I totally agree, spending more than earn or even equal to what you earn can seriously impact your retirement. We are savers and live on a lot less than we earn. I am more concerned about keeping busy, stimulated and engaged in retirement. I am working on that aspect now to avoid the issue later.
I love the quarterly review idea, Melo. I can be a bit of a pack rat, and forcing myself to go through my belongings four times a year (not just when I move) is a great idea in general.
That's a good point, Erasergirl. Personally, I'm in a rental at the moment where I can't replace the oven, and having one is worth it to me because I bake quite a bit. I've never thought about having a countertop model before though, and it seems like it could definitely be a good space and energy saver, depending on how much you cook. Do you have any recommendations for particular countertop oven models or setups?
Great post! I recently saved $40 on a hotel I booked in NYC. After a one minute Google search, I found a code that worked for Orbitz.com. $40 for one minute of work??? Yes, please.
Ahhh... Fruitcake and Farkle by the Fire for some friendly, fall fun. Funny article. BTW, wear goggles when you're dueling with marshmallow shooters. "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"
Hey, a fellow Farkle-er! Thanks, Mandy, for mentioning that it is easy to catch on to this game - I should have mentioned that. Thanks for your comment, and Happy New Year!
For another really fun, easy game that's great for big groups...have you ever played "Left, Right, Center?" It's actually more fun the larger the group is. I've played it with poker chips, and as party game there was a gift card grand prize for the winner.
I think one of the keys to a successful retirement is to have a paid off house and to remain debt-free. There is a big rent versus own debate and the math looks great when you are young. But, when you retire and your rent keeps going up, you would need a lot more retirement income to support this.
I love Farkle! My 5 year old niece picked it out for my dad for Christmas, and we all had a great time playing it. I love that you can play with two people or twelve, and it was really easy to catch on to. I had never heard of it before, so I thought it was interesting to see it on Wisebread!
Thanks for sharing-- I recently bought a few exercise DVD's from Amazon, not even thinking about using Netflix instant streaming. Turns out 90% of what I bought is on Netflix-- fortunately, the order hadn't shipped yet, so I was able to cancel it. Such a great tip! Thanks!
Actually, tax returns for 2010 are due on April 18, 2011. April 16 is Emancipation Day in Washington DC, and with the 16th falling on a Saturday, the holiday will be observed on Friday, the 15th.
i have a few pots and pans i use for specialty things but the two that sit on top of my stove waiting for daily use are actually one pot/pan officially. the lodge combo cooker. cast iron deep skillet and the lid doubles as a standard skillet. i actually have a lot of other cast iron that people gave me when they thought it was trashed [sand it and reseason and it's fine!] but since i got the combo cooker, i only ever also use my 20 inch cast iron skillet. i use the 20 inch as a baking/roasting pan mostly, it fits a whole turkey.
i make toast under my oven's broiler. it takes about three minutes. the toaster oven i used to have took about 5. by your hourly calculations [which i am accepting as accurate since i don't actually know what my oven costs to make toast] that's a difference of fractions of cents. the broiler is not the most cost effective or green, but i weighed it against buying another appliance i didn't really need when my secondhand toaster oven died and realized i could save the cost of a whole toaster oven because i didn't actually need it. then there's the energy cost of the manufacture of the toaster oven i didn't buy.
if someone wants to give me one they are throwing out someday, i'll accept it, but it's a case of need vs want
but in this case, i think meg's point is that she doesn't have anywhere to put a toaster or toaster oven anyway
Don't forget to pay your January mortgage payment in December, pay the second half of real estate taxes, and any other deductible expenses. If you can shift income to the following year if you think it will benefit you. Good luck
I built a pretty slick pot rack for my wife for Christmas. She is a trained chef and we have a low ceiling and a general lack of storage Space. I built the rack out of plumbing pipe from HOME DEPOT. Here is a link to my blog with photos and instructions if you want to build one...Ed
I used toothpaste because I didn't have any brasso. IT WORKED HORRIBLY!!!!!!!!!! In fact, it scratched even more! How could it possibly get 3/5?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?
