1. Amusement park worker
Summer sizzle: Amusement parks are a prime summer-job hub, mainly because your options are endless in terms of jobs. Just a few of the positions that need to be filled include performers, ride operators, customer service, mascots, game workers and food staff. (Did I mention the discounts on entry and funnel cakes?)
Salary: $21,758
2. Bartender
Summer sizzle: Summer seems to trigger a hidden thirst gland that's been hibernating all winter. The first nice day rolls around and windows open, music plays and bars fill up. Bartenders make great money and keep busy serving up many a cold beverage to college students and workers taking a load off.
Salary: $21,876
3. Catering helper
Summer sizzle: Find a job helping a catering company part time during the summer and you're in business. The scheduling for a gig like this is ideal: You're able to work a certain amount of events per week, for a few hours at a time and at a great hourly rate.
Salary: $16,469
4. Construction worker
Summer sizzle: There are more than a few upsides to performing physically demanding work all summer long. The first few that come to mind are killer muscles, rewarding work and a great tan.
Salary: $31,781
5. Day-camp counselor
Summer sizzle: Rise and shine! It's true that your days of sleeping in will be short-lived as a camp counselor, but working with kids is never short of pure entertainment and you'll enjoy organizing group activities, like crafts or outings to the pool. Plus, you'll get evenings and weekends off.
Salary: $20,493
6. Executive assistant
Summer sizzle: Although you'll have to trade your bikini for office attire, the chances of finding administrative work are in your favor during the summer. As employees take summer vacation, many companies bring on extra staff to cover their projects. Plus, getting your foot in the door by helping companies tackle projects will do only good things for your résumé.
Salary: $49,270
7. Lifeguard
Summer sizzle: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That is, if you can't afford to spend your days poolside for the fun of it, soak up some rays and get paid for it by keeping tabs on swimmers from your guard chair.
Salary: $16,782
8. Resort desk clerk
Summer sizzle: Every resort vacationer is looking for a little R and R, so you'll work to ensure guest's needs are met. On your downtime, you can spend your time enjoying some of the luxuries of the resort yourself.
Salary: $17,585
9. Tour guide
Summer sizzle: While living near a tourist trap or in a vacation town can be annoying at times, it can also work to your advantage. Options are endless when it comes to the things people want to see. You can find a job leading boat tours, bus tours, architecture tours, haunted mansion tours, museum tours ... the list goes on. This summer gig is a great way to learn more about the city in which you live and get paid doing it.
Salary: $22,545
10. Valet parking attendant
Summer sizzle: Valets essentially exist almost anywhere. From hotels to restaurants to concert venues to weddings, you can earn some serious cash in tips from generous patrons at any given place. And depending on the venue, chances are you'll probably get to see some pretty cool stuff -- and drive some pretty sweet cars -- in the meantime.
Salary: $16,737
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Get out of debt on $26,000 a year [chapter2]
Staying current
Hunihan's former spending habits have damaged her credit history, but she can repair it in several ways:
Pay her current bills on time.
Knock out a large loan, such as the one for a new car she took out in 2007. Her poor credit netted her a 36-month loan that requires weekly payments. The $10,000 loan will cost her an additional $4,000 in interest by the time she's through, but successfully paying it off will indicate to future lenders that she's a better credit risk now.
Get a secured credit card. Hunihan could open a secured card with a small amount, say $200. The lender would give her a credit card with a matching $200 limit. The lender would have Hunihan's bank deposit for collateral, and, as long as she made timely payments, Hunihan could prove she's become more responsible.
Set up a regular repayment schedule with the bank where the checks were overdrawn. The account is closed, but sending money consistently will exhibit her financial discipline.
Avoiding future disasters
Hunihan shouldn't devote all her earnings to paying current bills and ridding herself of her debts, though. She still needs to prepare for surprises.
She should set aside a small amount each week -- even $10 a month -- to a savings account she can access in emergencies.
And Hunihan should get health insurance. She's living without it because her employer doesn't provide it. But the risk is too large. If she developed an unexpected illness or had an accident, her financial plan would be ruined, and she'd be buried under medical bills.
