Spend it or Save it: Life at NYU Stern

iPhone Backup Tip

2008-09-04T17:03:00.002-04:00

iTunes is hanging during the backup part of the sync. I haven't determined why yet but I discovered a method to continue the sync process even if the backup isn't working.

Simply push the (x) to the right of the backup process in iTunes and it will skip that part of the process!

Hope that helps anyone who is having problems with syncing their iPhones.

Zappos' New Strategy

2008-02-19T11:48:00.004-05:00

I really dislike the new Zappos. The got rid of the price protection policy and the free overnight shipping.

They now offer free standard shipping and a $3.95 markup on every item.

Shoes.com offers a 115% price guarantee and better prices on all their items. We'll see how long that lasts.

New blog!

2008-02-08T00:38:00.001-05:00

My roommate and I have started a new collaborative blog at www.thatgreengentleman.com. Take a look!

Pepsi Stuff: Start Collecting Those Caps!

2008-01-30T19:43:00.000-05:00

Pepsi is following in the footsteps of Coke, though a little late, with their new PepsiStuff promotion. It's very similar to MyCokeRewards but the rewards seem to actually be obtainable without spending hundreds of dollars on soda. They've teamed up with Amazon this time to allow redemption for mp3s, rather than Pepsi's former buddy, iTunes.
The best part about it is that NYU only sells Pepsi on campus, which means I can get a lot of free caps.
Anyway, PepsiStuff starts this Friday, February 1st.

PepsiStuff

Cheap Dorm Decorating Tip

2008-01-03T19:18:00.001-05:00

Everyone likes to decorate with posters, but unless you can find them for free, they can be very expensive. A cheaper alternative to buying a single poster, is to buy a calendar with at least 12 posters. Not only will you be getting multiple posters, but you have the option of rotating them every month.

I just managed to get 13 calendars for $41 (I saved about $165 off the original prices), since this week is when calendars are discounted. My room is going to be very nicely decorated this semester. :)

Logitech VX Nano Notebook Mouse

2007-12-24T18:25:00.000-05:00

I got a pretty good deal on this mouse last week. It retails for $69.99 but I managed to get it for about $5... Anyway, I'll just say that if you are looking for a notebook mouse, this is the one to get. The frictionless wheel is awesome and the USB receiver is the smallest in the world.

Check it out: Logitech VX Nano

My Favorite Nintendo DS Games of 2007

2007-12-24T18:07:00.000-05:00

I've played many DS games this year, all of which I have resold or intend to resell. The games I purchase are based on reviews and my own judgment. These are the games I have owned this year (in no particular order):

Nintendogs: Daschund and Friends
Yoshi's Island
New Super Mario Bros.
Sonic Rush Adventure
Trauma Center: Under the Knife
Mario Party DS
DK Jungle Climber
Brain Age 2
Flash Focus
Worms: Open Warfare 2
Kirby Canvas Curse
Clubhouse Games
Pokemon Pearl
Advance Wars DS

I usually sell them after I complete them or whenever I get bored of them. So here are my reviews...

Games to buy:
Sonic Rush Adventure - This is the best DS game there is. I have owned it for about 2 months and still play it daily. The lastibility and replay value on this game is amazing. Replay includes finding all the hidden islands, completing all 100 missions, upgrading all ships, and obtaining S scores on every level.
Worms: Open Warfare 2 - I enjoyed this game because of the resemblance to the PC versions but I finished it in a couple weeks and there weren't enough people to compete against online to justify keeping it.
New Super Mario Bros. - This game is cool but after beating it and collecting all the coins, there is nothing left to do except get rid of it. The replay value is limited.

Other games to consider: Yoshi's Island, Pokemon Pearl, Advance Wars DS

Games to stay from:
DK Jungle Climber - I played this once and got rid of it. The controls were too annoying and not fun at all.
Flash Focus - This was just too boring.

Worms: Open Warfare 2 DS

2007-09-19T23:14:00.001-04:00

If you own a Nintendo DS, you must own Worms: Open Warfare 2 also. It is an amazing game and very similar to Worms Armageddon on PC. With Wi-Fi and several single player mission types, it's an easy must-own for any DS owner. Go buy it.

