of GAP apparel and accessories including sale items for only $25.. For those of you who shops at Gap, this is an incredible deal that shouldn’t be missed!