Recent comments

  • How to Make Moonshine   16 years 9 weeks ago

    Anyone got any reliable info on this?? Caffeine is an alkaloid, yeah? Does it distill? Thing is, someone gave me a whole load of 2 pound jars of instant coffee that were past their sell-by date; I brewed them all up with a heap of white sugar just for the experiment of it. Foamed like crazy for a few days but fermented right out. I've got 10 gallons of wash at about 20% here that justs smells like the strongest coffee you've ever seen. I was just wondering if the caffeine would come through when i run it through the still? It would turn out to be a real high-alcohol "energy-drink" if it does!At the very least, by using a pot-still without a thumper, i'm hoping for some kind of coffee-liqueur flavour.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Eat Healthy on a Budget? (Chance to win $25!)   16 years 9 weeks ago

    Garden, garden, garden. Can and freeze. Buy in bulk with a friend.

    Thanks for the chance to win money for groceries!

  • 25 Things to Do With Used Corks (Including Making Money With Them)   16 years 9 weeks ago

    I love corks! I just bought a HUGE bag of them at a garage sale o.O

  • How to Make Moonshine   16 years 9 weeks ago

    I HAVE BEEN MAKIN MY OWN WISKY FOR YEARS. YOU NEED TO ADD A FEW SIMPLE STEPS TO MAKE IT SAFER. A CONDINSER IS A MUST TO GET THE RIGHT FLOW FROM THE WORM. AND, IT WILL MELLOW OUT THE TASTE (NO CONDINSER = ROUGH TASTE). ALSO, YOU SHOULD ALSO ALWAYS FILTER YOUR CATCH THROUGH A FUNNEL WITH A COFFEE FILTER AND HARD WOOD CHARCOAL (ACTUAL CHARRED OAK, MAPLE, HICKORY ETC) TO REMOVE THE BARDY GREASE. THIS IS THE SKIM STUFF ON THE SURFACE THAT CAN MAKE YOU SICK. REMEBER, BE CREATIVE AND ITS' A LOT OF FUN.

  • Bar Stool Economics   16 years 9 weeks ago

    --" while the rich pay Social Security tax on only a fraction of their salaries, and none of their investment income."

    Capital Gains Tax?

    --"The poor pay more of their income in sales taxes, because they must spend more of their incomes on tangible personal property"

    Immediate Gratification? The poor spend money they don't have, and that's the difference between being "poor" and being "broke". Broke is a state of affairs, poor is a state of mind. You have to work at being poor.

  • netSpend: The Story of the Visa Debit Card We Did Not Apply For   16 years 9 weeks ago

    I just got one..thanks so much for sharing this terrible experience. I felt exactly the same as i opened the mail to see this card enclosed. it's got to be a fraud..or easy to hack and dangerous.

  • 30 Easy Ways to Go Green in the Office   16 years 9 weeks ago

    the screensavers thing is a nice touch that also helps improve computer security. I was reading somewhere that hackers sometimes target screensaver software to gain access into computers because when a screensaver is running, it virtually takes full control of the computer. This is a very informative post

  • 6 False Assumptions About Debt-Free Living   16 years 9 weeks ago

    I know exactly what you mean.. Although I am FAR from debt free, I spent the last 4.5 years working 2 jobs to keep our family's head above water. Everything I did was so incredibly frugal and only had an eye to the fact that "there are bills to be paid". Debt free wasn't even in the picture because it wasn't even a possibility.

    Now suddenly, my husband, who has been battling a debilitating mental illness, has become well enough to work. And suddenly we have enough money to pay bills and enough to actually have discretionary spending again. And I don't know what to do. I don't have a plan for this, and I find myself making stupid decisions with that extra money because I don't have a plan. All I've yearned for these last years was "If only I had enough money to pay all the bills every month."

    Now that's come to fruition, what do I do next?

    Thanks for the words of wisdom.

  • Tattoo removal on the cheap...just use a Black & Decker Sander.   16 years 9 weeks ago

    im writing to you DRUNK.

  • Tattoo removal on the cheap...just use a Black & Decker Sander.   16 years 9 weeks ago

    so far,how is your tatoo status?

  • The Law (of) Suits: Insurance for Men   16 years 9 weeks ago

    This is a very good basic advice for most men when they are considering buying a new suit. When you have the money to invest on your clothing, then I would definitely recommend having bespoke suits for the best fit and best look.

  • netSpend: The Story of the Visa Debit Card We Did Not Apply For   16 years 9 weeks ago

    I have had a net spend card for over three years. I have had no problems thus far. I like the fact that my paycheck is direct deposited 1-2 days BEFORE my official payday.
    I, in fact have a bank account, but chose my direct deposit to go the net spend because I get it early.
    It is true, however, that if you need to speak to customer service, it's pretty much non- existent. Language is a problem as well.

  • Ruthless Frugality   16 years 9 weeks ago

    I don't think you can categorically say that it's better to have a job in some factory than it is to live in a less modern society. Generally, when people move to cities and work in factories, it's because technological and economic forces are eroding an agrarian society.