Oreo Cakesters

2007-08-07T12:21:00.000-04:00

I got a box of these at Wal-Mart yesterday for $2.50. I don't normally make impulse purchases like this but they looked so fluffy on the box and I couldn't resist. And, I have to admit, they are pretty good. They're just like little fluffy cakes that look like Oreos. They don't really taste like Oreos but they're still pretty good. Try them and let me know what you think.
http://www.nabiscoworld.com/oreo/cakesters/

Air Hogs Havoc Heli Battling Set

2007-07-24T11:59:00.000-04:00

Just a quick update on the Air Hogs Laser Battle set that I posted about a couple weeks ago...
I spoke to someone at Spinmaster and was told that they should be on sale in the US in the beginning of August as they are scheduled for a Fall release. It will interesting to see them in action. Post comments if you get them earlier!

Sony VAIO TZ Series vs. Toshiba Portege R500

2007-06-28T10:53:00.000-04:00

I'm really looking forward to the new ultraportables from Sony and Toshiba, even though I'm satisfied with my 13.3" Sony VAIO VGN-S460. It would be nice to have a computer that is lighter and smaller. Both the Sony TZ Series and the Toshiba R500 and being released this summer and will both cost around $2000.

Toshiba Portege R500: 12.1" screen, .77" thick and 2.4 pounds
(Full specs: http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/ebtext.to?page=r500micro_prod)

Sony VAIO TZ: 11.1" screen, 1.17" thick, and 2.62 pounds
(Full specs: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3698)

The Toshiba R500 is the thinnest computer to have an optical drive, which is as expected a DVD burner. Still, I think the Sony looks more stylish, especially with the new "floating keyboard". Anyway, these are both amazing notebooks. I don't think I'll be getting either of them with those price tags, but it will interesting to see the reviews when they hit shelves.

Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle

2007-06-26T10:53:00.000-04:00

Since I failed to write about my purchases of last semester, I'm writing now about an item that I am looking forward to, which will probably be a very hot item this Christmas season:
Spin Master's Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle.

This toy includes two microsized helicopters that are designed for indoor flight. The coolest part about them is that they each feature lasers on the front of the helicopters to shoot the other helicopter. When one of them is hit, it spins out of control. Rumors are that they should be available sometime between August and December. For now, here is a preproduction video from an Air Hogs employee:

Sorry!

2007-04-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

I know it's been a while since I've updated this. Maybe it's because I'm not in NYC right now, or maybe it's because my mother is consistently checking my blog, but I'll have some updates soon.

Maybe I'll post my most recent purchases...

Don't Buy Songs from iTunes

2006-09-25T17:22:00.000-04:00

Sure, it's "legal" but Apple has got major issues with their latest release. They made iTunes-enabled phones incompatible with iTunes 7. Doesn't anyone else think that is kinda rude to market a phone as compatible with iTunes and then update the software so that you can't transfer your songs anymore?

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=639246&tstart=0

PayPerPost.com Pays Money to Blog

2006-07-07T13:41:00.000-04:00

First, I'd like to be clear that I haven't signed up for PayPerPost. If I had, I would probably be paid $10 for this post though. PayPerPost.com opened last week and is a new service that pays bloggers for writing about specific products. There is a list of advertisers and the amount that they are willing to pay for you to write a post about their product. Your post doesn't even have to promote the product - it just has to be about it. Many bloggers are writing that they think that is ridiculous, since advertisers could just receive a negative reputation. However, it seems quite clear that the advertisers aren't hoping that their money is spent to get a good word out about their product through blogs, but rather to increase their ranking in search engines by having their product discussed on thousands of websites.

Why haven't I signed up for PayPerPost.com?
At first, it seems like a really good deal. There is an article about it in BusinessWeek this week, they are paying $5-$10 per post, and you can write whatever you want. However, almost all blogs are currently only saying negative things about it. The main reason that I did not want to rush to sign up for this service is because they ask for your social security number when signing up. I e-mailed PayPerPost.com to determine if I should trust them or not and this is the reply they gave me:

A very valid and observant question!

Please refer to our parent site, www.MindComet.com.

