Photo: ThinkstockBy Lynn Andriani
You're Making a Reservation on the Phone
Even great restaurants have empty tables sometimes, and while you might be able to snag one by calling at 5:00 on the evening you want to eat, online services like Savored and OpenTable do a fine job of searching for availability--plus, they reward you with a discount. If you use Groupon-owned Savored, for instance, which currently lists restaurants in 10 cities and is adding more soon, you could pay 30 percent less for food (and drinks, too) if you want to dine that night at 8 p.m., and up to 40 percent if you're willing to eat at 6 p.m. (bonus: no coupons necessary).
RELATED: Shocking Restaurant Secrets -- Exposed!
You're Walking in Hungry
You've heard it's not wise to go grocery shopping when you're famished--and it turns out that advice applies to dining out, too. Aaron Allen, a restaurant consultant who has advised clients including The Cheesecake Factory and TGI Fridays, says over-ordering is a common mistake among the
5 Money Mistakes You're Making when You Eat Out
By Oprah.com | Work + Money – Fri, May 17, 2013 5:30 PM EDTAstrology.Com Daily FinanceScopes -- Monday May 20, 2013
By Astrology.com FinanceScopes | Work + Money – Fri, May 17, 2013 1:49 PM EDT
Aries (March 21 - April 19)
Don't rush to take any action today. Take your time and get a second opinion on anything to do with finances, just as you would with issues concerning your health. They are intertwined in more ways than you realize.
Today's Aries Reading: Free Sample Destiny Reading
Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
When it comes to cash, the details hardly matter today. Like spending on vacation or blowing your rainy day fund, you feel free to spend with wild abandon. As long as you stick to the designated slush fund, enjoy.
Today's Taurus Reading: Free Sample Friends and Lovers Reading
Read More »from Astrology.Com Daily FinanceScopes -- Monday May 20, 2013
Gemini (May 21 - June 21)
Bills, bills, bills -- they are driving you crazy today. It seems as if you just can't get out from under them all. You will, though, and a lot quicker than you imagine, too. Don't even consider giving up on the effort.Road Trip! the 7 Best National Parks for Families to Visit This Summer
By Babble.com | Work + Money – Fri, May 17, 2013 1:29 PM EDTAs Memorial Day approaches, the unofficial start of road trip season is here. So we are getting down to planning this summer's weekend escapes. We've pulled out the atlas (internet), flipped through the pamphlets (websites), and have added many items to our bucket list. Planning your summer getaway?See if any of these amazing national parks and monuments for families can be squeezed in to your road-tripping itinerary.
-By Buzz Bishop
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23 ways to remember your first trip to Disneyland
The 7 most expensive summer camps for kids
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Read More »from Road Trip! the 7 Best National Parks for Families to Visit This SummerTricks of the Trade: 7 Tips on Starting Your Own Business
By Babble.com | Work + Money – Fri, May 17, 2013 1:13 PM EDTHave you ever thought about starting your own business? Even the idea alone seems daunting to most. But for those who are willing and able to take the plunge, figuring out where to begin and how to plan for the future can be the toughest part. Obstacles will arise, finances may run low, and stress can (and probably will) hit an all-time high. In order to avoid as much of that as possible, we asked 17 of our Top 50 Etsy Parents for their best financial, emotional, and technical advice that they wish they had known before they jumped into the wonderful world of self-employment. Check out their tips on starting a business below! - By Babble Editors
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22 tips on pursuing your passion
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Read More »from Tricks of the Trade: 7 Tips on Starting Your Own BusinessStaying on budget is like starting a new diet - it can be difficult to begin, impossible to resist splurging, and works a hell of a lot better with some support. Make being frugal fun, flirty, and yes, manageable, by getting your partner on board. By Brie Schwartz, REDBOOK.
Read More »from 7 Ways to Make Saving Sexy
Cook the books
Playing chef can be one of the easiest ways to increase your profits, and doing so doesn't mean skimping on ingredients or romance. Buy succulent cuts of steak and salmon, dim the lights, shut off your phones, and decant a bottle of Merlot that would have cost four times as much at a fine restaurant. Bonus: it's totally not tacky to smooch at the table. Then, put your savings towards a truly special, decadent date night. Hate the kitchen? Error-proof meals made in the slow cooker can be prepped quickly before work and are easily stretched throughout the week. On the weekends, bag the expensive brunch and eat breakfast in bed, which may just lead to a steamy afternoon of other gratis activities.7 Management Lessons We've Learned from Michael Scott
By The Daily Muse | Work + Money – Thu, May 16, 2013 1:45 PM EDTAfter nine long years, The Office is coming to a close tonight (sad!). And while there are plenty of things we'll miss-Jim and Dwight's pranks, Kevin's one-liners, and all the Andy drama-no one will ever replace the man who started it all.
