financial zen

I’m going to be going through an upgrade/updating process of plugins to add functionality to the site.

Things may get wonky for a little bit.

I’m finding myself stumble across a rather broad array of articles talking about “getting that raise you deserve” or “asking for what you deserve.”

Maybe it’s time people should turn that greedy green eye inward and think - what can I do to deserve that raise?

Simply put - keep yourself focused on your client, and make sure the company benefits from you. If you maintain these two, simple rules, you can both have a higher outlook in your job (especially with the economic downturn) but when times are good - have a better bargaining chip for a raise!

So nickel had an interesting article, comparing the definitions of frugal and cheap. Unfortunately, the examples are rather lacking.

So let’s take it up a notch - instead of HotOrNot why not “frugal or not?”

Take for instance, store brands. We know Del Monte, Chiquita, Pepsi, Coke (once Ohio State’s savior, now a harsh reality check), Jif (the choice of choosy moms) and a number of other brands. Can you taste the difference?

Honestly, there are a few choices that I have “gone frugal” on, and never will again. One of them is Peanut Butter. I bought generic once - and never again. It still amazes me that the taste can be so different. Vegetables, however, I can’t tell the difference - as with canned fruit. If it’s not fresh from the farmer (I’m working on it!) - it all tastes the same. I buy cheap.

Another recognition that “image from purchase” problem - I was once told that low-income families would be envious of the family that fed their children formula. Breast feeding is better, and recommended. Why do they go the more expensive route?

For the appeal of being seen buying and using formula. It doesn’t matter that it isn’t better, but to be seen spending that extra cash makes you look “rich.”

The point is - we’re presented with options all the time. Name brand this vs. generic that. The “appeal” of being seen wearing (or buying) that name-brand item or hottest fashion, instead of the functional, or the old or the worn. C’mon - sometimes, it’s okay to splurge. Sometimes, that endorphin boost is worth the price tag for those new shoes, that new shirt, whatever. Moderation is key!

It’s important to recognize that you don’t need to give up everything in difficult times - but recognize where your money is going, and why you’re buying it.

Well, by perusing some wordpress plug-ins from pro-blogger (a must read if you blog) I came across the answer to sites that unscrupulously steal your feeds (also called scraping).

Add a copyright message to your RSS feed! All with this plug-in - Angsuman’s Copyrighter Plugin. Really, I consider this plugin a must-have, especially once you start getting traffic and the “referrers” start coming in the form of “blah had a great post, here’s his content, and a link back. By the way, click on all my ads surrounding his entry to make me money.”

I recognize that feed-scrapers that do have link-backs aren’t necessarily evil- they aren’t phishing or stealing outright they’re just trying to make a quick buck off someone else’s writing spirit and soul. I liken them to pyramid schemes and Ponzi-artists - worthless, taking up bandwidth of the internet that would be better suited to a number of amiable bloggers out there.

Enough for my ranting - to my fellow bloggers fighting the scrapers, copyright your feeds!

As an aside, I’ve got some planned entries coming. Being a full-time father/worker/student/husband takes a toll, and it’s writing that suffers so that none of the others do!