Tonic water is my hangover reliever of choice. Never put it together that the quinine might be what helped, I just thought I was rehydrating myself tastily. Let's hear it for self-medication.
I would never, NEVER, give up my gym membership. For me, going to the gym is like going to church for other people. Why would he assume "you don't really use it"? (Speaking of church, there's another place to be frugal.)
If you're trying to be really frugal, don't have pets or children.
Please, don't go to the source of the product for information regarding the reliability of the milk. I'm sure they will always have a glowing story to tell. You may want to check out http://www.stoplabelinglies.com for more information on the deceptive nature of Horizon. I also recently found out that several organic organizations are no longer affilitaing themselves with Horizon.
I don't know much about the OCA. For all I know they could be rival organic farmers looking to start trouble against Walmart. While I wouldn't take OCA's statements at face value, I definitely wouldn't take what HorizonOrganic.com has to say at face value, either.
i'm pretty sure that all the studies i've heard referenced to are studies where they found significant differences between organically grown and non-organically grown. the fact is that pesticides kill a lot of good bacteria that helps plants and chemical fertilizers are based on the idea that plants only need 3 basic nutrients to grow (i can't remember which three), but they don't take into account all the other things growing in the soil that all work together. for example, pesticides kill the bugs that naturally eat the plants. but plants naturally create defense mechanisms to avoid being eaten. these defense mechanisms produce certain vitamins and minerals. plants that are grown with pesticides don't need to create these defense mechanisms, therefore, never produce the chemicals/nutrients that our bodies like. this is what i read from michael pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma, a book he wrote based on much research and has referenced to in the book.
I can't name it right now but the only study I have ever heard of comparing organic produce to traditional produce concluded that there is no reliable nutritional difference between one and the other. It also concluded there was no reliable differences in the trace amounts of pesticides etc in the products. The only glimmer of hope for the organic product fans was that the study found that some organic produce tasted better, tomatoes and zuchinni being some examples that I remember. Another issue is the effects of chemicals used in farming in the run-off and in the ground water. Pesticides are one example but would there not be bad after effects from organic fertiliser also?
I think you've chosen to take a number of things on the label out-of-context and then comment on them without actual research. I worked for a number of years in natural/organic food retail, and Horizon has a really good reputation.
They don't use antibiotics. They have a commitment to natural healthcare for the animals. They DO let the animals range and forage, which is supplemented with herbivorous organic feed. They do control the sources of food for their animals, owning many of their farms; and have very specific policies and procedures regarding the care of these farms as well as farms they contract with.
which which goes into great detail as to their practices and philosophy. consider checking it out.
and there have been a number of studies which showed that organically grown produce to be higher in nutritional value than commercial products. i'm sure that's easily googled, as well.
stick to the truth - it's out there; and it's not all bad.
I saved $1M in just under 10 years. I was way more frugal than this, though. Problem is, now that I worked so hard to become a millionaire, its like I don't have anything at all since I sure as heck don't want to spend any of this hard-earned savings.
While I don't doubt the people who had bad experience with Etrade, I am writing to say perhaps I am the one person who DID have a good experience. I opened an account online and, despite the fact htey were a little slow (took 2 weeks to get all documents in the mail) I got the $25 bonus. Also, I sent an email to confirm my account was open and I would have the bonus, and a customer rep actually called me back. So, not bad getting $25 just for depositing $1.
I take issue with the idea that sex is cheap. Leaving aside the potential costs of contracting a disease, the need for contraception is obvious-- given your mandate to save money. Condoms, birth control pills, etc. and the potential costs of pregnancy are in no way trivial!
Now, I do agree that being frugal vs cheap is the way to be. And I also agree that some of these points are doable for some people (I live in suburban hell...it would take me 30 mins to walk to the nearest store, and I just don't have time to spend over 1 hour to get a gallon of milk). But in general, I would definitely say pick and choose from Leo's list. If you do them all, something tells me your quality of life will suffer for the sake of the mighty dollar.
i think leo's point is that there are many things in our lives that we think we "really need" but once we don't have them, we actually don't miss it that much or there are alternatives that are less expensive and better overall. there's a difference between being frugal vs. cheap. frugal maintains an enjoyment of life, believes in the value of health, and considers others in our lives, while being aware of how we spend money. cheap means to be greedy, take as much as we can for as little as we can, regardless of anything else. leo also says
You only need to choose half these options to get $1 million -- pick the ones that you think you can do, make them add up to $800 per month. Or substitute others where you can cut back (let's say magazines, or video games, or using store brands instead of brand names).
It's great to be open minded to ideas about how to look at our "mandatory" expenses a different way. Thanks, Leo!
