We know we've been "spoiled" by low gas prices as compared to Europe. We need to get our public transportation back to being a priority. In Germany I visited: Dortmund (Buffalo, NY's sister city)I lived with a family for a month when I was 18, we visited all over the area close to Dortmund, Berlin in 1977, Hamburg - been there 3 times, Munich (took the train from Munich to Hamburg), Frankfurt ... I think that's it. It's been many years, I need to visit again. It's one of my favorite countries. I'll need to look at a map to see where you are.

we wern't impressed by our builder "discounts". I would definately shop around. In some cases we went with the builder supplier (e.g. lighting, cabinets) but in other cases we found a better local supplier and now the builder has switched over to them (e.g.granite). In some cases we purchased items on line and gave them to the builder (e.g. sinks). In the case of the lighting, we did not get the absolute best price on the fixtures (although the prices were good and dicounted off suggested retail) BUT we did get a "free" design and that was well worth the small premium on the fixtures. We could have saved a few dollars by puchasing the same lights on-line but we did have some broken fixtures on delivery (replaced quickly) and the lighting in our house is fantastic. There is something to be said for having a local supplier who can quickly get you parts or replace an item if there are problems. But you have to weigh that against what you are getting locally and any savings you can get on line. For example, we purchased our faucets locally using the builder's plumbing supplier but we bought the stainless steel sinks on line. The markup on SS was unbelievable (2 grand for a Kohler kitchen sink with the "discount" - are they nuts!). I think we paid 1 grand for 4 SS sinks - 16 gauage - they are awesome and we got that tip from GW. So Scrutinize every line item and do not assume that every item on the list is at the best discount you can get. Toilets were another one - we bought Toto's on-line and got a very good deal. The appliance purchase was amazing. Builder told us that his guy had the very best prices. BS - we saved over 4 grand by buying appliances from a local store who has been around for decades and their price included installation!. Plus we got 0% financing on the stuff which we just finished paying off - nice to have that off the mortgage. I don't think I would buy appliances on-line - research that approach and definately don't be affraid to check local stores and tell them the best prices you can get on line - see if they will at least match it or throw in installation. Shop til you drop. Its your money that they want to take. PS - assume that EVERY builder "allowance" is crap - pulled out of the air. Validate every allowance against actual bids from suppliers for items that are at the quality level you expect. Hopefully you can do this before you sign the contract. If we had only budgeted what our builder "allowed", we would have no lights and probably have plywood for countertops.

Boy - this is just not my day. I downloaded Priceblink - but can't get past the second step. It installs. Then says to click to verify - and another tab opens up and I can see it working for whatever product it randomly selected. It lists all kinds of retailers and prices for the item. But then it says to return to the first window. When I do that, nothing in that window has changed. There is no place to enter an item that I want to search for. I can't click on anything in the screen. I tried it on my desktop this morning. Now I tried it on my laptop in case it was just a quirk on my desktop. But I must be missing something obvious. once it's installed, how do you open it and use it. Looks like a great add-on. Raven - I have an android phone. I tried to download some of the apps in that Lifehacker list - but google play just wasn't working. It kept forcing closed. I typed the name of the apps - but pressing enter to search led nowhere. So I'm going to try again now on home wifi - in case I was just getting throttled on 3G earlier in my office. I love the Amazon app that gives you 5% off. I get things from Amazon all the time. Getting the discount and ordering from my smartphone is a great option. Thanks. Lynn.

It's funny. Yesterday my wife and I were figuring out how many shows we've done in our craft show career. 30 years at an averagte of 35 shows per year, and that's over 1,000 shows. And I can say I've seen both priced, and non priced items. Usually the high end shows are the ones where some will put out their prices. But you know the work is expensive, and sometimes they'll haggle. High end jewelers don't display their prices, because you KNOW that's a real ruby and not a bead. But everybody else has their prices right out there. Your friend admits to not selling very much. And if she's happy not selling, who are we to argue? There is the theory about underpricing. But today, with people not having much money to spend at the shows, you ask what you think is a fair price, and she asks what she thinks is fair. The customer will decide. There are two schools of thought in this business. "Quick nickels" or "slow dimes". You are in the first camp, and your friend is in the second camp. Here is a link that might be useful: Shady Pine Studios