New york times

We all hear of miracle stories of coupon mavens feeding their families on $10 a week, and although it's impressive, it's not always realistic for the rest of us. If you aren’t able to clip coupons like it’s your job, read some of these tips by Nancy Cook, one of the vice presidents of coupon provider Valpak:

• Decide what you need to buy. Nancy says that she looks "for specific deals on something that I’m going to go specifically buy . . . The coupons very much have to fit into my lifestyle." Don't clip coupons just because you think it's a good deal or it'll be harder to organize. Figure out what you need, and pick coupons based on that.
• Store it. Pick a spot in the house to put your coupons, whether it be a kitchen drawer or a special accordion folder designated to coupons. Don't get overwhelmed with a pile of growing coupons.
• Stick it in your wallet. When Nancy goes shopping, she leaves the coupons in her wallet so that she'll remember to use it. If you leave it in your purse or a in a separate envelope, it might get lost and forgotten among your things so try to stick it in your wallet. You'll be reminded to use it right before you're about to pay for a purchase, which is perfect timing!
• Go online. Before a shopping trip at a store, Nancy goes on the web to scour for coupons from the retail shops. There are plenty of coupon sites like retailmenot.com that have a large directory of coupons to make finding coupons a breeze.
  
• Stay loyal to brands. If you stay loyal to a brand, it will make it easier to follow up with special deals they are having. You will more likely be able to remember what specials are going on and when they end if you have a few key stores that you're following. You'll also probably receive paper mail and email from the stores, which will help you to keep track of sales. Being loyal to a few stores will also cut down on your web search time online.
  

A recent New York Times article lists a number of small changes that can make a huge price difference when selling your home.  According to the article, "chipped plaster or broken bathroom tiles can knock $500 to $5,000 off an offer, $1,500 floating walls can add $50,000 to $70,000, and a $10,000 paint job easily adds $50,000 to the price, according to an informal survey of city brokers."

Even if you're not planning on selling your home any time soon, many of the suggestions in the article also make sense for any homeowner looking to add to the comfort factor and beauty of their home. And, on the off chance that you actually end up putting your house on the market, you can rest assured that these changes may help you get the price you want for your pad. Check out the article for all of the details on how implementing these changes can positively affect the sale of your home, and see my favorite suggestions below.

• Banish clutter. When selling your home, clutter can detract from buyers' interest. In your everyday life, it can also cut productivity and add stress. Try these tips for cutting clutter in your home.
• Refresh with new towels and throw pillows. These items can add a surprising amount of value to a home on the market. If you can't afford to buy new ones at the moment, bleach towels and sew or change out covers on the most visible throw pillows in your home.
• Regrout tile. Apparently, in a $3 million apartment, simply regrouting the tilework can add $100k to the resale value. In your home, it can make you feel as if you've stepped into a new bathroom. I'm about to regrout the bathtub tiles at my house, and found this advice pretty helpful for DIYers. Too time-intensive for you? Hire a professional.
• Clean or replace a dingy rug. According to the article, a dirty area rug can subtract $5,000 from the price of a home on the market. Tired of looking at your besmudged carpet? Rent a steam cleaner. You'll get a good workout, and the results can't be argued with.

What other easy changes would you recommend for adding freshness to your home?

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Your little furry friends may just be the clincher if you're trying to sell your place of residence. Contrary to popular opinion, pets can help make a place seem more inviting and will leave a lasting impression in the minds of potential buyers, according to The New York Times. But not all animals will pass muster — pets that have winning personalities will be more appealing than unfriendly or ill-behaved ones.

Tamasin Ramsay, a prospective buyer, fell in love with Elbow the friendly black Affenpinscher that greeted interested apartment hunters at a two-bedroom co-op in New York. Tamasin, who ended up purchasing the apartment, says the dog's "presence created a sense of love and family, a sense of belonging. The apartment was beautiful, but what got my attention was the very cute dog that was always bounding around."

So if you're doggone tired of trying to sell your apartment, your four-legged pal may be the answer to all your frustrations. I'm sure your broker's charms can't match up to Fluffy's!

