Not only is healthcare a huge concern when living in another country but Medicare does not pay medical expenses incurred in a foreign country. Also, none of these places listed here are on the approved list for Social Security benefits. Which means you will not be paid those benefits if you retire there. While cheap living seems attractive you should do A LOT of research before deciding to live permanently in a foreign country, especially one off the grid of usual travel places for most people. Often these places are plagued by poverty and crime too.
I find it difficult to quantify my "Food" spending because I shop at Wal-Mart primarily, and buy pet food and supplies, and all personal care needs (personal hygiene, household cleaners, OTC medications and health supplies like supplements, bandaids, etc.) all in one place at one time. Even more confusing, we occasionally buy household items like kitchen utensils, replacements batteries and occasional seasonal items and a lot of other non-food categories, but the expenses are more along the line of necessary than in the purely "want" category because I consider myself relatively careful with my spending.
"Personal care", "pet" and "household" categories are often not included in these types of discussions so it would also be interesting to know what is 'normal' when these are separated out from strictly "Food" items.
Well, the only category I may overspend on is groceries (roughly $600/mo for a family of three). We hardly ever eat out (mostly on vacation) and I rarely drink alcohol (maybe buy a bottle of wine or a can of beer or two from the bargain bin at the grocery store once a month). Entertainment costs are low (we have Netflix and Hulu for shows and movies, no cable and we rarely go to the movies) and borrow books from library, friends or family or buy at thrift stores. We walk a lot for exercise, bike ride, jog, hike, and swim at the community pool in the summer. We have tracfones with no contracts. We buy clothing from thrift stores, Target, or Walmart and only to replace what we wear out. We also have older vehicles that are paid off and a mobile home that we don't pay a mortgage on anymore. We are currently a one-income household and most of our debt is medical bills, student loans and some credit card debt.
Appraiser made a discrepancy on his report to the lender saying we only had a carport We actually have an enclosed, remote-controlled, double-door garage with storage area in the back. We notified the realtor who in turn notified the lender who in turn sent the comments back the appraisal board who twice said the appraisal stands as is. After that the sale fell apart and was cancelled.
What are my alternatives? Frankly I'd like to sue someone over this!
My back to school shopping tip? Buy those notebooks, etc when they're 15 cents each and buy a ton! (They're over 10x more during the year!) Otherwise, wait for things to go on sale and buy in bulk; the shopping list doesn't change much from year to year in lower grades.
Great Tips… I was looking for something like this only and I found it. You have explained all these tips so much in detail that it has now made it so easy for me to plan and get a cheap vacation package for me.
How I wish I would have seen this article 1 year ago. My husband used the words "burn out" but it never registered - my efforts to "fix" things between us backfired!
What can you do when the burned out spouse decides his marriage is what is hindering his happiness and even though his job is miserable, physically he cannot play the sports or participate in the hobbies he once did, and he has distanced himself from all his friends and family - he thinks leaving the marriage (and kids) will make him happy. He feels joy for nothing and "forces" himself with coworkers and his kids but me as his wife is not even on the stove let alone a back burner.
I once thought it was a depression or mid-life crisis but he doesn't have the other symptoms when I read about those things. He went through such intense work stress for so long that it just pulled him into a pit that I can't see him anymore. I went through my own depression and was "not there for him" during part of this intense stress and so he completely shut down on our marriage.
Is there any hope of the love and affinity returning? How can I help him with this without making him feel worse about himself as a husband - as I know I have done with my need to have "relationship talks" so we can put everything on the table - that's how I "fix" things but it's clearly the wrong thing for him and I only succeeded in pushing him further and further away so that now he's not only on the "divorce" fence, he's actually hanging on the other side with just his fingertips holding him on....
I love my husband. I believe in our marriage and our vows. I don't want my kids to live with divorce - I did that as a kid and it sucked! I don't want to give up and I don't want to walk away especially when I know he's in such a bad place he can't see the Forrest through the trees.
We have found a therapist but it's hard because we are in such different places...
Any ideas or tips would be so greatly appreciated!
