Local Restaurant: Big Daddy's

The wife and I recently attended a meeting at Big Daddy's on Research Blvd, so we decided that a review of another local restaurant was in order. The fact that we got a burger again this time was simply because of the ease of splitting it between the two of us, over the other entries that Big Daddy's serves.

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Rating:

Burger Patties 9
Unlike some other places this burger was nice, thick and meaty. Of course it was also half a pound. That is one thing that I love, being able to taste the meat. )

Bun 7
What can I say about the bun? It was very good as well. The bun was a brioche (wikipedia: a pastry akin to a highly enriched bread of French origin, whose high egg and butter content give it a rich and tender crumb. It is "light and slightly puffy, more or less fine, according to the proportion of butter and eggs"  It has a dark, golden, and flaky crust, frequently accentuated by an egg wash applied after proofing).  I was a little skeptical at first, when I seen the bun type in the menu, but this picky eater enjoyed it.

Quality 8
I would say the quality was excellent. Near perfection.



Garnish 8
The only garnish we got on our burger was ketchup and lettuce, though the wife did have some tomato on her half. The standard garnish or their burger is lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion. The lettuce we were served was very fresh and crisp. Like it had been picked from the garden that very day. The wife felt the same about her tomato.

Fries 7
Fresh cut fries were good and tasty. Nice size to bite into and actually taste the potatoes. They weren't the best potatoes, but at least you can taste the potatoes. Cut like regular fries, they has the taste and feel of steak fries.

Atmosphere 7
Great pleasant atmosphere. A family friendly atmosphere vibe when were there at 3:30 PM on a Saturday afternoon. But with more then 10 TV's, including a big screen, all tuned to various sporting events, it could easily become a sports bar at night.


Cleanliness (Restrooms, Dinning area, Entrance, etc) 9
Entrance and parking lot looked good, as did the dinning area. The restroom looked cleaned as well. It appeared someone was staying on top of things.

Other  9
Very accessible, with nice smooth threshold. The only tricky spot for a person in a wheel chair would be the double entrance at the entry way. I could see someone that was wheelchair bound getting sandwiched between those two doors. That being the case is the only reason this category didn't get a perfect 10.

Price  8
Burger/Sandwich (with fries) $7.45
Soda $2.25 (a little overpriced for me).
Glass of Water $0 (the wife had water)

Overall rating: 8 out of 10

Local Burger Joint: P. Terrys

Our friends over at the austinot, have been doing a search for the best burger in Austin. While I have enjoyed reading their reviews, I do not always agree. So I thought, I would create my own review system, with our natural focus on accessibility. It may not be a regular feature of the best burger, but we will review local restaurants. Today we take a look at P. Terry's. We hear that it is similar to the national chain of "In and Out". Neither the wife nor I have ate there, so we can't compare, but we can tell you what we think of the local fast food chain.


Restaurant:
P. Terry's
We stopped in at the 3303 N Lamar (32 and Lamar) location.

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Rating:

1. Burger Patties  6
   The patty was thin (think McDonald's® regular hamburger or Big Mac®), which is probably why so many people get the double. My wife and I can't do the cheese, so we only got hamburgers. To both of us  it seemed like there was more lettuce then burger. When I got a good taste of just the burger, it seemed to be seasoned with salt and pepper, which helped improve the rating in this category.
   
   
2. Bun 7
   A toasted bun delivered fresh by Bimbo Bakeries daily.
   
   
   
3. Quality 6
   The quality seemed very good. It was neither to dry nor to greasy. As a young man I loved a greasy spoon, but over time I grew to prefer a taste that was neither to dry nor to greasy. Somewhere in the middle of those two extremes. A lower score means the burger was to close to one of those extremes. Other factors into my rating this category would include the amount of meat and how done the burger was. The best part of this burger was that it was cooked completely without being overdone. Overall, though the quality was pretty average.
   
   
   
   
4. Garnish 7
   Standard garnish on all their burgers is lettuce, tomato and special sauce. I got mine with just lettuce and ketchup (the ketchup had to be requested). The wife who got all the standard garnishes said the special sauce tasted like mix of mayonnaise and ketchup.  The lettuce tasted and looked fresh. However, it seemed like there was more lettuce then burger, which isn't a good thing. Since the burger is to be the focal point.
   
   
5. Fries 6
   The fries we got seemed old and not very warm. These fries are suppose to be made in house, but they were thinner then those found at McDonald's®. Worse then that they seemed pretty average. 
   
   
6. Atmosphere 4
   It was very noisy inside. For a quieter experience, sit outside by the kids sandbox. The street noise isn't as loud as the roar of conversations inside, where it is hard to hear the person the person across the table from you. The one good thing I liked in this category was the turquoise and red color scheme.
   
   
   
7. Cleanliness (Restrooms, Dinning area, Entrance, etc) 9
   Entrance and parking lot looked good. They appeared well swept, except for a couple of stray leaves. When I checked out the men's room, I found an overflowing trashcan and an unflushed toilet in a restroom with only one toilet. Otherwise, the restroom appeared clean.
   
   



Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie   photo by Kevin Surbaugh

8. Other Factors (Service, Deserts, Menu, Accessibility, etc) 9
   
A. Service Service was good and fast. The downside was that the employee in the dinning room was a little to eager to clear our table. B. Deserts Cookie was delicious! Not a fan of oatmeal, but couldn't really taste the oatmeal. C. Menu Great menu selection, with choices for those on low-fat diets (chicken burgers) and veterinarians. D. Handicapped Accessibility There was one handicapped accessible entrance with steps into both of the other entrances. The downside here though was that there was a threshold that a wheelchair would have to try to maneuver over.
9. Price 8
   2 burgers ($2 ea), 2 drinks ($1.50 ea), 1 fry ($1.55 ea) and 2 cookies (.92 ea) = $11.14 (with tax)
   

Over all Rating: 6.89 out 10

Handicapped Accessibility
They have a handicapped accessible entrance.
Website:
pTerrys.com

Location:
6 locations
Barton Springs and S. Lamar

404 S. Lamar Blvd.

512 473-2217
Open Daily:
Mon-Thurs 7am - 1am
Fri 7am -3am,
Sat 8am-3am,
Sun 8am-1am