Too true on #4. As a young person I don't have a lot of valuable furniture. I've often found its much easier and cheaper to just leave it behind and find new furniture in my new city.
@Tom - Great tip...as long as you live somewhere where alcohol is cheap (like the States). In Canada for example, that would be a very expensive solution... :-)
I had a dream to start my organization, nevertheless I did not earn enough of cash to do it. Thank heaven my friend told to take the loans. Thence I took the secured loan and made real my desire.
I don't buy your theory, and this is why. The selling agent's number one duty is and allways will be to the seller, whether it's a private party or a bank in the case of an REO. The buyer will miss out on the due dilligence that a buyer's agent will do to find any potential problems that the homebuyer should be aware of such as additional taxes, problems with the home, etc. The buyer will also not get the benefit of having someone to fight for them if there are repairs needed on the property or in terms of getting closing costs paid by the seller. I had a client that was represented by a nice caucasian (as he described her) selling agent and she not only sold him an overpriced home but she convinced him to list his home with her and she double ended his listing too and when he got into trouble with the house she sold him later down the line, she told him he was on his own.
One thing not mentioned in this article is pantry space. Even if your home does not have an official pantry, you can create one just about anywhere. Hutch with drawers in the living room? Top shelf of the coat closet? A few under the bed storage boxes?
My husband and I installed a closet organizer in the laundry room and use half of it for food storage. Also, if you have a basement, one set of shelves will dramatically improve your storage options and allow you to save $ by buying in bulk.
I totally agree, spending more than earn or even equal to what you earn can seriously impact your retirement. We are savers and live on a lot less than we earn. I am more concerned about keeping busy, stimulated and engaged in retirement. I am working on that aspect now to avoid the issue later.
I love the quarterly review idea, Melo. I can be a bit of a pack rat, and forcing myself to go through my belongings four times a year (not just when I move) is a great idea in general.
I love these! My mom always one up for stomach aches when I was little, but I never thought about using them for general warmth. Great idea.
That's a good point, Erasergirl. Personally, I'm in a rental at the moment where I can't replace the oven, and having one is worth it to me because I bake quite a bit. I've never thought about having a countertop model before though, and it seems like it could definitely be a good space and energy saver, depending on how much you cook. Do you have any recommendations for particular countertop oven models or setups?
Great post! I recently saved $40 on a hotel I booked in NYC. After a one minute Google search, I found a code that worked for Orbitz.com. $40 for one minute of work??? Yes, please.
Ahhh... Fruitcake and Farkle by the Fire for some friendly, fall fun. Funny article. BTW, wear goggles when you're dueling with marshmallow shooters. "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"
Not only informative - but super entertaining!
Thanks Marla Walters for another great article!
Hey, a fellow Farkle-er! Thanks, Mandy, for mentioning that it is easy to catch on to this game - I should have mentioned that. Thanks for your comment, and Happy New Year!
For another really fun, easy game that's great for big groups...have you ever played "Left, Right, Center?" It's actually more fun the larger the group is. I've played it with poker chips, and as party game there was a gift card grand prize for the winner.
For the record, you are correct that the "Farkle" jokes never get old. Love that game!
David,
I think one of the keys to a successful retirement is to have a paid off house and to remain debt-free. There is a big rent versus own debate and the math looks great when you are young. But, when you retire and your rent keeps going up, you would need a lot more retirement income to support this.
I love Farkle! My 5 year old niece picked it out for my dad for Christmas, and we all had a great time playing it. I love that you can play with two people or twelve, and it was really easy to catch on to. I had never heard of it before, so I thought it was interesting to see it on Wisebread!