    In a less advanced economy, people don't have "jobs" per-se. They don't participate heavily in a money economy. They use barter, and a large fraction of the population is involved in producing food. So, while on paper, they appear to have low incomes, that's only because thousands of dollars of their "income" and "wages" are not in currency.

    Here's an example. Suppose 50% of people are farmers. The other 50% do other things, like make furniture. Suppose I grow wheat, and trade it for a table and chairs. That transaction is off the books. It's not counted in the GDP, despite the fact that both things are valuable.

    Now imagine that a shoe factory opens up, and I start working there. Now I get paid in money. I can buy the table for cash plus some wheat. The cash part eventually shows up, somewhere, as a transaction. Maybe not during the trade for a table, but later on someone will record it.

    The shoe factory will cause the value of currency to rise. The government will introduce more currency to devalue it (otherwise, it suffers inflation). There will be more money circulating in the economy. So the numbers appear to be getting better... but what's really happening is that more currency is circulating, and less of the economy will be involved in barter.

    The unstated, but true goal of development is to increase the amount of currency being used, because that opens up the country for more import and export of goods.

    Whether this is good or bad is really a value judgment. I'm just relating this story to disabuse us of the idea that reported low incomes in developing countries (aka emerging markets) represents dire poverty. It just represents the absence of modern currency.

  • 6 False Assumptions About Debt-Free Living   16 years 9 weeks ago

    I think if you're in debt and want to give to a cause, write it down somewhere. You can give it to them later.

  • Personal Finance Lessons from Online Adventure Game (RuneScape)   16 years 9 weeks ago

    Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful and beneficial to your readers.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Eat Healthy on a Budget? (Chance to win $25!)   16 years 9 weeks ago

    I eat LESS. I can afford the organic meat and produce, because I buy and use the smallest amounts possible! I eat only one large meal a day (often using similar ingredients for several days in row: pasta with tomatoes, garlic, and red peppers, pizza with red peppers and mushrooms, Roasted tomato bruschetta... etc.). This works because I really love certain vegetables, and because I try to eat seasonally (which also helps cut costs!), so I don't get too tired of anything... Otherwise, I snack on fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and drink lots of water and iced tea (that I make at home!).

    Also a huge help to the grocery budget? Over the last year we have dramatically decreased the amount of processed foods we buy. I love how having a pantry stocked with flour, oatmeal, cornmeal, rice, yeast, salt, and sugar makes it possible for me to make lots and lots and lots of different dishes! (But I also love to cook, so there you go.)

    Lastly, I make coffee at home. I can even afford to buy the organic fair trade coffee because it still is far FAR cheaper than getting a latte at Starbucks every day.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Eat Healthy on a Budget? (Chance to win $25!)   16 years 9 weeks ago

    Cook from scratch, buy what's on sale only and use coupons, and buy bulk!

  • Make Your DVD Player Region-Free in Seconds   16 years 9 weeks ago

    hello kathy,

    any successs...let me know

  • 6 Secret Homemade Stain Removers That Kick Butt   16 years 9 weeks ago

    use mens hand cleaner from the Dollar store.Costs !.00 and can use on all laundry .

  • Buy Your Groceries European-Style   16 years 9 weeks ago

    I'm actually thinking of trying this method of shopping. Fridge and freezer space are at a premium where I live (I'm sharing with three housemates). Ten years of being on my own have taught me that planning is not exactly my forte. I can do it, but I hate it, and sometimes I forget to put something on the list, so I have to make an extra trip anyway.

    Can't tell you how many times I've salivated over fresh bread, or avoided the displays at the deli or seafood counters, or seen beautiful produce and said no because it'll spoil if I stock up. (Out of sight, out of mind.) So I might give this method a try.

  • Reduce Your Credit Limits to Manage Your Spending   16 years 9 weeks ago

    Just cutting up the cards is probably your best bet. Many people just don't have the control that is required to keep those card balances low. If you are going to carry a balance, make sure to use the low interest rate cards.

  • Reduce Your Credit Limits to Manage Your Spending   16 years 9 weeks ago

    Many people are having their credit limits reduced by the card companies automatically. This is forcing folks to rein in spending and lower debt balances. That is one benefit of this down economy is that we are being forced to spend carefully.

  • 5 Reasons Not to Apply for a Loan Modification in the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)   16 years 9 weeks ago

    Z Burkett Man Im in the process of doing the same thing.... i asked this same question in another blog.....why aren't people hiring professionals.. i really enjoyed what you said It made my day, its the only blog i read that made perfect sense in light of all the things i been reading.!!

  • 11 Ways to Prep for "Guerrilla Retirement"   16 years 9 weeks ago

    Kentin,
    Well said! We all have to filter retirement advice through what we know to be now true: the old "401K + match" rule is tired, old news. The New Retirement: each person is his/her own best financial advisor, and the rules are changing all the time, just the like the job market, the economy and the world market. Stay nimble, be informed and question everything. It's your retirement, not anyone else's.

  • 13 Ways To Be Nice That Will Cost You Barely Anything   16 years 9 weeks ago

    I hope they don't; but you don't have to spend (pick up the dinner check, buy a gift, etc.) to be kind.