I agree with you, however, I disagree with your idea that low rates don't make homes affordable. Homes are incredibly affordable now so long as you are financially responsible and don't over spend. Plus, if you're planning on being in your house for a while - which you should be if you're buying - purchasing the home make sense.
Don't get me wrong, I've never thought of home ownership as a worthwhile investment, but that still doesn't mean homes aren't affordable.
Just came across this post and had to compliment you on your Cuban meal selections and accurate recipes (though, yes as one comment stated, Picadillo usually takes chopped olives more often than not). As a Cuban-American, I get a little miffed when people post "Cuban" dishes, but modify or add ingredients that make the dishes either more American or even Mexican. I'm not knocking either cuisine, but in doing so, it's not authentic Cuban! Anyway, since I no longer live in Miami, but in the midwest, I find myself cooking cuban food more and more and have foun it's SO economical and easy to make ahead and eat through the week. Have you ever tried Pulpeta? It's our version of meatloaf and it is outrageously good, economical and can be easily frozen to serve at a later date.
What happens when you continue the discount mind set. Companies go out of business. Simple economics. More people get the brand because they want it for a discount then everyone will own it then nobody will want it because everyone has it. Shoppers should aspire to own not cheapen a brand because they can't afford it. Some things are not meant for everyone. Sure people like a deal but I will not lose my business because someone begs for a discount. I will simply say "We will always be here when you are ready to make a purchase" A funny side note. Customers who always ask for discounts never seem to realize that they can be disrespectful when they ask. As soon as I ask "what price range would you like to be in so I can better meet your needs" they get completely offended or will not disclose what they are willing to pay. Strange.
I actually rarely buy books; that's why I try to do surveys and enter giveaways to get gift cards. I do read constantly though, and I make good use of the public library!
Davids Bridal has a few dresses that can be ordered online and will be delivered in 3 weeks. Not bad in comparison to the 12-14 weeks other shops can take.
You don't always have to do the bridesmaids dress route, just pick an off the rack dress...
Also, for Bridal Gowns, try a Sample shop, you can try it on and walk out with it. Alterations can usually be done in a few weeks. My twin sister just bought hers yesterday at one of these stores and She paid less than Davids Bridal! It's a beautiful dress of great quality...
My girlfriend and I are getting married in little over a month and most of the important stuff has been taken care of. I'm especially happy about the location. We have booked a chapel that was built in the second quarter of the eleventh century. And it wasn't even that expensive, just $283.98, or €200 in real money.
Perhaps you are missing the point, it's not just about getting the best deal for A car, it's also about getting THE right car. Women are, according to the article, more likely to make the last decision better. So there are two factors that matter here.
Sometimes it's even more beneficial for me to drop off my laundry twice a month when it's a big load like bedding, sheets and towels. I go on the days they have specials like $0.75 a pound or by load and it comes up to about $18 a month for the stuff that would take a long dry time or possibly two dry sessions. Saving time can also be like saving money, and take less A/C to cool my house after the dryer heat.
During the summer drying my clothes on a line is a great idea, especially for swimsuits, beach towels and all. Thank you for sharing this information!
I just spoke to a friend who's getting married in September, and she's following a lot of these suggestions. The entire thing is taking place at a park pavilion, and while there is a bridesmaid dress she's picked out (that's on sale!), I can also "just wear anything in blue or green."
Does anybody have any other last-minute wedding suggestions?
Line drying can work really well! Some fabrics take to being dried in the sun better than others. It also depends on the detergent you use. It's probably a good idea to do a "test-run" of sorts, by trying to find out if your detergent, location, and clothes are well matched before doing the full load!
I have a carport that I have strung lines from the beams, that means I can line dry outside without getting bird droppings and bleaching from the sun, also, when it rains, I do not have to rush to get it in before it all gets wet! I also line dry indoors.. I have put up tension curtain rods in my hallway and let the air conditioner act as my dryer, it also makes your house smell like your clean laundry. Here in the deep South, it is too dang hot to run a dryer!
