Born on this day!! Actor Keith Baxter is 87. Singer Bob Miranda of The Happenings is 78. Country singer Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys is 77. Singer Tommy James is 73. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is 66. Actress Leslie Jordan (“The Help,” ″Will and Grace”) is 65. Actress Kate Mulgrew (“Orange Is The New Black,” ″Star Trek: Voyager”) is 65. Actor Daniel Day-Lewis is 63. Actress Michelle Pfeiffer is 62. Actress Eve Plumb (“The Brady Bunch”) is 62. Country singer Stephanie Bentley is 57. Actor Vincent Ventresca (TV’s “The Invisible Man,” “Boston Common”) is 54. Singer Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips is 52. Actor Paul Adelstein (“Private Practice”) is 51. Actress Uma Thurman is 50. Rapper Master P is 50. Actress Darby Stanchfield (“Scandal”) is 49. Country singer James Bonamy is 48. Singer Erica Campbell of Mary Mary is 48. Bassist Mike Hogan of The Cranberries is 47. Actor Tyler Labine (“New Amsterdam”) is 42. Actress Megan Boone (“The Blacklist”) is 37. Actor Zane Carney (“Dave’s World”) is 35. Singer Amy Heidemann of Karmin is 34. Singer Foxes is 31. Actress Grace Kaufman (“Man with a Plan”) is 18.
THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY
1429 – Joan of Arc entered the city of Orléans. She would end its months-long siege and would become known as the “Maid of Orléans.”
1916 – The Easter rebellion in Ireland ended with the surrender of Irish nationalists.
1945 – American soldiers liberated the Dachau concentration camp.
1978 – Japan’s Naomi Uemura, traveling by sled dog, became the first person to reach the North Pole alone.
1980 – Film director Alfred Hitchcock died at age of 80.
1986 – Pitcher Roger Clemens set a major league baseball record by striking out 20 batters in a regular nine-inning game. He repeated his feat in 1996.
1992 – A Los Angeles jury acquitted four police officers accused of beating Rodney King. Massive rioting and looting ensued.
1997 – The first joint U.S.-Russian space walk was made by Jerry Linenger and Vasily Tsibliyev from space station Mir.
2011 – Kate Middleton marries Prince William in a lavish royal wedding at Westminster Abbey in London. It was estimated that more than 2 billion people watched the event.
Today Is: Denim Day, International Dance Day, International Guide Dogs Day, International Noise Awareness Day, “Peace” Rose Day, World Wish Day, Zipper Day
TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)
CBS – 8:00 – Survivor / 9:00 – SEAL Team / 10:00 – SWAT
NBC – 8:00 – Chicago Med / 9:00 – Chicago Fire / 10:00 – Chicago PD
ABC – 8:00 – Who Wants To Be A Millionaire / 9:00 – Who Wants To Be A Millionaire / 10:00 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
FOX – 8:00 – The Masked Singer
CW – 8:00 – Riverdale / 9:00 – Bulletproof
TV Talk Shows
Jimmy Fallon: Shailene Woodley, Maluma
Seth Meyers: Rosie O’Donnell
James Corden: Allison Janney, 5 Seconds of Summer
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie
Ellen DeGeneres: Tiffany Haddish
Wendy Williams: E.L. James
The Real: Kandi Burruss, Matthew Morrison
WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!
QUESTION: What happened when the Blue Angels & Thunderbirds flew over NYC in tribute to health care workers? EVERYBODY RAN OUTSIDE TO LOOK!! (Of course)
QUESTION: What is the NUMBER ONE THING most people are going to do after the lockdown??? GET THEIR HAIR DONE!! Have you cut yours at home???????
QUESTION: Is she ONE-OF-A-KIND? This 101-year-old survived the SPANISH FLU, and she just survived the coronavirus! Her secret? “Junk food and OREOS!”
QUESTION: Can you say, “DUDE, WHERE’S YOUR PANTS??” Good Morning America reporter Will Reeve reports from home and SOMETHING’S MISSING……
QUESTION: Is the NEW FORD BRONCO about to become the GOAT of SUVs??? Early reports are calling this new version a “must-have” for on and off road!!