Hunihan should check whether she's eligible for any discounted health policies through alumni or industry groups, such as the National Cosmetology Association, which offers discounted insurance policies to its members. Or, if she looks for part-time work to bring in extra cash, she could seek an employer that offers insurance to part-timers. These are hard to find, but some larger chain companies do offer health benefits.
She should also check Families USA's state-by-state guide to see whether she qualifies for any state health insurance programs.
Having the right attitude
Despite all her troubles, Hunihan has the right attitude. She considers herself lucky. She says she easily could have been one of those people with $23,000 in credit card debt rather than the total debt of $3,000 she has.
She also has a goal that motivates her to stick to frugality: She wants a zero balance and a shot at someday opening her own hair salon or doing hair and makeup for videos or film.
"I don't usually fail," she says. "I'm trying to fight for the good and make my dreams come true, and thereafter I hope to do good for other people. You'll see me someday, I promise."
Hunihan's former spending habits have damaged her credit history, but she can repair it in several ways:
Pay her current bills on time.
Knock out a large loan, such as the one for a new car she took out in 2007. Her poor credit netted her a 36-month loan that requires weekly payments. The $10,000 loan will cost her an additional $4,000 in interest by the time she's through, but successfully paying it off will indicate to future lenders that she's a better credit risk now.
Get a secured credit card. Hunihan could open a secured card with a small amount, say $200. The lender would give her a credit card with a matching $200 limit. The lender would have Hunihan's bank deposit for collateral, and, as long as she made timely payments, Hunihan could prove she's become more responsible.
Set up a regular repayment schedule with the bank where the checks were overdrawn. The account is closed, but sending money consistently will exhibit her financial discipline.
Avoiding future disasters
Hunihan shouldn't devote all her earnings to paying current bills and ridding herself of her debts, though. She still needs to prepare for surprises.
She should set aside a small amount each week -- even $10 a month -- to a savings account she can access in emergencies.
And Hunihan should get health insurance. She's living without it because her employer doesn't provide it. But the risk is too large. If she developed an unexpected illness or had an accident, her financial plan would be ruined, and she'd be buried under medical bills.
Hunihan should check whether she's eligible for any discounted health policies through alumni or industry groups, such as the National Cosmetology Association, which offers discounted insurance policies to its members. Or, if she looks for part-time work to bring in extra cash, she could seek an employer that offers insurance to part-timers. These are hard to find, but some larger chain companies do offer health benefits.
She should also check Families USA's state-by-state guide to see whether she qualifies for any state health insurance programs.
Having the right attitude
Despite all her troubles, Hunihan has the right attitude. She considers herself lucky. She says she easily could have been one of those people with $23,000 in credit card debt rather than the total debt of $3,000 she has.
She also has a goal that motivates her to stick to frugality: She wants a zero balance and a shot at someday opening her own hair salon or doing hair and makeup for videos or film.
"I don't usually fail," she says. "I'm trying to fight for the good and make my dreams come true, and thereafter I hope to do good for other people. You'll see me someday, I promise."
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Get out of debt on $26,000 a year [chapter1]
Attacking those old debts
Hunihan has a tight budget but could start knocking out those lingering bills:
First, she could find a way to bring in extra income and put every penny of it toward old debts. Perhaps she could get an extra shift at the hair salon or a part-time retail job.
Next, she should pay off the smallest debt first. Though a $79 gym bill may not seem like much, erasing it from her "to pay" list would feel like a great accomplishment. She could then move on to the next bill, and the next, until they're gone. Her old credit card bills have balances of less than $600 each and interest rates of more than 25%, so there's no advantage to paying one over the other.
Hunihan also needs to check her credit report to make sure there are no old bills she's overlooking. She can get a free credit report once a year from AnnualCreditReport.com, a service provided by the three major credit bureaus.
Understanding how she dug the hole
Hunihan no longer has any credit cards -- the lenders canceled them due to nonpayment -- but her debts remain.
To avoid falling back into dangerous spending patterns, Hunihan needs to understand the roots of her habits.
"My first memory of my mother and money is seeing my father yell at my mother because she was always spending money," Hunihan says.
