York Common Cents

Are people done shopping already?

2008-11-20T14:47:54Z

The Sunday after Halloween, my wife and I were driving near Target in West Manchester Township. What a traffic nightmare! Cars were everywhere, trying to make the turn into the shopping centers in the area.

I couldn't believe it. Was this the new Black Friday?

I haven't really see the crowds since - and I live nearby and drive through there a good bit. Has the peak of the shopping season past us? And regardless, who started shopping so darn early this year?

I think it was people doing their shopping before things got worse, when they'd be able to talk themselves out of getting gifts for people, or really wouldn't have the money for it. But I could be crazy, too.

What do you think?

Sick of spending money...

2008-11-18T21:18:40Z

On Sunday night, I was on the phone with my mother-in-law who told me, with no sugar coating, that my method of spending money was anti-American. I contended that my motto this holiday shopping season would be: one gift for one person. That means that if I decide to buy my father a DVD, it means I buy him one DVD and not five just because I don't think that I spent enough money.

]]> Look, I think that many residents, myself included, can't afford to be a spendthrift this year. My mother-in-law contends that Christmas is special time of year and that the giving of many gifts is important. She believes that a tree with a mass of gifts huddled around its base is an integral part of the holiday season. I contend that you don't need to max out your credit card to have a memorable Christmas. Remember folks, no government agency is going to give you a bailout. What do you think? Are you going to spend as much as you want this year or are you looking to try to save this year?

So what will the INSIDE of CODO look like?

2008-11-18T16:50:13Z

We've seen the construction on the outside of the CODO building at 241 N. George St. for months, so below are some pictures recently released showing what's inside the property.

It looks fairly sharp, and you can see the George Street skyline outside the one window.

The project is expected to be completed in March. Click here for more information, including how to rent one of the lofts. Applications are currently being accepted.

A little background: CODO is a more than $11-million redevelopment project of the former York Auto Parts building, 241 N. George St. The structure will feature loft-style apartments, a rooftop lounge and street-level cafe. The building, with units designed for renters, is expected to attract young professionals to York.

So what do you think? Is this somewhere you would want to live?

Have you listened to our podcast this week?

2008-11-17T15:13:53Z

Our staff writers share their thoughts on the bailout plan. Take a listen.

So long

2008-11-14T16:31:51Z

To all the faithful readers of York Common Cents, I have a bittersweet announcement to make. After 10 months with the York Daily Record/Sunday News, I'll be leaving to take a job in Washington, D.C.

I'm sad to leave, but I know that Brent, Sean and Cathy will continue keeping this blog up to date with the latest money news. Check back often for updates on gas prices and what's going on in the local business community.

I encourage you to check out the gas map on inyork.com/drive. A few stations in the area have officially dropped below $2.00 per gallon!

I'm glad I get to leave you with a bit of good news before I leave! It's a welcome change from all the negative economy news lately!

Craving cheaper gas

2008-11-12T14:16:36Z

I get really jealous whenever anyone has cheaper gas than me. I wasn't having too much of a problem with it earlier this year because York County definitely seem to have some of the cheapest prices around.

Now it seems we have some of the highest (at least in my little realm of reality). My friends in Maryland are telling me how they're filling up for less than $2.

To make myself feel better I hopped over to inyork.com/drive to look at the map provided by Gas Buddy of station prices. It made me feel a little better to see we still have cheaper gas than lots of places in Lancaster County. And we have cheaper gas than my little brother in Philly.

I recommend checking out the map. It's interesting to see where York County falls in the spectrum of gas prices.

Is it fair for Citigroup to stop foreclosing on people?

2008-11-11T16:33:49Z

Citigroup is one of the biggest banks standing after the last round of failures around the industry, and today it said it won't be foreclosing on people who want to stay in their homes.

How would you feel if you saved all your money and bought nothing you wanted just so you could pay your mortgage, and your neighbor parked a big boat in the driveway and put in a pool, then told Citigroup he was out of money and couldn't pay ... and they let him off the hook for a while?

I bet more people will go out and get a boat and a pool. Is this a message financial institutions should be sending?

'Family Guy' guy gets $100 million deal

2008-11-10T20:12:27Z

OK, I love the show, and so do so many other people. But really? Seth MacFarlane, the creator and the voices of many characters of "Family Guy" got a $100 million deal with Fox.