Felicity Huffman’s Daughter Accepted To University
Felicity Huffman’s oldest daughter, Sophia Macy, appears to have been accepted into a top university for drama following the college admissions scandal. Sophia, 19, quietly announced the news by updating her Instagram bio to read “CMU Drama ’24,” which reportedly stands for Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Penn. According to the university’s website, CMU’s drama department is regarded as the “first degree-granting drama institution” in the United States. The news comes months after Huffman served 11 days in prison for her role in the national college admissions scandal that exposed the actress and others’ illegal schemes of buying their kids’ admission into some of the country’s most prestigious higher education institutions.
*******We hear the Carnegie Mellon Drama School Rowing Team is one of the best!!
*****It’s easier to get into Carnegie Mellon… the bribes are much smaller than at USC!!
******She learned about drama… from her mama!!
Lindsay Lohan Has Advice For Harry and Meghan
Lindsay Lohan knows about the paparazzi that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will have to face after their move to the Los Angeles area. She was recently featured on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM show, “Andy Cohen Live,” where she discussed the royals’ move to California. When Cohen asked Lohan whether he had any advice for Markle and Harry as they begin a new life in an area with “a ton of paparazzi.” “I mean, unless they own another, a different private beach, right?” joked Lohan. “You can’t go to those beaches without being — you can’t even surf out far enough.” Lohan explained that it’s “really hard to do anything publicly” in a place that is so paparazzi-heavy, but the timing of their move may prove beneficial. “The timing right now, luckily, everyone is more at home,” said Lohan. “But once that’s over, just get drivers.”
*********Also, remember: “Dont TELL ’em where you’re gonna be.. SELL ’em where you’re gonna be!!” Lindsay used to make money by selling the paparazzi her OWN schedule, then showing up and doing something stupid so they could sell the pictures!! (true)
*****Too bad Lindsay can’t marry Andy Cohen!! She could be “Lindsay Lohan Cohen!!”
*****If Meghan and Harry REALLY want to avoid photographers, they could move to… Mars, maybe??
Prince Harry Celebrates Thomas The Train
Prince Harry has recorded a special message to celebrate the 75th anniversary of children’s favorite Thomas the Tank Engine. He introduces a new program called “Thomas and Friends: The Royal Engine,” which has a storyline that includes Harry’s father and grandmother, Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II, as animated characters. Set when the Prince of Wales was a boy, the story sees the friendly engine taking Sir Topham Hatt, the controller of the railway, to Buckingham Palace to receive an honor. In his introduction — which was recorded in January before his move overseas — Prince Harry is seen sitting in an armchair, reading from a book about the train’s adventures. In a statement he said he has “fond memories of growing up with Thomas and Friends and being transported to new places through his adventures.” Thomas “has been a comforting, familiar face to so many families over the last 75 years — entertaining, educating and inspiring children on important issues through exciting stories and characters,” he added.
*******Did he write that himself??
*******In the updated episode, Rosie O’Donnell plays a diesel engine!!
*****Prince Charles winds up in the caboose! Story of his life!
Amber Heard 911 Call Released
A 911 call believed to have been made by a friend of Amber Heard’s, in which she says that the actor was assaulted, has been released. The tape is said to be a part of Heard’s ongoing court proceedings against ex-husband Johnny Depp, who has sued her for $50 million. According to Page Six, Depp’s lawyers claim that the tape is evidence of a set-up. “Quite simply, this was an ambush, a hoax. They set Mr Depp up by calling the cops but the first attempt didn’t do the trick,” Depp’s lawyer Adam Waldman told Daily Mail. In the tape, a person, “Hi, I need to report an assault right now happening at 849 Broadway at the Eastern building, it’s penthouse three.” The caller is referring to a house shared by Heard and Depp, and says in the tape that her friend Amber called to say that her boyfriend was assaulting her. “Send somebody up there please,” the caller says. “So what did she say? That this guy assaulted her or hit her?” the LAPD operator asks. “Physically assaulting her, yeah,” the caller says. The caller is believed to be Heard’s friend, iO Tillett Wright, who’d previously said that they’d made the call in a statement via the actor’s lawyer. “I then heard Amber crying in fear and begging Johnny to stop his attack, thereafter I heard Amber scream out ‘Call 911’ before the call got disconnected. I called 911 to save Amber’s life,” the caller said. Heard’s lawyer, meanwhile, dismissed Depp’s lawyer’s claims. “Mr Depp’s representations about the 911 calls on the night of May 21, 2016 are false, and Mr Depp and his lawyers should know better,” Roberta Kaplan said.
