Your Favorite Restaurants, Delivered: Tip-of-the-Day #303

Heard of Postmates? You'll be glad I'm sharing. Nutshell version: Postmates is a same day urban logistics & delivery platform. Wait, wha? Once you download the Postmates app (on your iPhone or Android) you can begin ordering anything from just about anywhere and you'll get it in an hour or less.

My example: I live in the Richmond district in San Francisco. My favorite pizza is clear across on the other side of the city and they don't deliver. I placed the order through Postmates and they had it at my doorstep in an hour flat. The deep dish takes 45 minutes to bake, so that means that they picked up that pie, steaming hot from the oven and whisked it to me in 15 flat.

They will pick up groceries for you at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, your fav booze at Bevmo, ice cream from Bi-Rite, or those amazing spicy green beans from Betelnut (now called something else but whatevs, same food).

Brilliant, fast, minimal charge on delivery. Pretty much best delivery service evvverrrr.

And, right now you'll get a $10 credit toward your first order when you sign up and use code: gudu

You're welcome!

Smart People Don't Rant on FB: Tip-of-the-Day #302

This post is a little different from my usual format, but my blog is all about saving money, making money and making it through economic downturns and if you lose your job over something stupid you post on a social media site, then that is a hard downturn in my opinion.

Most of you smart folks out there know not to post anything "too" personal on a site like Facebook, right? And, by too personal, I mean any intimate details about your romantic relationship, anything political (unless you crave debate) and anything about the people you work with, especially if you are "friends" with one or more of them!

This may seem like a no-brainer, but believe me when I say that I see this happen ALL. THE. TIME. Now usually it's something that just makes you look ignorant or misinformed and people feel sorry for you but the incident passes, eventually. But, I have a colleague (or two) who have taken to Facebook with scathing remarks about company policy, inequities in the workplace and beyond! One such colleague is actually "friends" with the CEO and didn't think that this was a problem.

Let me tell you this, that kind of behavior will only lead to trouble. You'll be seen as a complainer, a sh** stirrer and someone who isn't adding to the well being of the company. And, you may be let go. Just sayin.

I can also tell you that I know for a fact that when you are interviewing with a company, they not only check your Linkedin profile, but your Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram account and any other social media site that comes up from a simple Google search.

Protect yourself from looking downright dopey and from potentially getting fired or overlooked for a highly coveted position.

Share your rants with friends or anonymously on Craigslist. Amen.

Forgotten Necessities During Travel: Tip-of-the-Day #301

Last week I forgot my trusty dental guard when I packed for a week-long trip to Maryland. While that may not seem like a big deal, I have what my dentist refers to as a "tongue thrust" and without my guard in place, I'll wake up in the morning and my teeth will have visibly moved from the sheer force of my tongue pressing against them all night long.

Luckily there was a CVS within walking distance from my hotel. Unluckily, the dental guard I was looking for was out of stock. Clearly I was not the only person who had left theirs behind! I searched for close relatives to the guard and found several solutions for bruxism (grinding), most a "no boil" version which felt promising given I had a coffee maker and bathroom sink.

And so, forty dollars later I had purchased the next best thing to having my own guard with me. And, I followed the instructions, inserting it 30 minutes before bedtime to give my jaw a chance to relax.

The first night felt fitful but I must have grown accustomed to it quickly because by morning I had all but forgotten about it. My teeth still felt as if they'd shifted a bit, but nothing like what might have occurred had I nothing in place to absorb some of the pressure of my tongue.

By night four I was kind of over it, but let me just say that for $40 I had an adequate alternative to my custom made creation at home, and peace of mind.

If you ever forget something during your travels, even something as personal as a customized dental guard, never fear because your local pharmacy is bound to have a sensible (and affordable) solution.

Gym Options During Travel: Tip-of-the-Day #300

As I mentioned in my previous post, I spent last week in Baltimore, Maryland. I was staying at a nice enough hotel and there was a gym on the property. That said, I was also there with 75+ colleagues all equally interested in tapping those four treadmills before breakfast. And so, I had to brainstorm other options if I wanted to get a (reliable) work out in.

Temps were hovering in the thirties and forties and power walks felt out of the question. So I researched other facilities within a four block radius of the hotel. Bingo! I found an athletic club that was full service - a breadth of equipment as well as group fitness classes. I had sense enough to bring along my spinning shoes in anticipation of this find and I was ready to rock and roll. Only rub: drop-in passes were $20 for the day. While that wasn't out of the question (I pay more for classes at home), I also wanted to explore other arrangements for the week. So I contacted Membership.

A quick meeting with a well intended Membership Advisor scored me a free week-long pass. I explained that my company is headquartered in Maryland and there were going to be more trips on the horizon. I needed a gym on both coasts to support my 2014 fitness goals!

In taking that one extra step and actually consulting a member of the staff, I was able to save myself a nice chunk of change that would not have otherwise been reimbursed by my company.

It's altogether possible that the Membership advisor could have denied my request or given me a single day pass, but you know what? She didn't! And, if you don't ask, you'll never know.

Upgrade to First on Virgin for $299: Tip-of-the-Day #299

Last week I had to fly to Baltimore for business. Given I live in San Francisco and my flight time is an estimated five hrs on the outbound, six on the return, I'm always looking for an opportunity to upgrade.