But then I realized how much that is worth. With trying to save money by not going out to eat, or not driving to Harrisburg or Baltimore so much because of gas prices (recent trends notwithstanding), I don't know what my wife and I would do without the endless reruns of "Family Guy" that find their way to PHL 17, Cartoon Network and most notably TBS.

Thank you, Fox, for spending your money wisely.

Clipping more coupons?

2008-11-10T17:15:21Z

If so, big advertisers are trying to target you.

I think it's nice that there is a growing demand for practical ways to drag in customers instead of just trying to attract people to sparkle and shine.

So if you are clipping coupons, what are you looking to buy with them? And what tactics can still get you to buy products considering the bleak outlook?

Are they really green?

2008-11-07T17:24:31Z

I just read a brief in the November issue of Consumer Reports about groups and organizations that have "green" sounding names, but in fact aren't very green.

With the explosion of the environmental movement, it's always important to keep in mind that some groups may just be trying to ride the coattails of a successful movement.

For example the Heartland Institute, one of the examples used in the brief, claims it has expertise on climate issues, but has advocated for smokers' rights and accepts money from ExxonMobil and Philip Morris.

You can check out more at www.frontgroups.org.

More gas price confusion

2008-11-03T13:50:55Z

I wrote not too long ago that the differences in gas prices at local stations really had me baffled.

Well after this weekend, gas prices have just left me more confused.

The past few weekends I've been visiting friends in Maryland and Washington, D.C. and gas prices there have always been 20 to 30 cents more expensive than here.

So when I filled up my car last night for $2.38 in Maryland, I was expecting to see prices closer to $2 in York. Needless to say that wasn't the case. Everything I saw in York was around $2.33.

How did that gap close so quickly?

Naming her baby Chase

2008-10-30T13:26:57Z

I realize this has nothing particular to do with business, but I just had to share anyway.

I just read on Philly.com that a pregnant woman is thinking about naming her baby Chase, after the Phillies' second baseman.

Makes me wonder if the names Chase, Cole and Brad are going to become immensely popular in PA the rest of the year.

Bread Milk Eggs!!!! Bread Milk Eggs!!!! Bread Milk Eggs!!!

2008-10-29T21:00:15Z

We're getting reports of snow around York County starting. So if you are planning on getting your grocery shopping done tonight, look out for those worried about getting snowed in.

They can be spotted by their zombie-like chant as they case the shelves for the staples of life ... just in case.

So tell me something. I grew up in this state, so I know how real this phenomenon really is. But I still don't know why. Can anyone tell me why bread, milk and eggs are the first things to disappear from winter shelves before a snow storm?

And if we ever wanted to make improvements to this list, what would be on your winter-survival list from the local grocery store?

I love good service

2008-10-28T20:23:17Z

My car was long over due for an oil change and I finally got around to taking it today on my lunch break and unlike last time, I was super impressed with the service.

First off, the people working were extremely polite. They asked me what I needed and promised to have it taken care of quickly. There were two people ahead of me in line, but I was still probably only there for a total of 30 minutes at the most.

]]> I was also really happy to that they didn't try to sell me anything extra. They went over the basic stuff that they always cover, like air filters and wipers and stuff. I needed a new air filter so I didn't mind paying extra for that, but I never felt like I was being pressured to buy stuff.

They also vacuumed the front of my car, which rocked, because it seriously needed it.

Overall, I just felt like I got great service and I will definitely be going back their for my future oil changes.

How to live to 100 ... because nobody can retire til at least 90 anymore

2008-10-28T13:57:14Z

If the stock market is any indication, nobody is safe to retire at 65 or even 70 anymore. Even if you used the stock market properly to grow your savings. If you are 60 right now and were still in the market, who knows when your portfolio will rebound enough to retire.

So you better stay healthy and live a really long time to ever have any retirement time.

I figure I'll be financially sound enough to retire at 93 and a half. That's just a guess, but check back with me in about 70 years and see if I'm right. When do you think you will be able to retire? And what do you base that on?

In the meantime, check out this list of some things to do to live to 100. It doesn't include the usual "become a decathlon athlete, eat nothing but tofu and carrots" type advice you normally see. It's practical stuff even a bum like me could follow. Well, most of it maybe.