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Are you prepared for an earthquake or natural disaster?

Seeing the recent destruction and annihilation in Haiti, Chile, and now Taiwan, it makes sense to review your own disaster preparedness plans. In St. Louis, we’re only 150 or so miles away from a huge fault line ( the New Madrid Fault Line), and honestly, anything could happen at any time. The last time something major happened was about 110 years ago. Before that, about 200 years ago, a major quake on the fault caused the Mississippi to flow backwards, and created Reelfoot lake in TN.

So what can or should we do to ensure we can survive until we can get out of town and or until help arrives? What types of supplies should we have on hand and how can you incorporate this into your everyday living plans so you don’t just do this for a year or two?

• What to do before an earthquake (FEMA)
• What do to during an earthquake (FEMA)
• What to do after an earthquake (FEMA)
• Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety
• Preparedness FAQs

More links to earthquake preparedness information and response agencies

Frugal Superbowl meals and ideas

It’s that time of the year again where we all gather round to watch the millionaire beasts of the NFC and AFC battle it out to determine the NFL champions. Unfortunately, we’re not all millionaires, and if we ever hope to accumulate millions, it’s going to be through living frugal and investing and saving.

This year, we’ve got an energetic high powered offense in Drew Brees’ New Orleans team with that southern flavor against the powerhouse Midwestern Peyton Manning led Indianapolis Colts. It’s surely going to be a high scoring game. But now, it’s your time to score some great frugal meal ideas and other frugal thoughts on watching the game in style. Below, I’ve listed some great and low cost meals for the Southern and Midewestern fans and much more.

Stay in and enjoy the game with family and friends, avoid the bars, $3 beers, and crowds.

Consider making your own party decorations and spend time doing something fun and free prior to the big game. Consider hooking up a couple of TV’s in the same room if you don’t have that big screen. Play Superbowl game squares for 10 cents a square.

For the meals and drinks:

Appetizers:

Make your own fruit tray (under $15) or make your own veggie tray (under $15). Maybe even consider making your own chips using your microwave and salsa.

Drinks:

Consider making your own iced tea (add vodka with or without lemon for an ice pick), Iced water, milk for the kids. Consider low cost beer like Paps Blue Ribbon, or if you have a large party, chip in a few bucks each for a keg. There’s endless frugal drinks you could make, saving you tons of money in simply avoiding the bars. Ask your guests to each bring a cheap bottle of something and mix and match. If you don’t plan on getting smashed, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference in expensive drinks and low cost alternatives. Believe me, I know.

For the Main Meal (Chili or Spinach Salad):

New Orleans’ Style Cajun Chili (serves 8-12) for under $20;

Cajun recipe found here.

For a simple Midwestern Chili (Serves 6) for under $15:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 envelope (1 3/4 ounces) chili seasoning mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, undrained
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Preparation:

Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet. Cook ground beef and onions over medium heat until it is no longer pink. Stir in chili seasoning mix, then add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with cornbread or crackers.

Easy Chili recipe serves 6.

Found here.

And for a meatless alternative, healthy alternative (Under $15):

Spinach Salad:

Prep time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 6 c. fresh spinach, torn in bite-size pieces
• ½ c. mandarin oranges
• 1 c. strawberries, sliced
• 4 oz. soy blue cheese crumbles
• ¼ c. cashews

Dressing:

• 3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 3 tbsp. orange juice
• 1½ tbsp. canola oil
• ¼ tsp. dry mustard
• 1/3 tsp. poppy seeds

Utensils:

• knife (you’ll need help from your adult assistant)

Directions:

1. Mix dressing ingredients and refrigerate.
2. Mix the fruit and spinach together.
3. Pour dressing over salad and mix well to coat evenly.
4. Divide salad among 4 plates (about 2 cups each plate).
5. Sprinkle cashews and soy blue cheese over the top of each salad plate.

Serves: 4

Serving size: about 2 cups

Nutritional analysis (per serving):
220 calories
11 g protein
12 g fat
3 g sat. fat
24 g carbohydrate
2 g fiber
66 mg cholesterol
507 mg sodium
276 mg calcium
3.9 mg iron

Note: Nutritional analysis may vary depending on ingredient brands used.

Variations and suggestions:
This salad can be served as a side dish, or add some chicken to it and make it a meal!

Dessert(Under $10):

Monkey Bread

Copyright © 2002 by Michelle Jones, editor of BetterBudgeting.com

Perfect for taking to a brunch or serving to your own family, this yummy pull-apart bread is always a big hit!

Ingredients:

4 cans of refrigerated biscuits

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

1 T. cinnamon

3/4 c. butter or margarine

Directions:

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

* Cut biscuits into quarters and coat with an extra mixture of cinnamon and sugar if desired, makes it EXTRA good!

* Melt remaining ingredients together in a small saucepan.