I'd argue that some of these might improve your quality of living. Walking/cycling instead of driving can have health benefits as well as helping your wallet, reducing power consumption is good for the environment and I think I can make myself tastier, more nutritious lunches than most of the stuff within walking distance of my office.
I think it's important to at least consider these options. Then people can weigh whether they're practical for them, whether they would improve or detract from their lifestyle and whether they want to spend their money on short-term happiness or save up for bigger things.
Not that they're silly ideas, but that people do have to live. If you cut out every little luxury life affords you, and invest it for 25-30 years, then by the time you have your $2 million you're getting too old to enjoy it. I think we'd all love to retire with a bunch of cash, but I'm not willing to live the best part of my life like a pauper for me to achieve that. I heard a great story the other day about taking $100, just $100, and doubling it. Maybe buy $100 worth of a product wholesale on ebay and selling it for profit. Now you have $200. Do the same again. And so on. It seems like a simplistic notion, but the guy telling the story had made $1 million in just 2 years. And he had sacrificed nothing.
seriously, you oughta pick up a suze orman book or something..these ideas are hokey and deprive people of a few of the affordable luxuries in their lives in return for a decades-away nest egg - we also need to remember to live, so if that latte makes you happy then buy it, and give up the real overkill, like that car you don't need, the furniture, the new-new pc, optional medical procedures, life enhancing vitamins and anything from whole foods...
Depending on where you're located, #6 may or may not work. For me, if I hadn't had a gym membership, I wouldn't have been able to keep up my New Year's resolution to walk 10,000 steps a day every day. It was just too cold and snowy and icy around here and no one shoveled their sidewalk. I could have gone to the mall to walk for free, but the nearest mall is about an hour away, so then we run into #7.
Instead, what I did was to ask my parents to buy me a gym membership as a Christmas present. That way I didn't have to pay the money and I got something I really wanted for Christmas!
Am I the only one getting a "Page not found" error on that first hamstring link?
It's the beating me up that stresses me out, not the spelling. =)
Tonic water is my hangover reliever of choice. Never put it together that the quinine might be what helped, I just thought I was rehydrating myself tastily. Let's hear it for self-medication.
I would never, NEVER, give up my gym membership. For me, going to the gym is like going to church for other people. Why would he assume "you don't really use it"? (Speaking of church, there's another place to be frugal.)
If you're trying to be really frugal, don't have pets or children.
Please, don't go to the source of the product for information regarding the reliability of the milk. I'm sure they will always have a glowing story to tell. You may want to check out http://www.stoplabelinglies.com for more information on the deceptive nature of Horizon. I also recently found out that several organic organizations are no longer affilitaing themselves with Horizon.
Thank you for sharing your alternative views. I took your advice and Googled some articles. I found some stuff that you might want to check out:
Is Horizon Organic Truly Organic?
Corporate Greed and Organic Milk
Organic Consumers Association
I don't know much about the OCA. For all I know they could be rival organic farmers looking to start trouble against Walmart. While I wouldn't take OCA's statements at face value, I definitely wouldn't take what HorizonOrganic.com has to say at face value, either.
i'm pretty sure that all the studies i've heard referenced to are studies where they found significant differences between organically grown and non-organically grown. the fact is that pesticides kill a lot of good bacteria that helps plants and chemical fertilizers are based on the idea that plants only need 3 basic nutrients to grow (i can't remember which three), but they don't take into account all the other things growing in the soil that all work together. for example, pesticides kill the bugs that naturally eat the plants. but plants naturally create defense mechanisms to avoid being eaten. these defense mechanisms produce certain vitamins and minerals. plants that are grown with pesticides don't need to create these defense mechanisms, therefore, never produce the chemicals/nutrients that our bodies like. this is what i read from michael pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma, a book he wrote based on much research and has referenced to in the book.
I can't name it right now but the only study I have ever heard of comparing organic produce to traditional produce concluded that there is no reliable nutritional difference between one and the other. It also concluded there was no reliable differences in the trace amounts of pesticides etc in the products. The only glimmer of hope for the organic product fans was that the study found that some organic produce tasted better, tomatoes and zuchinni being some examples that I remember. Another issue is the effects of chemicals used in farming in the run-off and in the ground water. Pesticides are one example but would there not be bad after effects from organic fertiliser also?
Helpful hints. I think having the discipline for these are hard but definitely the results are worth it.
I found you guys through Simple Dollar's morning roundup.
I think you've chosen to take a number of things on the label out-of-context and then comment on them without actual research. I worked for a number of years in natural/organic food retail, and Horizon has a really good reputation.
