The Cost of Convenience

I find it very funny how many convenience stores advertise 99 cent drinks and other procucts that are very cheap to get you in the stores.  Then when you get inside, a 2 liter bottle of soda is cheaper than a 20 oz bottle and any other product costs twice as much as it would in a normal store.  Any product like little debbie snacks that have the price printed on the packaging sell at that price, but many things are just outrageous.  I always though most of these stores made their money selling gas, but it seems like they are making a profit inside the store also.

Is it worth it to just run into a quick store and pay the extra money?

Out of the loop

Many new companies are struggling to get their names out into the  market with their new products.  Most of this is because new companies can not afford to have tv commercials.  Bigger companies that have already established themselves dominate the market for the most part, and it is hard for a new company to get its product out there.  Hopefully it is easier and cheaper now for new products to be advertised on youtube for free by posting their own company videos.  Also, unless its a new product that no other company is selling, big companies can produce it so much cheaper by purchasing in bulk and getting it made in other countries.  Many times it is not worth the cost to buy local if the product will cost two times as much.  I love to buy hand-made products, or locally made or grown, but there is always certain things that I will buy the same brand, and not even look at other products on the same shelf. 
Does a new company have a chance to succeed in an already established market?

In response to Chris's KSC Parking

I was not one of the people towed in the incident you described, but I received a ticket in a similar incident a few years ago.  Halfway through the year they changed a rule saying people couldnt park in a lot after 4, but never changed the sign.  Even if every car that was towed was fully reimbursed the $100 tow, it would not make up for the inconvenience of trying to get a ride to their cars, or if they were late to something else.  It would have probably taken all of 10 minutes to stand up cones or make a sign, but towing a 50 cars seems way easier, right Keene State.
If it was more than 5 cars being towed do you think they should have realized that they made a mistake?

In response to Donald's Porsche ads

I was very interested in your idea of looking up old advertisements to see how things have changed.  After looking at a few I watched another old Porsche commercial.  It showed a boring world with everything the same, and then said a Porsche would just be a dream.  Then it talked about the knowledge that goes into making a car, and the designing.  Then it almost turns into a patriotic sounding ad about the future and how children dream.  It was very over the top especially with the music, but it has the same ideas that most ads have today.
How much do you think it would affect sales and price of a car if Honda never advertised.  Most people know of the brand Honda, but do commercials really make people buy the cars?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D09qQ_NM6QA&playnext=1&list=PLB67893497C781F3A

Donate Some of Your Donation to Charity

I read an article from Forbes that said, "Some for-profit fundraisers who call on behalf of charities may keep anywhere from 25 to 95 cents of every dollar they collect".  With all of the natural disasters that have occured, I would like to donate money to help in the aftermath, but not when as little as 5% of my donation could be making to actually help the cause.  Another quote that shocked me was, "Their research shows less than 10% of the American Veterans Relief Foundation's expenses go towards the actual program while 83% of its spending goes towards fundraising".  This is also if your money gets donated to a legitamate charity, and not just a scam that can process credit cards to steal your money.  I could not find definate figures on the Red Cross, but I just think about how many times I see a sign, a commercial, or an internet advertisement; all of which cost lots of money.
Do you feel charities are overmarketing in times of disaster, or people wouldn't donate unless it was put in front of them?
http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/30/choosing-charity-efficient-donating-personal-finance-charities.html

Response to Cam: Spring Break

My question is that is it really a good deal for many of these trips with us being broke college students?
Like Cam, I am not going away on vacation.  I have heard many of my friends and family say that they are going to Florida for the week or at least the weekend.  I live in the Keene area and my spring break is spent working a full 40 hours instead of my regular 25.  I think the advertisements are not meant for people like me, but families that have more money, or kids that get their school paid for.  Even if people are saving up money for their own vacation, often times they will spend even more money than they really have, because companies advertise such a cheap price, and then charge lots of extras.  Many people see a small number advertised, and then forget that they still need to buy a hotel, food and drinks for the week, nevermind what you want to do for entertainment. 
Have you ever bought anything and then not had enough money because of tax or another extra added onto the total price that you forgot about?

Hometown Prizm: Gilsum NH

I ran the prizm calculator for my hometown of Gilsum NH, 03448, and I thought the results were exactly what I picture in my town.  It is a small town with cheaper housing, lower income families mostly without children.  The prizm also showed that many of the people own trucks, go hunting, and woodworking and hunting were hobbies.  I only know a handful of people from my town, but this is the most accurate description that I would be able to give.  Many of the people I know are retired without kids and are happy living in this country lifestyle.

Would you ever look at the Prizm before moving to a new town to get an accurate idea of what life is like?