GeekSugar

Six Easy Ways to Go Green

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:45:34 PDT

Happy Earth Day! Even if it isn't looking very green in your neck of the woods (Summer is a comin' - I promise!), there are many ways you can make the world a greener place by making some small eco-friendly choices. So read on because this geek has come up with six simple solutions to help you become a green gadget queen. Enjoy!

Source

Mommy's Lil Helper: Frustration Free Packaging

LilSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:00:00 PST

Thank Amazon for small favors! This Christmas, my children can open their presents and I can cut back on the band-aids. The online retailer is introducing Frustration Free Packaging just in time for the holidays. For every parent who has drained their bank account on gifts and then spent their holiday quality time pulling those toys and trinkets from the wretches of the containers that they are tethered to, plan on having some free time and flawless hands. Amazon is currently offering this Ecological packaging option on some toys and electronics.

Amazon Kicks Off Frustration-Free Packaging Initiative

GeekSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:32:07 PST

Starting today, Amazon has launched a new environmentally-friendly initiative called Frustration-Free Packaging. What that means is that we can get products in new, easy-to-open packaging that's delivered in a recyclable cardboard box - therefore eliminating the need for extra packaging and annoying plastic cases (that I can hardly open anyway).

Already, 19 products from companies like Microsoft, Transcend, and Fisher-Price are working with Amazon to use less packaging when their products are shipped. For instance, those tiny little memory cards will now ship in recyclable envelopes rather than big bulky boxes.

The project will start on Amazon's international sites in 2009. If you have questions about this new initiative, head on over to Amazon to find all the answers.

Source

Don't Do Your Taxes Without Looking at These 10 Tips

LearnVest — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:15:54 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Grab your sharpened No. 2s. Tax season is upon us!

OK, we’re kidding about the No. 2s. (We recommend you e-file.) But the sentiment still stands: let’s face our taxes head on and get them out of the way.

Wouldn’t it be great to enter March with your tax refund in hand?

LearnVest isn’t about to leave you alone in the season of tax confusion, so in addition to our free Ace Your Taxes Boot Camp, we’ve put together a whole Tax Center that has everything you need.

Whether you are a parent, a student, a home owner, or even all three, we took the tax code and made it understandable. After all, straightforward financial advice is our main goal, even when it comes to deductions and credits.

To get you started, we’ve created a trusty cheat sheet with the top 10 things you must know going into tax season.

1. It’s Best if You E-File

E-filing can save trees, time, and money for the IRS and for you. If you use tax software, the forms you need will be built right in, and if you’re owed a refund, you’ll get it faster. And through a special LearnVest partnership, you can get H&R Block’s basic federal filing package (normally about $20) for free just by signing up for our Ace Your Taxes Boot Camp.

However, there are a few instances in which you must file a paper return. If you need to file a paper return, check out our guide to IRS forms, which will tell you which ones you need for your specific tax situation. Then, read our instructions on how to file. Note that tax refunds this year will be delayed an extra week or two, so prepare yourself.

Read on for more.

The Vow: Channing Tatum Is More Memorable Than the Romance

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

It's no accident that The Vow's release date coincides almost perfectly with Valentine's Day. The film promises the kind of epic love story that many of us, like it or not, are more amenable to getting swept up in at this time of year: a man tries to make his wife fall in love with him again after a horrific accident leaves her with no memory of the last four years, or of him. Channing Tatum is endearing as Leo and though he has chemistry with Rachel McAdams's Paige, it almost goes to waste due to the film's lack of focus and uneven plot.

For starters, having a stranger for a husband is just the beginning of Paige's problems. Sometime in the four years she's lost, she went from being a preppy law student to a free-spirited artist. Naturally, when she wakes up, she wants an explanation for why she doesn't talk to her family anymore, what happened to her pretty boy fiancé (Scott Speedman), and why her hair is so "weird." It's understandable that she's a little different from who she used to be, but a complete life transformation is a bit hard to swallow - both for Paige, and for the audience.

To see why The Vow may not be the love story you're expecting, just

Watching Tatum and McAdams play off each other is what keeps the movie engaging, and Tatum is particularly sympathetic. Though Paige is the one who has suffered the trauma, it's even more difficult to watch Leo quietly suffer as the love of his life continues to slip away in favor of the life she actually remembers. Leo represents a life that the new Paige is enticed by but can't imagine: he's goofy, laid-back, and immensely committed to her. But Paige can't come to terms with a life she doesn't feel part of, and instead reverts back to her former self.