MindComet is an 'interactive' agency, that is, they
specialize in online advertizing and marketing. PayPerPost
is the brainchild of MindComet's CEO, Ted Murphy and an
article from the launch of PayPerPost can be found in
Business Week. PayPerPost is basically a tool that
bridges the gap between advertisers and the general public
in the cyber community.

Here is the link to that article, if you would like to
read it:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_28/b3992034.htm

If you would like to read more, go ahead and type in
'PayPerPost' into Google. You will find many positive
(and negative) articles, feedback, and reviews of the
project.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to
reply!

Also, if you have any other questions, you may visit
www.PayPerPost.com and chat with the Live support.

Thank you!

That didn't really answer my question about why I should be comfortable giving them my SSN and address. When searching on Google, there is nothing to indicate that they are a trustworthy site and that any bloggers have gotten paid yet.

For now, I'm not going to recommend PayPerPost.com, but I will be watching its progress.

Comments?
(Please type in a user name instead of posting anonymously.)

HSBC Direct - 5.05%

2006-06-30T16:29:00.000-04:00

HSBC Direct just raised their rates to an outstanding 5.05%. This is the highest interest rate offered by an Online Savings Account. I highly recommend HSBC, except for the slow money transfer times.

ING Direct - 4.35% APY

2006-06-30T01:49:00.000-04:00

ING Direct just raised their interest rate to 4.35% APY.

Citibank Raises Interest Rates

2006-06-26T02:35:00.000-04:00

Citibank Direct raised their interest rate to 5% APY, which is the highest. However, there are strings attached to the Citibank account, unlike the other Online Savings Account. I believe I have posted this before. The Citibank online savings account requires a linked Citibank checking account. They advertise that the online savings account has no fees or minimums, but the checking account does and there are fees to transfer money to the online savings account if you are not transferring from the checking account. If you already use Citibank for checking, this is a great deal. Otherwise, stay away from it.

Best Buy Reward Zone: Now Even More Difficult to Get Rewards

2006-06-22T12:22:00.000-04:00

I got a letter from Best Buy today, along with a coupon for 12% off. The letter says that's it's easier than ever to get Rewards and lists why. Well, they lied. They just changed the amount you need to spend to $250 to get $5 back rather than $150 to get $5. It also says that your membership will automatically renew as long as you make one purchase per year.

I got my membership for free when I got my computer so I've been doing most of my shopping at Best Buy, but this is ridiculous. I hardly get any rewards now anyway because their system is so out-of-date and doesn't track the spending correctly.

Even though it usually takes the cashiers about 10 minutes to do a price match, it still ends up being the cheapest deal. So, until Wal-Mart comes to NYC, I think I'll still have to shop at Best Buy.

HSBC Direct - 4.8%

2006-06-20T16:08:00.000-04:00

HSBC Direct has taken the lead again by offering 4.8% APY, starting today.

eBay

2006-06-11T14:29:00.000-04:00

I've been selling some things on eBay recently to make some extra money, including my Sony Clie. To see my current auctions, click here: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZajoycetbQQhtZ-1
Or search for eBay member 'ajoycetb'.

Thanks.

Midnight Nintendo DS Lite Launch Bash at Nintendo World Store

2006-06-09T16:02:00.000-04:00

"When the clock strikes 12:01 on the morning of the June 11th, you can pick up the brand new lighter, brighter Nintendo DS Lite. The first 100 people to purchase a DS Lite at the World Store will also get a free carrying case and a copy of Brain Age: Train your Brain in Minutes a Day."

The Nintendo World store is located at 10 Rockefeller Plaza.

One Thousand Paintings

2006-06-03T20:41:00.000-04:00

One thousand blue numbers painted on a white canvas. The young artist, Sala of Switzerland, is quickly making about $500,000 just from painting each number from 1-1000 and selling the numbers with an unique pricing scheme. The prices vary by the demand of each number (the lowest are the most valuable) and the cost increases for every 100 paintings sold.

The available paintings and their corresponding prices are all listed on the website: One Thousand Paintings

According to the One Thousand Painting's blog, a star of The Life Aquatic, Waris Ahluwalia, purchased a number.

It's a great way for the artist to make money and it would be cool to own a number but I can't recommend someone to actually purchase a number at those prices.

