Is up at the always-kick-ass Frugal for Life.

You will find my entry way on the bottom, because yours truly likes to do everything last minute (e.g. submitting to carnival), and thankfully as with doing everything half-ass in life, someone (in this case, Dawn) let’s you get away with it.

Here’s a good pick this week from Entrepreneur’s Journey of a review on PayPal—the online payment processor that we all love to hate. Very good review. Think I’ll put a review of PayPal on my to-do list, because the web can always use more opinion on PayPal, heh.

As always, on an unrelated note, it has been finals’ week at the good old’ blackboard jungle and I’m getting my ass kicked.

In a sly voice: Thank you Internet.

Today is “Thank the Internet Day.” In my calendar anyway.

For what? For kicking ass and taking names, that’s what.

I’ve just finished reading a novel that was fairly enjoyable, thanks to the fact that the author has a blog. If it weren’t for the blog that I stumbled across a year ago, I would have never bother picking up his books.

I also just remembered to schedule for yet another online bill payment; and you know, it’s become so regular and mundane that I forgot how nice it is to have a little convenience such as online bill pay. Sure, it’s a service born more out of the company’s interest than mine; but hey, without the Internet? No go.

And now I’m posting whatever I want on my little crap corner of the web, because of the Internet. Thereby forcing another post down my subscriber’s throat. Which is pretty cool too, in my opinion.

So. Thanks Internet. Without you, I couldn’t have—

Don’t remember what I ordered from YesMicro.com, but got an email today for a $5 discount code. Just enter this during checkout for $5 off: xmdru3

Expires 6/01/06. Not a real spectacular amount of discount for a computer hardware store, but there doesn’t seem to be a minimum amount for purchases, so handy discount if you need to grab some network cables or CD-Rs (yeah like most computer households don’t have enough of those).

A person’s question:

What would you pick? Job stability or job satisfaction? I work at the local shipyard, and I was working out in the field as a shipfitter (assembling large section of ship, welding, etc.). I worked my way into the engineering department of the main officer but turns out it’s just a paper pusher, office bitch type of a job. The job was cool at first, I was physced about being inside, getting to wear regular clothes, not having to smell like ass after being in 100+ degree heat inside a 3/8-1/2″ thick steel boat structure. I’ve been doing my job, getting pay increases and whatnot but I’ve come to realize that I don’t do ANYTHING.

The person above, is 22 I think. On top of doing no real work at his job, the company staff is supposedly mostly family so you have some sort of office politics or “family only” deal going on. He wants more real substantial work, but the apparently no one will provide for it, or help him improve in his job outlook. Basically, he can do a year’s work in one week.

He’s currently looking for new work, but the job is really comfortable. The job pays very decent for doing very little challenging work. His hours are flexible and besides the mentioned problems, work environment is rather stress-free. Although the company currently has a new owner, with orders for new ships coming in, he will most likely have plenty of “work” for a long while.

So, job stability or job satisfaction? In the case here, it’s obvious he’s not satisfy with the work his job provides him with. My opinion? He should get uncomfortable again. He doesn’t have anyone else to support but himself, so it would be fairly easy for him to detach. I would easily take a pay-cut or security, for a job that provides more challenges and satisfaction. Everyone within our age bracket should strive for something a wee bit more. Perhaps I’m naive to dream for the job, but eh, a healthy dose of dreaming & striving (while you still can) isn’t so bad.

A friend of mine studying medicine told me how he’s taking classes with many people that were in a completely different field, making decent figures—but they eventually decided to go back to school because they just couldn’t live with doing what they were doing for the remainder of their lives. I asked for my friend’s opinion on the situation mentioned above.

“Look, it’s what everyone says all the time,” he told me. “Do what you truly love, and the money will follow later.”

Of course, not everyone can get up and just walk away or head back to school. If you have a family to support, things will be more difficult without additional income sources. Some will have the ability to switch their career thanks to the support of their significant others, but those that are raising a family by themselves would have a tougher outlook.

It’s a tricky situation when you end up with one of these decision, no matter the life situation you’re in. Still, my suggestion for us young’un still deciding? Get uncomfortable. It’s not so bad.