* Place half of biscuit quarters into a greased Bundt pan and sprinkle chopped pecans or raisins on top if you have them on hand.

* Pour 1/2 of butter mixture over the top and repeat with remaining biscuits.

* Bake for 30-40 minutes.

..Of course, you can save much more money by simply cooking your own beans and rice and add in whatever other ingredients you may like.

What other great frugal Superbowl Ideas do you have that you’re willing to share?

Follow FinanceDad.com on Twitter and win $100

I am starting a new contest today to drive more twitter followers. To get in on the action, follow me on Twitter now -  @FinanceDadblog. I know you want in on this too – because you can win $100 for 10 seconds of work. I obviously need everyone’s help in doing this too, hence my reward. All of my current twitter followers are eligible and encouraged to participate and help drive my twitter goals.

But before I discuss my goals and the rewards, I want to share why I turned from thinking twitter was useless, to really thinking it’s a cool way to keep up with other people.

The main reasons I (now) think twitter is cool include:

• I can find out what everyone is saying on their blogs in one spot, and click only the links I want to read more about. If you follow multiple blogs it’s a really useful tool.
• I can follow people in the personal finance world with ease (you can follow those in your area) and other experts in my area.
• I can network with many people I wouldn’t be able to otherwise
• I can get my voice heard immediately and with relative ease and get feedback on what I’m saying
• I can get the latest news before the major news sources publish them
• Twitter’s founder (Jack Dorsey) is a Saint Louis Native – I’ve got to support my hometown guy ;p

I’m breaking my goals and rewards into four milestones.

1. Once I reach a measly 100 followers, I will give out the first $25 (odds of winning = 1 in 100). I don’t think that’s too much considering I’ve got 35 followers right now.
2. As soon as I hit 200 followers, I’ll give out another $25 (odds of winning = 1 in 200).
3. Next, when I hit 350 followers, I’ll give out another $25 (odds of winning = 1 in 350).
4. Finally, when I hit 500 followers, I’ll give out the final $25 – for a total of $100 (odds of winning = 1 in 500).

I’ll be randomly (random.org) selecting one follower at each milestone, so it’s important to not just follow then unfollow. You can win each time I hit a milestone as long as you’re still following me on twitter. This contest will end if my goals remain unmet by May 31,2010.  I will contact the winner within 72 hours of meeting each milestone, via twitter, and announce the results  and winner on my site. The winner will have 72 hours to make arrangements for receiving their prize(s). If the winner does not respond in the timeframe, then another winner will be drawn from the existing pool. The winner can choose to receive payment via American Express gift card, money order, via paypal, or any other mutually agreed method (I will even send you cash at your risk).

As a bonus, I’ll keep track of who’s retweeting my posts the most, and I’ll award a person $25 who I believe has gone out of their way (regardless, one person will win this and at my discretion), whether that be when I meet my goals or when the contest ends, whatever happens first. So, do your part and retweet this to get people signing up and get you a piece of the free $100 contest prize, and the bonus $25 too!

FinanceDad.com on Twitter @FinanceDadblog

Why there should be a class action lawsuit against Mark Mcgwire

Let me preface this post with saying I’ve been a life-long St. Louis Cardinals fan. And I probably always will be. I’ll continue to take my kids to MLB games well into the future, but I’m more pissed at MLB, Bud Selig, McGwire, Larussa, Cardinal ownership, and so on than I ever have been. That’s because we fans have been defrauded and ownership and management are shitting in our mouths and laughing about it. Some say this is ridiculous, it’s just sports, and I agree, it’s really not life changing, but it still needs to be pointed out why bring Big Mac Roids back as a Cardinals hitting coach is beyond ridiculous and how Cardinals ownership and LaRussa are rubbing this nonsense in our faces.

First, let’s talk about McGwire’s recent admission and why it’s complete bullshit and why every fan should boo his ass on opening day. Or just not show up and show Cardinals ownership who is in control. Though we all know this shit won’t happen in Cardinal Nation.

Let’s first define the Elements of fraud”

Common law fraud has nine elements:[1], [2]

1. a representation of an existing fact;
2. its materiality;
3. its falsity;
4. the speaker’s knowledge of its falsity;
5. the speaker’s intent that it shall be acted upon by the plaintiff;
6. plaintiff’s ignorance of its falsity;
7. plaintiff’s reliance on the truth of the representation;
8. plaintiff’s right to rely upon it; and
9. consequent damages suffered by plaintiff.

The 98 season alone got many people to get out and spend more money attending the games in which he was nearing Maris’ record alone. Regardless, he represented himself under false pretenses as the best home run hitter of all time, propping up his reputation and demeaning others that earned the accolades. He benefited greatly monetarily when awarded handsome contracts and endorsements to continue to come out and awe the fans with his legendary slugging ability, yet it was all built upon by fraudulently gaining advantage on competition and while breaking the law.

