For all the small trash cans in our house we use those plastic bags you get from the grocer. They fit reasonably well in the can and the handles make it convenient to tie up before going in the outdoor garbage can.
I re-purpose and re-use household items and turn them into new things, like re-upholstering a chair or turn simple fabric into curtains. Thanks! Awesome phone!
We do more with less simply by focusing on a few core things we want as part of our lives (dog, child, exercise) and we make those things happen. Because we are focused on what is most important, even though we have less STUFF than most people, we feel like we have more valuables.
I live in a single room in a shared house, so I've "done more with less" by turning every piece of furniture into something functional. I'm blessed to have a built-in bookshelf in the room; I have a storage ottoman for my stationery; my desk houses lots of little things; and the boxes I moved in with (large plastic tubs) help compartmentalize things inside my closet, or get stored on the top shelf that I can't use regularly anyway because I'm too short. I think it works because it doesn't look cluttered, due to doors/lids, and since everything has a place, I know generally where things are when I need them. This was so not true at my last full apartment!
Your story really hit me hard. My wife and I have been dealing with Comcast for years. I'm on the phone with Comcast now as I type this comment (on hold of course).
All I can say is: "Wow. I'm so sorry my friend. So sorry. I wish I could help you fight them."
I've managed some amazing feets in the battle against them. Including for the last 3 years getting: Free Basic TV channels, Free HD TV channels, Free High Speed Business Class Internet, Free Modem Rental, Free HBO, Free Showtime, Free Encore, Free Starz, Free DVR Rental, Free DVR Service, and a host of other things. Yes I know that sounds like I'm bragging a bit but I want to tell you how you can do it too. I'm being totally serious here this is no spam message or late night TV self help DVD advertisement. This is just the honest to God's way that I handle Comcast.
My trick is I fight them tooth and nail! I document EVERY call, EVERY visit they make to my home, EVERY outage, EVERY bad audio sync up, EVERY bad DVR noise I hear, EVERY Internet speed lag, EVERYTHING. I document the date, the time, the person's name I speak with, their Id #, their call center location, their supervisor's name, their call center floor manager's name, their call center director's name, and their director's phone number & extension. I write letters to the Executive Office of the President of Comcast and I make phone calls to the local, state, and regional Comcast offices and managers. As well as CC'ing Comcast executives into my complaint letters that I write to my State's BBB, my State's Attorney General's Office, and the FCC. I make them give me credits for outages, I make them give me credits for titling in my TV's picture, I make them give me credits for importantly installed equipment, I make them give me credits for annoying DVR sounds, I make them give me credits for every missed tech appointment, I make them install new drop lines to my home, I make them install new grounding rods, I make them install new coax lines in my home, I make them give me free upgrades to top of the line models, I make them give me free curtsy free premium channels.
And trust me Paul I don't just do this with Comcast I do this with all my ISPs (like AT&T for phone service). Call them while you're going to work. It makes that 30 minutes plus commute go by in breeze.
Make Comcast FEAR you Paul. Make them FEAR YOU! Take back the power and I swear to you and your family will live virtually ISP / Comcast bill free for all the rest of your days.
All the best luck to you and your family my friend!
I recently sold me car and went car free. I don't have to worry about any premium insurance payments and fluctuating gas prices. I ride a bike to work now and I have been feeling more energetic since.
Doing less with more to me right now involves using the fall vegetables in the garden to the best possible advantage! The last of the cauliflower was harvested yesterday - gardening is a great way to save money and add fresh produce to your diet!
walmart has been claiming to be "green" and eco fiendly for sometime now. If thats the case they wouldn't be destroying perfectly good items. Walmart of all companies should not be afraid of the lack or loss of money because they have plenty to spare. But since they are why dont they open a Walmart outlet store in just a few locations where all the left over merchandise can be shipped and sold on discount? Then they wouldn't be loosing any money. They can open them in other countries where people are to poor to pay regular price.
