I DID have a friend who told me that the key to looking great was to believe that you look great. No tugging at your skirt hem, no nervous adjusting of bra straps. Just wear it, forget it, and strut it.
I'm too much of a fidgeter for that to work, though.
My secret to saving money on clothes is to become a geek. Shop once a year at any thrift store (less if your company sends you to conferences where they give away free t-shirts) and any day you manage to color-coordinate people think you're styling.
I have the opposite problem. I work for a company that doesn't care, and I long to be a fashion plate. But back when I worked in NYC, the perfect jacket/blazer was key to my wardrobe.
Used to work in offices and had lots of skirt/blouses teamed with jackets. Now for professional look team good jackets with pants/skirts that go with them. (Hard to get a suit to fit.) Great deals on good jackets at resale shops! Lots of professional clothes at resale stores/thrift shops, actually. Get a lot of basics at the best quality you can afford. Shop sales, too. When I worked near upscale and department stores, I shopped their sales/markdowns/clearances regularly.
At home at the computer I wear my older clothes/tshirts/jeans/sweatshirts, etc. and save the good stuff for when I need to make an impression. And don't forget the accessories! Silk scarves, good semi-precious jewelry and good costume jewelry/ and handbags and shoes produce a polished look. (Much of that can be found gently used, too.)
I just started at a place that also doesn't care what I wear. I could actually rollerskate into the office in my pajamas and no one would care. I find that I feel so relaxed, I'm much more productive. Big relief because I thought I would have to buy a bunch of clothes for the new job. Whew!
The root cause of all this financial mess is the unregulated exotic instruments like CDS (credit default swaps) which have mushroomed to $50+ Trillion [not billion but trillion]. If debt obligations were allowed to default, then these investment banking firms, AIG and others would be severely exposed. The problem is these investment banks don't have that kind of money so: Washington is bailing them out!
In all of this mess what about the average hard working, tax paying citizen who is having difficulty with credit card debt, who thinks of bailing them out? We got to live with the consequences.
Then why is it fair to bail out the rich and their exotic debt schemes while the people who made these bets sail off in expensive yachts?
I save money on clothes by working for a company that doesn't care what I wear. T-shirts & flipflops everyday is normal wear. I guess not everyone can do that.
Clinton started this mess with the idea that homeownership is the cure to societal ills, and the (wrong) idea that everyone should be able to own a home. As credit (subprime lending) became easy, everyone (rightfully or wrongfully) was buying a home. The old convention that your house should be worth up to 4x your salary was forgotten as banks approved ARMs, interest-onlys, NINJA loans, etc for every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Guess what? People couldn't maintain these homes, had no wiggle room in the budget, and were one paycheck away from disaster, depending on HELOCs and ReFinancing to keep things afloat. We were due for a correction, both in housing prices, and in stupid personal finance decisions. If you can't afford a home, then DON'T BUY ONE!!!
Will the government bail me out if I make stupid financial decisions, get in over my head and can't pay my bills?
I think I know the answer. In fact, the government made bankruptcy laws even more strict. Shame that doesn't apply to large corporations.
So, isn't this bailout just socialism for big business? And what would happen if we instead gave all of that money to people to make up the difference between what their house is worth and what they paid for it?
On diluting hand soap. We use Method brand and it is really concentrated. I diluted each dispenser 50-50 with distilled water. I have had no issues of anything growing in the containers and the soap actually works better. As mentioned, it doesn't slide off your hand into the sink and it goes further. So that big refill of Method I bought technically cost about $1.75 since I can double the product by diluting it.
I am thinking about doing the same thing to my hair products. They are extremely thick and it makes getting them distributed difficult. I was also thinking of getting some better squeeze bottles like the small tipped condiment bottles to waste less.
My frustration with samples is most of them are the big brands and have strong perfumes and harsher chemicals in them. The companies that make more natural products don't seem to give out free samples. I did get some great samples at a Hyatt, I wish I would have grabbed more out of the room.