Her dad was a strict budgeter who used a green pad and pen to keep track of every dime, but Hunihan took after her mom, whom she calls a shopaholic.
Hunihan began her relationship with credit cards as a freshman in college when she was greeted by a long table filled with banking representatives. In minutes, she walked away with five credit cards and thousands of dollars of available credit.
Within two or three months, Hunihan had maxed out her plastic. She didn't bother -- nor could she afford -- to pay the balances, and she wasn't worried about it. Back then, she didn't understand why it was important to make timely payments.
"I don't think it was until about five years ago that I understood I had to pay even the rent on time, that people couldn't just wait for their money," Hunihan says. "I have to pay things on time to look in the mirror and respect myself or have other people respect me."
from MSN Money
Hunihan has a tight budget but could start knocking out those lingering bills:
First, she could find a way to bring in extra income and put every penny of it toward old debts. Perhaps she could get an extra shift at the hair salon or a part-time retail job.
Next, she should pay off the smallest debt first. Though a $79 gym bill may not seem like much, erasing it from her "to pay" list would feel like a great accomplishment. She could then move on to the next bill, and the next, until they're gone. Her old credit card bills have balances of less than $600 each and interest rates of more than 25%, so there's no advantage to paying one over the other.
Hunihan also needs to check her credit report to make sure there are no old bills she's overlooking. She can get a free credit report once a year from AnnualCreditReport.com, a service provided by the three major credit bureaus.
Understanding how she dug the hole
Hunihan no longer has any credit cards -- the lenders canceled them due to nonpayment -- but her debts remain.
To avoid falling back into dangerous spending patterns, Hunihan needs to understand the roots of her habits.
"My first memory of my mother and money is seeing my father yell at my mother because she was always spending money," Hunihan says.
Her dad was a strict budgeter who used a green pad and pen to keep track of every dime, but Hunihan took after her mom, whom she calls a shopaholic.
Hunihan began her relationship with credit cards as a freshman in college when she was greeted by a long table filled with banking representatives. In minutes, she walked away with five credit cards and thousands of dollars of available credit.
Within two or three months, Hunihan had maxed out her plastic. She didn't bother -- nor could she afford -- to pay the balances, and she wasn't worried about it. Back then, she didn't understand why it was important to make timely payments.
"I don't think it was until about five years ago that I understood I had to pay even the rent on time, that people couldn't just wait for their money," Hunihan says. "I have to pay things on time to look in the mirror and respect myself or have other people respect me."
from MSN Money
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Best 100 sites for bargain hunters [chapter 5]
Best sites for productivity and careers
The Blog of Tim Ferriss. The best introduction to Ferriss is his best-selling book, "The 4-Hour Workweek," but his musings on productivity and "lifestyle design" are fun reading even if you don't know your virtual assistants from your virtual reality.
The Brazen Careerist. Its tag line: "Define your career. Control your life." Work/life balance is a defining topic here, but a team of outspoken bloggers and an active commenting community touch on virtually every job-related topic imaginable.
Lifehacker. Founding editor Gina Trapani built a site that focuses on using technology to get things done smarter and faster, but also includes offline solutions for streamlining your life.
The Thin Pink Line. I briefly blogged for this site, but these days I'm just another reader regularly checking in for the sage career advice of Lois Frankel, Carol Frohlinger and Lindsey Pollak, as well as the personal-finance musings of Valerie Coleman Morris.
WebWorkerDaily. A team of writers offers productivity advice and other tips for people who work primarily by or on the Web. Recent posts debated BlackBerrys versus iPhones and offered tips for speeding up a slow hotel Internet connection.
Zen Habits. Writer Leo Baubata aspires to simple productivity, and his own turnaround story is pretty darned inspirational. (Short version: He went from being a fat smoker to a thin marathon runner, all while raising six kids and launching a successful blog that replaced his day job.) Baubata's Write to Done is a writing-specific blog that's also worth a look.
Best sites for free entertainment
Fancast. For free, watch full episodes from network TV (including "American Idol" performances) and movies online with minimal commercials.
Hulu. Hulu offers a variety of TV episodes, movie trailers, food show recipes and documentaries. It's worth perusing to find those videos that are not necessarily mainstream.
