This is a place to talk about all things financial.

mark

Gasoline is now back to $1.97 here in Tucson.  Not long ago, it actually got to $1.29 and was lowest in the nation for a short while.  We do definitely need the taxes on gas to pay for road repairs, etc. but it always hurts the low-paid workers most. 

Hi Jane!  I hope you are having a nice springtime. 

Gas back to $1.99 here...and at $2.15 + in Chicago suburbs over Easter.  They're always way above what everyone else has to pay....but there's no "price fixing," of course!  Yeah, right!

Just checking in.

Hi Jane
How cheap your petrol is compared to the UK.  As for the Isle of Man, dearer than the UK.

Kelly

Kelly, is your petrol sold in imperial gallons?  The U.S. gallon is smaller so we have to fill up more often.   

One imperial gallon is equivalent to approximately 1.2 U.S. liquid gallons.

But, even so, our gas is cheaper than yours, I agree.

Hi phyllis
Someone pointed the difference between the US and Imperial gallons, but your petrol is dearer by quite a bit.

kelly

We checked our insurance policy and found another company (Farmers Ins.) to be a savings.  This is on our mental "To Do" list and we continue to update every year or so - still saving.

On the other hand, we ordered an electronic device on sale over eBay paying with Pay Pal.  It is not working in the camera area so it will be sent back and we will contact Pay Pal to retrieve our money.  This is a case of our trying to buy something for less and it backfired.  If we had just bought directly from the manufacturer there would be no problem in exchange.  Pay Pal is very good about taking care of these issues so we hope this transaction will be taken care of soon.  It does take time and patience but why should we pay for something that does not perform? 

We dropped some movie channels from cable and took $55 a month off our bill.  Our telephone will be less, too.  I had fallen for the "no price increase with this rate" deal....and there wasn't.  But they'd lowered the price by $20.00 a month!  I guess you just have to call all these places every 6 months or so and find the current pricing.  Oh, yeah, and they really value "customer loyalty."  Not so much!!!

I have always been wary of eBay. Have heard too many stories of "bad" deals.

Please let us know how the return goes.

If there are a lot of good remarks on the seller, eBay can have some nice deals - this one has very high marks.

We do not have cable and read our international news on the computer.  Our one treat is that we signed on to Amazon Prime because we still buy in bulk and we like the many mini-series that are on the Amazon Channel.  Really like the feature of stopping the story when company calls. 

So, you have the Fire Stick or whatever it's called plugged into your TV?  That's something we want to investigate more fully this summer. 

I watch Amazon Prime on tv, too, Carol.  Just recently my dil told me that I could watch the premium channel Starz through a Amazon Prime subscription so I dropped it from Time Warner and subscribed on Ama. for  little more than 1/2 of what I was paying for it on TWC.  A good deal.

I don't have a stick, Jane, because my tv is a "smart TV" and I can stream my subscription channels such as Amazon, Netflix, Acorn, etc.  Works very well.  But, as to the so-called "smart TV"....I'm not sure just how smart it is sometimes.   

I got stung on Ebay a couple of times.  I bought a large bag of yarn that the seller claimed was from her deceased grandmother and was never used and very clean.  It wasn't!  Stained, dirty, and moth eaten.  Also, I bought a complete set of bamboo knitting needles from another seller and they were poorly made, very rough and snagged the wool and some of them were warped.  I think Ebay is a good site but I'm not very good at picking the reputable sellers, I guess.

Hi Carol
I find EBay very good.  If you read the feedback on the seller and it is good, then the product will be fine.

I have been with EBay for about 10 years and tbey are good.

Kelly

Hi Rammel
I checked my EBay account and from the figures of the purchases, it amounts in my case to about 1.5% over 10 years where purchases have not been satisfactory.

And half of the 1.5% I either got a refund or a replacement.

We can buy from a shop or online and still receive poor service or a purchase which does not meet our expectations or the products or products we buy.

I find that EBay is a good way of shopping.

Kelly

    The cheese stands alone.

I'm also aware that bad stories are presented more than good ones. Usually those with bad experiences are the ones who go back and complain. A good experience just goes un-noted.

Hi Rammel
Is the 'cheese stands alone a saying'?

I have noted on EBay if a item is good, but if the delivery is two days late they give a negative feedback.

Kelly

Update on our iPod bought over eBay.  PayPal has been notified.  We shall see if this is taken care of in our way or not.  I brought the iPod to the Apple Store and one girl said it wasn't made to take pictures - only selfies.  This sounds so odd and wrong to me - will keep checking on her remarks.  We head for home in Colorado soon - where it is still cold and snowing a bit - and keep searching for an answer and take it to another Apple store.  Remember the old saying about continuing to do the same thing over and over is called insanity??? 