So, in honor of the show's finale, we decided to review the management stylings of Michael Scott and share a few nuggets of workplace wisdom we've gained from him over the years. Sit back, relax, and learn from the World's Best Boss.1. After sitting at your desk all day, sometimes you just need to move.
Source: What Should BC Call Us
2. Bring snacks, and you'll instantly make friends at the office.
Source: Daily Dose of Memo
3. Stick to your guns.
Source: Kitteh-is-kat
4. Inspire your employees with motivational quotes.
5. Make time for team bonding.
Source: Little Moments
6. Celebrate even the little wins.
Source: gifbin.com
7. Sometimes, you just have to wing it.
Source:
Read More »from 7 Management Lessons We've Learned from Michael ScottAstrology.Com Daily FinanceScopes -- Friday May 17, 2013
By Astrology.com FinanceScopes | Work + Money – Thu, May 16, 2013 12:42 PM EDT
Aries (March 21 - April 19)
You long for the excitement of an action movie -- but you should just shell out the price of a ticket rather than trying to drum up that kind of action in real life. You have more important, albeit boring, things to take care of today.
Today's Aries Reading: Free Sample Daily Grind Reading
Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
If any of your detractors has a better plan than yours, invite them to lead the way; otherwise, simply block them out. You don't want to waste your energy on a power struggle today. Too much is at stake.
Today's Taurus Reading: Free Sample Harmony Reading
Read More »from Astrology.Com Daily FinanceScopes -- Friday May 17, 2013
Gemini (May 21 - June 21)
It's a lot of fun working with like-minded people -- but if you're stuck with people who take offense at every little thing you say, then keep all debate out of the question today. You may have to focus on your ownHiking Up the Prices: 7 of the Most Expensive Summer Camps for Kids
By Babble.com | Work + Money – Thu, May 16, 2013 12:20 PM EDTMy family picked through our community guide and selected a couple of day camps for our boys. They'll head to a community center to do arts, crafts, swimming, and gym activities for a week in July and a week in August. Some of the camps in our community looked spectacular, but were were WAY too expensive. That being said, some people have no problem breaking the bank when it comes to giving their children summer adventures. Business Insider has compiled a list of some of the most expensive summer camps for kids. The cost of these camps starts at $10,000 for the summer, and it only goes up from there. Take a look at 7 of the most outrageous options! - By Buzz Bishop
MORE ON BABBLE10 money-saving tips for families on a budget
The 32 most ridiculous kids toys ever made (what were they thinking?!)
21 fun and FREE summer activities for the family
Read More »from Hiking Up the Prices: 7 of the Most Expensive Summer Camps for KidsWith Powerball Jackpot at $475 Million, 7 Women Reveal What They'd Do with $1 Million
By Babble.com | Work + Money – Thu, May 16, 2013 11:12 AM EDTDo any of us really feel like we have enough money? If we're lucky, the answer is yes; we can pay for housing, food, medical care, clothes, and Legos. But what if we had more than enough? What if we got a million dollars - with no strings and no taxes - dropped in our laps? This is a favorite fantasy of mine. I like to think about all the ways I could configure a million bucks to make things better for my family and my community. With no winner in last night's Powerball drawing, the jackpot has grown to a whopping $475 million dollars! While winning that would be a nice chunk of change, I asked my readers to tell me what they'd do with a mere million dollars, and the results were interesting. Nearly everyone jumped to pay off debts first. Lots of people wanted to set up trust funds for their kids' futures, especially the parents of special needs kids. And nearly everyone wants a vacation. Funny or sad, these wishes tell stories of what real families really want. Click through to read
Read More »from With Powerball Jackpot at $475 Million, 7 Women Reveal What They'd Do with $1 MillionThe Surprising Reason Why You Shouldn't Donate to Charities Over the Phone
By Babble.com | Work + Money – Wed, May 15, 2013 6:51 PM EDT
Read More »from The Surprising Reason Why You Shouldn't Donate to Charities Over the Phone
Ring Ring! The phone rings. It's 6 at night, and, if your house is anything like mine, you're making dinner, packing lunches for the next day, feeding a hungry baby, telling the dog not to bark at the cat, and trying to remember what you signed up to bring for the teacher appreciation lunch. It's not exactly a great time for a phone conversation. So, I don't answer.
You might not, either. But if you do, and you find you're speaking to a professional telemarketer fundraiser, consider hanging up. Or, tell your mother (or grandmother) to hang up and not to send a check the next time a fundraising phone call from a stranger comes to her home phone.
Don't make donations to these companies over the phone.
Nonprofits need donors. Most of them are run by passionate, dedicated people who want to make the world a better place, whether it's providing shelter for families fleeing domestic violence or training midwives in India. Support well-run nonprofits you know and believe in.
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