Pandora. Not only does Pandora give you free radio, it sets up a "radio station" that plays only the music you like to hear. Registration is free, and the music begins to play almost immediately.
Best site for freebies
Freebiewatch. If you're on the lookout for a particular product, sign up here, and this site will keep track of it for you. Many of the freebies it has tracked down are samples, but others include free exercise DVDs and a seven-day pass to Bally's Fitness.
Free Stuff Times. This site scores points not only for the offers and coupons it presents, but also because of the solid, un-self-promoting advice it gives in its tips section. The links are sound, and the site is updated daily.
Hey, It's Free! This site is entertaining and full of information about freebies, from the running blog by "Goob" to the ads that top the site. Goob claims to spend his day looking for "100% legit, non-spammy freebies" and updates frequently, including noting which offers have expired.
Best sites for swapping stuff
Freecycle. Launched by a guy in Tucson, Ariz., who hated to see perfectly good stuff wind up at the dump, Freecycle connects people who have things to give away with those who want them.
PaperBack Swap. More than 3 million book titles are available here, and they're free. Members list books they're willing to swap. You pay postage on the books you send out, and members who send you books return the favor.
TitleTrader. If you have boxes of books and, well, just stuff, you can swap it or sell it here. As soon as you send an item to someone else, you earn credits to buy other things on the site. It's free. In addition, you can set up a wish list and be notified when something on your list becomes available.
Best sites for free tech stuff
5 Star Support. This site offers tech support, articles and forums for computer security, tutorials for free computer support, troubleshooting FAQ and a self-help "Tips, Tricks and Tweaks" section.
OnlyFreewares.com. From utilities to graphics to desktop products, this site offers free downloads to meet your computer needs.
Mozy. Give yourself peace of mind. Back your computer up online, so if your house burns down, all your music, pictures and data won't be dust in the wind. Mozy offers 2 gigbytes for free. For more space, it's $5 a month.
Tech-Recipes. More than 2,000 step-by-step free tutorials are available at this site, mostly written by users, and cover topics including BlackBerrys, Internet browsers and Kindle.
Wi-Fi Free Spot. Find a fast, free Internet connection wherever you are.
Zoho. Get an array of online applications, including presentation tools, Web conferencing, database applications and project management software. It's free for individuals with a subscription fee for organizations.
Meet Weston at The Money Show
MSN Money's Liz Pulliam Weston, the Web's top personal-finance columnist, will be among dozens of experts on hand at The Money Show in Las Vegas, May 11-14, to help you learn what you need to know to make smart money decisions during the economic crisis. Admission is free for MSN Money users.
The Blog of Tim Ferriss. The best introduction to Ferriss is his best-selling book, "The 4-Hour Workweek," but his musings on productivity and "lifestyle design" are fun reading even if you don't know your virtual assistants from your virtual reality.
The Brazen Careerist. Its tag line: "Define your career. Control your life." Work/life balance is a defining topic here, but a team of outspoken bloggers and an active commenting community touch on virtually every job-related topic imaginable.
Lifehacker. Founding editor Gina Trapani built a site that focuses on using technology to get things done smarter and faster, but also includes offline solutions for streamlining your life.
The Thin Pink Line. I briefly blogged for this site, but these days I'm just another reader regularly checking in for the sage career advice of Lois Frankel, Carol Frohlinger and Lindsey Pollak, as well as the personal-finance musings of Valerie Coleman Morris.
WebWorkerDaily. A team of writers offers productivity advice and other tips for people who work primarily by or on the Web. Recent posts debated BlackBerrys versus iPhones and offered tips for speeding up a slow hotel Internet connection.
Zen Habits. Writer Leo Baubata aspires to simple productivity, and his own turnaround story is pretty darned inspirational. (Short version: He went from being a fat smoker to a thin marathon runner, all while raising six kids and launching a successful blog that replaced his day job.) Baubata's Write to Done is a writing-specific blog that's also worth a look.
Best sites for free entertainment
Fancast. For free, watch full episodes from network TV (including "American Idol" performances) and movies online with minimal commercials.
