Great post! I love the information but am still convinced I would be the unlucky person you mentioned - I never seem to win anything! (Not that I'm complaining, I have a great life - but it would be nice to win something sometime. Hm, maybe I will start entering more sweeps after all.)
I've had debts sold to various collection agencies, and the further down the food chain the more vicious the become. I've been threatened with the police thing before, been called a loser and other name. The worst thing though was that a company held my phone hostage for about 10 minutes.
The agency called and I spoke with them, at the time I was unemployed and I told them plainly "I do not know" and hung up. Well I went to pick up the phone to call a family member about the situation and they were still were there, they wouldn't hang up. I hung up the phone again, made my call on my cellphone & picked up the land line again they still were there. At that point I told them that they were harrassing me. I don't know how they did it.
It is awful and embarrassing enough to be in debt, it is a state no one wants to be in, and they definitely add fuel to the fire. I became more avoidant of my debts because I didn't want to even pick up the phone anymore, and didn't.
The rest is out of context, but anyway thank you for your post.
You are in your (say) 50's, have found the home you want to remain in for the forseeable future, and expect, all things being equal, another 15 years of income as opposed to another 30 years. (Yes, I know there's many a slip .. .. and using this as a basis of financial planning for the future is "not good" - but neither is having a mortgage payment when you're in your 80's).
the data is contained beneath the scratch on the metallic layer. The brasso fills in the scratch on the plastic, thus allowing the laser to read the information beneath.
At the moment, I am only using that bottom one. I have taken away some programs, which I usually close manually each time on start-up, and i'm about to restart. I hope it all go's well!
If you used "Brasso" or another liquid metal polish, the kid says, it levels the disk or fills the cracks in. In any case, wouldn't you lose the memory or data that was before the scratch? I don't know how it could continue to work the same..
The about frugal living page was totally revamped when they got a new guide a few months ago. The old guide, the ever wise and gracious Pat Veretto, now has her own frugal blog: http://patverettosfrugalliving.blogspot.com/index.html
Hi Paul. Thanks for showing us these excellent methods. Sadly,
the toothpaste, banana and gum methods didn't work, but I will
be going to the shops, and looking for a metal liquid polish (specifically brasso, but as you mentioned, any brand will do)
Buck, the short answer to should I do this or not is "no." My recommendation and Brad G.'s as well as others is that if you want to pay off quickly, it is easiest to do it yourself without paying for a program.
Someone asked about college textbooks. I don't try to profit on my college textbooks, but I do try to recoup some of my costs. Someone feeling more entrepreneurial could go for profit, but what I do takes little time and saves a great deal.
For books that are infrequently updated or that I may want to refer to (mostly tend to be more specialized--e.g. junior-senior level/graduate in my major areas), this isn't really worth it. But for lower-level things, they are updated every few years. I have realized that if I spend $100 for a book and keep it, it costs me $100. If I sell it off for $80, then I paid $20 to "rent" it for the semester. If I sell it off for $80 and change my mind later, I can get it "back" for $15 once the new edition comes out and only have spent $35.
Procedure: To buy, use a meta-search such as ISBN.nu, campusi.com, or... well, I can't remember the name of the other one at the moment. Buy from whatever store has the best value. Check the listings carefully to ensure that the seller has decent ratings and is selling the book you want (current edition, U.S. hardcover if you prefer).
I start as soon as they start listing books at the bookstore/website, or if I know based on an early syllabus or conversation with the instructor. Also, it's rarely tragic if you don't have the book during the first week, although in some subjects I'll get a good jump start and read several chapters before the class even starts.
End of semester I list several things on half.com, choosing a price based on what else is listed, what I paid, etc. I haven't gotten into ebay very much, even now that they've bought out half.com. What I like about half.com is that if I don't get it listed in time for this semester's rush, then someone will usually buy it before next semester starts. This works for me because it's really low volume; higher volumes would be better off at Ebay. Pick one place you mainly want to sell (whether it's an auction or a fixed-price sale) and list everything there so your brain doesn't explode. Always include priority mail or similar as an option for textbooks because sometimes students have last-minute changes and need books fast; the student will pay for a more expensive copy if they trust your listing and will get the book quickly.