McGwire also professed to Congress that he would be the national spokesman for the fight against steroid youth in our kids, yet still hasn’t done a damned thing years later. Remember this?

Cummings: You are willing to be a national spokesman against steroids? We have all these high school kids that are emulating you and still look up to McGwire and others. And I think you said you are willing to be a national spokesman?

McGwire: I would be a great one.

Cummings: You would do it?

McGwire: Absolutely.

Mark’s a liar and hasn’t done a thing. You hear many people argue he’s given money to many charities. The fact is, any asshole that fraudulently earned millions of dollars can easily hand over cash to charity to make themselves feel better. The bottom line is, he didn’t do one thing to lead the fight against steroid use in our youth. He sure made them think it was cool though.

I could go on and on about McGwire only coming clean because he wanted to be the batting coach, or restore his chances for the hall, but that doesn’t mean he gives a shit about anyone but himself. He didn’t apologize to any fans for ripping them off. He needs to apologize to Canseco and the public for continuing to let us down, but he won’t.

LaRussa, the steroid defender didn’t know until today? Bullshit. So you hired him ad he lied to you and you’re going to keep him on? Screw the LaRussa liar, management, and ownership for not taking control of this situation and kicking McGwire as far away from this city as possible. Screw Selig for being the worst commissioner in MLB history, that jackass hasn’t done a thing to truly make baseball any cleaner.

I’m done with my rant.

Cash back credit cards reviewed and compared

Some people are smart and frugal enough to pay their credit card balances off monthly and actually earn cash back on all of their purchases. Credit card companies will pay you to use their cards, banking on your inability to payoff the balance! It pays to pick the right credit card based upon the features and benefits attached to it. You can and should earn yourself money through your purchases if you’re frugal enough to payoff your cards entire balance each month, otherwise what’s the point in getting a card with cash back rewards if you’re paying more through a higher APR (a higher annual percentage yield simply means the interest rate is higher, thus the financing costs will be greater). That’s where the Credit Card companies get you, they’re banking on charging you more for the card in anticipation that you won’t pay-off the balance each month. Some people make an extra $1000 or more a year by simply paying all their bills with their credit card, then paying off the balance each month. They take advantage of the float on their money (float is simply the difference in when you pay your bill with your credit card and when you have to pay the money back – and the fact that you can earn interest on your money if you put it in savings until the bill is due). If you pay cash on all your bills, you can’t earn interest on that money, but with a credit card you can. Not all credit cards are are created equal with regards to rewards, especially cash one’s. If you’re in the market for cash back rewards, you should definitely consider these four cash back rewards cards:

1. Capital One Platinum, No Hassle Cash Rewards is the top promoted cash back reward card. You can get 2% on gas and on groceries at the big food stores. So it’s ideal for the larger family commuter. You also get 1% on other ordinary purchases. This card offers two ways to redeem your cash savings; firstly any time you want it at your convenience or secondly through a regular automatic draw down. This card is only open to people with a good credit score and who use credit in an average way. There is a special version of this card for young people with a limited credit history.
2. Discover More (SM) Card is an even better way to save money with cash back rewards because unlike most cash refunds that come with credit cards they aren’t confined to a small number of categories like gas, supermarkets and they don’t just pay 1% rebates on everything. Get $50 Cash Back Bonus with the Discover® More Card!With Discover there is no cap on the amount of cash rebates you can earn in any year. You earn 5% rebates on all of these items… airlines, hotels, car rentals and cruises, which makes great savings for the traveling card user. For the homeowner there is 5% on home improvement store spending, department stores and clothing stores. For parents the cash back rewards at gas stations, theme parks, zoos and book stores can really add up. The 5% rewards continue at grocery stores, restaurants, movie theaters, movie rentals. While at over 100 online retailers such as GAP.com, OldNavy.com, Dell.com, BestBuy.com there is a huge 20% refund. Add to all of this the fact that you can double the value of your earned cash back if you redeem them for select gift cards at more than 100 participating tourist organizations. For example Universal Orlando Resorts and Hyatt Hotel and Resorts Gift Card.
3. TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express is another credit card for good cash back rewards. It pays more than the standard 1% on gasoline spending, restaurants and travel. When you sign up for this card, you are asked to become a Costco members (this costs $40 a year).
4. Iberiabank Visa Gold earns you 1% in cash back on all qualifying purchases with no limit on cash refunds and no expiration date on eligibility for accounts in good standing

Of course it isn’t just the cash back rewards that make credit cards a good way to save money. You must also look for cards with low or zero introductory APR on balance transfers for early billing cycles. This with cash back can add up to real savings. But when it comes down to it, you shouldn’t get a cash back reward card unless you’re going to payoff the balance every month, because the increased financing charges on these cards will likely more than cancel out the rebate you are earning, and the card will end up costing you more than others with a lower APR.

Check out all of our Credit Card reviews here for more great cash back cards!