32nd and Lamar
3303 N. Lamar Blvd.
512 371-9975
Open Daily:
Mon-Thurs 7am -12am
Fri 7am -1am,
Sat 8am-1am,
Sun 8am-12am

MoPac and William Cannon
4228 W. William Cannon Dr.
512 358-0380
Open Daily:
Mon-Fri 7am - 11pm
Sat-Sun 8am-11pm
Ben White and South Congress
(DRIVE THRU ONLY)
204 West Ben White
512 462-4998
Open Daily: Mon-Thurs 7am - 1am
Fri 7am -3am,
Sat 8am-3am,
Sun 8am-1am

Lake Travis at Turnquist Plaza
3311 RR 620 South
512 263-9433
Open Daily:
Sun-Thurs 11am - 10pm
Fri-Sat 11am-11pm

Village at Westlake
701 S Capital of TX Hwy, Bldg. H
512 306-0779

Open Daily:
Mon-Thurs 7am - 10pm,
Fri 7am -11pm,
Sat 8am-11pm,
Sun 8am-10pm

Closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day


What do think about this attraction?

Kerbey Lane

I have not written any reviews before today of restaurants. Since I was at Kerbey Lane for a meeting (Social Media Breakfast) and it was my first time at this restaurant, that I have heard so much about. I thought why not and write something about them. Kerbey (not to be confused with Kirby Vacuums) has five (5) locations around Austin. We were at the location at Anderson Mill and 183 in northwest Austin. The wife and I really enjoyed our food. Pat's gluten free pancakes with bacon and my buttermilk pancakes with eggs (over medium) and bacon were superb.

Kevin's breakfast at Kerbey Lane.  photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Type of Food:
Mexican/American (Farm to Table)

Handicapped Accessibility:
At the 183 location, we could not find handicapped parking or even a curb-cuts in front of the restaurant. An issue that the shopping center needs to address. As we left, we did find handicapped parking with curb cuts in front of the Amish Furniture store down the sidewalk.  So they are ADA compliant, however, the shopping center could do more (as is so often the case) to make all the businesses more accessible.

Location(s):
Northwest
13435 Hwy 183 N Ste. 415
Austin, TX 78750
512-258-7757
OPEN 24/7

UT
2606 Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78705
512-477-5717
OPEN 24/7

Central
3704 Kerbey Lane
Austin, TX 78731
512-451-1436
OPEN 24/7

South
3003 South Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
512-445-4451
OPEN 24/7



Southwest
4301 William Cannon
Austin, TX 78749
512-899-1500
OPEN 24/7


Have you eaten at Kerbey Lane? We would love to hear your thoughts as well. 

Movie Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Last Thursday (May 10, 0212) my wife had the chance to attend a screening of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel also known as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and beautiful. The movie which was released to limited theaters in the USA on May 4, 2012 has not officially been released in Austin. Although there has been some free screenings of the film, like the one my wife and I attended.
My wife and I entered Regal Cinema - Westgate and found seats near the front and got ready to view this film.
Synopsis:

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of British retirees who decide to "outsource" their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and bolstered with visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past.
- IMBD

The film is was produced by Blueprint Productions and distributed by Fox Searchlight and was directed by John Madden.

My wife had this to say about the movie, it is better for an older audience, and on a scale of one to ten, she says she would give it a seven. She also liked the character of Muriel, her writing a blog from India was a nice touch to the movie. Muriel also had to take a job to help pay for herself living in India.

I have to agree with her Muriel was a great asset to the story, which starts off slow but gets interesting fast. I can't count the number of times I laughed through out this great comedy. Whether it was Muriel's character, the one married couple Douglas and Jean, the retired judge who also was the movies token homosexual, or the racist Marge Hardcastle as we see her character evolve. In fact all the characters were absolutely fantastic. I cannot fault a single actor/actress performance.

Even as changes occur and what seems to be imminent closure of the hotel, the movie both kept us laughing and hungry with anticipation for what would happen next. I gave the move four out of five stars and recommend everyone to see this movie. It is rated PG-13 so as my wife suggested be careful in taking younger individuals to see this movie.



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The Coming Revolution by Dr. Richard Lee

When I read the introduction of "The Coming Revolution," by Richard G. Lee it was clear that the author believed we were beginning to see an unparalleled backlash against the increased Government controls eating away at the liberties promised us in the U. S. Constitution. 
As a patriot this is something that I have been concerned about and thus made me more interested in what Dr. Lee had to say on this matter. His introduction makes it clear that he believes we are in the early stages of another great awaking, bigger then that of even during the American Revolution. That doesn't mean with guns, no he believes this revolution will be a battle of idea.

In chapter one (1) he discusses America's greatest achievements and  begins discussing some of threats within America including the breakdown of the traditional family which according to the 2010  Census Bureau report, there is more unmarried people between the ages of 25 and 34 then ever before.

Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan was among the first to warn the nation what was in store for this country if the breakdown of the traditional family persisted. In a stern warning penned in 1965, he said,
"From the wild Irish slums of the nineteenth-century Eastern seaboard to the riot-torn suburbs of Los Angles, there is one unmistakable lesson in American history: A community that allows a large number of young men to grow up in broken families, dominated by women, never acquiring a stable relationship to male authority; never acquiring any rational expectations about the future-that community asks for and gets chaos...[In such a society] crime, violence, unrest, unrestrained lashing out at the whole social structure-these are not only to be expected, but are virtually inevitable.
Source: The Negro Family: The Case for National Action 1, U. S. department of Labor, Office of Policy planning and research, 1965, 44.

The next issue he weaved in was the dumbing down of our nations education sector. A problem that was seen in the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) that showed 21% of high school seniors were performing at or above the "proficient" level. Meaning the vast majority of students didn't even attain the most basic level.
He weaves this back into the growing discontent among the general public and points out the concerns which led to the American revolution were taxation without representation and the imposition of unjust laws by the British Parliament. All of which in part was because they were not allowed to have a representative represent them in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords.