Hulu. Hulu offers a variety of TV episodes, movie trailers, food show recipes and documentaries. It's worth perusing to find those videos that are not necessarily mainstream.
Pandora. Not only does Pandora give you free radio, it sets up a "radio station" that plays only the music you like to hear. Registration is free, and the music begins to play almost immediately.
Best site for freebies
Freebiewatch. If you're on the lookout for a particular product, sign up here, and this site will keep track of it for you. Many of the freebies it has tracked down are samples, but others include free exercise DVDs and a seven-day pass to Bally's Fitness.
Free Stuff Times. This site scores points not only for the offers and coupons it presents, but also because of the solid, un-self-promoting advice it gives in its tips section. The links are sound, and the site is updated daily.
Hey, It's Free! This site is entertaining and full of information about freebies, from the running blog by "Goob" to the ads that top the site. Goob claims to spend his day looking for "100% legit, non-spammy freebies" and updates frequently, including noting which offers have expired.
Best sites for swapping stuff
Freecycle. Launched by a guy in Tucson, Ariz., who hated to see perfectly good stuff wind up at the dump, Freecycle connects people who have things to give away with those who want them.
PaperBack Swap. More than 3 million book titles are available here, and they're free. Members list books they're willing to swap. You pay postage on the books you send out, and members who send you books return the favor.
TitleTrader. If you have boxes of books and, well, just stuff, you can swap it or sell it here. As soon as you send an item to someone else, you earn credits to buy other things on the site. It's free. In addition, you can set up a wish list and be notified when something on your list becomes available.
Best sites for free tech stuff
5 Star Support. This site offers tech support, articles and forums for computer security, tutorials for free computer support, troubleshooting FAQ and a self-help "Tips, Tricks and Tweaks" section.
OnlyFreewares.com. From utilities to graphics to desktop products, this site offers free downloads to meet your computer needs.
Mozy. Give yourself peace of mind. Back your computer up online, so if your house burns down, all your music, pictures and data won't be dust in the wind. Mozy offers 2 gigbytes for free. For more space, it's $5 a month.
Tech-Recipes. More than 2,000 step-by-step free tutorials are available at this site, mostly written by users, and cover topics including BlackBerrys, Internet browsers and Kindle.
Wi-Fi Free Spot. Find a fast, free Internet connection wherever you are.
Zoho. Get an array of online applications, including presentation tools, Web conferencing, database applications and project management software. It's free for individuals with a subscription fee for organizations.
Meet Weston at The Money Show
MSN Money's Liz Pulliam Weston, the Web's top personal-finance columnist, will be among dozens of experts on hand at The Money Show in Las Vegas, May 11-14, to help you learn what you need to know to make smart money decisions during the economic crisis. Admission is free for MSN Money users.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Best 100 sites for bargain hunters [chapter 4]
Best sites for free government help
Federal Citizen Information Center. Yeah, it needs a better name, but this site is the clearinghouse for just about every speck of consumer information put out by the U.S. government. Go, look, learn.
The Federal Reserve. Having trouble with your bank? Trying to avoid foreclosure? Looking for tools to teach your kids about money? The Fed's site has all that and more.
Govbenefits.gov. Run by the federal government, this site connects you to an array of government programs you might qualify for, and you don't necessarily have to be broke to benefit. If you're eligible and need the help offered, you should apply; your tax dollars paid for these programs while you were working.
Facebook users: Become a fan of Liz Pulliam Weston
Home Energy Saver. This interactive calculator asks a raft of detailed questions about your home, from the number of windows to how much attic insulation you have. The tool lets you set the payback period so you only see the investments that are likely to pay off before you move.
Mymoney.gov. Created to educate Americans about personal finance and the markets, the U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission's site includes information on budgeting, home ownership, borrowing and investing.
Best sites for insurance
Insure.com. Besides offering competitive quotes on most types of insurance, Insure.com also has thoughtful, well-researched articles about insurance subjects.
United Policyholders. This consumer-rights organization, founded after California's devastating Oakland Hills fires in 1991, helps people navigate the insurance claim system, particularly after natural disasters. You'll find tips about how to file and settle claims as well as when to hire an attorney to represent you.