I don't know any airline that extends the First Class upgrade offer that Virgin America makes available. In a nutshell: if you're traveling in Economy or Economy Plus, you can contact Virgin six hours before your scheduled departure (online or by phone) and secure an open seat in First Class for a mere $299. I say "mere" because a cross country ticket to Baltimore in First can run you as much as $2000 one way.

On the leg out, I was still too "fresh" to feel the need to pony up the extra dough for the cush seat, plus my friend was on that flight with me and I could sit with her in economy, watch the Niners, and feel just fine about it. But, by the end of my long week I was so exhausted I then felt downright deserved of that First Class seat!

My flight was departing at 10:00 a.m. ET, which would mean a 4:00 a.m. wake up to get to any available seats. I wasn't willing to disrupt precious sleep for that, but if I happened to roll over and notice the time (which I did) I was willing to hit the number programmed on speed dial.

By dark o'clock I had scored the last First Class seat on the flight from Dulles to SFO. Score! I'm not even about the free booze or food. I was down for the cozy, plush seats and all-I could-consume entertainment. Boy did it feel worth it.

If, however, you would rather spend that money on a pair of leather boots, you can always move into Economy Plus for $129. Six inches extra leg room and all the free stuff you can consume. Note: these prices are for cross country flights. I imagine they are considerably less for flights under 5 hours.

BIG TIP: If you are upgrading to First Class, try to avoid getting seated in the first row. The overhead in that row is totally consumed by airline equipment and since more and more people are flying with carry-on, the overhead compartments fill up fast. In row 1, you are forced to either power walk by your neighbors to abscond their overhead space, or whine to a flight attendant and hope they'll move some stuff around so that you don't look like the jerk.

Help Your Aging Pets Get Around: Tip-of-the-Day #298

I have aging cats and it's painful for me to watch them struggle to get on and off of the elevated bed each night. Cats (as you may know) are proudful creatures and will not accept help unless absolutely required. And so, over the years I've tried easing the climb and/or descent with pet stairs designed specifically for dogs and cats with achey arthritic joints. My cats go out of their way to avoid it.

That said, comfort will win out over pride when it just doesn't feel good to jump any more. :(

And so, I developed what I affectionately refer to as the pillow ladder. Depending on the height of your bed, you can layer anywhere from 2 - 4 pillows of varying sizes in a latticed format (think Lincoln Logs). They need to be sturdy enough not to slip or slide and afford your animal the support it needs on the way up and down.

I'll leave this pillow ladder assembled all night long to afford my furry friends the option to come and go as they like while still maintaining access to the place they like most - the bed.

Save yourself a ton of money on different commercial steps or building blocks. Won't happen. In fact, when you assemble the pillow ladder, do it as nonchalantly as possible so that when your cat finds it, s/he thinks that they in fact discovered it.

Enjoy! Your animals will.

More Than Airport Lounge Access: Tip-of-the-Day #297


More and more I've been receiving exclusive offers from Chase, specials designed only for United MileagePlus Club Card Cardmembers.

Gone are the days when credit cards' lure is access to the airport lounge. Now, there's access to exclusive lounges out in the real world, and, if you flash your Club card, you'll get access along with free food/libations.

Chase clearly isn't filtering their offers based on location since I'm in SF and this offer is for NYC - but heck, who cares? I may be traveling for business in NY that week. I may have family there. They are casting a wide net and I don't mind catching a glimpse of the cool stuff they have planned for me as a cardholder.

If you're thinking it's time for a new card, I would encourage you to check out some of the more "exclusive"cards offered by Chase. I've also got the Ritz Carlton card through Chase and expect to see some similar offers through that channel.

Here's a look at what I just recieved by email today:

Escape from the cold and join us in the VIP Lounge as we celebrate Big Game Week. Enjoy complimentary amenities including sports themed food and beverages and more!

Who: All Chase United MileagePlus Cardmembers
Where: Guy's American Kitchen and Bar
When: Wednesday, January 29th – Saturday, February 1st, 11:00 am - 1:00 am

You will be asked to show your Chase United Credit Card and a valid photo ID for entry.

Access to the VIP Lounge is on a first-come, first-served basis and there may be a wait outside to enter. There are also a limited number of reservations available for guaranteed entry. 

Located in the heart of the action in Times Square:

Guy's American Kitchen and Bar 
220 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036 (between 7th & 8th Avenues)

Internet Access Via Personal Hotspot: Tip-of-the-Day #296

I can't possibly be the last person on earth to discover the benefits of using one's phone as a personal hotspot. Am I?

Two failed attempts to get a wifi extender to work in my 1500 sq foot condo and now I'm using my phone's hotspot to connect to the internet in the one section of my house where I'm unable to get a signal on my laptop. My bedroom.

There are some days I just want to sit in bed and answer email. Not get up and move to the dining room. And so, I now share my iphone's internet connection and am free to work from a prone position.

That said, it's important to call your mobile service provider before engaging in this activity because if you're like me and you have a 2GB data plan, you can use that up in the blink of an eye streaming a movie on Netflix. If you're just checking email, shopping online, and reading this blog, then you can do that from the comfort of your hotspot all.day.long and be happy as a clam.

Hard to believe that it took me this long to figure this one out, but I'm guessing I'm not the only one. So, if you have a phone and a data plan, you too can use your phone to connect your computer to the internet. On an iPhone 5 you just go to "Utilities", then "Settings", then "Personal hotspot". Turn it "On" and use the wifi password provided to you to connect. Easy peasy.

You're welcome.