ING Direct - 4.25% APY

2006-05-31T16:57:00.001-04:00

ING Direct is finally making an effort to match the competition. Well, 4.25% still doesn't cut it. The leading competitors are currently offering 4.65%-4.75%.

How to Get the Most Movies from Netflix

2006-05-29T16:01:00.000-04:00

Netflix is, of course, the best way to get movies as a college student. I just became a Netflix user when I recently won three years of Netflix from two different contests. I've only received three movies so far because my returns haven't been processed yet. I expected Netflix to be faster, based on what I've read about it. So, I did some research to find out how to get my movies returned faster and to get my queued movies shipped sooner.

First, even though there is a window on the envelope to show the barcode. This is only for shipping purposes and won't increase the return process time. Apparently, many users have wondered what the purpose of the window is.

Because Netflix bases the shipping priority on the amount of DVDs you rent, it seems that renting a lower amount of DVDs will give you faster service. That's kinda pointless though. One article that I read, "How To: Hacking Netflix", suggests keeping your queue short so that Netflix will be unable to choose a movie that you have given a lesser priority. I'm not sure if the author of that article actually read the Terms of Service that he quoted because it states:

those subscribers who receive the most movies may experience that (i) the shipment of their next available DVD occurs at least one business day following return of their previously viewed movie, (ii) delivery takes longer, as the shipments may not be processed from their local distribution center and (iii) they receive movies lower in their queue more often than our other subscribers

Therefore, even if a subscriber who receives a lot of DVDs has a short queue, it's possible that Netflix will just delay shipment for a day.

For now, all the DVDs in my queue have no wait time. This might be because I'm a new user or it could be because Netflix has expanded so much that the "throttling" that users have complained about is just something of the past.

I'll keep you updated about my Netflix experience. It seems like a great service, especially since I'm using it for free.

Free T-Shirts and Laptops Tonight at the new Apple Store on 59th

2006-05-19T17:40:00.000-04:00

Grand Opening

When the Apple Store, Fifth Avenue, opens it will stay open 24/7/365, so we can help you around the clock. To celebrate our new store, we’re giving away an amazing new MacBook every hour for 24 hours straight*. And the first 2,500 customers receive a commemorative T-shirt. Please join us Friday, for the first of many all-nighters.

The Apple Store, Fifth Avenue is located at 767 Fifth Avenue at 59th Street.

For more information, visit http://www.apple.com/retail/fifthavenue

HSBC Direct - 4.65% APY

2006-05-18T20:19:00.000-04:00

HSBC Direct raised their interest rate today, as expected. They didn't quite match Citibank though. 4.65% is still pretty good and HSBC is still my Online Savings of choice.

Sign up at http://www.hsbcdirect.com

Citibank e-Savings now 4.75% APY

2006-05-16T14:45:00.000-04:00

Citibank's e-Savings just raised their APY to 4.75%.
HSBC Direct and Emigrant Direct are still offering 4.5%.
ING Direct is offering 4.15%.
Hopefully the competitors will match Citibank's APY soon.

The only reason that I do not have a Citibank e-Savings account is that it requires a linked Citibank checking account. The checking account has a required minimum balance and minimum monthly activity, and will be charged a fee if that minimum balance and activity is not met. However, if you already use Citibank for your primary checking, this is a great deal.

To open a Citibank e-Savings account and checking account, visit http://direct.citibank.com

The Semester is Over

2006-05-11T15:30:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of updates lately, I've been busy with finals and moving out of my dorm. The semester is over so I won't be in NYC for the summer. I'll still be updating my blog though, since I'm now unemployed and will have to do more to save money until I get a job. I'll be back at NYU in August but keep visiting my blog throughout the summer.

-JB

Bank of America: May is For Museums on Us

2006-05-06T02:28:00.000-04:00

During the month of May, Bank of America is giving free access to several museums in the Northeast to their cardholders. This includes ATM, check, and credit cardholders. You are entitled to free admission for yourself and a guest.
Museums in NYC include Guggenheim (which is regularly about $20 per person).