When my daughter was 5 or 6, she came home from school one day, just before Christmas, and said to me, "I think Christmas should be called 'Needmas'. Because so many people get things they don't need and so many people need things they don't get." So we started a family tradition that involved the kids making a list of the things they needed, and that would constitute our Christmas shopping list (we'd get them a few frivolous items for fun). 'Needmas' isn't as eloquent as 'staycation', but I think the spirit of it is in the right place.
I've changed how we do laundry at our house. I previously did laundry every weekend - 7-8 loads at a time. After missing the regular schedule due to an illness, I realized htat we had enough basic clothing to go 10-14 days between laundry days!
Now I do laundry every 10 to 12 days. I still have 7-8 loads, but now those loads are FULL. I do at least 176 fewer loads, which saves us tons on water, detergent, power, and most importantly my time!!
My only short-term advice is just what I mentioned in the comment you're replying to: temporarily separate the work that you do to earn a living from the work that you do because it's worth doing.
Volunteering is one way. Software in particular lends itself to this tactic, because there are always open-source projects that you can work on.
Demonstrating your proficiency in this way can lead to all variety of paid gigs—and in the meantime you're doing some work worth doing.
I talk about working for free in my post of pre-career advice. I talk about separating your paid work from the work you want to do in a post called Dream Job or Day Job.
We try to do more with less in the playroom. Every year at this time I purge the toys, books and other playthings to make room for the inevitable parade of new things the Christmas season will bring. Too many toys = overwhelmed kids.
There are plenty of advantages to working a regular job with regular hours, a regular paycheck, benefits, and so on. But I'd call them "advantages," not "freedom." To do otherwise is to devalue the word. You might as well claim that slavery gave you the freedom to not have to decide for yourself what work to do.
I've got no problem with people choosing to work a regular job. I just want them to arrange their lives so that they're not making that choice out of fear that otherwise they'll end up homeless and hungry. I'd be much happier if most people had a comfortable emergency fund, some amount of income from sources other than their job, and a household cost structure that was flexible enough that they could go on paying the absolutely necessary bills for as long a it might take to find another job. Then nobody needs to be motivated by fear.
I live in Denver Proper and we have meters on my residential street. However, as a resident of the street I can apply for a permit and be allowed to park on my own block without having to pay the meter. They signs say you must pay the meter, or have a permit for block #DB.
A few months after getting my permit, I got a ticket for parking two far from the curb. Mind you, there is a huge pot hole in front of my house, if I put my wheel in it, the bumper would hit the ground. The ticket states my front wheel was 10.5 inches from the curb. I called and was told that I can't park more than 10 inches from the curb. I asked what to do if there is a hole making it dangerous to park so close, they told me to park somewhere else or I will get a ticket. I said I now know and since ignorance is no excuse, I would pay it, but I would like it if they could assure me that my fine would go to wards repairing the street. They said they could not assure me of that, so instead, they will reduce my fine by 50%. That was two years ago, and the hole is still not fixed.
Then today, I got a ticket for extending beyond the meter pole, just like the poster. This is after almost 3 years of parking in front of my own house. Great! And I was 1" over, I frickin measured it! I called and was told this is a brand new law, and has not been publicized, and that the only way to appeal this is to appear in person, during work hours. That isn't possible, I will loose more that $25 in pay, if I took half a day off. They assured me, the law was posted on the wall of city hall, so I have no excuse to not know about it. Who goes to City Hall? And just like the poster, I am at the end of my block, I was not stopping anyone from parking anywhere.
Denver is becoming a bureaucratic nightmare to live in.
I don't think I said anything to suggest that I think some jobs are crap jobs (versus other jobs that are better).
Personally, I think it would be great if the garbage men decided to hold out for a living wage and decent living conditions. It wouldn't be much of a hardship for me—I lived for years in a household that didn't have any garbage service. (We composted and we recycled and we made a point of not buying stuff that we were going to have to throw away, and then a couple times a year we loaded up the car with stuff to take to the dump.) But I'd be a lot happier if I felt like the people who were performing services for me were doing them because they thought it was work worth doing—not because they felt like they had to do them or else end up living in their car.