You assume everyone lives in a house! I can't line dry because I live in an apartment, but I dry most of my things on drying racks/hangers inside. (I do have to wait for less humid days in the summer though!) Doing so, I avoid most of the hazards mentioned in this article like birds, pollen, sun bleaching, etc. I still machine dry towels (for softness) and sheets (no room to hang!)
For every load of laundry I don't put in the dryer, I save $1.50 because our building has coin laundry. The industrial machines are much harder on clothes than most people's home dryers too. (I sneak my t-shirts, etc in the dryer for about 5 minutes before the towels go in to get out the wrinkles first)!
Line drying is, as far as I'm concerned, the way to go.
Whenever the weather's halfway decent you'll find me pegging out laundry. And when it's raining, I dry on a clothes horse indoors. Tumble dryers are environmentally unfriendly and too hard on clothes - not just shrinkage but bobbling and weakening the fabric.
In years of line drying I don't think I've ever had to relaunder anything because of bird droppings or smells. Though I do remember a teenage urban myth about someone stealing underwear from people's washing lines - but I don't think it ever really happened!
Usually, I check out books from the library. If there is one that I really want to buy, I usually buy it from Amazon. I have gotten some great deals on used books!!
This is fascinating and very well timed. I was just reading an article about our susceptibility to ads today in the The Boston Globe. Apparently a Yale University Psychologist and a New York ad agency are teaming up to, "explore whether susceptibility to messages, such as those used in marketing, is deeply ingrained in humans because it is embedded in our DNA - inherited from long-ago ancestors common to us and monkeys - or whether it is a strictly human weakness." Long story short they are taking racy pictures of Capuchin monkeys to see if other Capuchins respond to the idea that "Capuchin sells." It is both fascinating and ludicrous in my opinion but the link to the article is here: http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2011/08/01/ad_for_monkeys_se...
Here's a Real World anecdote, since I just spent 3 weeks at a beach house with no dryer. We line dried everything! And towels were not meant to be line dried. They come out stiff as a board and felt like sandpaper. So did my jockey shorts. Seriously, it was quite uncomfortable!
But like you said, T-shirts, shorts, jeans, etc all did fine drying on the line, except when a late afternoon thunderstorm soaked everything and blew a lot of stuff clear across the yard (broke the clothespins!)
I'm not sure about the rest of you, but running the dryer heats up my house. I'm not just saving the energy of the dryer itself running, I'm also saving the energy of the a/c running more.
My relationship with my clothesline is one of adoration and annoyance. I hang three loads of clothes on the line, go to the store...and it rains.
The secret to avoiding being overly influenced by advertising? Cut the cord. Since I have no TV, I'd heard of exactly one of these campaigns (the Old Spice) because someone at work pulled it up on YouTube to show to me.
Well I suppose if all prospective home buyers only purchased what they could truly afford upfront, homes would not cost nearly what they do today. The creative lending strategies over the past decade have allowed many individuals to acquire the 'American Dream' in spite of whether they can afford that dream or not. I guess the only equivalent I can draw is if you opened a $200K line of credit at a bank and immediately maxed that credit line out. If you amortized that loan out over 30 years...in fact, you would realize that you are paying a lot of interest up front too.
It is a tough pill to swallow, believe me. Especially being one of those conscientious home owners that put down at least 20% during the bubble peak and watched the value of my home erode under my feet while making my interest-loaded payments as agreed.
Sometimes you just have to realize when you called on a hand when you probably should have folded pre-flop (sorry for the obscure poker metaphor for many of you).
This is a very thorough analysis and I particularly appreciate your honesty in the what you can do section, as I've been wondering the same thing. I suppose it always comes back to diversifying across many assets to reduce exposure to any one thing.
I agree with you, however, I disagree with your idea that low rates don't make homes affordable. Homes are incredibly affordable now so long as you are financially responsible and don't over spend. Plus, if you're planning on being in your house for a while - which you should be if you're buying - purchasing the home make sense.
Don't get me wrong, I've never thought of home ownership as a worthwhile investment, but that still doesn't mean homes aren't affordable.