Her blog rocks my socks off. I use it ALL the time. I just now used up all the tree apples I didn't know what to do with and made the finest applesauce in my small crock.
Thank you for touching on this subject. For those of you want some quick info go to You Tube and do a search for 'shadow government' 'market crash' or 'ron paul economy'.
See if you need more proof or if you connect the dots yourself.
This one is to bail out the investment banks. Congress has already passed legislation to allow the FHA to "fix" the subprime ARM mortgages. I guess it was not enough to calm the fears of investors ( in junk paper ). I wonder if the bailout for the mortgage holders is dead?
This CNBC article includes a link to a pdf on the senate website of the previous bailout bill.
Linsey, I just had a chance to more thoroughly check out that crockpot 365 link you put in the post. Excuse my French everybody, but hot damn! I thought I was fully versed on crockpot recipes, but this woman is kicking my creative butt. Really, really cool ideas there. I can't wait to try the Morrocan lentils recipe and her buffalo wings soup.
The root of the root cause is deregulation. I have heard some people trying to blame the entire thing on Fannie & Freddie. Theirs was more of an after effect problem of falling prices that was caused by the really sketchy private banking mortgages that were defaulting. That and home prices reaching the point mentioned where they had to fall. Fannie & Freddie are a symptom, not the cause.
Ironically Ginnie Mae isn't tanking because it is still federally owned and regulated.
Probably the worst most misdirected blame (it was on Fox) for the economic meltdown.... minorities buying homes. My jaw hit the floor that anyone would have the audacity to suggest such a thing. Not to mention being utterly off base.
Nora:
With the exception of volunteering and traveling, the other items on your list are career changes, not a new definition for retirement.
As someone who left a corporate career in banking, started a B&B in Costa Rica, and returned to the U.S. to start a retirement planning company, I have a unique insight into the issue.
Starting a business after retirement, is a great way to kill your retirement, lose your life savings, and be forced to back to full-time work. 95% of business fail within 5 years. I owned a B&B for four years, hardest job I ever had, not as romantic as it's pictured.
Farms and investment properties, if you don't know what you are doing, don't get involved. In general, do not place your retirement savings into any investment, that if it fails will force you to return to work.
However, I have to congratulate you on living a frugal lifestyle, to enable your early retirement, that is the secret to Green Retirement. You can learn more about it by clicking the link.
Hey guys! I found the same Sunbeam bread machine at Circuit City for $33 plus FREE SHIPPING! (A better deal than what I got.) I love this bread machine!
I DID have a friend who told me that the key to looking great was to believe that you look great. No tugging at your skirt hem, no nervous adjusting of bra straps. Just wear it, forget it, and strut it.
I'm too much of a fidgeter for that to work, though.
My secret to saving money on clothes is to become a geek. Shop once a year at any thrift store (less if your company sends you to conferences where they give away free t-shirts) and any day you manage to color-coordinate people think you're styling.
I have the opposite problem. I work for a company that doesn't care, and I long to be a fashion plate. But back when I worked in NYC, the perfect jacket/blazer was key to my wardrobe.
Used to work in offices and had lots of skirt/blouses teamed with jackets. Now for professional look team good jackets with pants/skirts that go with them. (Hard to get a suit to fit.) Great deals on good jackets at resale shops! Lots of professional clothes at resale stores/thrift shops, actually. Get a lot of basics at the best quality you can afford. Shop sales, too. When I worked near upscale and department stores, I shopped their sales/markdowns/clearances regularly.
At home at the computer I wear my older clothes/tshirts/jeans/sweatshirts, etc. and save the good stuff for when I need to make an impression. And don't forget the accessories! Silk scarves, good semi-precious jewelry and good costume jewelry/ and handbags and shoes produce a polished look. (Much of that can be found gently used, too.)
I'm especially digging the signature jacket idea. Very savvy.