So, I disagree. I think crap jobs are a strain on society. I think they divide people into those who are privileged to do work that's worth doing and those who are forced to do whatever will keep the wolf from the door.
What surprises me—and what prompted this article—was that so many people who ought to be in the class that can choose to do work that's worth doing seem to feel like they're members of the class who have little choice to be take whatever their boss dishes out. I figure it's mostly because of debt or because of "keeping up with the Joneses." Those two things reinforce one another—and they're the reason that I write stuff like this. I want to live in a world where people choose not to put themselves in the wage-slave/debt-slave trap in the first place. And, if they already have, I want to show them how to escape.
Not all Costco locations have gas stations, but the one nearest our home does and it offers the most competitive gas prices on a consistent basis. I think if it wasn't for the gas discounts, we might consider giving up our membership... that said, the "free" sampletizers are always fun, especially now that we have a kid :-)
I think that sentimental gifts are the most memorable way to do more with less. My favorite gifts are photo calendars, filled with memories. These are easy and affordable, and can be tailored for families and friends.
Lastly, don't forget to spend a little something for those who can't spend - whether it is adopting a family for a holiday or buying something small for a toy drive. When I was little, I was the recipient of a secret toys-for-tots gift (I had no idea where it came from, it was left at my doorstep), and it helped me continue believing in Santa although my family was not able to afford gifts that year!
I hosted a clothing swap with a half-dozen, similarly-sized friends. We divided offerings into categories & took turns picking an item each 'til we'd claimed all we wanted. The remainder went to charity!
For all the small trash cans in our house we use those plastic bags you get from the grocer. They fit reasonably well in the can and the handles make it convenient to tie up before going in the outdoor garbage can.
I love reusing things. I make old t shirts into new tops or bags.
I re-purpose and re-use household items and turn them into new things, like re-upholstering a chair or turn simple fabric into curtains. Thanks! Awesome phone!
We do more with less simply by focusing on a few core things we want as part of our lives (dog, child, exercise) and we make those things happen. Because we are focused on what is most important, even though we have less STUFF than most people, we feel like we have more valuables.
I live in a single room in a shared house, so I've "done more with less" by turning every piece of furniture into something functional. I'm blessed to have a built-in bookshelf in the room; I have a storage ottoman for my stationery; my desk houses lots of little things; and the boxes I moved in with (large plastic tubs) help compartmentalize things inside my closet, or get stored on the top shelf that I can't use regularly anyway because I'm too short. I think it works because it doesn't look cluttered, due to doors/lids, and since everything has a place, I know generally where things are when I need them. This was so not true at my last full apartment!
Paul,
Your story really hit me hard. My wife and I have been dealing with Comcast for years. I'm on the phone with Comcast now as I type this comment (on hold of course).
All I can say is: "Wow. I'm so sorry my friend. So sorry. I wish I could help you fight them."
I've managed some amazing feets in the battle against them. Including for the last 3 years getting: Free Basic TV channels, Free HD TV channels, Free High Speed Business Class Internet, Free Modem Rental, Free HBO, Free Showtime, Free Encore, Free Starz, Free DVR Rental, Free DVR Service, and a host of other things. Yes I know that sounds like I'm bragging a bit but I want to tell you how you can do it too. I'm being totally serious here this is no spam message or late night TV self help DVD advertisement. This is just the honest to God's way that I handle Comcast.