They don't use antibiotics. They have a commitment to natural healthcare for the animals. They DO let the animals range and forage, which is supplemented with herbivorous organic feed. They do control the sources of food for their animals, owning many of their farms; and have very specific policies and procedures regarding the care of these farms as well as farms they contract with.
They actually have a very informative website
http://www.horizonorganic.com/
which which goes into great detail as to their practices and philosophy. consider checking it out.
and there have been a number of studies which showed that organically grown produce to be higher in nutritional value than commercial products. i'm sure that's easily googled, as well.
stick to the truth - it's out there; and it's not all bad.
I saved $1M in just under 10 years. I was way more frugal than this, though. Problem is, now that I worked so hard to become a millionaire, its like I don't have anything at all since I sure as heck don't want to spend any of this hard-earned savings.
While I don't doubt the people who had bad experience with Etrade, I am writing to say perhaps I am the one person who DID have a good experience. I opened an account online and, despite the fact htey were a little slow (took 2 weeks to get all documents in the mail) I got the $25 bonus. Also, I sent an email to confirm my account was open and I would have the bonus, and a customer rep actually called me back. So, not bad getting $25 just for depositing $1.
I take issue with the idea that sex is cheap. Leaving aside the potential costs of contracting a disease, the need for contraception is obvious-- given your mandate to save money. Condoms, birth control pills, etc. and the potential costs of pregnancy are in no way trivial!
Now, I do agree that being frugal vs cheap is the way to be. And I also agree that some of these points are doable for some people (I live in suburban hell...it would take me 30 mins to walk to the nearest store, and I just don't have time to spend over 1 hour to get a gallon of milk). But in general, I would definitely say pick and choose from Leo's list. If you do them all, something tells me your quality of life will suffer for the sake of the mighty dollar.
i think leo's point is that there are many things in our lives that we think we "really need" but once we don't have them, we actually don't miss it that much or there are alternatives that are less expensive and better overall. there's a difference between being frugal vs. cheap. frugal maintains an enjoyment of life, believes in the value of health, and considers others in our lives, while being aware of how we spend money. cheap means to be greedy, take as much as we can for as little as we can, regardless of anything else. leo also says
It's great to be open minded to ideas about how to look at our "mandatory" expenses a different way. Thanks, Leo!
and it's only 8:40. Damn! Isn't there a country song out there that says, "It's 5 o'clock somewhere!" That's how today is going to be.
I'd argue that some of these might improve your quality of living. Walking/cycling instead of driving can have health benefits as well as helping your wallet, reducing power consumption is good for the environment and I think I can make myself tastier, more nutritious lunches than most of the stuff within walking distance of my office.
I think it's important to at least consider these options. Then people can weigh whether they're practical for them, whether they would improve or detract from their lifestyle and whether they want to spend their money on short-term happiness or save up for bigger things.
I suspect they are under the aquarium hood, but I'm contacting the makers to find out.
Not that they're silly ideas, but that people do have to live. If you cut out every little luxury life affords you, and invest it for 25-30 years, then by the time you have your $2 million you're getting too old to enjoy it. I think we'd all love to retire with a bunch of cash, but I'm not willing to live the best part of my life like a pauper for me to achieve that. I heard a great story the other day about taking $100, just $100, and doubling it. Maybe buy $100 worth of a product wholesale on ebay and selling it for profit. Now you have $200. Do the same again. And so on. It seems like a simplistic notion, but the guy telling the story had made $1 million in just 2 years. And he had sacrificed nothing.
seriously, you oughta pick up a suze orman book or something..these ideas are hokey and deprive people of a few of the affordable luxuries in their lives in return for a decades-away nest egg - we also need to remember to live, so if that latte makes you happy then buy it, and give up the real overkill, like that car you don't need, the furniture, the new-new pc, optional medical procedures, life enhancing vitamins and anything from whole foods...
Depending on where you're located, #6 may or may not work. For me, if I hadn't had a gym membership, I wouldn't have been able to keep up my New Year's resolution to walk 10,000 steps a day every day. It was just too cold and snowy and icy around here and no one shoveled their sidewalk. I could have gone to the mall to walk for free, but the nearest mall is about an hour away, so then we run into #7.
Instead, what I did was to ask my parents to buy me a gym membership as a Christmas present. That way I didn't have to pay the money and I got something I really wanted for Christmas!
That's the tattoo I'm going to get to cover up the one I have right now. Instead of giving everyone fingerguns, I can just expose my belly.
I can't see where they put the CD/DVD drives, but they must be there somewhere.
YAY - I'm already doing 8 out of 11 of these!
I don't know, though - I'm married, so I don't know if I am actually saving any money on #10! :)
- Aaron
It is not "Jessica's" video, but one I found & worth a watch.
Sorry about bringing down the site W!