I am so glad that someone has said it! There are some ridiculous time wasters out there. Can't say that I've ever wanted a credit card bracelet. How about some Snapple bottle cap earrings to go with it? I've seen them for sale at Venice Beach!
I recently saw a post on another site that suggested that we save soap scraps for a year, mix them up in a pan with borax and water and boil them until dissolved, then blend in a blender to make liquid soap. It takes about two hours to make about 4 cups of liquid soap from year old soap scraps and borax. I would rather pick up a couple of bottles at the dollar store, or buy in bulk and refill. To each his own.
Many Video Stores have electric CD scratch remover machines, and for the most part, If you walk in and ask them politely they may throw your disc through it for anywhere between free and a couple of dollars.
Also, when I (stupidly - but hey, at least I'm not suing for $5m because of this) moved my 360 with Oblivion in the drive and heard the grinding wrrrr that could only mean bad things. The DVD was left with a nice circular groove about 1mm wide and deep enough to feel, I spent about 2 hours rubbing it up and down with a clean dry piece of t-shirt cotton until the scratch was only visible at an angle and had no groove, I was very much happy that I didn't have to go out and purchase another disc - there were some other barely visible scratches left on the disc from the operation, but it worked and that's all I cared about.
I am also a nature lover so I'm not yet ready contemplating on moving to an Urban place. Besides it will also be an additional expense for us, since it requires a higher standard of living there. I just bought some parts for my car lately,a saab catalytic converter,so I have to tighten my purse at this point. A car is very important for transo.here in our area, so I can't afford a defective ride, it would be such a lost...Anyway, I like this post...=)
I am a single parent of a child that has cerebral palsy...My monthly income is based upon if I am lucky whatever odd jobs that I can do from home so that I can care for my childs needs. I do not get government support for anything for her, other than healthcare,which is minimal( I learned along time ago the government does not do jack for anyone)
Now... my monthly income is about $650 CAD you do the math to convert to US$... I pay my rent $410/mon + Electric/phone..internet. That does not leave a heck of alot of $$ left over for food & toiletries
However.... You would be very hard pressed to find any processed,pre-packaged surgar filled garbage in my fridge or cupboards.... Hmmmm....Spend $3 on a box of Ho-Ho's or buy bananas, apples & oranges for the same $3.
You do not need to be highly educated to know that 6-8 apples costs less and is more nutritious than that box of Lil Debbies.
We may not have that Flat screen TV my kid & I, but, we eat VERY healthy and are not malnurished by far.
Today..there is no reason for this epidemic...even the poorest of households have 1 TV and radio...get the newspapers & the ppl go out daily ...information about nutrition is EVERYWHERE.
Lack of education is not the issue...it is poor choices of the individual... To say it is cheaper to eat garbage from a box is just adding to the media poison to help "SELL" more.
Does not take a culinary genius to bite into a carrot
There will never be a perfect company, that, I am sure of. I also work in a company with such situation as mentioned above. I’ve been through lots of work and I never have experience perfect compensation with them, just then I realize that, you will always find fault in everything especially if you are really looking for it. But if you really love your job, you don't mind all these minor discomforts 'coz the point is--you enjoy your work...Just like in choosing the perfect auto parts for your car you’ll always find so much imperfection with the brand that you don’t have compliance. So, with my peugeot catalytic converter, I don’t have any doubts with it ‘coz I trust the maker plus its performance. Hope you get the connection…That’s all…
Huh. Not a bad idea, but who wants to give more business to Google?
Great post! I love the information but am still convinced I would be the unlucky person you mentioned - I never seem to win anything! (Not that I'm complaining, I have a great life - but it would be nice to win something sometime. Hm, maybe I will start entering more sweeps after all.)
"....debt inherited as a condition of a death in the family..."
Ahem!!! Debt is not inherited by family members. Maybe in the middle ages, but not in the U.S.
But I imagine that there are debt collectors who would like to make you believe it.
I've had debts sold to various collection agencies, and the further down the food chain the more vicious the become. I've been threatened with the police thing before, been called a loser and other name. The worst thing though was that a company held my phone hostage for about 10 minutes.