We are not seeing signs of an insurrection on that scale in this country so far, but a lot of people are on edge because of the incompetent handling of the economy, the bailouts of corrupt financial institutions, the government takeover of automobile and insurance companies, the passage of universal health care, and the threats of increased taxation. There have been no violent demonstrations or marches on the White house-most people believe the 2010 midterm elections sent a message to Congress and are still optimistic that our voices are being heard.

In other words we are seeing unjust taxation and laws, much like those early Americans did in the 18th century. Unquestionably, he believes that there is still hope. In the subsequent chapters he looks back at the history of America as people from the old world comes to this brave new world in the 16th and 17th centuries and begins the colonization process. He looks at some of the successes and failures of those early colonies. He even compares the failures to the success and suggests that the purposes of those colonies may have lead to their success or failures.  He then brings this all back around to our present day situation.
The remain chapters are:
2. The promise of America
Dr. Lee points out that before we can restore America to her greatness, we must first remember the real history. Not the watered down revisionist version that ignores why the Pilgrims, Puritans, Quakers and other groups came to this new world for in the first place. He even to my surprise and delight quoted one of my ancestors; John Winthrop, the founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

We must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. 

And indeed the world's eyes are upon us.  Everyone can see how great God has blessed us. They also will see us fall if we continue to turn our back on Him. Much like the Israelite in ancient Israel.
3. What the Founders Believed
As the title of this chapter suggests, Dr. Lee delves into what the founders believed. Actually it started to some extent in chapter two (2), and is continued into chapter three (3). He continues looking at how this nation was built by immigrants fleeing religious persecution as he looks at their belief system.
4. The Birth of the American Spirit
In this chapter Dr. Lee looks at the fast growing colonies seeking how to unite despite such an economically, ethnically and linguistically divided population.
5. Faith in the Twenty-First Century
Here in chapter five (5), Dr. Lee asks when did America become a secular nation? Looks at a once Christian nation that allowed socialism to take over and how that country fell from it's greatness into several splintered countries.  It is clear he is warning that the same could happen here, if we don't take a stand. We must realize that much  like the former U. S. S. R a nation without God will not survive. 
6. The Coming Revolution
In chapter six (6) he starts bringing it all together as he compares the socialist takeover of the former Soviet Union and Obama's 2008 campaign compared with the increased socialism in this country along with the dumbing down of our citizens through the educational system.
7. What You Can Do
Finally he looks at what you and I can do. Much of which includes educating ourselves and preparing ourselves spiritually. You can bet I will be more proactive and vigilant in this fight.
I encourage everyone reading my words to read this book. John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country." It is sad that many Americans today have their hands out looking for the country can do for them. This book encourages us to stand up before it is to late to save this once great country. I encourage everyone reading my words to read this book. Don't delay. The future of our nation may depend upon it.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” The free book was my only "payment" in the writing of this review.

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We Reward

Have you heard of a new program called We Reward? It is a great program from Izea. The basic concept is that it allows you to check in with different businesses with your smartphone. The difference is they pay you for checking in. Like a couple of weeks ago when I went apartment hunting with my wife we checked in, taking a picture of the front door of the apartment locator and got 10 cents. Then at each apartment complex we again checked in taking a picture of their signage and again received 10 cents. Last night we had coupons for free food at McDonald's, we checked in, took a picture of ourselves with the food and got paid 25 cents. If you want to earn little side income then click here and sign up today. The best thing is, you can visit with your PC, scan the QR code on their webpage with your phone to install the app. I won't get rich with them, but I am certainly convinced that it can make some extra cash.

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Comparing Stores "Price Match" Policies

by Kevin Surbaugh

WalMart recently announced that they would retroactively price match their competitors (with certain exclusions) during the holiday season. This got me thinking with several companies offering to price match how do the companies everyday price match policies compare with each other.

WalMart 

According to their website:

We’re committed to providing low prices every day. On everything. So if you find a lower advertised price on an identical product, tell us and we’ll match it. Right at the register.

The site also says that they will match "buy one, get one" (BOGO) offers as long as the price is mentioned in the ad. Please be aware that when they say identical they mean it. It must be the same brand, size, model, flavor, color, everything must match 100% to the competitors ad.
Exclusions include the following:

We DO NOT match the price in the following types of competitor ads:

• Items that require a separate purchase to get the ad price
  • example: "Buy [item A] to get [item B] for $C"
• Items with no actual price that require a purchase to get free product
  • example: "Buy both [items A & B] to get [item C] for free"
• Items that require a purchase to get a competitors' gift card
  • example: "Buy [item A] to get a $B gift card
• Buy one, get one free (BOGO) ads with no actual price given
• Going out of business or closeout prices
• Percentage off
  • example: "All mascara, 40% off"
• Competitors' private label price promotions

We do not honor:

• Ads when the actual price for items cannot be determined.
• Internet pricing
• Misprinted ad prices of other retailers
• "Going out of business" sales or "close out" prices

- according to the WalMart website

Target

With our Low Price Promise you know you're always getting a great deal when you shop Target stores.

Our promise to guests:

• We compare prices on over 25,000 items, so you'll know you're saving. Learn about our Store Price Adjustment policy.
  
  
• We'll match the price found in any competitor's printed ad* for an identical product.
  
  
• To help you save even more, we accept manufacturer's coupons. We happily accept one manufacturer's and one Target coupon per item. View our Store Coupon policy.
  
  
• We organize our stores to make great deals easy to find.
  
  
• One-stop shopping saves you time, money and all that driving around.
  
  
• We would never ask you to compromise quality for low prices.

- according to the Target website

Even though there is no Kmart in my area anymore, I tried to look for Kamrt's policy but could not find one. I am not sure if Kmart (which owns Sears) has the same policy as the company it bought a few years ago, but Sears policy says

If you find a lower price on an identical branded item with the same features (in Consumer Electronics identical brand and model number) currently available for sale at another local competitor retail store, Sears will match that price plus, give you 10% of the difference. Just bring in the original advertisement to a sales associate at the time of, or within 14 days after, your purchase.

There you have it. What do you think? Which policy do you think is better?

