Living Fair

Resourcefulness and Resources for Petowners

Maybe election coverage and the verbal judo between Hilary and Barack is on your mind. Maybe who wins the Democratic nomination takes a backseat to how the national economy is doing and your ever dwindling monthly budget. Today, the Fed Chairman, Bernanke, told the House Financial Services Committee, "The economic situation has become distinctly less favorable” since the summer. No disrespect implied however, it's not too hard to see why. A cripplingly expensive war, oil prices at upwards of $3 a gallon, further inflationary pressures, slow job growth, a severe mortgage lending crisis and a credit crunch--it's time to get the Mr. Fix-it's in fast.  Over the span of just eight days in January, the Fed slashed rates by 1.25 percentage points — the biggest one-month reduction in a quarter century. Economists and Wall Street investors predict the Fed will cut rates again at its next meeting on March 18. As interest rates continue to fall to inspire investment, we're all more cautious. We should be. 

Like you, I like finding a good deal. I'm reading Pennysaver more than I used to and I save money where and when I can. Take my dogs. They're like my children. I adore them.  I've been searching for high quality monthly flea repellent and heart worm medicine on sale and never can find it. My vet sells it for far far more than I can pay for it--big markup there.  If you own a dog, you know. It's very, very expensive stuff.  My Laborfair.com dogwalker, smart, sassy and in-the-know girl that she is, told me about a mobile low cost vaccination clinic for pets. This past weekend, I gave it a try. Every weekend, VIP Petcare Services travels in a van to popular pet stores throughout the Bay Area and gives affordable vaccinations and GREAT discounts on heartworm tests and popular medications. ICheck out their website for a complete list of clinic locations. I saved $50 on a full year's supply of Frontline and Heartguard--- and got a FREE heartworm test for....

Don Pablo Picasso      and  Don Diego Rivera.

Laborfair's team mascots and all-around office comedians.

It's a good deal. Here's to petcare that's fair! Jenna

Moving Tip #28 Friends Don’t Let Friends Move Them

Budget Rental has a humorous ad campaign. Combine stick figure drawings and pithy counsel on making moving bearable and be memorable. I don't know about asking your friends to move for you, particularly at this time of year. Any time of year for that matter. I made this mistake three years ago when I moved out West from New York City. What was supposed to take 4 hours, took 10. There is always way more to deal with than you think when you first look around. I vowed never to ask personal friends or family members for moving help. I felt so guilty I could barely concentrate on the move and well, my brother bitched about how he was going to reciprocate one day. He obviously forgot I painted his office and cleaned his windows last time I visited. The holidays are an insanely busy time of the year for just about everyone. Right now, we have over 50 movers with references looking for extra moving/hauling gigs. Don't want to ask your friends? Get the online equivalent at a fair price. YES! You just have to rent the truck and find some new friends on Laborfair.