Best sites for doing it yourself
Fix-It Club. Home repair experts Dan and Judy Ramsey offer free how-to guides on hundreds of repair jobs that you can do at home, including fixing a bike, a doorbell, a fishing pole and more.
Instructables. Get step-by-step instructions for craft projects (including "manly" ones), games, home decorating and repair, personal hygiene and more.
Nolo. Books and software published by this legal self-help publisher offer solid advice on often complex topics, and so does its Web site. The Nolopedia section has articles on bankruptcy, estate taxes, landlord-tenant disputes, immigration, divorce and much, much more.
Best sites for travel
Farecast. If you've ever watched an airfare tumble right after you booked, you'll want to visit Farecast. The site tracks price trends and predicts whether fares will rise or fall in the near future, offering advice about whether to buy now or wait.
Kayak. This site "kayaks" the Web for you, searching several travel sites and bringing back the information for you as you wait on the shore. The results pop up in separate windows for easy comparisons.
MouseSavers.com. If you want the inside scoop and special deals for Disneyland and Disney World, this is the site. Sign up for the newsletter to be alerted to breaking deals.
OneBag. Sick of dragging around heavy suitcases and paying baggage fees? OneBag can help you break the overpacking habit so you bring just what you need, and no more. Save money -- and your back.
SeatGuru. Tired of getting the worst seat on every flight? I don't book an airline ticket until I've checked out this site, which offers color-coded seat maps to identify the good, bad and "mixed" seats while showing where overhead TVs and power ports are located.
Theme Park Insider. The Insider covers the Disney properties, too, but reaches beyond the world of the mouse to review and rate other parks, including Six Flags, Universal, Cedar Point and SeaWorld.
TripAdvisor. Before you go anywhere, check out the reviews at TripAdvisor. With more than 20 million traveler opinions about hotels, restaurants, cruises and attractions, TripAdvisor has the volume to ensure you're getting the real scoop and not just the ventings of a few cranky customers -- or the phony pimping of people hired to make a place sound good.
The Universal Packing List. Clever interactive tool helps you create a site-specific packing list so that you don't wind up somewhere with the wrong gear. The tips and items on the lists go beyond the standard fare and include things to do before every trip, such as washing the dishes and emptying all the trash cans.
WebFlyer. If you're a frequent traveler, Randy Petersen's site will help you get the most out of all that time you spend away from home. Petersen alerts readers to special offers and changes in their frequent-flier programs, while offering tools to help you compare frequent-travel programs (Head2Head) and rescue miles or points that would otherwise be stranded (Mileage Converter).
Best sites for really cheap travel
CouchSurfing. CouchSurfing is more a movement than a simple travel site, with a goal of making connections between budget travelers and the communities they visit. You can offer and look for free accommodations, which range from the aforementioned couch to guest rooms to guest houses.
HomeExchange.com. The house-swapping site featured in the movie "The Holiday," HomeExchange connects people who want to save on lodging and get a feel for local neighborhoods by trading homes on vacation.
Less Than a Shoestring. The authors define a travel budget as about $10 a day. Not only will you find out about potential deals, you'll get the scoop on any airlines that are charging extra for services, find out where to get a tourist guide to any state and any other travel news that crosses their radar.
Best sites for charitable giving
Charity Navigator. This charity evaluation site has somewhat tougher standards than most.
DonorsChoose.org. This online charity helps you match a gift to a classroom in need.
GuideStar. This recently redesigned Web site helps you research a charity before you give.
Federal Citizen Information Center. Yeah, it needs a better name, but this site is the clearinghouse for just about every speck of consumer information put out by the U.S. government. Go, look, learn.
The Federal Reserve. Having trouble with your bank? Trying to avoid foreclosure? Looking for tools to teach your kids about money? The Fed's site has all that and more.
Govbenefits.gov. Run by the federal government, this site connects you to an array of government programs you might qualify for, and you don't necessarily have to be broke to benefit. If you're eligible and need the help offered, you should apply; your tax dollars paid for these programs while you were working.
Facebook users: Become a fan of Liz Pulliam Weston
Home Energy Saver. This interactive calculator asks a raft of detailed questions about your home, from the number of windows to how much attic insulation you have. The tool lets you set the payback period so you only see the investments that are likely to pay off before you move.