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Vietnam in HD

by Kevin Surbaugh


Vietnam in HD is a special event that will air on the History Channel this November eighth, ninth, and 10 at  9:00PM Eastern and Pacific. The program is produced by Lou and Scott Reda along with supervising editor Sammy Jackson.
Twenty-four million viewer watched WWII in HD when it premiered in 2009. Like the previous project, for Vietnam, History scoured the globe for very rare and "never-before-seen" film, much of which was shot by soldiers themselves while in action. The press packet states the following:

Thousands of hours of uncensored footage, detailing every critical chapter of the Vietnam War, were located, restored and then transferred to High-Definition. The dynamic footage combined with powerful storytelling will provide the viewer with an immersive experience and perspective on this war as never before.

I must say as I watched the screener (which contained the first episode) I have to agree. As a history buff I love hearing what real veterans of the war had to say, and weave in actual film shot by the veterans' own  cameras. Wow! What a great way to learn things of this war that we just don't learn from the history books in school. It is great hearing veterans own words their thoughts of reflection on the war as well as hearing actors read letters the younger veterans wrote at the time of the war.
One veteran I really enjoy in the first episode is Barry Romo, who currently lives in Chicago, IL but at the time of the war called San Bernardino, CA home. Romo is currently and activist and leader of Veterans Against the War.  Other veterans to tell their stories include Joe Galloway, Keith Connoly, Charles Brown, Raymond Torres, Karl Marlantes, James Anderson, and Bob Clewall. In addition, Anne Purcell the wife of another veteran from Boneville, MO discusses her late husband who served in the conflict.
I agree with what Romo says in the footage about real war not being the same as you see in the movies. You don't fight a battle and go back to the barracks and give each other high fives. Instead, you may spend 30-35 days out in the field. However, this documentary isn't just about the war itself. It includes footage from home and President Johnson's press conferences, and even protestors are part of this documentary.
This production is narrated by Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall. I highly recommend that you tune into this well produced documentary beginning Tuesday November eighth. It isn't a program you'll want to miss any of.  I know I certainly can't wait to see the rest of it. The two-hour screener barely whet my appetite for what is to come.
During the process of writing this review after watching the first two-hour segment I have been asked how are the show's various episodes organized. Since I didn't see the last four hours I wasn't really sure. However, I put the question to When asked about the series structure Ashley Fidler with the History Channels media department said:

"There are three days of episodes, November eight, nine, 10 at nine pm ET/PT. Each episode is two hours long (six hours to the docudrama total). The screener you received was the first two hours of the three day series so the rest of the series will be similar to the screen you received, plus four more hours of never-seen footage."

So to answer the question that was asked me I guess, I would say the entire six-hours are a Hodge-podge of never before seen video clips interwoven with interviews with 13 of the actual veterans, with a structure as follows:

The Beginning (1964-1965)/Search & Destroy (1966-1967) airs 11/08/2011

The Beginning (1964-1965) airs 11/09/2011

Search & Destroy (1966-1967) airs 11/09/2011

The Tet Offensive (1968)/An Endless War (1968-1969) airs 11/09/2011

The Tet Offensive (1968) airs 11/10/2011

An Endless War (1968-1969) airs 11/10/2011

A Changing War (1969-1970)/Peace with Honor (1970-1975) airs 11/10/2011

The two-disk DVD/Blu-Ray release date will be Nov. 15. 2011.

Article also published as TV Preview: Vietnam in HD on Blogcritics.
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DVD Review: Breaking The Press

From the moment I heard of this movie I was intrigued. I hadn't heard of it, until about a month before it's DVD release date of September 20, 2011, but it sounded like the type of movie that was right up my ally.
The movie a type of prodigal son story as told by Tex Summers as he is interviewed by a sports magazine reporter. It stars Drew Waters (TV's Friday Night Lights) as Joe Conaghey, a high school basketball coach whose Christian faith is tested by a season of discontent. Joe hits rock bottom when one of his adopted sons Josh, the team's talented but self-centered star, transfers to a big-city school, betraying his teammates and family.

Ted Baehr (MovieGuide.org) said, "If you liked Facing The Giants, you will love Breaking the Press." I couldn't agree more. Even if you aren't a sports fan (or even a basketball fan) this movie will entertain you despite being centered around the game of basketball. . It was a well written, well acted movie that is inspiring and offers a great positive message in a very entertaining format.

It is refreshing to see a movie that is family friendly and doesn't fall into the trap of sexual filth that so many Hollywood films contain. Don't get me wrong some sexual situations are not left out, but is done in a family friendly way.

Breaking the Press includes a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of the film and is available on single-disc DVD in the U.S. and Canada. The soundtrack will be available on CURB Records featuring Jamie Slocum and other known contemporary Christian Artists.

Breaking the Press, was released on DVD September 20 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and has received the Dove Foundation’s “Family-Approved” seal for all audiences over the age of twelve. I highly recommend that you watch this film with your family tonight.

Article first published as >DVD Review: Breaking the Press on Blogcritics.
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Review: The Wealth Cure

After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, CSI: NY actor and bestselling author Hill Harper came to terms with what was really important in his life. According to a press statement his publisher sent out, he realized that all the cars and homes no longer mattered. The result of this realization Harper put pen to paper to give birth to "The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in it's Place." The book which goes on sale tomorrow August 23, 2011 is one that not only motivates readers to build financial wealth but also in every other area of their lives.

The book talks about things that he learned while on a train trip from Los Angeles to Chicago. A trip he used to clear his mind. One thing he discusses is what he calls a "Life Account." What is a life account? I will let you read that for yourself.

I highly recommend that you read this book. It is a book that seems to agree with this blog and our sister website by encouraging the reader to avoid debt especially credit card debt. Check it out for yourself. The book will be available tomorrow Tuesday August 23, 2011 at all bookstores.