My favorites: Geico; The little pig (and its also annoying if you hear it but don't watch it. Another one "Does the buck stop here"
Just came across this post and had to compliment you on your Cuban meal selections and accurate recipes (though, yes as one comment stated, Picadillo usually takes chopped olives more often than not). As a Cuban-American, I get a little miffed when people post "Cuban" dishes, but modify or add ingredients that make the dishes either more American or even Mexican. I'm not knocking either cuisine, but in doing so, it's not authentic Cuban! Anyway, since I no longer live in Miami, but in the midwest, I find myself cooking cuban food more and more and have foun it's SO economical and easy to make ahead and eat through the week. Have you ever tried Pulpeta? It's our version of meatloaf and it is outrageously good, economical and can be easily frozen to serve at a later date.
What happens when you continue the discount mind set. Companies go out of business. Simple economics. More people get the brand because they want it for a discount then everyone will own it then nobody will want it because everyone has it. Shoppers should aspire to own not cheapen a brand because they can't afford it. Some things are not meant for everyone. Sure people like a deal but I will not lose my business because someone begs for a discount. I will simply say "We will always be here when you are ready to make a purchase" A funny side note. Customers who always ask for discounts never seem to realize that they can be disrespectful when they ask. As soon as I ask "what price range would you like to be in so I can better meet your needs" they get completely offended or will not disclose what they are willing to pay. Strange.
I just liked Wise Bread on Facebook too!
I actually rarely buy books; that's why I try to do surveys and enter giveaways to get gift cards. I do read constantly though, and I make good use of the public library!
Davids Bridal has a few dresses that can be ordered online and will be delivered in 3 weeks. Not bad in comparison to the 12-14 weeks other shops can take.
You don't always have to do the bridesmaids dress route, just pick an off the rack dress...
Also, for Bridal Gowns, try a Sample shop, you can try it on and walk out with it. Alterations can usually be done in a few weeks. My twin sister just bought hers yesterday at one of these stores and She paid less than Davids Bridal! It's a beautiful dress of great quality...
My girlfriend and I are getting married in little over a month and most of the important stuff has been taken care of. I'm especially happy about the location. We have booked a chapel that was built in the second quarter of the eleventh century. And it wasn't even that expensive, just $283.98, or €200 in real money.
Perhaps you are missing the point, it's not just about getting the best deal for A car, it's also about getting THE right car. Women are, according to the article, more likely to make the last decision better. So there are two factors that matter here.
My groom wore a nice dress shirt, slacks, vest, and tie. I think we spent $100 on his entire outfit, and he can reuse the items over and over.
Oh, and he LOOKED SO HAWT.
Sometimes it's even more beneficial for me to drop off my laundry twice a month when it's a big load like bedding, sheets and towels. I go on the days they have specials like $0.75 a pound or by load and it comes up to about $18 a month for the stuff that would take a long dry time or possibly two dry sessions. Saving time can also be like saving money, and take less A/C to cool my house after the dryer heat.
During the summer drying my clothes on a line is a great idea, especially for swimsuits, beach towels and all. Thank you for sharing this information!
No to line dry.
But I hang on wooden racks.
Spend the money to save the money - the rack was $80 but I have had it for about 10 years and its still going strong.
We put this in a spare bedroom.
I just spoke to a friend who's getting married in September, and she's following a lot of these suggestions. The entire thing is taking place at a park pavilion, and while there is a bridesmaid dress she's picked out (that's on sale!), I can also "just wear anything in blue or green."
Does anybody have any other last-minute wedding suggestions?
Line drying can work really well! Some fabrics take to being dried in the sun better than others. It also depends on the detergent you use. It's probably a good idea to do a "test-run" of sorts, by trying to find out if your detergent, location, and clothes are well matched before doing the full load!
I have a carport that I have strung lines from the beams, that means I can line dry outside without getting bird droppings and bleaching from the sun, also, when it rains, I do not have to rush to get it in before it all gets wet! I also line dry indoors.. I have put up tension curtain rods in my hallway and let the air conditioner act as my dryer, it also makes your house smell like your clean laundry. Here in the deep South, it is too dang hot to run a dryer!