I love Sudoku puzzles.  In a regular store, the printed puzzles sell for $4.95.  Go to the Dollar store (Kelly, you may have some other name for a real discount store) and they sell for $1.  This makes me happy.  I leave these books in the car, or by the chair, and take them to appointments for either Don or myself.  Otherwise, I read free downloaded library books.  Free and easy to delete if they are not interesting. 

Hi Carol
Does the IPod have front and rear cameras?

kelly

Hi Carol
We call the Pound shops or similar names

Kelly

Hi Carol
This is a link to a site that helps to explain how to use the camera on an IPod.

It is called 'for dummies' and it does not mean anything by the name, I use the site as do a lot of people.  Because Apple and other phone companies are to high tech in there explanation of things.

This site explains things in everyday language.

Hope it helps.

Kelly

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi18YfB47nMAhXM1RQKHTm7DFwQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dummies.com%2Fhow-to%2Fcontent%2Fhow-to-shoot-photos-and-videos-on-an-ipod-touch.html&usg=AFQjCNG64Qb7M51VhP8naWfNyoH82NPJLQ

Kelly:  Nice name for the Pound shop.       The camera on the 5th. generation iPod only takes a picture of my face as I am pointing it to scenery.  In other words, only a self picture.  This will take a long time to sort out the problem with PayPal - if ever.  Thanks for the link. 

Hi Carol
Does it have two cameras?

kelly

Kelly:  It looks like a black camera lens in the back.  Why would they make an iPod that would only take pictures of ones self?  I really like it for the fact it is easy to download audio books with the wifi on - it downloads audio books from the library in an instant.  Amazing!  Take care - I wish you a pleasant day - when you awake. 

On the mini iPod we bought over eBay, we were able to return it and the eBay got our money refunded.  Bought another one on eBay and it is working just fine.  However, several months later, we received an email from someone who had bought the same camera and he was unable to get my name off - plus the camera did not work.  In other words, the slippery seller just went ahead and resold the non-working iPod.  There are some people who can't live life straight.

On money matters - the latest news is that Obamacare is being dropped by two major insurance companies in the state of Colorado - here is home to us.  Never fear, the insurance will be picked up by Obama care and the cost will be passed on to everyone.  Our two senators at the time were warned of this outcome but a power play could not be stopped or even discussed.  This state used to discuss ideas back and forth - not anymore. 

Quote from: Carol on August 16, 2016, 07:38:20 PM
On the mini iPod we bought over eBay, we were able to return it and the eBay got our money refunded.  Bought another one on eBay and it is working just fine.  However, several months later, we received an email from someone who had bought the same camera and he was unable to get my name off - plus the camera did not work.  In other words, the slippery seller just went ahead and resold the non-working iPod.  There are some people who can't live life straight.

On money matters - the latest news is that Obamacare is being dropped by two major insurance companies in the state of Colorado - here is home to us.  Never fear, the insurance will be picked up by Obama care and the cost will be passed on to everyone.  Our two senators at the time were warned of this outcome but a power play could not be stopped or even discussed.  This state used to discuss ideas back and forth - not anymore.

Carol,
Just letting you know you are not here alone      I must be careful in responding lest I offend some. Regarding your first paragraph's "There are some people who can't live life straight." It is my opinion that the number is much higher than anyone would ever suspect
About the second paragraph - I believe there is more in store for 2017 - after the new term starts. Seems like "Free" stuff is always welcome.  I know of a couple/few in the area that are playing the game. 

I just read in our morning news that Aetna is not offering Affordable Care policies at all for next year in 2017 in North Carolina.  And United Healthcare is cutting 'way back on what they are offering.  Poor things!  They claim they are losing too much money.  Between our fed. law makers and the greedy insurance companies this whole thing is becoming a mess.  Just my humble opinion.   

Yep...while the Congress gets great coverage at our expense...and our state legislaturers pay $20.00 a month for their coverage and we the taxpayers here in Iowa pick up the rest.   Hmmm....one survey asked if I thought that was a ripoff for taxpayers....uh...YES!  Our "representatives" need to live in our world, not their cozy little luxury cocoons, imho.

I hesitated before writing the note yesterday.  It is Aetna and United here and they were never ready to carry the load. 

Jane:  When the politicians arrive in Washington (both sides) they must be brainwashed into protecting themselves and their status - that is all I can assume.  Rarely, does anyone stand up for the people.  Some pretend they do and that is all a sham because they are sitting so safe and comfortable bowing to peer pressure. 

Well, our gasoline has stayed rather stable but other costs are rising.  I "feel" for the low-income workers and my dad taught me to always tip generously to those who serve you.  When he died, I drove to all his favorite restaurants, barber, and many little places to tell them he has passed and was surprised that so many knew him and all about his family.  It was a reality check for me to not ever be stingy for good help because they are struggling.

Cooler weather is coming.