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The Essential Credit Repair Handbook

When I was first asked to review this book I took one look at the title and thought no way would that be a book that I would agree with. However, I decided to give it a fair shake and so I agreed to review the book. After having read the book I can say some things the author Deborah McNaughton said in her book was not what I expected from the title. In the introduction she states that the purpose of writing the book as to empower and encourage the reader to get back on tack after a loss of income or wage cut. Section 1 (chapters 1-6) of the book is what surprised me most. As in part she talks about getting out of debt. In fact in someways she sounded like Dave Ramsey. So much so that she even talked about the snowball effect. However, please don't misunderstand she also has ideas would run smack in the face of what Ramsey would say. Still as a person to read different ideas with an open mind I don't shut others ideas out completely until I have completely read what they have to say. I do this because I want to compare all of these ideas to what I know to be true according to the Word of God.

Like many other authors on this topic she suggests set goals. For example ideas for short range goals include:

1. A solid budget
   
2. Getting out of debt
   
3. Paying your bills on time
   
4. Saving money
   
5. Having a good credit report
   
6. High FICO scores
   

Examples she uses for long range goals are:

1. Buying a home
   
2. Buying an automobile, boat or motor vehicle
   
3. Own your own businees
   
4. Pay off student loans
   
5. Retirement
   
6. Investing
   

Obviously some of these ideas Dave Ramsey blatantly says to avoid. However, McNaughton is not Dave Ramsey. She has her thoughts in these areas.
Personally I would like to avoid and student loans ever again. Even if I do decide to go back to college. However, that means I would have to find other ways to fund that expense as well as support my wife and I.
Overall I found the book to be a very interesting read and would recommend everyone to read it. Even those Dave Ramsey fans can find some kernels of wisdom in this book if they will open their minds to what she has to say.

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Comparing Warehouse Clubs

Much talk has been made over how much cheaper a Warehouse Club is. However, how much cheaper are they really. Also of the two (2) big national clubs, which one of them is cheaper. It is no secret on this blog that I'm not a big fan of Wal-Mart. However, I am fair and open minded. So let's take a look.

I went into Sam's on a Friday afternoon and Costco on a Saturday morning.

Before we get started a brief history on the two companies.

The first Sam’s Club opened its doors in Midwest City, Oklahoma on April 7, 1983. Today, Sam’s Club operates 609 locations nationwide. Typical clubs are about 132,000 square feet and employ about 175 associates. Sam's Club has more than 100 international Sam’s Clubs in Brazil, China, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Costco opened its first warehouse in Seattle, Washington, on September 15, 1983. In 1993, Costco merged with Price Club (called Club Price in the Canadian province of Quebec). Prior to the 1993 Price merger, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton wanted to merge Sam's Club with Price Club Costco's business model and size were similar to those of Price Club, which was founded by Sol and Robert Price in 1976 in San Diego, California. In 1997, the company changed its name to Costco Wholesale and all Price Club locations were re-branded Costco. In the United States, the main competitors operating membership warehouses are Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club.[12] Although Sam's Club has more warehouses than Costco, Costco has higher total sales volume. Costco employs about 142,000 full and part-time employees, including seasonal workers. As of September 2009 Costco had 55 million members



I should also note here that I own 1.7065 shares of WalMart stock and none of Costco.


The first thing I did was visit both companies websites to find out how much membership at each club was. Sam's Club has what they call an Advantage member ($40) for those who don't own a business while Costco calls this the Gold Star Membership ($50). While Sam's offers business memberships for $35 Costco is again $50. Costco also has an "Executive" membership for $100 in which you get back 2% of your purchases as a rebate check at the end of the year. According to them most members get back enough to basically make their membership free. However, if you only get say $20 back take the check to the club and cash it there and they will make it $50. So that you really aren't paying that extra $50 over the regular membership.

Membership
Sam's Club $40.00	National Grocery Chain ---	Costco $50.00
Sam's Club advantage $10.00

So as for membership so that you can get your foot in the door, Sam's wins by $10.

As I began this research I also looked at Consumer Reports.

Despite the clout of Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club’s parent, as the largest retailer on the planet, readers gave higher overall scores to Costco for groceries (better perishables), electronics and small appliances (lower prices), and eyeglasses (better service).
- Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports also reported that Consumers who shop warehouse clubs and also visited their website reported spending more then they intended. Since this is a problem for most shoppers no matter where they shop my suggestion would be to make a list and stick to it. Do not let the idea of saving money convince you that can buy more. Instead shop smart and save the savings for the future.

Costco tends to be located in more affluent neighborhoods and offers more higher end good then does Sam's Club. So it boils down to the same complaint that many has against Walmart selling cheap lower quality goods. Both companies offers store brands - Costco offers 330 Kirkland Signature items while Sam’s Club’s Members Mark line offers 400 items.

So now what about those prices? Lets take a look at some select items from each store. I printed a one-day pass for Sam's Club that I found on their website. Costco which doesn't offer such a thing but allowed me to enter and look around to decide if I wanted to join. One thing in my comparison I looked at original prices and not sale prices. The idea is I wanted to know what I would pay from week to week for these items. Not just while it was on sale. I wanted the most accurate comparison I could get. One last note before we begin. I also compared the warehouse prices to a national grocery store chain's everyday (non-sale) prices to see if it was really worth paying the annual membership fee.


















Food Processor
When I entered the grocery store they only had one brand of food processor; which surprised me. I really didn't expect the grocery store to have that but was glad they did. That brand was a Cuisinart.
Sam's had a didn't have a Cuisinart food processor instead they had some brand called Ninja. The Ninja Food Processor was $49.98. While Costco carried the same brand that the national grocery chain carried; Cuisinart. They weren't exactly the same model but they were much more comparable to each oth then was the Ninja at Sam's.

Food Processor
Sam's Club $49.98	A National Grocery Chain $149.99	Costco $68.99
Sam's Club's advantage $19.01

Based on price alone Sam's wins this one, but if you were to factor quality and features Costco would win.

Coca-Cola
The grocery store one 12 pack is $5.99 everyday. However, you almost never pay that price as it is almost always has some kind of sale price. Sam's didn't have any 12-packs. Instead they had 24-pack cases ($5.98) and 32-packs ($9.74). Costco on the other hand only carried 32-packs in the cans and then some multi-packs in 20 oz bottles and 2 litter botles (4-pk). Since we use cans that is what we are comparing across the board.

Coca-Cola
Sam's Club $9.74	A National Grocery Chain $5.99x3=$17.97	Costco $6.65
		Costco's advantage $3.09

Costco was the clear winner when it comes to Coca-Cola products.







