zt: Advice for College Graduates, from NY Times

The NY Times has an article giving advice to college graduates. Many of these apply to me now.


¶Never pay a real estate agent a 6 percent commission. -- en... when i sell i will consider this suggestion.

¶Buy used things, except maybe used tires. -- try to follow this in the future.

¶Get on the do-not-call list and other do-not-solicit lists so you can’t be tempted. -- i don't have fixed-line home phone.

¶Watch infomercials for their entertainment value only. -- n.a. to me.

¶Know what your credit reports say, but don’t pay for that knowledge: go to www.annualcreditreport.com to get them. -- used once.

¶Consolidate your cable, phone and Internet service to get the best deal. -- so far i only have basic cable and "free" internet from my benevolent neighbor.

¶Resist the lunacy of buying premium products like $2,000-a-pound chocolates. -- does that mean i should shop from walmart more often?

¶Lose weight. Carrying extra pounds costs tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. -- eh, not a problem for me.

¶Do not use your home as a piggy bank if home prices are flat or going down or if interest rates are rising. -- let's hope the price won't go down.

¶Enroll in a 401(k) at work immediately. -- yes i did.

¶Postpone buying high-tech products like PCs, digital cameras and high-definition TVs for as long as possible. And then buy after the selling season or buy older technology just as a new technology comes along. -- a few times i failed to stay put. but hey, i don't have an ipod till now.

¶And, I’m sorry, I’m really serious about this last one: make your own coffee. -- don't drink coeffee, or soft drink.