The agency called and I spoke with them, at the time I was unemployed and I told them plainly "I do not know" and hung up. Well I went to pick up the phone to call a family member about the situation and they were still were there, they wouldn't hang up. I hung up the phone again, made my call on my cellphone & picked up the land line again they still were there. At that point I told them that they were harrassing me. I don't know how they did it.
It is awful and embarrassing enough to be in debt, it is a state no one wants to be in, and they definitely add fuel to the fire. I became more avoidant of my debts because I didn't want to even pick up the phone anymore, and didn't.
The rest is out of context, but anyway thank you for your post.
Thank you. Now perhaps I can sound intelligent when dealing with the bill collectors who repeatedly call for the guy who had my number before me.
You are in your (say) 50's, have found the home you want to remain in for the forseeable future, and expect, all things being equal, another 15 years of income as opposed to another 30 years. (Yes, I know there's many a slip .. .. and using this as a basis of financial planning for the future is "not good" - but neither is having a mortgage payment when you're in your 80's).
I finally found an archived copy of the list:
http://web.archive.org/web/20070324072129/http://frugalliving.about.com/...
Hopefully this will display correctly.
Brad
the data is contained beneath the scratch on the metallic layer. The brasso fills in the scratch on the plastic, thus allowing the laser to read the information beneath.
Thank you, Paul! And, thank you Kipkay!
At the moment, I am only using that bottom one. I have taken away some programs, which I usually close manually each time on start-up, and i'm about to restart. I hope it all go's well!
Thanks again.
Douglas.
Sorry, I forgot to mention this on the top post.
If you used "Brasso" or another liquid metal polish, the kid says, it levels the disk or fills the cracks in. In any case, wouldn't you lose the memory or data that was before the scratch? I don't know how it could continue to work the same..
Hi am a engineer, working on radars, can you please send me a free subscription copy of radar magazine
Thank you
Plaese send me radar magzine
FEED THE BLOGGERS!
I joined, I hope that Google doesn't take a long time getting back to me on this.
The about frugal living page was totally revamped when they got a new guide a few months ago. The old guide, the ever wise and gracious Pat Veretto, now has her own frugal blog:
http://patverettosfrugalliving.blogspot.com/index.html
She might know where the vinegar list went.
No but you should definitely turn the caps lock off.
Hi Paul. Thanks for showing us these excellent methods. Sadly,
the toothpaste, banana and gum methods didn't work, but I will
be going to the shops, and looking for a metal liquid polish (specifically brasso, but as you mentioned, any brand will do)
Thanks again, and keep up the good work!
Buck, the short answer to should I do this or not is "no." My recommendation and Brad G.'s as well as others is that if you want to pay off quickly, it is easiest to do it yourself without paying for a program.
Here is the professional way to remove 100% of the scratches 100% of the time. If you can't remove it this way, then the Disc is a total loss.
Acrylic Polish Video
Someone asked about college textbooks. I don't try to profit on my college textbooks, but I do try to recoup some of my costs. Someone feeling more entrepreneurial could go for profit, but what I do takes little time and saves a great deal.
For books that are infrequently updated or that I may want to refer to (mostly tend to be more specialized--e.g. junior-senior level/graduate in my major areas), this isn't really worth it. But for lower-level things, they are updated every few years. I have realized that if I spend $100 for a book and keep it, it costs me $100. If I sell it off for $80, then I paid $20 to "rent" it for the semester. If I sell it off for $80 and change my mind later, I can get it "back" for $15 once the new edition comes out and only have spent $35.
Procedure: To buy, use a meta-search such as ISBN.nu, campusi.com, or... well, I can't remember the name of the other one at the moment. Buy from whatever store has the best value. Check the listings carefully to ensure that the seller has decent ratings and is selling the book you want (current edition, U.S. hardcover if you prefer).
I start as soon as they start listing books at the bookstore/website, or if I know based on an early syllabus or conversation with the instructor. Also, it's rarely tragic if you don't have the book during the first week, although in some subjects I'll get a good jump start and read several chapters before the class even starts.