Paper Towels

When it came to paper towels Sam's Members Mark brand was 12 double rolls for $15.98. When it comes to Costco though they had a similar size store brand paper towel which they sold for $14.99.

Paper Towels
Sam's Club $15.98	A National Grocery Chain $???	Costco $14.99
		Costco's advantage $0.99

Toilet Paper

When it came to toilet paper Sam's didn't carry my wife's favorite brand (Cottenelle) so we looked at the Charmin which was $18.98 for 36-count triple size rolls. Costco had a similar package but was only a 30-pack.

Toilet Paper
Sam's Club $18.98 (36-pack)(.53/each)	A National Grocery Chain $??	Costco $19.45 (30-pack)(.65/each)
Sam's Club advantage $0.12

Bananas

When it came to bananas I was surprised to find Sam's was the same price as the national grocery store chain. Sam's was $1.47 for 3 pounds while the grocery store was 49 cents per pound (aka .49 x 3 = $1.47). When I went to Costco they also were $1.47 for a 3 lb bundle. Making all three stores in this comparison the same price. However, a local Texas only chain of stores does sell bananas at 44 cents/lb. Therefore I will give this one to the grocery store.

Bananas
Sam's Club $1.47/3-LBs	A National Grocery Chain $0.49/LB	Costco $1.47/3-LBs
	Grocery Stores advantage $0.00

Hamburger

I did my best to compare 93% lean across the board but Sam's didn't have anything better then 90% lean. Like Sam's Club; Costco didn't hav3 the 93/7. However, I was able to find a bag in the freezer of 5 1-LB chubs (the same size as a roll of sausage) that was 91/9. Which is good, the less fat the better for my wife's low cholesterol diet.

Hamburger
Sam's Club $2.98/LB (90/10)	A National Grocery Chain $5.19/LB (93/7)	Costco $3.20/LB
Sam's Club advantage $0.22

No mater which warehouse club you go to you have to buy approximately 5-lbs (or better) of hamburger.







Canned Vegetables

When it came to veggies Sam's had different pack sizes for corn (8-pack) and green beans (12-pack). Then the peas was a different brand (Luesuer aka the most expensive brand) while the corn and green beans were Del Monte. They had no cream corn or carrots at Sams's. So for green beans Sam's figured out to be 67 cents per can while corn figured out to be 70 cents per can. Since peas were about 99 cents/can I didn't include them in my survey. For the purpose of my chart below I figured the 70 cents/can price. Costco to had different prices and pack sizes. However, they were more consistent. For example, Green Beans and Corn were both store brands and both came in 12-packs for the same retail. However Peas came in an 8-pack and was the S & W brand which was 5.39. Figuring it out per can the corn and beans were $0.58 each while the peas were $0.67 each. Like we did for Sam's we will take the more expensive price as the price for all three. We do this because something ringing up less then you expected is better then more. We all like getting more for our money.

Canned Vegetables
Sam's Club $0.70	A National Grocery Chain $0.99	Costco $0.67
		Costco's advantage $0.03

Milk

Milk is a little tricky. At Sam's Club you can buy a single gallon however, at Costco you have to buy a box with 2 gallon jugs in them.

2% Milk (gallon)
Sam's Club $2.95	A National Grocery Chain $3.14	Costco $5.89($2.95/gallon)
Costco and Sam's Club tie $0.00		Costco and Sam's Club tie $0.00

Jelly Beans

One of the treats I absolutely love is jelly beans. Not the black licorice ones mind you, but all the other flavors. At the grocery store I went in they only had one size of a bag of jelly beans (the peg-hook size). Which was disappointing. Their everyday price is $1.79 but can usually be bought on an unadvertised special of 2/$3.00. At Sam's they had a 4-lb jug of gourmet jelly beans for $10.84. Which figures to be $2.71/lb. However, I don't need gourmet jelly beans so they really aren't comparable. Still they were both store brands so I am including them. When I got to Costco all they carried was the Jelly Belly. Like Sam's club they were in a 4-lb plastic jar.

Jelly Beans
Sam's Club $10.84/4-LBs ($2.71/lb)	A National Grocery Chain $1.79 (15 oz bag)X4=$7.16	Costco $15.89
	Grocery Stores advantage #3.65

I know it's comparing apples to oranges when it comes to these Jelly beans, but I really don't need the gourmet candy that the two warehouse clubs were selling.

Potatoes

Potatoes (10 LB bag)
Sam's Club $4.68	A National Grocery Chain $3.29	Costco $8.99/15-Lbs ($3/5/lb=$5.99 for 10-LBs)
Sam's Club advantage $1.31

Laundry Soap - Gain (170 oz)

Laundry Soap
Sam's Club $15.98	National Grocery Chain $???	Costco $15.98
Sam's Club and Cosco tie $0.00		Sam's Club and Cosco tie $0.00

Conclusion/Totals

In the end Sam's proved to be have the better prices. The totals listed below does not include the membership fee which would only be paid once a year and not on the routine trip to the store. There were 3 items that I didn't compare to a grocery store, because the grocery store doesn't carry that size. Still even without those 3 higher dollar items the warehouse clubs beat the grocery store over-all. However, it seems that non food items is where the real savings are in these clubs.
As for comparing them to the grocery store it is possible to save money but it is imperative that you save at least $1 a week in order to get your money back that you shelled out in the membership fees (no mater which club you choose).

Totals
Sam's Club $133.30	A National Grocery Chain $188.22	Costco $155.25
Sam's Club  advantage $21.95

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The Millionaire Maker

Recently I received Loral Langemeir's book "The Millionaire Maker" Loral claims in the book, her commercials and just about anyplace else you see her that she guarantees that she can make you a millionaire. Sounds like a bold claim. So I wondered what she had to say. In the introduction of her book she responds to those who think they can't have a lot of money by listing four "facts," as she calls them.

1. You possess every tool you need to make a lot of money.
2. Wealth is about access, and now you can finally access the information and opportunities too long kept in too small a circle.
3. There is no such thing as a self-made millionaire; it takes a team to make those millions.
4. Taking control of your money takes stress and risk out of your life.
   