For more information, visit http://www.bankofamericapromotions.com/museums/

Free Comic Book Day is May 6th

2006-05-03T01:18:00.000-04:00

The fifth annual Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday, May 6rd. Select comic book stores across the country and the world will be giving out free comic books made specifically for this event. Sponsors include Archie Comic Publications, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics, among many others. Additionally, comic book creators will be at stores signing their comics.

This is a great opportunity for anybody to get some free comics. There are several comic book stores in NYC participating, including Virgin Megastore in Times Square.

To find a participating comic book store near you, visit http://www.freecomicbookday.com.

ING Direct - 4.15% APY + $25

2006-05-01T20:00:00.000-04:00

I wrote an entry about HSBC's current APY a couple days ago because HSBC Direct offers the highest rate. However, it appears that there is no active promo code for HSBC. Therefore, it might just be more practical to sign up for ING, if you don't already have an account. ING Direct just increased their standard rate from 4.00% to 4.15%. Add an additional $25 sign up bonus, and you've got a great deal.

To get the $25 sign up bonus, you need someone to refer you. So, if you're interested in opening a new account, just click here: Open! (If that link doesn't work, leave a comment.)

Online Instant Win Contests: Superman & Dole

2006-05-01T03:35:00.000-04:00

There are many contests that have really bad odds of winning. However, these two online instant win contests have great odds of winning. You can enter to win each one once per day and it only takes about one minute. I've already won a Superman Uno Card Game.

Quaker Oats - Find Superman
http://www.quakeroats.com/findsuperman
Code: LOISLANE01
Most of the prizes for this are Superman video games or other Superman toys, but it's really quick to try to win. You can enter once per day. Once you win a prize, you can't keep trying to win. So, if you don't get a great prize, you can't get anything better.
What I Won: "8,750 Sixth Prizes: Superman Returns Mattel Uno Card Games. ARV: $5.49."

Dole Pack Up For Paradise Instant Win Game
http://dolejuice.promotionexpert.com/prizeparadise/splash.html
Codes: Brazil, Barbados (or any of the locations that you can win a trip to)
I haven't won anything from Dole yet but there are thousands of prizes. The easiest to win is, of course, a free Dole 64oz. Juice Blends product. You can enter once per day. Actually, there is one prize per household with this contest also. So, if you win the Juice Blends, that's all you'll get.
EDIT:
What I Won: "Ten Thousand (10,000) Third Prizes: One (1) Dole 64 oz. 100% Juice Blends product. ARV of Third Prize: $1.99 each"

Good luck!
If you win anything, please post a comment!

HSBC Direct - 4.5% APY beginning May 1st

2006-04-28T16:45:00.000-04:00

HSBC Direct Online Savings has been having a promotion for the last three months with a 4.8% APY. This has been the best interest rate offered for online savings accounts. Because the promotion is set to end on April 30, I have been awaiting an official statement on the non-promotional rate. And, it has been announced that it is 4.5%. This is a quote from the e-mail I received:

We are writing to let you know that beginning May 1, 2006, your HSBCdirect Online Savings Account rate will change to 4.50% APY**. This is one of America's leading rates and still 8x the national average*, so you can continue to watch your money grow.

With HSBCdirect.com, there are no fees, no minimums, no lock-up period, and your money is FDIC insured.† You can stay confident your money is in the right place and earning the most it possibly can.

I recommend using HSBC for online savings because they offer the highest rates. ~~Additionally, if you are interested in setting up a new account, use the promo code "start" to receive an additional $25 upon your account opening.~~

Counting Coins at Commerce Bank

2006-04-26T15:15:00.000-04:00

In a comment to Monday's post, Coinstar: Count your coins for FREE for using Amazon or iTunes!, an anonymous visitor posted that Commerce Bank will also count coins for free. I decided to go to Commerce Bank today to count my coins. I didn't have very many coins to be counted but, since the semester is almost over, I took all the coins on my desk and added them to the coins in my jar.

The Commerce Bank was very easy to locate, right on the corner of Broadway and Bond St. I wasn't sure of the address at first but I just sent a quick text to Google on my there.

Anyway, there was a big sign in the window advertising the coin counting machine. The best part of the machine, know as PENNY ARCADE, is that if you guess the amount of your coins within $1.99 you win a prize. And, you don't need to have a Commerce Bank account to use the machine.