******Johnny filed that marriage under “What Was I Thinking?”
*****On the tape, the woman sounds kind of unconcerned!! But you be the judge!! Audio page has the call!!
******She should have said, “I want to report an assault.. tomorrow at 10pm!!”
Dr. Fauci Approves Brad Pitt’s Performance
During an appearance Monday on Telemundo’s “Un Nuevo Dia” to discuss the pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked what he thought of Brad Pitt’s portrayal of him in a skit on SNL. “I think he did great,” he said of Pitt’s appearance. “I mean, I’m a great fan of Brad Pitt, and that’s the reason why when people ask me who’d I like to play me I mention Brad Pitt because he’s one of my favorite actors. I think he did a great job.” Fauci, a key member of the White House coronavirus task force, was asked by CNN’s “New Day” anchor Alisyn Camerota earlier this month who he would want to play him on “Saturday Night Live” if he had a choice between Pitt and actor Ben Stiller. “Oh, Brad Pitt of course,” Fauci said, laughing.
*******We were thinking more like, Joe Pesci!!
TOPIC: Who would play YOU on SNL???
Oprah and Others To Help With Graduations
“#Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020” will hit screens on May 15 with the help of famous faces like Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Garner and Miley Cyrus. The hours-long streaming event will include a commencement address from Winfrey, plus words of wisdom from stars like Garner, Simone Biles, Awkwafina and Lil Nas X. Cyrus will be on hand as well to perform her hit 2009 song “The Climb,” an ode to strength and perseverance in times of struggle. The event will broadcast on Facebook Watch, and individual segments from stars will be posted to Instagram’s official Instagram account, as well as on the celebrities’ personal accounts. And that’s not all — though the main event launches May 15, Facebook is also debuting a series of other fun things for the class of 2020 in the week leading up to it. Instagram’s official Instagram account will start posting daily programming on May 11 that spotlights notable senior experiences, like senior superlatives and senior skip day. The platform will also roll out in-app features like a graduation countdown sticker, a celebratory sticker pack, a custom #Graduation2020 hashtag page, and a graduation theme for Music Stickers, where students can find graduation-related songs in one place to easily add to their Stories.
*******That’ll keep ’em busy while they’re waiting for life to start again!!
****Good thing this pandemic didn’t happen before smart phones!! We’d be rioting right now!!!
Chaka Kahn Featured In Jeopardy Flub
“Jeopardy!” contestant Sarah Jett Rayburn needs to get her African kings and Grammy-winning singers straight. Rayburn, a writer and stay-at-home mom from Hutto, Texas, tackled a $2,000 clue in Monday’s episode that read: “Here, as on each September 24, Zulus celebrate the holiday that was named in honor of this warrior leader of the early 1800s.” “Who is Chaka Khan?” Rayburn responded. Oops. Rayburn appeared to realize her mixup, but too late. The correct response was Shaka Zulu, sometimes spelled Chaka Zulu, but definitely not Chaka Khan. Chaka Khan, a 10-time Grammy winner, is known for songs such as “I’m Every Woman” and “Ain’t Nobody.” She’s sometimes called the Queen of Funk, but again, not a warrior leader. See the video HERE.