End of semester I list several things on half.com, choosing a price based on what else is listed, what I paid, etc. I haven't gotten into ebay very much, even now that they've bought out half.com. What I like about half.com is that if I don't get it listed in time for this semester's rush, then someone will usually buy it before next semester starts. This works for me because it's really low volume; higher volumes would be better off at Ebay. Pick one place you mainly want to sell (whether it's an auction or a fixed-price sale) and list everything there so your brain doesn't explode. Always include priority mail or similar as an option for textbooks because sometimes students have last-minute changes and need books fast; the student will pay for a more expensive copy if they trust your listing and will get the book quickly.
I am so glad that someone has said it! There are some ridiculous time wasters out there. Can't say that I've ever wanted a credit card bracelet. How about some Snapple bottle cap earrings to go with it? I've seen them for sale at Venice Beach!
I recently saw a post on another site that suggested that we save soap scraps for a year, mix them up in a pan with borax and water and boil them until dissolved, then blend in a blender to make liquid soap. It takes about two hours to make about 4 cups of liquid soap from year old soap scraps and borax. I would rather pick up a couple of bottles at the dollar store, or buy in bulk and refill. To each his own.
Many Video Stores have electric CD scratch remover machines, and for the most part, If you walk in and ask them politely they may throw your disc through it for anywhere between free and a couple of dollars.
Also, when I (stupidly - but hey, at least I'm not suing for $5m because of this) moved my 360 with Oblivion in the drive and heard the grinding wrrrr that could only mean bad things. The DVD was left with a nice circular groove about 1mm wide and deep enough to feel, I spent about 2 hours rubbing it up and down with a clean dry piece of t-shirt cotton until the scratch was only visible at an angle and had no groove, I was very much happy that I didn't have to go out and purchase another disc - there were some other barely visible scratches left on the disc from the operation, but it worked and that's all I cared about.
I am also a nature lover so I'm not yet ready contemplating on moving to an Urban place. Besides it will also be an additional expense for us, since it requires a higher standard of living there. I just bought some parts for my car lately,a saab catalytic converter,so I have to tighten my purse at this point. A car is very important for transo.here in our area, so I can't afford a defective ride, it would be such a lost...Anyway, I like this post...=)
I am sorry but I disagree...
I am a single parent of a child that has cerebral palsy...My monthly income is based upon if I am lucky whatever odd jobs that I can do from home so that I can care for my childs needs. I do not get government support for anything for her, other than healthcare,which is minimal( I learned along time ago the government does not do jack for anyone)
Now... my monthly income is about $650 CAD you do the math to convert to US$... I pay my rent $410/mon + Electric/phone..internet. That does not leave a heck of alot of $$ left over for food & toiletries
However.... You would be very hard pressed to find any processed,pre-packaged surgar filled garbage in my fridge or cupboards.... Hmmmm....Spend $3 on a box of Ho-Ho's or buy bananas, apples & oranges for the same $3.
You do not need to be highly educated to know that 6-8 apples costs less and is more nutritious than that box of Lil Debbies.
We may not have that Flat screen TV my kid & I, but, we eat VERY healthy and are not malnurished by far.
Today..there is no reason for this epidemic...even the poorest of households have 1 TV and radio...get the newspapers & the ppl go out daily ...information about nutrition is EVERYWHERE.
Lack of education is not the issue...it is poor choices of the individual... To say it is cheaper to eat garbage from a box is just adding to the media poison to help "SELL" more.
Does not take a culinary genius to bite into a carrot
There will never be a perfect company, that, I am sure of. I also work in a company with such situation as mentioned above. I’ve been through lots of work and I never have experience perfect compensation with them, just then I realize that, you will always find fault in everything especially if you are really looking for it. But if you really love your job, you don't mind all these minor discomforts 'coz the point is--you enjoy your work...Just like in choosing the perfect auto parts for your car you’ll always find so much imperfection with the brand that you don’t have compliance. So, with my peugeot catalytic converter, I don’t have any doubts with it ‘coz I trust the maker plus its performance. Hope you get the connection…That’s all…