My trick is I fight them tooth and nail! I document EVERY call, EVERY visit they make to my home, EVERY outage, EVERY bad audio sync up, EVERY bad DVR noise I hear, EVERY Internet speed lag, EVERYTHING. I document the date, the time, the person's name I speak with, their Id #, their call center location, their supervisor's name, their call center floor manager's name, their call center director's name, and their director's phone number & extension. I write letters to the Executive Office of the President of Comcast and I make phone calls to the local, state, and regional Comcast offices and managers. As well as CC'ing Comcast executives into my complaint letters that I write to my State's BBB, my State's Attorney General's Office, and the FCC. I make them give me credits for outages, I make them give me credits for titling in my TV's picture, I make them give me credits for importantly installed equipment, I make them give me credits for annoying DVR sounds, I make them give me credits for every missed tech appointment, I make them install new drop lines to my home, I make them install new grounding rods, I make them install new coax lines in my home, I make them give me free upgrades to top of the line models, I make them give me free curtsy free premium channels.
And trust me Paul I don't just do this with Comcast I do this with all my ISPs (like AT&T for phone service). Call them while you're going to work. It makes that 30 minutes plus commute go by in breeze.
Make Comcast FEAR you Paul. Make them FEAR YOU! Take back the power and I swear to you and your family will live virtually ISP / Comcast bill free for all the rest of your days.
All the best luck to you and your family my friend!
Your digital pal,
_Rob Rayburn
I recently sold me car and went car free. I don't have to worry about any premium insurance payments and fluctuating gas prices. I ride a bike to work now and I have been feeling more energetic since.
I do more with less by subbing beans for protein in recipes.
I would save a lot of time if I didn't have so many clothes. There's too much to pick from and I end up doing too much laundry!
I absolutely agree !!:-)
How about "holidown"? Downsize the holidays!
Doing less with more to me right now involves using the fall vegetables in the garden to the best possible advantage! The last of the cauliflower was harvested yesterday - gardening is a great way to save money and add fresh produce to your diet!
walmart has been claiming to be "green" and eco fiendly for sometime now. If thats the case they wouldn't be destroying perfectly good items. Walmart of all companies should not be afraid of the lack or loss of money because they have plenty to spare. But since they are why dont they open a Walmart outlet store in just a few locations where all the left over merchandise can be shipped and sold on discount? Then they wouldn't be loosing any money. They can open them in other countries where people are to poor to pay regular price.
When my daughter was 5 or 6, she came home from school one day, just before Christmas, and said to me, "I think Christmas should be called 'Needmas'. Because so many people get things they don't need and so many people need things they don't get." So we started a family tradition that involved the kids making a list of the things they needed, and that would constitute our Christmas shopping list (we'd get them a few frivolous items for fun). 'Needmas' isn't as eloquent as 'staycation', but I think the spirit of it is in the right place.
I've changed how we do laundry at our house. I previously did laundry every weekend - 7-8 loads at a time. After missing the regular schedule due to an illness, I realized htat we had enough basic clothing to go 10-14 days between laundry days!
Now I do laundry every 10 to 12 days. I still have 7-8 loads, but now those loads are FULL. I do at least 176 fewer loads, which saves us tons on water, detergent, power, and most importantly my time!!
My only short-term advice is just what I mentioned in the comment you're replying to: temporarily separate the work that you do to earn a living from the work that you do because it's worth doing.
Volunteering is one way. Software in particular lends itself to this tactic, because there are always open-source projects that you can work on.
Demonstrating your proficiency in this way can lead to all variety of paid gigs—and in the meantime you're doing some work worth doing.
I talk about working for free in my post of pre-career advice. I talk about separating your paid work from the work you want to do in a post called Dream Job or Day Job.
Good luck!
We try to do more with less in the playroom. Every year at this time I purge the toys, books and other playthings to make room for the inevitable parade of new things the Christmas season will bring. Too many toys = overwhelmed kids.
There are plenty of advantages to working a regular job with regular hours, a regular paycheck, benefits, and so on. But I'd call them "advantages," not "freedom." To do otherwise is to devalue the word. You might as well claim that slavery gave you the freedom to not have to decide for yourself what work to do.