********We loved her big hit, “I’m Every Zulu!!”
*******Do you think Jeopardy will EVER run out of questions? They must be getting close to the end!!
*******We were thinking of Shaka Zulu’s sister, Shaka Booty!!!
Goonies Cast Reunites
The cast of The Goonies reunited for the first time in more than 30 years — courtesy of Frozen star Josh Gad — to reflect on their 1985 classic, reenact beloved scenes and truffle shuffle for a good cause. The reunion is in support of The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s ongoing coronavirus efforts. Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Martha Plimpton, Josh Brolin and the rest of the gang were joined by “surprise guests” Cyndi Lauper (who sang the movie’s theme), screenwriter Chris Columbus, director Richard Donner and executive producer Steven Spielberg. Naturally, talk turned to a sequel, with Spielberg teasing future treasure hunts: “Every couple of years, we come up with an idea but then it doesn’t hold water. The problem is the bar that all of you raised on this genre, I don’t think we’ve really successfully been able to find an idea that is better than The Goonies that we all made in the ’80s. Until we do, people are just going to have to look at this one 100 times.” Watch it HERE.
********And most of them are still recognizable!!
*******Why do we think there WILL be a sequel???
Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!
Jeannie Mai ‘Real’ Happy With Jeezy’s Proposal!-(National Enquirer)
“The Real” host Jeannie Mai, 41, has said yes to rapper Jeezy’s proposal! The two met on the set of her daytime talk show and started dating in November 2018. They made their red-carpet debut at a gala for his non-profit, Street Dreamz, the following August. Jeezy, 42, popped the question on March 27.
A Tale of Two Weddings!-(Globe)
It’s a case of wedding day blues for Empire star Taraji P. Henson, 49, and her fiancé, former NFL player Kelvin Hayden, wo have had to postpone their June nuptials due to the coronavirus pandemic. “We have to see what this will be like at the other end,” she laments. Meanwhile, Vanderpump Rules’ Stassi Schroeder is still on board for her October walk down the aisle in virus-devastated Italy! The reality star, 31, and fiancé Beau Clark, 40, have no plans to postpone their dream day in Rome. “We’re keeping on it,” says the reality TV star. “We bought our flights because they’re really cheap right now.”
The Weathliest Women on TV: Mariska Hargitay-(Us Weekly)
Net Worth: $50 Million
Hollywood’s always been in Hargitay’s blood. Her mom was sex symbol Jayne Mansfield, and her dad was actor Mickey Hargitay. But the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star, producer and director-who was crowned Miss Beverly Hills in 1982-has blazed her own trail, with a record-breaking 21 seasons playing the same character in a live-action TV series. Many other aspects of her life have stemmed from SVU: Her role as a passionate sex-crimes detective led her to found the Joyful Heart Foundation, whose mission is to “transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse [and] support survivors’ healing,” as well as eliminate the rape-kit backlog. She also met hubby Peter Hermann on set in 2002, when he began his recurring role as defense attorney Trevor Langan!
First Kiss: Taylor Swift-(Star)
Given her Reputation as a serial dater-she famously tore through a slew of celeb boyfriends before hooking up with actor Joe Alwyn, 29, three years ago-it’s hard to believe Taylor, 30, was one of the last of her friends to make out with a guy. “It wasn’t a bad kiss,” the “Shake It Off” singer said. “I think it was cute. We ended up dating for a year!”
Back To His Roots-(Life & Style)
March 26
Business in the front, party in the back! Blake Shelton decided to bring his mullet back while quarantined as a “symbol of hope or some s— like that” but Gwen Stefani took it to “the next level,” he shared on Twitter, when she shaved stripes into the side.
Kenya Moore & Marc Daly: Back On?-(People)
Seven months after announcing their separation, the Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 49, revealed she and the restaurateur, 49, are giving it another go. “When you’re married you have to try everything to stay together,” she says.
A-Rod & J.Lo’s House of Horrors!-(In Touch)
Jenny wishes she were back on the block! Jennifer Lopez is regretting her decision to self-isolate with Alex Rodriguez, at his Miami mansion, sources say. “With all of their kids there, it’s been total chaos,” says one source. Then there’s the homeschooling. J.Lo, 50, “has many strengths, but playing teacher isn’t one of them. She doesn’t understand algebra; she says it’s way too complicated. It’s a nightmare.” Alex, 44, is no help. “He’s usually watching TV or working out while J.Lo runs around in her pajamas after the kids. She gets fed up with him not pulling his weight, and they’ve gotten into huge bust-ups about it. They’re both stubborn and don’t like to back down, so the bickering can go on for hours.”
