I figure I have the best alarm system in the world. My five dogs will eat anyone they don't know who tries to come into our home. I feel totally safe . . .
Back when we were dating, my other half showed me that trick to get better reception at a distance. It always worked better in a parking structure. I thought he was crazy, but it works!
1) This only works in nicer areas. In many places the sound of a car alarm is simply an annoyance which won't make anyone look in the direction of the noise. I'm in an area where I hear 3-4 car alarms a night. Something to think about.
2) I have found that there is a much more scary noise than a honking car alarm...The sound of a racking 12-gauge shotgun. It's the loudest sound in the world when you are in the dark, in a place you shouldn't be, doing something you shouldn't be doing. I've never been on the receiving end of the noise, but I've been the creator of it. There is nothing more effective.
If more people would stop honking car alarms and start racking their shotguns, there may be less need for posts about cheaper alternatives to home security systems.
I'm a massage therapist - a great service to barter. I've gotten haircuts, photography for website, room painting & handyman work, gym membership, search engine optimization, etc. in return for my work.
Entertaining article (and some of the comments, too)! Even if I don't agree with all of them, most are pretty solid and I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek style.
I will add #48: Buy a vacuum cleaner based on marketing and the price (i.e., the more expensive, the better). There's no better way to insure it lasts until just past the warranty... :-)
I really need to darn my work socks. Those are good tips. Thus far, I've just been switching feet so the holes over the big toes are on the other side of the foot near the pinkie toe.
Umn... what you are teaching in this column is how to make prohibition era hooch! This is not moonshine! Real moonshine is made with corn and is a craft that has been handed down one genration to the next in the States since before the USA was the USA!
"to many dumb Americans"? Actually it should be TOO many... By the tone and spelling of the above rant made by some punk kid, it is obvious that Americans are not the only ones capable of being dumb, jackass.
Yeah, I don't have the answers for employment. Just look around and you can see that there's plenty of work to do--globalization, quality improvements, and an economy built around cheap replacements have gone together to eliminate a lot of low-value occupations completely. I really don't know how that's going to play out.
I will remember the Zero decade, the one that emerged post 9/11, as a sleeping in reverse. It started as a series of nightmares, geopolitical and economic drowsiness, excesses of consumption, and ends in sobriety, normality.
I would be delighted to be awake, sober and living below my means for the foreseeable future.
Right--the debt service is exactly what made the whole "taking money out of the house" thing a fantasy.
On top of that, though, was a whole second layer of delusion. If you pointed out the debt service issue, a lot of people would just wave that objection away: "Worst case I can always sell the house and pay off the mortgage." We're now seeing the real "worst case" being played out in our neighborhoods. At least, I hope it doesn't get any worse.
It seems the positive comments are outweighing the negative ones now, which is great. I can't please everyone, but I do like to please the majority. Thanks everyone.
Another great post, Philip! The real question now is: how will "full" employment be defined? I am guessing a return to the 5-6% unemployment rate to account for the long-term fallout of a decrease in housing related employment as well as those jobs supported by the "second and third level discretionary items".
You said it perfectly: "In a normal economy, people have to live on less than what they earn and save up for what they want to buy."
I find that the less money I have, the more happy I am. It is only then that you realize the true treasures in your life: spending time with the family, long walks with your dog, and making a marvelous meal for your wedding anniversary instead of going out to dinner.
Splurges are great but when they are every day, they are no longer splurges.
We had a regular customer stop in and she was shuffling one of her feet. It turns out one of the straps on her sandal broke. We had a giant stapler for ~50 page jobs so I borrowed her shoe and managed to get the staple all the way through it.
She wore those shoes (staple in place) for at least another year. They were probably stronger than when they were new.
Maybe Hanna and Aaron should hold their comments for when I ask about haggling. LOL
Linsey Knerl
I figure I have the best alarm system in the world. My five dogs will eat anyone they don't know who tries to come into our home. I feel totally safe . . .
Tell you for $10? I'll tell you for $20. How 'bout that?
Back when we were dating, my other half showed me that trick to get better reception at a distance. It always worked better in a parking structure. I thought he was crazy, but it works!