I've got no problem with people choosing to work a regular job. I just want them to arrange their lives so that they're not making that choice out of fear that otherwise they'll end up homeless and hungry. I'd be much happier if most people had a comfortable emergency fund, some amount of income from sources other than their job, and a household cost structure that was flexible enough that they could go on paying the absolutely necessary bills for as long a it might take to find another job. Then nobody needs to be motivated by fear.
I live in Denver Proper and we have meters on my residential street. However, as a resident of the street I can apply for a permit and be allowed to park on my own block without having to pay the meter. They signs say you must pay the meter, or have a permit for block #DB.
A few months after getting my permit, I got a ticket for parking two far from the curb. Mind you, there is a huge pot hole in front of my house, if I put my wheel in it, the bumper would hit the ground. The ticket states my front wheel was 10.5 inches from the curb. I called and was told that I can't park more than 10 inches from the curb. I asked what to do if there is a hole making it dangerous to park so close, they told me to park somewhere else or I will get a ticket. I said I now know and since ignorance is no excuse, I would pay it, but I would like it if they could assure me that my fine would go to wards repairing the street. They said they could not assure me of that, so instead, they will reduce my fine by 50%. That was two years ago, and the hole is still not fixed.
Then today, I got a ticket for extending beyond the meter pole, just like the poster. This is after almost 3 years of parking in front of my own house. Great! And I was 1" over, I frickin measured it! I called and was told this is a brand new law, and has not been publicized, and that the only way to appeal this is to appear in person, during work hours. That isn't possible, I will loose more that $25 in pay, if I took half a day off. They assured me, the law was posted on the wall of city hall, so I have no excuse to not know about it. Who goes to City Hall? And just like the poster, I am at the end of my block, I was not stopping anyone from parking anywhere.
Denver is becoming a bureaucratic nightmare to live in.
I don't think I said anything to suggest that I think some jobs are crap jobs (versus other jobs that are better).
Personally, I think it would be great if the garbage men decided to hold out for a living wage and decent living conditions. It wouldn't be much of a hardship for me—I lived for years in a household that didn't have any garbage service. (We composted and we recycled and we made a point of not buying stuff that we were going to have to throw away, and then a couple times a year we loaded up the car with stuff to take to the dump.) But I'd be a lot happier if I felt like the people who were performing services for me were doing them because they thought it was work worth doing—not because they felt like they had to do them or else end up living in their car.
So, I disagree. I think crap jobs are a strain on society. I think they divide people into those who are privileged to do work that's worth doing and those who are forced to do whatever will keep the wolf from the door.
What surprises me—and what prompted this article—was that so many people who ought to be in the class that can choose to do work that's worth doing seem to feel like they're members of the class who have little choice to be take whatever their boss dishes out. I figure it's mostly because of debt or because of "keeping up with the Joneses." Those two things reinforce one another—and they're the reason that I write stuff like this. I want to live in a world where people choose not to put themselves in the wage-slave/debt-slave trap in the first place. And, if they already have, I want to show them how to escape.
Not all Costco locations have gas stations, but the one nearest our home does and it offers the most competitive gas prices on a consistent basis. I think if it wasn't for the gas discounts, we might consider giving up our membership... that said, the "free" sampletizers are always fun, especially now that we have a kid :-)
Thank you for the detailed and insightful post.
I've been using the convection oven for the past year, and I should say that it makes a tremendous difference.
Absolutely. Games like this are a big part of how we learn who we are, and how we contribute to making our children who they are.
I think that sentimental gifts are the most memorable way to do more with less. My favorite gifts are photo calendars, filled with memories. These are easy and affordable, and can be tailored for families and friends.
Lastly, don't forget to spend a little something for those who can't spend - whether it is adopting a family for a holiday or buying something small for a toy drive. When I was little, I was the recipient of a secret toys-for-tots gift (I had no idea where it came from, it was left at my doorstep), and it helped me continue believing in Santa although my family was not able to afford gifts that year!
I hosted a clothing swap with a half-dozen, similarly-sized friends. We divided offerings into categories & took turns picking an item each 'til we'd claimed all we wanted. The remainder went to charity!