STUPID NEWS
Coffee Craving Earns Big Lottery Win
An Australian man said he owes his $1.2 million lottery jackpot to a spur-of-the-moment decision to buy coffee for himself and a coworker. The Salisbury Downs, South Australia, man told The Lotto officials that he was making a stop for coffee at OTR Salisbury Downs when he realized he hadn’t bought a ticket for the April 25 Saturday X Lotto drawing. “I was out and about and thought I’d stop and grab a coffee for myself and my workmate. While I was there, I also picked up my ticket. I am glad I stopped because I would have missed out otherwise,” the man said. The man said he discovered Sunday morning that he had won a $1.2 million Division One jackpot. “It’s a big shock to be honest. We have worked hard for everything we’ve got and struggled at times, and when a gift like this comes along you think to yourself ‘bloody hell,’ it’s mind blowing,” the winner said.
********And now his friend is gonna expect free coffee forever!! You just can’t win!!
*******When we do things on the spur of the moment, we usually wind up in jail!!
*******We’d like to buy a ticket, we’re worried: how long can the virus survive on a lottery scratcher??
Donkey Rescued From Kettle
Firefighters in Britain came to the rescue of an unlucky donkey that stepped into a kettle and ended up with the object stuck on its hoof. North Yorkshire Fire Services said a crew stationed in Whitby responded to help Daniel the donkey free his hoof from the kettle. “Our crew from Whitby rescued a donkey called Daniel who had got his hoof stuck in a kettle. Crews used pliers to release Daniel’s hoof and left him with his owner,” fire services tweeted. A fire services representative said Daniel was not injured and was able to trot over to rejoin his fellow donkeys.
********”Hoof in a Kettle!!!” Great band name!!
******What kind of jackass puts his hoof in a kettle??
****By the way, we wouldn’t make tea with that kettle!!
Police Shutdown Underground Hair Salons
German police went underground to uncover two makeshift hairdressing salons on Saturday. When the officers arrived at the salons, carefully installed in the cellars of two private houses, “people were having their hair done”, local police said in a statement. Two people were waiting for a cut in Elsenfeld and another in a cellar in Momlingen, according to the German agency DPA, which claims that “the salons were professionally equipped”. Police have opened investigations for non-compliance with lockdown measures which, in Bavaria, are among the strictest in Germany. Under the rules set down at the end of March when confinement started, leaving home without “valid reason” is punishable by a fine of 150 euros. Hair salons, closed like other businesses considered non-essential, however, will begin to reopen from May 4 in the country.
*******If you’re thinking, “trim,” go on Tinder!! That’s been approved!!
*******A lot of women will be wearing full protective gear… so you won’t see their gray hair!!
*******We like the face mask idea… we hate doing full makeup before we go to the salon!!
Kid Develops Video Game
While most nine-year-olds have been battling during lockdown with the vagaries of home schooling, Lupo Daturi has been waging war on COVID-19 itself. Virtually. The fourth-grade pupil from the outskirts of Milan, where inhabitants have been living in lockdown since March 8, has used his time to create a video game to play with his friends. “I had to stop all the sports I did because of COVID-19,” he says. “I can’t even go to the pond with my dog. Instead of playing sports — skiing, swimming and karate — I have to make do with an exercise bike.” That led him to turn his attention to programming, a passion that he shares with his father Marco, a business manager. He took some online tutorials and set to work on building his game — Cerba-20. The aim of the game is a fairly typical ‘seek and destroy’ with lasers, except in this case, the player is in the captain’s chair of the Cerba-20 spacecraft and the enemy is, that’s right, COVID-19. Lupo explains that he plays with his friends and that he now intends to set up a project to teach them how to program.
******Is anybody thinking of making a large ball that looks like the virus for promotions? Or are we weird??
****Good idea!! A lot of people would like to zap the virus right now!!
*****Do you have to wear a mask while you’re playing??
STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL
VIDEO: THE CORONAVIRUS MADE OUT OF MATCH STICKS!
VIDEO: LITTLE GIRL COVERS RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE!
A LIST FOR WEDNESDAY
13 Quick Ways To Save Money If You Lost Your Job Due To COVID-19
Huffington Post
- Stop contributing to savings.