I'm always envious of people with photographic memories, but according to a New York Times article, it's apparently a "detestable myth." People with great memories don't usually have brains that are more biologically advanced than their peers. Instead, being able to retain information is actually a skill you can hone on your own.

Memory is a great tool to have in your work life, networking, or when you're trying to build up other skills. I used to think my friend's method of learning a foreign language was ridiculously time-consuming — she did extensive research of the origins of each word before trying to learn it. Now I'm realizing that there may be a point to her laborious efforts. Here's how you can become a memory athlete:

• Repetition Is Key: You're more likely to remember items if you practice memorizing it over and over again. Rehashing events and rereading something will make the impression last longer.

For more memorization tactics, read on.

You've read it a million times: an in-depth magazine piece about an actress that not only details what she said, what she wore, and what she's really like, but also what she ate during the interview, down to every savory detail. An article in The New York Times gives this phenomenon a name — documented instance of public eating, or DIPE — and wonders why exactly we're so obsessed with what (or whether) an actress eats.

The article surmises that we fixate on what our favorite celebs eat, especially if what they're eating is decadent or unhealthy, because it makes them human. I agree; hearing that Cameron Diaz can't resist a burger and fries or that Drew Barrymore chows down on mac and cheese in bed makes them, and by extension their lifestyles, seem more accessible. It does make me a little uneasy that this obsession seems to mostly involve actresses, and not their male counterparts, but it also doesn't surprise me.

Do you care about what an actress eats? What do you think the reason is behind our fixation?

Traveling the world sounds glamorous, but the reality is, it's can be a very expensive luxury. Seems like most of you are quite the tourists — the majority of you voted vacationing as your biggest splurge of 2010. Further, a third of you said you spent more than $3,000 on travel last year.

But travel doesn't have to eat up a hole in your wallet. If you're willing to put in the effort and sacrifice some comfort, you can make your bucks go a long way. The New York Times has a great editorial piece with tried and true tips from a frugal traveler, so read on to find out what you need to consider to help you save.

• Privacy: You can find huge discounts by staying in communal rooms and guest houses. But be warned that you might not have quiet time, and if you're a light sleeper, that might be more of an issue. But if adventure calls, and you're up for some noise and fun, choosing to forgo privacy might be a good option. Bear in mind that you might also have to share a bathroom with strangers.
• Public Transport: Navigating a foreign country is hard enough on its own, and figuring out their public transport system can get even more complicated. Give up cabs and rental cars for buses and trains, and you can take comfort in the fact that public transportation is the more eco-friendly choice than gas guzzling cars.

For more thrifty travel considerations, read on.

The richest American Express cardholders (who hold the Centurion or black card) are about to find the process of negotiating for cars a lot easier. Privileged members will now be able to negotiate the price of a car through an AMEX website without even having reveal personal information online, according to the New York Times.  Wow, imagine not having to deal with the stress of haggling with the car dealer!

Out of curiosity, I went to check out some of the best perks offered by the black card. Here is a list of them:

• Automatic upgrades in several airlines to business or first class
• A 24/7 personal concierge who will do all your bookings and find that elusive bag that seems to be sold out everywhere
• Personal shoppers at high-end department stores and extended shopping hours if you need more time
• Instant hotel upgrades and late check out times
• A complimentary air ticket for your partner on certain international flights if you buy a full priced ticket
• Travel expert who will do all the bookings for you, find the best deals, and negotiate the best travel perks on your behalf

I know that these are credit card benefits that aren't realistic for most. After all, few can afford spending at least $250,000 a year. I'm wondering, if anything were possible (fees and spending minimums aside), what kind of credit card perk would you love to have?

The beginning of 2011 marks a big change for food personality Mark Bittman. The cookbook author and culinary writer announced today that he's retiring his New York Times recipe column, "The Minimalist," after 13 years.

In what he calls a "change of scenery," Bittman will move to the magazine and opinion sections of the paper, addressing food policy, diet and health, and sustainable eating in an opinion blog, an online column, and a New York Times Magazine column, to be called "On Food."

Already missing "The Minimalist"? Don't worry about separation anxiety just yet.

Bittman will continue making web videos for the series. And don't forget: he'll also have a Cooking Channel show by the same name that'll launch in March. Are you an avid follower of Mark Bittman's recipes and writing?