You assume everyone lives in a house! I can't line dry because I live in an apartment, but I dry most of my things on drying racks/hangers inside. (I do have to wait for less humid days in the summer though!) Doing so, I avoid most of the hazards mentioned in this article like birds, pollen, sun bleaching, etc. I still machine dry towels (for softness) and sheets (no room to hang!)
For every load of laundry I don't put in the dryer, I save $1.50 because our building has coin laundry. The industrial machines are much harder on clothes than most people's home dryers too. (I sneak my t-shirts, etc in the dryer for about 5 minutes before the towels go in to get out the wrinkles first)!
Cheers!
Line drying is, as far as I'm concerned, the way to go.
Whenever the weather's halfway decent you'll find me pegging out laundry. And when it's raining, I dry on a clothes horse indoors. Tumble dryers are environmentally unfriendly and too hard on clothes - not just shrinkage but bobbling and weakening the fabric.
In years of line drying I don't think I've ever had to relaunder anything because of bird droppings or smells. Though I do remember a teenage urban myth about someone stealing underwear from people's washing lines - but I don't think it ever really happened!
Usually, I check out books from the library. If there is one that I really want to buy, I usually buy it from Amazon. I have gotten some great deals on used books!!
This is fascinating and very well timed. I was just reading an article about our susceptibility to ads today in the The Boston Globe. Apparently a Yale University Psychologist and a New York ad agency are teaming up to, "explore whether susceptibility to messages, such as those used in marketing, is deeply ingrained in humans because it is embedded in our DNA - inherited from long-ago ancestors common to us and monkeys - or whether it is a strictly human weakness." Long story short they are taking racy pictures of Capuchin monkeys to see if other Capuchins respond to the idea that "Capuchin sells." It is both fascinating and ludicrous in my opinion but the link to the article is here: http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2011/08/01/ad_for_monkeys_se...
Here's a Real World anecdote, since I just spent 3 weeks at a beach house with no dryer. We line dried everything! And towels were not meant to be line dried. They come out stiff as a board and felt like sandpaper. So did my jockey shorts. Seriously, it was quite uncomfortable!
But like you said, T-shirts, shorts, jeans, etc all did fine drying on the line, except when a late afternoon thunderstorm soaked everything and blew a lot of stuff clear across the yard (broke the clothespins!)
I'm not sure about the rest of you, but running the dryer heats up my house. I'm not just saving the energy of the dryer itself running, I'm also saving the energy of the a/c running more.
My relationship with my clothesline is one of adoration and annoyance. I hang three loads of clothes on the line, go to the store...and it rains.
I line dry indoors. This prevents all the problems you mentioned. I recommend it.
The secret to avoiding being overly influenced by advertising? Cut the cord. Since I have no TV, I'd heard of exactly one of these campaigns (the Old Spice) because someone at work pulled it up on YouTube to show to me.
My life is better without this sort of garbage.
Well I suppose if all prospective home buyers only purchased what they could truly afford upfront, homes would not cost nearly what they do today. The creative lending strategies over the past decade have allowed many individuals to acquire the 'American Dream' in spite of whether they can afford that dream or not. I guess the only equivalent I can draw is if you opened a $200K line of credit at a bank and immediately maxed that credit line out. If you amortized that loan out over 30 years...in fact, you would realize that you are paying a lot of interest up front too.
It is a tough pill to swallow, believe me. Especially being one of those conscientious home owners that put down at least 20% during the bubble peak and watched the value of my home erode under my feet while making my interest-loaded payments as agreed.
Sometimes you just have to realize when you called on a hand when you probably should have folded pre-flop (sorry for the obscure poker metaphor for many of you).
This is a very thorough analysis and I particularly appreciate your honesty in the what you can do section, as I've been wondering the same thing. I suppose it always comes back to diversifying across many assets to reduce exposure to any one thing.