Todd Benatar » Finance/Monies http://toddbenatar.com Seeds of thoughts from down on the farm Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:50:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Looked for It http://toddbenatar.com/2011/12/25/looked-for-it/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/12/25/looked-for-it/#comments Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:01:20 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1631 Guest post from: Kent Lara

I knew I needed to find a local internet provider GA to get online from home – work was riding me hard and I needed to work even after I left the office just to keep up. I work at a really young, fun company but your results are what get you promoted and some people had less of a life than I did so they were able to work late and make more results. That doesn’t sound like a big deal but for me it’s all about getting ahead before I’m married and have kids so I kicked it into high gear and set myself up a home office in the second bedroom. I love being able to kick back and watch my nightly shows WHILE I’m working and I’m lucky because my girlfriend waits tables so she’s out a lot at night. I don’t really mind putting in the extra hours as long as it’s going to get me somewhere at some point. Let’s just hope the big bosses notice my effort!

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/12/25/looked-for-it/feed/ 0 Customer Satisfaction Surveys http://toddbenatar.com/2011/11/05/customer-satisfaction-surveys/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/11/05/customer-satisfaction-surveys/#comments Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:12:59 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1599 With money so tight, all the way around and across the board, as consumers we are all looking for ways to save money, while businesses are searching for ways to drum up business and bring our hard earned money into their bank accounts. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not dissing anyone running a business, just stating a hard fact.

It seems that customer satisfaction surveys are a growing way for companies to hear how they are doing as well as finding ways to bring their current customers coming back. I don’t mind taking these surveys if there is something in it for me, not just the promise of being entered into some sweepstakes that the odds are completely stacked against me winning anything at all.

There are a few places that if you complete one of their customer satisfaction surveys that you will be given a code to write some where on your receipt so that you will receive some type of discount on your next purchase, those are surveys that I have no problem taking the time to complete. I always don’t mind a quick survey that only takes a few moments online since I’m on a computer some where most of the day. The kinds that I really refuse to complete are the kinds that come in the mail, no time for that and I don’t appreciate them junking up my mailbox with such trivial concerns.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/11/05/customer-satisfaction-surveys/feed/ 0 Used Parts are Good for the Environment http://toddbenatar.com/2011/11/01/used-part-are-good-for-the-environment/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/11/01/used-part-are-good-for-the-environment/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:06:21 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=226 As someone that likes to take in consideration the environment when ever possible or able to do, I like to use used parts for things that are in need of repair. Used car parts are a great in many ways, availability, cost effective, and good for the environment as well.

The days are gone that you have to go roaming through several distant junk yards in an effort to locate your desperately needed used car parts for your vehicles, what a difference the computer and the Internet have made in the used car parts business. Now you can go online and locate most parts for any type of vehicle with just a few key strokes, such as the website of 247spares.co.uk offers to the public. 247spares is rated number “6″ in the hitwise category for “Automotive Shopping Online”.

Not only can you locate used parts for cars, but SUV’s, pick ups, and vans as well as gear boxes, engines and so much more, by taking a few minutes and filling out the few short questions with your relevant vehicle information for their Free Instant Online Quote.

Good news articles to read also. Interesting to read what is happening on the roads on the other side of the ocean in the U.K., no issues with a language barrier to deal with here.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/11/01/used-part-are-good-for-the-environment/feed/ 0 Always Feeding The Printer http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/29/always-feeding-the-printer/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/29/always-feeding-the-printer/#comments Sun, 30 Oct 2011 03:50:45 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1593 Well the search is on for a good buy on my dell 3115cn toner that I am figuring on needing here pretty soon. It is something that I have kept thinking about doing but it kept getting put on the back shelve time and time again and now I can’t waste anymore time dilly dallying around until the last minute. It really bites when you want and or need to print something out only for the printer to spit out the most god awful copies of the documents that you need right away.

The are many highly competitive companies out there vying for our business for our printing equipment and all of the necessary accessories that keep us happy printing campers. And finding them online makes it such an easier task to tackle trying to find the best bang for your buck. I always look for sales, coupons, discounts and free shipping is a must on every order or it doesn’t get ordered. Hopefully I can find the sweetest deal possible this weekend and order at least two or three of them in an effort to keep me printing for some time and not have to go through this again for a good long while.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/29/always-feeding-the-printer/feed/ 0 A Court Reporter In The Family http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/25/a-court-reporter-in-the-family/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/25/a-court-reporter-in-the-family/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:53:19 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1584 With so many jobs being taken away due to so many of today’s technologies that have taken the place of jobs that have previously been handled by “real people” I am so glad to know that Court Reporting is still being done by humans. For some reason I really thought that Court Reporters were a thing of the past, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found that one of my nieces was going to work as one come the first of the year. It’s not the career that I envisioned her getting into but it certainly isn’t a bad choice for her at this point in her life.