———

What would you pick? Job stability or job satisfaction?

As the CNN article said, when you’re in Miami, watch where you’re bleepin’ going.

Other cities on the top five road rage list includes Phoenix, Arizon; New York; Los Angeles, California (yay); and Boston, Massachusetts.

Nicer cities includes: Minneapolis, Minnesota; Nashville, Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; Seattle, Washington; and Atlanta, Georgia.

I’ve never been to Miami or Boston, but if I ever head there, I’ll be sure to pack my “you can’t drive for sh-t” sign. Because you know, when in Rome…

Buyer’s remorse can be quite a crappy feeling, especially if the purchase in question was something of high-value and non-refundable—like a car or a house. Whether it’s doubt or guilt driving the feeling, it can get pretty unpleasant.

I’ve had my share of buyer’s remorse in the past, though in recent years I haven’t experienced it as much (except for that recent $27 book).

The strange thing about buyer’s remorse though, is that it seems to have little impact on those that experience it frequently, e.g., those that buys a bunch of crap and complains about it all the time (aka me).

“Argh! I shouldn’t have bought that. Don’t think I can afford it.”

Two weeks later…

“Argh! I shouldn’t have bought that. Don’t think I can afford it.”

For some of my frugal friends though, buyer remorse can be quite a crazy thing. They’ll beat themselves up over the guilt of some small purchase.

“Gosh. I really shouldn’t have bought that pair of pants. It’s like, $20!” (From Ross).

And then I’ll have to calm them down a bit, reminding them that they’re not splurging like a mad person.

“Look, when was the last time you bought a new pair of jeans? 1999? It’s fine.”

I suppose that’s the better type of buyer’s remorse.

Thankfully, most purchases aren’t some life changing decision and are easily reversible. Having a little too much buyer’s remorse lately? Then you might want to check on your spending habit or the decisions you’ve been making.

Stop Buying Crap #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11 | #12

More LEGO Than Your Closet Can Hold

It’s embarrassing to admit, but I use to be a real LEGO nut case.

Found the above boxes in one of the more accessible closet in the house. There are a lot more stored away somewhere. I have probably 50% of the products LEGO pumped out between the year 1992 to 1996 (and quite a few of the Star Wars line-up in 1999).

If you’ve ever bought or have seen the price tag of LEGO products, you would know that they’re quite expensive.

Without exaggeration, I can probably sell my LEGO sets for thousands of dollars. It’s wild that LEGO can have such high elasticity; just check eBay for some ridiculous prices on hard-to-find sets.

So, don’t ever buy your kids LEGO. If they want to be creative, buy them a coloring book. Your wallet will thank you.

P.S. Turns out, LEGOLAND at the age of 22 = boring.

Related Links:

• Buying Lego on the Cheap - Raising4Boys.com

“Uh, I bought it for my friend for his birthday but I found out he has it already, so yeah—and turns out its the wrong edition anyway…” I stammer out the pathetic lie as I return the $27 book at Barnes & Nobles.

Couple of things to consider.

1. As the lie gets more complicated and detailed, the fact that it’s a lie becomes even more apparent.
2. The B&N cashier can careless why I’m returning it.
3. The real truth, that it’s buyers remorse, or—it’s too flippin’ expensive—would have been just fine.

Flash black to last week.

“Oh snap, the new book from ____ is out!”

“Ack. The queue at the library is over 10 and there’s only 3 copies.”

Went to buy gift certificate for mommy. Suddenly I’m in front of a B&N. “Hey, do you have a copy of ____? I can’t seem to find it.”

After five minutes of searching. “Ah it’s alright, I’ll just come back another time.” Whew. Good thing they don’t have it in stock. Saved!

No joke here, right before I left, the B&N worker stopped me at the door. “Hey, weren’t you looking for ____?”

“Ah you found it! Sweet! Thanks.” Dammit all.

“That’ll be $27.65,” said the cashier.

• $20.76 + shipping at B&N.com
• $16.35 + shipping at Amazon
• $15.53 + $1.40 at Overstock

Free at the library, if I would just have the patience to wait.