Thanks for sharing-- I recently bought a few exercise DVD's from Amazon, not even thinking about using Netflix instant streaming. Turns out 90% of what I bought is on Netflix-- fortunately, the order hadn't shipped yet, so I was able to cancel it. Such a great tip! Thanks!
Actually, tax returns for 2010 are due on April 18, 2011. April 16 is Emancipation Day in Washington DC, and with the 16th falling on a Saturday, the holiday will be observed on Friday, the 15th.
i have a few pots and pans i use for specialty things but the two that sit on top of my stove waiting for daily use are actually one pot/pan officially. the lodge combo cooker. cast iron deep skillet and the lid doubles as a standard skillet. i actually have a lot of other cast iron that people gave me when they thought it was trashed [sand it and reseason and it's fine!] but since i got the combo cooker, i only ever also use my 20 inch cast iron skillet. i use the 20 inch as a baking/roasting pan mostly, it fits a whole turkey.
i make toast under my oven's broiler. it takes about three minutes. the toaster oven i used to have took about 5. by your hourly calculations [which i am accepting as accurate since i don't actually know what my oven costs to make toast] that's a difference of fractions of cents. the broiler is not the most cost effective or green, but i weighed it against buying another appliance i didn't really need when my secondhand toaster oven died and realized i could save the cost of a whole toaster oven because i didn't actually need it. then there's the energy cost of the manufacture of the toaster oven i didn't buy.
if someone wants to give me one they are throwing out someday, i'll accept it, but it's a case of need vs want
but in this case, i think meg's point is that she doesn't have anywhere to put a toaster or toaster oven anyway
Was this written in 1950? This isn't remotely relatable to today -- the economy, the workforce, the prejudices.
Don't forget to pay your January mortgage payment in December, pay the second half of real estate taxes, and any other deductible expenses. If you can shift income to the following year if you think it will benefit you. Good luck
I built a pretty slick pot rack for my wife for Christmas. She is a trained chef and we have a low ceiling and a general lack of storage Space. I built the rack out of plumbing pipe from HOME DEPOT. Here is a link to my blog with photos and instructions if you want to build one...Ed
Description and photos:
http://palmarescycles.blogspot.com/2010/12/latest-project.html
Materials List:
http://palmarescycles.blogspot.com/2010/12/home-made-pot-and-pan-rack.html
I used toothpaste because I didn't have any brasso. IT WORKED HORRIBLY!!!!!!!!!! In fact, it scratched even more! How could it possibly get 3/5?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?
Too true on #4. As a young person I don't have a lot of valuable furniture. I've often found its much easier and cheaper to just leave it behind and find new furniture in my new city.
@Tom - Great tip...as long as you live somewhere where alcohol is cheap (like the States). In Canada for example, that would be a very expensive solution... :-)
I had a dream to start my organization, nevertheless I did not earn enough of cash to do it. Thank heaven my friend told to take the loans. Thence I took the secured loan and made real my desire.
I don't buy your theory, and this is why. The selling agent's number one duty is and allways will be to the seller, whether it's a private party or a bank in the case of an REO. The buyer will miss out on the due dilligence that a buyer's agent will do to find any potential problems that the homebuyer should be aware of such as additional taxes, problems with the home, etc. The buyer will also not get the benefit of having someone to fight for them if there are repairs needed on the property or in terms of getting closing costs paid by the seller. I had a client that was represented by a nice caucasian (as he described her) selling agent and she not only sold him an overpriced home but she convinced him to list his home with her and she double ended his listing too and when he got into trouble with the house she sold him later down the line, she told him he was on his own.
One thing not mentioned in this article is pantry space. Even if your home does not have an official pantry, you can create one just about anywhere. Hutch with drawers in the living room? Top shelf of the coat closet? A few under the bed storage boxes?
My husband and I installed a closet organizer in the laundry room and use half of it for food storage. Also, if you have a basement, one set of shelves will dramatically improve your storage options and allow you to save $ by buying in bulk.