Jon Bon’s Money

            Well I have had my Iphone for two weeks now and I still love it. I like just about everything about it, and I have had no trouble with the AT&T network save for 1 call that did not get connected the first time.  There are lost of things I like about it, and a few that I don’t.

The Touchscreen: its actually super easy to use, and the software is smart enough to know when I tapped the screen by mistake. Typing takes a little getting use too espically in the portrait orientation.

 Email: I have never had a smart phone before, so getting the Iphone was like going from a 1987 Ford Fremont to a band new Lexus. I had my first “Iphone moment”. We have had a fair amount of winter weather recently, and I was wondering if my classes were going to be cancelled. I did not know the schools weather hotline number, but I knew I had it in my emails. With in seconds I pulled up the email, tapped the number and found out that I did indeed have to go to class.

 Apps: They make apps for everything of course and some are just so dang useful you wonder how you ever got around before. I could try to explain the awwwesomeness that is the Iphone Apps, but it is just something you have to experience yourself.

 The Camera: again, just so easy and convenient to use. Most pictures I want to take I am not going to hang in a studio, so the need for a 10MP photo is moot. Here is a hint, the apps utilize the camera in ways that I never thought possible.

 Cost: Now this is something I don’t like! I got my first bill for $124 this included some prorated charges as well as an activation fee. Cell phone plans are not cheap for any phone and since I think this is the best phone that money can buy, it is justified. So the cheapest plan with unlimited data and texting should run $85ish a month.

Final thought: Zero buyer’s remorse.

Yeah that’s right. I love it.

            The last time I went to the library to actually check something out must have been in high school at some point.  So it has been a while. I can’t remember how, why, or when I joined the library, but I have the card in my wallet.

            I was doing a very good job of spending JonBon’s money at Barnes and Noble, as well as getting them shipped to me from Amazon. It was starting to add up, so I figured I would try to cut expenses and give it a go. I started with getting a few books and CDs from the library. The best part is how easy and convenient that it is. All you have to do is go online, put in your card number and request that the book arrive at any branch that you want. Usually just a few days later you will get an email telling you your book is ready for pick up. I just stop by on my way home, and grab the books that already have my name printed on a slip of paper. It’s fast, easy, and best of all free!

            Now my mother has been doing this for years, and I guess maybe this is one time when I was actually behind her on something. Hey we pay taxes for libraries, might as well use them right?

           As someone who contends that they live below their means, and aggressively saves for a home and retirement how can I justify a pricey trip “across the pond” to France?

            If you know anything about world currencies you know that the dollar is currently in the doghouse. One American Dollar will get you about .65 of a Euro. Put it another way if I spent 1000 Euros in Europe is  more then 1,500 USD.

Ouch

            So yeah the Dollar pretty much sucks but I am saving more then enough to make up for the lousy exchange rate.

1) Airfare: Flying directly into Charles De Gaulle airport on Paris costs around $1300 bucks per ticket. We chose to fly into Luxemburg for less then half that, spend two days in a very small country then take the high speed train to Paris.

2) Lodging: In Lux. We are going to use my Hilton points for free hotel rooms. Hopefully we will not have to pay sales tax on the room. In Paris we are staying with my Aunt and Uncle who have rented an apartments for six months.

3) Food: It is going to be a challenge for me, I love eating out, especially in the thousands of open air cafes that Pairs has to offer. But if we limit ourselves to a nice dinner every other night, we should be in great shape.

4) The Sights: Hilary has done a bit of research and lots of the attractions: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, the Orsay have free or discount prices at the non-peak times.

5) Getting Around: Paris has a great subway system and we plan to use it. Cabs are a huge waste of money.

            Moral of this story: if you do a little research before hand you can reduce costs without reducing the fun.

            With the barrage of earth day advertisements, and general “greenie-ness” I thought I would write something greenish myself. Although I felt many of the advertisements were just like a stupid adolescent contest about who can make the most noise and appear the most environmentally friendly: Chevy is greener then Toyota, Wal-Mart is greener then Target

Blah blah blah….

            Ok I win at being the greenest, not because I recycle (I don’t) or drive a hybrid (I won’t). I am “doing my part” because I am a cheap ass and have decided to start car pooling to work. I don’t know much about that carbon footprint crap, but I will be using less gas. Again not because I am particularly worried about the environment (I’m not) but because gas is expensive and I am a cheap ass. So can we just all relax and go back to watching regular prescription drug commercials on TV and laughing at all their horrible side effects?

….Taking  —– might result in sneezing nausea, blindness anal leakage…….