She further states that her "Wealth Cycle Process" is a concrete plan while most all the others out there to abstract. OKay I grant her that many of them are pretty abstract, but it didn't take her long to both agree and disagree with the one guru I probably quote the most often on this blog. That being Dave Ramsey. Oh she didn't name him by name but the references she mad, it seemed clear she could very easily have named him. For example she says

The most common mistake I see in wealth building is people doing the right thing at the wrong time: for example, paying down all existing debt before beginning to build wealth. In the Wealth Cycle Process, you begin the Five-Step Debt Elimination Plan and simultaneously create a Wealth Account that starts generating wealth for you.

As you can see it doesn't name Dave, but it might as well have since he is the best known advocate for eliminating debt first before building wealth. Okay, so it shouldn't be any surprise that there will be some disagreements lets continue looking at the book and see what else she has to say.
Her basic concept is that most of us are in a lifestyle cycle. That being where earned money goes right back out again to support perishable, one-time-use consumption. Even if you make 1 million dollars you will never be able to become wealthy. However if you get into the "Wealth Cycle," that earned money begins to support assets which in turn earn even more money. Thus making you wealthy.
An interesting and very commonsense idea. So how do we get into the "Wealth Cycle?" That is what I was asking myself as I read the next 13 chapters of the 14 chapter book. As she brook down her explanation.

Over-all it was clear that she pushed borrowing to build wealth. She is bold and claims that she guarantees she can make anyone a millionaire. I received a total of three calls from her so called wealth-building team. Well actually it was the person on her staff who wanted to set me up with her wealth-building team. This person did tell me I need to get a credit card and start using it to build a credit history. I didn't I couldn't get rich. She even basically said Dave Ramsey didn't know what he was talking about when it came to building wealth or a house.

While I enjoyed the read, it is because of these comments as well as references that I recomend you not buy the book.





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Total Financial GPS

I recently found a website that I found interesting. Total Financial GPS, is a site that is powered by the Finish Wealthy Group. Their program allows for the real time day to day tracking of all your financial events by PC, tablet or smart phone. From first blush, it appears to be very similar to John Cummuta's program. According to the website, all you need is an active checking account and some money left over at the end of the month. O.K., so that sounds like pretty much any basic approach to eliminating debt. So what makes this program so special? Let's take a look at their website again shall we? What does it say?

We've developed a comprehensive system of accelerated debt repayment. We employ multiple strategies and proven methods to calculate your Personal Debt Solution™ Your PDS will clearly define an accelerated repayment plan for all your debts including your home loan(s). We'll help you setup and fund an Emergency Cash Account as well as provide the guidance you'll need to save for college expenses and plan your retirement. Your PDS will even help you track your investments to guarantee that you're meeting your goals. If that isn’t enough, you'll have access to all the budgeting and decision making tools you'll need to insure your success. Join us free for 7 days. Let us show you why everyone should have a Personal Debt Solution™.

We can help you save thousands of dollars in interest charges, and become debt free in a fraction of the time. All this and a higher credit score too!
- Total Financial GPS

O.K., sounds like they are, as Dave Ramsey would put it, worshiping at the altar of the FICO. Hmmm, I want to know more. From what I have observed, they don't seem to be a part of the Money Merge Account, type of debt elimination program. They even have a letter from The Idaho Attorney General warning of such "scams." Still, I have questions, but my interest is piqued, so I continue digging through the site where I found several Dave Ramsey videos posted on the site. I don't think that Dave endorses them, but they do seem to like his personal finance advice. At least in some areas. One thing, I can say right off the bat though, is that I dislike was the $997 price tag. I mean, why so much. Especially for people who are in debt, that seems like a budgetary item that could be avoided.
I asked a representative of theirs this question, and his reply was as follows....

Prince
I have worked out a deal with my people where we have one of 2 options for the end user.
1.They go through the website and it is $997 for a lifetime.
2.they go directly thru me and it cost them $497 lifetime.

Then we have the Corporate incentive program.
We have made a few adjustments to our Corporate Incentive Program. As an agent you have the option to sell the program to end users, non profits and of course businesses.

Here is a sample overview of the revised CIP program including prices for businesses. We want to make sure that ALL business professionals can afford this program and utilize it to benefit their clients. Some businesses will want to give out hundreds a year while others may only want to give out 2 or 3 a month. Our packages now allow for this. We have also added a lifetime license for those businesses who may want to give it out to all of their clients, employees etc.
http://finishwealthyincentive.weebly.com/pricing.html
I hope this is not confusing.
- Greg

From what it sounds like, as I read through the site. You are basically hiring a "money coach," to go beside you as you make every decision, and help you get out of debt. Someone, who will help you see the mistakes you are making, and correct them, so that you might avoid them in the future. Their promise is that they want you to be successful in your debt elimination.

We pledge to assist you in the planning, development, and funding of an Emergency Cash Account as a priority.

Prudent financial planning requires that money be set aside for emergencies. These emergencies would be significant events such as job loss, medical emergency, or catastrophic property loss. The conventional wisdom is, and we agree, that liquid funds in an amount equal to 3 months wages, is the minimum amount for your safety net. With the uncertainty in the job market today, 6 months wages in an ECA will add a much needed margin of safety. Your PDS will help you fund up to 6 months wages in your ECA.
Total Financial GPS on Establishing and ECA

While, it may be something that will work, and worthwhile for those in the upper middle class (but in debt), it is not in my budget. Feel free to take a look, do your homework and see if it is right for you.
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The Problem With Money? It's Not About the Money!

Article first published as Book Review: The Problem With Money? It's Not About the Money! by Jane Honeck on Blogcritics.

Recently, I had the chance to review the book,

The Problem With Money? It's Not About the Money! by Jane Honeck

The first question we need to ask ourselves is

Are You in Charge of Your Money, Or Is Your Money in Charge of You?

That is what this book attempts to do. The author, Jane Honeck, CPA, specializes in tax and financial planning for professionals, small businesses and individuals. She is also a Certified Empowerment Trainer and has developed "Cent$ible Living" financial workshops and money coaching sessions to help her clients make meaningful and lasting change in their financial lives.