When I had kids in school, I watched the sales flyers for the best prices overall...of course, some places would have best price on one thing and another place would have the best price on something else...but rather than running all over the place, I tried to go where the generally best found prices were. I didn't realize that you could price match, which other commenters mentioned. That would have saved me some $.
Glad to NOT disappoint! Toastmasters is a great, and affordable, way to improve public speaking. In my research, I saw that some locations offer discounts to members of alumni associations, so if you belong to one ask about the potential discount.
I am a teacher and many students bring teachers gifts on the first day of school. It's very sweet and generous but save your money!! I would love a card or a picture just as much as (if not more) than candy.
Sorry, but if I don't drink and someone who doesn't know that gives me a bottle of wine, how is it cheap to give it to someone I know who does drink and will enjoy it? Otherwise, it's just going to be wasted by either sitting on my pantry shelf until it ferments, or being thrown away. What's rude in that case is not checking beforehand to make sure the person you are buying wine for can actually drink it-it's sort of a thoughtless thing to give someone unless you know for sure they will enjoy it.
I'm not going to lie, I was half-expecting this to be a list of material items haha. I'm glad I was wrong because there are some great resources here. I didn't know Toastmasters was that cheap! I'm tempted to sign up!
Only buy a few outfits to start. You have to see what all the kids are wearing. One year my daughter picked out all cute outfits, and within a week, all the girls decided to wear sweatpants.
Having one account works great for some and horribly for others. If it isn't broken then don't fix it. Personally it wouldn't work for my spouse and I so we contribute equally to a joint account then have our separate accounts to do with as we please. I'm much more frugal than she is so this arrangement works well for us.
I search for sales and will stock up for the entire school year in the beginning of the school year when the sales are awesome.
Not only is healthcare a huge concern when living in another country but Medicare does not pay medical expenses incurred in a foreign country. Also, none of these places listed here are on the approved list for Social Security benefits. Which means you will not be paid those benefits if you retire there. While cheap living seems attractive you should do A LOT of research before deciding to live permanently in a foreign country, especially one off the grid of usual travel places for most people. Often these places are plagued by poverty and crime too.
I find it difficult to quantify my "Food" spending because I shop at Wal-Mart primarily, and buy pet food and supplies, and all personal care needs (personal hygiene, household cleaners, OTC medications and health supplies like supplements, bandaids, etc.) all in one place at one time. Even more confusing, we occasionally buy household items like kitchen utensils, replacements batteries and occasional seasonal items and a lot of other non-food categories, but the expenses are more along the line of necessary than in the purely "want" category because I consider myself relatively careful with my spending.
"Personal care", "pet" and "household" categories are often not included in these types of discussions so it would also be interesting to know what is 'normal' when these are separated out from strictly "Food" items.
Well, the only category I may overspend on is groceries (roughly $600/mo for a family of three). We hardly ever eat out (mostly on vacation) and I rarely drink alcohol (maybe buy a bottle of wine or a can of beer or two from the bargain bin at the grocery store once a month). Entertainment costs are low (we have Netflix and Hulu for shows and movies, no cable and we rarely go to the movies) and borrow books from library, friends or family or buy at thrift stores. We walk a lot for exercise, bike ride, jog, hike, and swim at the community pool in the summer. We have tracfones with no contracts. We buy clothing from thrift stores, Target, or Walmart and only to replace what we wear out. We also have older vehicles that are paid off and a mobile home that we don't pay a mortgage on anymore. We are currently a one-income household and most of our debt is medical bills, student loans and some credit card debt.
Appraiser made a discrepancy on his report to the lender saying we only had a carport We actually have an enclosed, remote-controlled, double-door garage with storage area in the back. We notified the realtor who in turn notified the lender who in turn sent the comments back the appraisal board who twice said the appraisal stands as is. After that the sale fell apart and was cancelled.
What are my alternatives? Frankly I'd like to sue someone over this!
My back to school shopping tip? Buy those notebooks, etc when they're 15 cents each and buy a ton! (They're over 10x more during the year!) Otherwise, wait for things to go on sale and buy in bulk; the shopping list doesn't change much from year to year in lower grades.