The sincerity and sweetness that Tatum brings to Leo are reflected in flashbacks of his life with Paige and in his current attempts to win her back, but the film isn't the epic romance that it's packaged to be. In fact, it's more depressing than it is joyful; not only are most of the characters in pain throughout the film, but with the exception of Leo, most of them are downright irritating. Paige's family and friends couldn't be more stereotypically conservative, which only makes Paige's decision to stay with them all the more frustrating to watch. As the film goes on, the love story starts to take the backseat to her family issues, and the crux of the film rests on a subplot that's both lame and contrived.

The Vow is certainly watchable, thanks to the intrigue of the premise, and the mystery of how Leo and Paige will (inevitably, of course) find their way back to each other. But the film tries too hard to manufacture extra drama out of Paige's memory loss, when all the audience really wants to see is a love story to get swept up in.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Surprising Things Frequent Flier Miles Will Get You

Emily Co — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:25:20 PST

As an answer to the frustrations of travelers who can't redeem miles for the flights they want, airlines are becoming more creative with their frequent flier programs. The Wall Street Journal listed some examples that some airlines are offering their customers in exchange for miles:

A face lift, hair transplants or breast augmentations
Driving school vouchers
VIP treatment and access to a Formula One race
A "spring training package that includes dinner with New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi and pitcher Joba Chamberlain."
A Habit for Humanity trip to China
VIP tickets to Saturday Night Live tapings
Dinner with celebrity chefs
Designer bags

Would you want any of these items or would you rather get free flights?

Away We Go: How to Travel (Better) With Friends

LearnVest — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:15:33 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You love your friends, imperfections and all, so the only thing better than a trip to Ibiza might be a trip to Ibiza … with them. After all, group travel affords you freedom to do the activities you want, with zero worries about loneliness: Someone will always be game to ski that double black diamond run or dance the night away at that tiki club.

But while traveling with a group can be fun, it can also be fraught. The little differences that might seem small at first-like extra-long showers or reckless spontaneity-can get blown out of proportion after a few days of being together 24/7. Remember that time you tried to split the hotel bill to account for your BFF’s room service? (“But you totally ate some of my calamari!” “Not $20 worth!”) What a headache.

But you can leave the Advil at home, ladies. With our tips on organizing a successful and stress-free group getaway, you’ll come home with both your friendships and your budget intact.

Know Thyself (And Your Friends)

No two friends travel alike, as one woman’s “high standards” can be another friend’s “being difficult.”

You might enjoy getting a manicure with your diva friend, but think twice about inviting her camping. Likewise, if you don’t enjoy drinking, be wary about inviting the party girl on your getaway. Small differences can blow up when deciding how to spend a whole week together.

So, think strategically when planning your trip: Suggest a weekend in Vegas with your diva girlfriend, plan a camping trip with your high school buddies and save up vacation days for that European getaway with your bilingual best friend.

Read on for more travel tips.

Do You Have Money-Toxic Friendships? Avoid Stress and Peer Pressure

LearnVest — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:15:40 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

We couldn’t help but feel a twinge of both pity and schadenfreude when we found out that Britney Spears was a source of inspiration for Gwyneth Paltrow’s self-destructive, alcoholic character in Country Strong. You know how some people just bring you down? Certain friends may be physically or emotionally toxic a la Britney, and, alas, some can be financially toxic.

Do You Have a Money-Toxic Friend?

Money-toxic friends tend to put you in situations that encourage you to overspend or strip you of control over your money. This can include ordering lots of expensive drinks on a communal tab, suggesting pricey group activities that leave you feeling peer pressured, or even giving you a present that’s uncomfortably costly-making you feel obligated to reciprocate with something equally expensive.

Stickier Situations.

At some point, everyone encounters a sticky money situation. Say that an old college roommate asks you to be in her wedding party-and then proceeds to choose really expensive bridesmaid dresses. Or, your coworker asks you to contribute to her charity for underprivileged kids in Uganda, but you simply don’t have the cash. Don’t blame them for not thinking of you first and foremost; just accept that, no matter who you are, awkward money moments are bound to happen.

Keep reading for tips on dealing with these money-toxic situations.