There are literally hundreds of books, Cd's, and DVD's telling us how to manage money. Meaning that many people how to gain control of their finances. Yet very few actually do it. The problem is they don't now the why they are in their particular situation. Which means it is hard to fix the what until they figure out the why.

In her book Honeck talks about how she found she had unexamined beliefs, and those beliefs were influencing the choices that she made. If we are to get really serious about our financial house, we most remove that blindfold and discover those uncovered beliefs in our own personal and financial lives.

In fact, she point blanks says, in here book,

That's what this book is all about. The Problem with Money? is about removing those blindfolds and committing to leading a financially conscious lives with fully examined beliefs so when we make our money choices we're making them with our eyes open.

She writes in a lighthearted way about a serious topic, saying, "We're going to laugh at our foibles and our feeble attempts to change (our money habits)." To help us unearth our money beliefs, she suggests to have a journal or notebook beside you as you read her book (The Problem With Money? It's Not About the Money!). Her reason for the notes, "being conscious with your money isn't automatic - the notes will remind you of where you've been and where you're going." (Perhaps that's part of my reason to start this blog in March 2006 - although somewhat unconsciously.)


As Honeck so clearly states in her book, when we become conscious of our underlying beliefs, we turn those beliefs around to reflect our real values. So what are some of those unconscious beliefs? Such things we may have learned from our parents and those around us, as we grew up, as -

Money is everything, those that don't have are lazy; they aren't even trying.

-or-

Money is tough; there is never enough.

-or-

Having to much money is bad (evil).

Her book attempts to help you discover your beliefs, without telling you what they should be. There is no right or wrong answers. Only you and you alone can decide what is best for you. She even includes worksheets in the back of the book to help you work through this process.


If you don't learn the why, you can't fix it. Basically, think of the movie Ground Hogs Day, and apply it to your financial life. It is important that we get control and keep control. Even those of us that have studied under personal finance lecturer, author and radio personality Dave Ramsey and got debt free, could end up repeating our mistakes, if we don't learn the why's and change those habits and thoughts. I truly believe this book is an important read and would fit nicely into any personal finance study. Please do yourself a favor, and get a copy of this book and read it. Do her worksheets, and then get the budget forms from PrinceOfThrift.com and fill them out on a regular basis. Because, when it comes to personal finance, it's not a one time thing, it's a lifetime thing. 





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Mint.com Vs. EEBA (Easy Envelope Budget Aid)

There are a number of budgeting websites out there. Today, I would like to take a look at two (2) of them. Mint.com (a free online service) and EEBA (prices range from Free to $8/month). Below is my review of both.

Mint.com

See what you’re already spending and budget for monthly, irregular or one-time expenses. New: Create a plan to reach your goals and track your progress.

I just signed up with Mint this week.  What is Mint? Mint is an online money management tool.  If you’ve not heard of it, Mint is a free online money management tool. Once you sign up, Mint allows you to link your checking, investment, and savings as well as your credit card and loan accounts to your Mint account. Once linked, all of your transactions are automatically pulled into your Mint account.
To do this, you do have to provide Mint with the username and password you use to access your various accounts. This has been a cause of concern for some. However, it is relatively safe as Mint uses Yodlee to manage the security of this information, which is the same company used by Fidelity and Bank of America. For more information on the security of your information, click here.
I love it, because it is free. Hey what can I say, free is the best price in my book. Since everything is automated, it takes a lot of the guessing out of it. It will alert you, when you overspend, and when it sees that your bank account(s) are getting to low.
I also like the goal settings though. They help figure out a realistic monthly budget and time frame for each of those goals. I have set up one for my Christmas club account, traveling/vacation, new car, new home, emergency fund and even retirement.
Over-all I can see that the suggested amounts are way over my budget, but I now have the flexibility to go in and adjust those amounts, once I have a job.

EEBA

EEBA is  online budgeting software based on the envelope budget method. Better than software that you have to download and install, it’s available on the web, the mobile Web and your Android device.

Unlike Mint above, I'd never heard of EEBA, until a reader brought it to my attention. I really like the envelopes that I can put cash into. Unlike Mint though, everything is done manually. The thing with EEBA, is all you can do in the free version is input your budget envelopes and the amount of income each month. When you input your income source, they do allow you to break that income up between the envelopes, which is pretty cool.

Once, you have a premium membership, you can't import data from your bank account (like you can with Mint) but you can import OFX (Microsoft Office) and QFX (Quicken) format files and then drag-and-drop matching them to transactions that you have already entered. Since, you have to enter everything manually or import them from the software that you have on your desktop, I am not sure I see the added benefit.  Specifically, when it comes to paying for something, I can already do in my quicken software.  The only benefit I can see is that it can be accessed from another computer or certain smart phones. I will back track a little here though, I guess it could be somewhat automated, if your Quicken software, imports your data from your bank.  Still, though, it is not as fluid and easy as Mint.'s which automatically imports upon signing in. 

Synopsis

Overall, I would have to give Mint an A because it is fantastic, is automated and is the perfect price. On the other hand, I would have to give EEBA a B because it has a lot of room to improve and the fact that they are charging for half the service is not good (considering you get more service for Free with Mint). Especially, when the people that needs to use the service most does not have that spendable cash in their budget. What's more appalling is that it is all manual and not automated like mint. I guess, no security issues, in that regard, but if I am going to everything manually, why not just use real envelopes? However, the one thing that kept them from getting a C grade was, that unlike Mint, they have an app for the like Android. Perhaps, they could also improve their smart phone apps, to reach out to all the various kinds of smart phones, maybe then I could overlook the pricing. After all, if a person is cutting expenses out of their budgets, why would they need a more expensive smart phone anyway?

In conclusion I think, I prefer the budget setup platform in EEBA better, then I do in Mint.com. So if a site with Mint's security and automation could be combined with EEBA's simplicity, it would be one perfect website. Overall, Mint.com walks all over EEBA, perhaps that is why Money Magazine named Mint as one of it's "Top Picks."

So what do you think? Have you used (or tried) either of these programs?

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