I'll tell you if you raise the prize money to 15 dollars...
love to work the barter when i can.
recently traded some graphic design work for a much needed repair to my car.
everyone walked away happy.
To Josh,
That was funny. True, and funny, too.
1) This only works in nicer areas. In many places the sound of a car alarm is simply an annoyance which won't make anyone look in the direction of the noise. I'm in an area where I hear 3-4 car alarms a night. Something to think about.
2) I have found that there is a much more scary noise than a honking car alarm...The sound of a racking 12-gauge shotgun. It's the loudest sound in the world when you are in the dark, in a place you shouldn't be, doing something you shouldn't be doing. I've never been on the receiving end of the noise, but I've been the creator of it. There is nothing more effective.
If more people would stop honking car alarms and start racking their shotguns, there may be less need for posts about cheaper alternatives to home security systems.
Great site by the way...long time subscriber.
I'm a massage therapist - a great service to barter. I've gotten haircuts, photography for website, room painting & handyman work, gym membership, search engine optimization, etc. in return for my work.
You can read my rather lengthy post about my experiences here: http://moneymatekate.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/my-bartering-experiences/
Entertaining article (and some of the comments, too)! Even if I don't agree with all of them, most are pretty solid and I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek style.
I will add #48: Buy a vacuum cleaner based on marketing and the price (i.e., the more expensive, the better). There's no better way to insure it lasts until just past the warranty... :-)
A great idea I'd never thought of. Thanks for sharing!
I really need to darn my work socks. Those are good tips. Thus far, I've just been switching feet so the holes over the big toes are on the other side of the foot near the pinkie toe.
poster #7 too.
Though I don't have a problem with limited "propping" (depending on what you actually mean by that).
Umn... what you are teaching in this column is how to make prohibition era hooch! This is not moonshine! Real moonshine is made with corn and is a craft that has been handed down one genration to the next in the States since before the USA was the USA!
"to many dumb Americans"? Actually it should be TOO many... By the tone and spelling of the above rant made by some punk kid, it is obvious that Americans are not the only ones capable of being dumb, jackass.
Can it be that i small dents doesnt "pop", but bigger dent can "pop"?
@ Brian:
Yeah, I don't have the answers for employment. Just look around and you can see that there's plenty of work to do--globalization, quality improvements, and an economy built around cheap replacements have gone together to eliminate a lot of low-value occupations completely. I really don't know how that's going to play out.
I will remember the Zero decade, the one that emerged post 9/11, as a sleeping in reverse. It started as a series of nightmares, geopolitical and economic drowsiness, excesses of consumption, and ends in sobriety, normality.
I would be delighted to be awake, sober and living below my means for the foreseeable future.
@ odograph:
Right--the debt service is exactly what made the whole "taking money out of the house" thing a fantasy.
On top of that, though, was a whole second layer of delusion. If you pointed out the debt service issue, a lot of people would just wave that objection away: "Worst case I can always sell the house and pay off the mortgage." We're now seeing the real "worst case" being played out in our neighborhoods. At least, I hope it doesn't get any worse.
It seems the positive comments are outweighing the negative ones now, which is great. I can't please everyone, but I do like to please the majority. Thanks everyone.
Hello, I am from europe, I try dry ice and air duster, but it doesnt work to me, can you say why? Can you give me advice?
Another great post, Philip! The real question now is: how will "full" employment be defined? I am guessing a return to the 5-6% unemployment rate to account for the long-term fallout of a decrease in housing related employment as well as those jobs supported by the "second and third level discretionary items".
poster #7!
You said it perfectly: "In a normal economy, people have to live on less than what they earn and save up for what they want to buy."
I find that the less money I have, the more happy I am. It is only then that you realize the true treasures in your life: spending time with the family, long walks with your dog, and making a marvelous meal for your wedding anniversary instead of going out to dinner.
Splurges are great but when they are every day, they are no longer splurges.
We had a regular customer stop in and she was shuffling one of her feet. It turns out one of the straps on her sandal broke. We had a giant stapler for ~50 page jobs so I borrowed her shoe and managed to get the staple all the way through it.
She wore those shoes (staple in place) for at least another year. They were probably stronger than when they were new.