In most circumstances, you’d be hard-pressed to find a financial expert who recommends not saving money. But if you’re out of work and in danger of falling behind on important bills, it’s OK to put savings goals on the back burner.
“When there’s a big cash crunch, workers shouldn’t feel bad at all about temporarily suspending their contributions,” Kristin McKenna, a certified financial planner with Darrow Wealth Management, told HuffPost. Aside from ensuring you have a small emergency fund, pause contributions to your retirement funds, brokerage accounts, 529 plans and other savings until your income is more stable.
- Defer loan payments, if possible.
If you’re out of work because of the pandemic, you should make a list of every outstanding debt you have and the monthly payments you make on each one, said Michael Foguth, founder of Foguth Financial Group. Next, contact each creditor and find out what relief options are available for people in your situation.
“It is likely that the banks you have your mortgage loan, car loan and other lines of credit through will allow you to defer your payments for a minimum of three months, starting now,” Foguth told HuffPost.
Keep in mind, however, that every bank is going to have its own policy regarding how those payments need to be handled once the deferment period is up. Bank of America customers, for example, were shocked to learn that all three mortgage payments would be due in one lump sum at the end of 90 days. Federal student loans, on the other hand, have been placed on automatic deferral through September 30 (though borrowers can continue making payments if they want) and the repayment terms will simply be extended.
- Work out a payment plan with your landlord.
Rent is the biggest expense for the majority of households. That means if you recently lost your job, rent may be one expense you can’t cover right now. Depending on where you live, eviction moratoriums may be in place to protect you if that’s the case.
“That means that even if you don’t pay rent at the moment, you can’t get evicted,” said Max Kimmel, owner of One Shot Finance.
But that doesn’t mean you can get away with skipping rent payments completely. You’ll need to work out a payment plan with your landlord and eventually repay the money.
“Landlords obviously want to avoid a situation where they aren’t getting any rent and will likely work with you on options for payment plans, or even lesser rent amounts,” Kimmel told HuffPost. “Do some research and weigh your options first. You don’t want to ruin the relationship with your landlord in the long run.”
- Apply for Medicaid.
If you’ve been laid off and don’t have the means to cover COBRA premiums for a few months, you should apply for Medicaid, Jen Smith, owner of Modern Frugality, said. This government-sponsored program provides health care coverage to those who can’t afford it, regardless of age.
“It doesn’t matter what you were making before. Medicaid looks at your current monthly income to determine eligibility,” Smith said.
- Adjust your insurance.
With most of your time spent at home thanks to stay-at-home orders, you should be driving a lot less. It’s possible that your car insurance policy is more robust than necessary. And other insurance policy premiums, such as home or life insurance, might be eating away at money you could use for more pressing needs.
Review your current policies and see if there’s anywhere you can cut back for the time being.
“You might be able to eliminate some insurance policies, reduce coverage or raise your deductible,” said John Myers, owner of Myers & Myers Real Estate.
- Refinance your auto loan.
Considering how far interest rates have fallen over the past month, there’s been a ton of talk about refinancing mortgages. But that’s not the only type of debt that’s prime for refinancing right now.
“Interest rates on auto refinance loans dropped one full point last month as a result of the federal rate cuts, and refinancing rates are expected to continue to drop,” said Cristy Lynch, senior editor at RateGenius.
If you have an expensive car payment and you’re in a position to take advantage of today’s lower rates, Lynch said this is a good time to apply for refinancing, even if you aren’t employed.
“Some lenders are even offering special refinance offers for furloughed employees,” she added.
Another benefit of refinancing: “Customers don’t have a payment due on their new loan for 30 to 90 days after the contract date, meaning that depending on their lender, customers also get a small break from car payments for one to three months,” Lynch said.
- Downgrade credit cards with annual fees.
Among people who use credit cards, the average person has 3.7 cards. And these days, most credit cards offer some type of rewards, whether it’s cash back or miles toward travel. But the more lucrative the rewards, the higher the chances that it also comes with an annual fee. You might have a card sitting in your wallet now that could cost you $100 or more at the end of the year.