I pushed "Go" on the kid-friendly user interface and followed the on-screen instructions. I guessed the amount of my coins, which I didn't think would be more than $10, considering the small size of the jar. Surprisingly, I got $24.08. The receipt listed how much of each coin I had but I didn't read it before giving it to the cashier.

Recommended: Yes. The machine was easy to use and it counted all my coins in a few seconds. You also have the opportunity to win a prize if you guess your amount correctly.

Don't go to Ben & Jerry's on Bleecker Street.

2006-04-25T16:56:00.000-04:00

The Ben & Jerry's on Bleecker Street now has a sign that reads: "We are unable to participate in free cone day due to construction."
I checked the website again so that I could call and complain but they updated the website today to show that the Bleecker Street Ben & Jerry's is in fact not participating.
The Ben & Jerry's on Third Ave/10th Street is pretty far from here but they are still giving out free ice cream today.

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone day is TODAY!

2006-04-25T01:29:00.000-04:00

Ben & Jerry's annual Free Cone Day is Tuesday, April 25th. That's today!
Participating scoop shops will be giving out free ice cream cones all day!!!! (just kidding, it's actually noon to 8:00)
The closest Ben & Jerry's to NYU are on Third Ave. or Bleecker St. and BOTH of those locations are participating in Free Cone Day. So GO GET FREE ICE CREAM!

If you want the exact address or the address of other Ben & Jerry's locations, here is the official linky: http://www.benjerry.com/features/fcd_2006/

Coinstar: Count your coins for FREE for using Amazon or iTunes!

2006-04-24T12:44:00.001-04:00

Coinstar, the coin-counting kiosks in 10,000 supermarkets across the U.S., normally charges 8.9% to count your coins. However, Coinstar will now count your coins for free if you choose to redeem your cash into an e-certificate or gift card, such as iTunes.
I actually discovered this when I was looking for Coca-Cola Blak. The Food Emporium in Union Square has two Coinstar kiosks that offer to turn your coins into a gift card to iTunes or an e-certificate to Amazon.com. Apparently, Coinstar has been offering the Amazon.com service since September 2005 and just announced the iTunes gift card service two weeks ago. There are also some other gift cards that select kiosks offer, such as Borders and Starbucks gift cards.
I've heard that several banks will count your coins for free but I don't know where these are so I definitely recommend using Coinstar. I don't use iTunes but having Amazon.com gift certificates is never a bad thing.

[Edit: For some reason, Blogspot keeps deleting this entry after this point...]

Anyway, before going out to turn your change into iTunes songs, make sure your local Coinstar kiosk offers iTunes. The "advanced machine locator" on Coinstar.com should tell you if your kiosk offers it, but the locator doesn't seem to be working.

And here is an article about the new Coinstar iTunes service: Coinstar turns loose change into iTunes songs

Ruckus

2006-04-22T20:35:00.000-04:00

Here's a quick tip for NYU students if you want to save money, and time, on that music that you're paying for, or downloading illegaly:

USE RUCKUS! It has 1.5 million songs... and it's free...
It's a free subscription music service for college students. (If you're in Stern, you'll have learned about that in Computer Based Systems / Information Technology in Business and Society.)
Search the music library at www.ruckus.com
Yeh, I know that NYU isn't a partner school yet, but we're working on it! You can still use it for free though.
Join the facebook group: http://nyu.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2201245097 and send an e-mail to the e-mail address listed there for a free account

Coca-Cola Blak

2006-04-21T17:11:00.000-04:00

NYU doesn't sell Coca-Cola products because of alleged murders in Colombia so it was very difficult to find Coca-Cola Blak.
After a short journey to actually find Coca-Cola Blak, as none of the supermarket or drug stores had it (despite the fact that this is New York City), I found it at Gristedes. It was 6.99 for 4 bottles and was a definite waste of money.
You can barely taste the "coffee essence," and it has apartame in it, which basically ruins the flavor of the original Coca-Cola. Don't bother trying it, it's not worth it.

It is disappointing that Coca-Cola discontinued Vanilla Coke, but Black Cherry Vanilla Coke isn't so bad.

[And, this is my first post since I don't know what happened to my other blog that I never updated...]