Mymoney.gov. Created to educate Americans about personal finance and the markets, the U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission's site includes information on budgeting, home ownership, borrowing and investing.
Best sites for insurance
Insure.com. Besides offering competitive quotes on most types of insurance, Insure.com also has thoughtful, well-researched articles about insurance subjects.
United Policyholders. This consumer-rights organization, founded after California's devastating Oakland Hills fires in 1991, helps people navigate the insurance claim system, particularly after natural disasters. You'll find tips about how to file and settle claims as well as when to hire an attorney to represent you.
Best sites for doing it yourself
Fix-It Club. Home repair experts Dan and Judy Ramsey offer free how-to guides on hundreds of repair jobs that you can do at home, including fixing a bike, a doorbell, a fishing pole and more.
Instructables. Get step-by-step instructions for craft projects (including "manly" ones), games, home decorating and repair, personal hygiene and more.
Nolo. Books and software published by this legal self-help publisher offer solid advice on often complex topics, and so does its Web site. The Nolopedia section has articles on bankruptcy, estate taxes, landlord-tenant disputes, immigration, divorce and much, much more.
Best sites for travel
Farecast. If you've ever watched an airfare tumble right after you booked, you'll want to visit Farecast. The site tracks price trends and predicts whether fares will rise or fall in the near future, offering advice about whether to buy now or wait.
Kayak. This site "kayaks" the Web for you, searching several travel sites and bringing back the information for you as you wait on the shore. The results pop up in separate windows for easy comparisons.
MouseSavers.com. If you want the inside scoop and special deals for Disneyland and Disney World, this is the site. Sign up for the newsletter to be alerted to breaking deals.
OneBag. Sick of dragging around heavy suitcases and paying baggage fees? OneBag can help you break the overpacking habit so you bring just what you need, and no more. Save money -- and your back.
SeatGuru. Tired of getting the worst seat on every flight? I don't book an airline ticket until I've checked out this site, which offers color-coded seat maps to identify the good, bad and "mixed" seats while showing where overhead TVs and power ports are located.
Theme Park Insider. The Insider covers the Disney properties, too, but reaches beyond the world of the mouse to review and rate other parks, including Six Flags, Universal, Cedar Point and SeaWorld.
TripAdvisor. Before you go anywhere, check out the reviews at TripAdvisor. With more than 20 million traveler opinions about hotels, restaurants, cruises and attractions, TripAdvisor has the volume to ensure you're getting the real scoop and not just the ventings of a few cranky customers -- or the phony pimping of people hired to make a place sound good.
The Universal Packing List. Clever interactive tool helps you create a site-specific packing list so that you don't wind up somewhere with the wrong gear. The tips and items on the lists go beyond the standard fare and include things to do before every trip, such as washing the dishes and emptying all the trash cans.
WebFlyer. If you're a frequent traveler, Randy Petersen's site will help you get the most out of all that time you spend away from home. Petersen alerts readers to special offers and changes in their frequent-flier programs, while offering tools to help you compare frequent-travel programs (Head2Head) and rescue miles or points that would otherwise be stranded (Mileage Converter).
Best sites for really cheap travel
CouchSurfing. CouchSurfing is more a movement than a simple travel site, with a goal of making connections between budget travelers and the communities they visit. You can offer and look for free accommodations, which range from the aforementioned couch to guest rooms to guest houses.
HomeExchange.com. The house-swapping site featured in the movie "The Holiday," HomeExchange connects people who want to save on lodging and get a feel for local neighborhoods by trading homes on vacation.
Less Than a Shoestring. The authors define a travel budget as about $10 a day. Not only will you find out about potential deals, you'll get the scoop on any airlines that are charging extra for services, find out where to get a tourist guide to any state and any other travel news that crosses their radar.
Best sites for charitable giving
Charity Navigator. This charity evaluation site has somewhat tougher standards than most.
DonorsChoose.org. This online charity helps you match a gift to a classroom in need.
GuideStar. This recently redesigned Web site helps you research a charity before you give.
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