You forgot about using them as an ice pack after a vasectomy! http://www.sandiegovasectomycenter.com/questions/vasectomy-recovery
Shop during the tax free weekend and use up those coupons!
Great Tips… I was looking for something like this only and I found it. You have explained all these tips so much in detail that it has now made it so easy for me to plan and get a cheap vacation package for me.
How I wish I would have seen this article 1 year ago. My husband used the words "burn out" but it never registered - my efforts to "fix" things between us backfired!
What can you do when the burned out spouse decides his marriage is what is hindering his happiness and even though his job is miserable, physically he cannot play the sports or participate in the hobbies he once did, and he has distanced himself from all his friends and family - he thinks leaving the marriage (and kids) will make him happy. He feels joy for nothing and "forces" himself with coworkers and his kids but me as his wife is not even on the stove let alone a back burner.
I once thought it was a depression or mid-life crisis but he doesn't have the other symptoms when I read about those things. He went through such intense work stress for so long that it just pulled him into a pit that I can't see him anymore. I went through my own depression and was "not there for him" during part of this intense stress and so he completely shut down on our marriage.
Is there any hope of the love and affinity returning? How can I help him with this without making him feel worse about himself as a husband - as I know I have done with my need to have "relationship talks" so we can put everything on the table - that's how I "fix" things but it's clearly the wrong thing for him and I only succeeded in pushing him further and further away so that now he's not only on the "divorce" fence, he's actually hanging on the other side with just his fingertips holding him on....
I love my husband. I believe in our marriage and our vows. I don't want my kids to live with divorce - I did that as a kid and it sucked! I don't want to give up and I don't want to walk away especially when I know he's in such a bad place he can't see the Forrest through the trees.
We have found a therapist but it's hard because we are in such different places...
Any ideas or tips would be so greatly appreciated!
When I had kids in school, I watched the sales flyers for the best prices overall...of course, some places would have best price on one thing and another place would have the best price on something else...but rather than running all over the place, I tried to go where the generally best found prices were. I didn't realize that you could price match, which other commenters mentioned. That would have saved me some $.
Cherry pick the sales, use coupons and rebates.
Glad to NOT disappoint! Toastmasters is a great, and affordable, way to improve public speaking. In my research, I saw that some locations offer discounts to members of alumni associations, so if you belong to one ask about the potential discount.
I am a teacher and many students bring teachers gifts on the first day of school. It's very sweet and generous but save your money!! I would love a card or a picture just as much as (if not more) than candy.
This is awesome. Just what I was looking for. Worked on my Phillips DVD
i have had their bread that claims no milk products and have had lactose symptoms and when i toast it it doesnt get brown like toast should
Thank you for the great motivation!
Sorry, but if I don't drink and someone who doesn't know that gives me a bottle of wine, how is it cheap to give it to someone I know who does drink and will enjoy it? Otherwise, it's just going to be wasted by either sitting on my pantry shelf until it ferments, or being thrown away. What's rude in that case is not checking beforehand to make sure the person you are buying wine for can actually drink it-it's sort of a thoughtless thing to give someone unless you know for sure they will enjoy it.
I'm not going to lie, I was half-expecting this to be a list of material items haha. I'm glad I was wrong because there are some great resources here. I didn't know Toastmasters was that cheap! I'm tempted to sign up!
If there are good sales on needed items, will buy.
Only buy a few outfits to start. You have to see what all the kids are wearing. One year my daughter picked out all cute outfits, and within a week, all the girls decided to wear sweatpants.
use tax free shopping days.
We didn't do back-to-school shopping, unless we needed to buy new uniforms.
Having one account works great for some and horribly for others. If it isn't broken then don't fix it. Personally it wouldn't work for my spouse and I so we contribute equally to a joint account then have our separate accounts to do with as we please. I'm much more frugal than she is so this arrangement works well for us.
I always buy things when they are on sale and stock up during the year on things I can always use, like paper, pens and pencils.