I have always been one to refuse using those self check out options at all of the grocery stores for various reasons. The main one is that I would not like to see our cashiers jobs taken away. Too many jobs have been lost over these past several years and it doesn’t look like many jobs are going to be opening up any time soon. I have to admit that I also enjoy having someone to talk with and do the work for me!

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/25/a-court-reporter-in-the-family/feed/ 0 Oh baby http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/25/oh-baby/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/25/oh-baby/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:12:18 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1581 I appreciate the guest post, Vito Rivers

Well, we got a little surprise last month and now the secret is out. Our family of four (Rob and I plus the two furry rascals) is now going to be a family of five. Ya know, with another HUMAN in that equation. Yep, that’s right, we found out we’re expecting! It was a shock to say the least, but now that we’re over the fear that we’re irresponsible parents, we’re so, so excited. I have already started planning the nursery, picking out names, deciding on bedspreads and buying any Ralph Lauren baby clothes I see – boy or girl. Rob, on the other hand, has opened up a Roth IRA, called our ambit energy provider for a better energy rate to save money, cancelled his Sports Illustrated subscription, and has started thinking about what college the baby will go to with “his” basketball scholarship. Ha! Rob and I are both 5’5” with no athletic abilities, FYI. We’re obviously on the same page. What do YOU think we should be doing to prepare for this new little nugget?

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/25/oh-baby/feed/ 0 Obvious Solutions http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/18/obvious-solutions/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/18/obvious-solutions/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:17:13 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=540 Sometimes the most obvious solution is right in front of us, yet for some reason we just don’t see it. When we use common sense in life things do tend to be a little bit easier. This subject came up after reading an article on gas prices, where it state that only 10% of Americans work from home. You would think that with the increase in gas prices that that number would have at least doubled by now.

Fortunately for those few they are saving a lot of money and time (without the commute). Unfortunately for the rest of us one reason why we still drive into the office is because employers do not trust us. That was the top reason why a lot of companies did not want their employees to work from home. Other reasons revolved around the work that needed to be done. For example, if you work the front desk at a hotel you need to be there in person. I guess the only thing we can do is hope and pray that the economy will improve in the near future

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/18/obvious-solutions/feed/ 0 Internet Shopping http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/14/internet-shopping/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/14/internet-shopping/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:51:36 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1416 My sister does a whole heck of a lot for me, all the time really. But one thing I draw the line on is her buying my underwear. Some things a man just has to do for himself and the purchasing of his underwear is on the top of the list. Now I can tell you that I do not like going shopping for a variety of reasons, the main one is that the closest town is over 30 miles away and that is a chunk of time taken away from my day, something I really can’t afford at this point. So I have been learning and enjoying doing the majority of my shopping online, right from the comfort of my own laptop.

Some things are easier to order online than others of course. But since I have been wearing the same size and the same brand of underwear for as long as I can remember, this should be easy enough to do. I’m sure I can find some good deals and I ALWAYS look for free shipping, that is the only way to fly on today’s World Wide Web.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/14/internet-shopping/feed/ 0 The Need For A New Kitchen Undermount Sink http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/05/the-need-for-a-new-kitchen-undermount-sink/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/05/the-need-for-a-new-kitchen-undermount-sink/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:13:24 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1408 It really shouldn’t surprise me that so many things are in such bad shape around here, but with so little time and little money to put back into the old homestead it sure is frustrating and very disappointing. The latest thing that I have discovered is the need for a new Undermount Sink in the kitchen. Instead of going into town and spending the time and money that it takes for the gasoline that it takes for the trip, I have asked my eldest sister to take a look for me on the Internet to help find some sites that have affordable Undermount Sinks  since she is very familiar with everything around here as well as I am and I trust her judgement since she helps out more than anyone else around the house when she is able. Right now I really have my hands full on the farm, with Fall being one of the busiest times of the year for us here, so any help right now is totally appreciated.

 

 

 

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/05/the-need-for-a-new-kitchen-undermount-sink/feed/ 0 The energy crisis http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/04/the-energy-crisis/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/04/the-energy-crisis/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 23:25:26 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=12 With the cost of fuel increasing, and it is increasing once again, it is getting harder for the farm to be making enough money to pay for the fuel I need to run the tractors to tend the farm.   I’m growing enough crops to feed my own livestock, assuming that the weather cooperates I won’t have to buy too much winter feed.

I’m thinking about putting in a windmill and some solar panels to try to generate some of my own energy to cut down on electricity costs.  It’s hard to find ways to conserve energy when you are running a farm!  I’ve been reading articles on the Internet about how different plants like algae can be used to create biofuel instead of using corn (which I think is a great idea) and how many areas of the country are looking into wind farms and solar farms, too.  I think that all of these areas are good investments into the energy futures of the country.

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