Miguel A. Suro, a writer for The Rich Miser, suggests calling your card issuer and asking to downgrade your card to one that doesn’t charge a fee. You won’t earn as many points or miles, but it’s not like you’ll be traveling soon anyway, he said. And as for any rewards you currently have racked up, cash them in for a credit to your statement or bank account.
- Transfer your credit card balance.
Another effective way to save money on your credit card is to find a balance transfer offer. Money-saving expert Andrea Woroch suggests looking for a new credit card that offers an introductory 0% annual percentage rate on balance transfers. Though you usually have to pay a 3-5% fee to take advantage of this type of deal, it’s usually worth it if it means paying no interest for a year or longer.
“Typically, I tell people to pay as much toward their credit card debt as possible, but this is not the time to do that if you’re struggling to make ends meet,” Woroch told HuffPost. “This buys you more time to make small payments that are actually going toward your balance instead of just interest. Hopefully, you will get into a better financial position to then make bigger payments toward that debt.”
- Cut the digital cord.
Many of us ditched premium cable packages long ago in favor of cheaper streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu. But with the proliferation of new services like Sling TV, HBO Go, Disney Plus and more, there’s a good chance your TV bill has grown to be more expensive than ever.
Of course, streaming services might be the last thing you want to cut, considering how much time you’re spending stuck at home these days. But it is possible to stay entertained with free options.
“Your library gives you access to rent digital movies, TV shows, ebooks/audio books and video games,” Woroch said, noting that you can apply for a library card right from your computer. “Even your mobile carrier may be offering a free video streaming service. Sprint, for instance, is giving a free subscription to Hulu, and Verizon gives certain users a free year of Disney Plus and six months of free Apple music.”
- Call up your service providers.
In addition to lenders, other service providers may be willing to work with you on alternative payment plans temporarily during the pandemic. Brittany Waters, a financial coach at Ready Set Life, said you should make a list of all the companies you’re paying, including cell phone and internet providers as well as utility companies, and ask if they’re providing any financial relief during this time.
“There are many companies allowing reduced or deferred payments,” Waters said. “This can really make a difference in your day-to-day budget. These companies want your business, and they want you to pay them, so they’re likely to work with you to get something rather than you not paying them at all.”
- Freeze your memberships.
If you pay for certain memberships that you don’t necessarily want to cancel, Waters said you might be able to put them on hold temporarily. For example, if you have an annual contract with your gym and can’t cancel without penalties, the gym might let you pause your payments for a short amount of time or pay a lower rate instead.
“It’s meant for people going on vacation, but it can be a huge advantage during this time period,” Waters said.
- Trim your subscriptions.
Think of all the free trials and monthly subscriptions you signed up for and then never really used. Whether it’s a subscription to a TV channel you rarely watch or a magazine you haven’t read in months, there’s probably at least one recurring charge you’re still paying for unnecessarily.
But how do you pin down all those extra plans? Drew Cheneler, founder of Simple Money Lyfe, suggested using the app Trim, which combs through your accounts to find subscriptions and other services you might be paying too much for.
“While Trim will help you find easy ways for you to save … the best part is that they will negotiate your cable, internet, phone bills and more so you can save money immediately. Most people do not realize that they are overpaying for certain plans, and Trim will make sure you do not.”
- Take stock of your pantry.
“The grocery bill is notorious for being a budget-killer, especially now with so many extra meals being eaten at home,” said Emily Bass, owner of Savvy Frugal Mom.
Of course, you probably don’t want to force your family to simply eat less. By taking the time to make a good inventory of what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry, you can get a better idea of where you stand in terms of necessities, Bass told HuffPost.
“This is going to help you reduce expenses because you will be able to limit store purchases to true needs, not just wants or what you think you need, and you can plan your meals around what you already have on hand,” she said. That not only means less money spent at the grocery store now, but less waste of food you already purchased.
The preceding material was compiled and edited by Brandon Castillo. The Editor-In-Chief is Gary Bryan. The Radio Genius Show Prep Service is licensed for use on-air only by subscribing radio stations. Other means of redistribution is forbidden.
© 2020 – Radio Genius Show Prep