I just started at a place that also doesn't care what I wear. I could actually rollerskate into the office in my pajamas and no one would care. I find that I feel so relaxed, I'm much more productive. Big relief because I thought I would have to buy a bunch of clothes for the new job. Whew!
The root cause of all this financial mess is the unregulated exotic instruments like CDS (credit default swaps) which have mushroomed to $50+ Trillion [not billion but trillion]. If debt obligations were allowed to default, then these investment banking firms, AIG and others would be severely exposed. The problem is these investment banks don't have that kind of money so: Washington is bailing them out!
In all of this mess what about the average hard working, tax paying citizen who is having difficulty with credit card debt, who thinks of bailing them out? We got to live with the consequences.
Then why is it fair to bail out the rich and their exotic debt schemes while the people who made these bets sail off in expensive yachts?
I recommend this blog highly: http://blog.moneyaisle.com/ - its a great blog!
haha of course mick will have this . i dont know this sort of looks like a nice juicy burger to me :)
I save money on clothes by working for a company that doesn't care what I wear. T-shirts & flipflops everyday is normal wear. I guess not everyone can do that.
Clinton started this mess with the idea that homeownership is the cure to societal ills, and the (wrong) idea that everyone should be able to own a home. As credit (subprime lending) became easy, everyone (rightfully or wrongfully) was buying a home. The old convention that your house should be worth up to 4x your salary was forgotten as banks approved ARMs, interest-onlys, NINJA loans, etc for every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Guess what? People couldn't maintain these homes, had no wiggle room in the budget, and were one paycheck away from disaster, depending on HELOCs and ReFinancing to keep things afloat. We were due for a correction, both in housing prices, and in stupid personal finance decisions. If you can't afford a home, then DON'T BUY ONE!!!
take our lead from the government, that seems to be the way to do business.
Will the government bail me out if I make stupid financial decisions, get in over my head and can't pay my bills?
I think I know the answer. In fact, the government made bankruptcy laws even more strict. Shame that doesn't apply to large corporations.
So, isn't this bailout just socialism for big business? And what would happen if we instead gave all of that money to people to make up the difference between what their house is worth and what they paid for it?
Too much of our economy is people buying things they don't need with money they don't have.
On diluting hand soap. We use Method brand and it is really concentrated. I diluted each dispenser 50-50 with distilled water. I have had no issues of anything growing in the containers and the soap actually works better. As mentioned, it doesn't slide off your hand into the sink and it goes further. So that big refill of Method I bought technically cost about $1.75 since I can double the product by diluting it.
I am thinking about doing the same thing to my hair products. They are extremely thick and it makes getting them distributed difficult. I was also thinking of getting some better squeeze bottles like the small tipped condiment bottles to waste less.
My frustration with samples is most of them are the big brands and have strong perfumes and harsher chemicals in them. The companies that make more natural products don't seem to give out free samples. I did get some great samples at a Hyatt, I wish I would have grabbed more out of the room.
Her blog rocks my socks off. I use it ALL the time. I just now used up all the tree apples I didn't know what to do with and made the finest applesauce in my small crock.
Thank you for touching on this subject. For those of you want some quick info go to You Tube and do a search for 'shadow government' 'market crash' or 'ron paul economy'.
See if you need more proof or if you connect the dots yourself.
This one is to bail out the investment banks. Congress has already passed legislation to allow the FHA to "fix" the subprime ARM mortgages. I guess it was not enough to calm the fears of investors ( in junk paper ). I wonder if the bailout for the mortgage holders is dead?
This CNBC article includes a link to a pdf on the senate website of the previous bailout bill.
Thoughts Phil?
Linsey, I just had a chance to more thoroughly check out that crockpot 365 link you put in the post. Excuse my French everybody, but hot damn! I thought I was fully versed on crockpot recipes, but this woman is kicking my creative butt. Really, really cool ideas there. I can't wait to try the Morrocan lentils recipe and her buffalo wings soup.
The root of the root cause is deregulation. I have heard some people trying to blame the entire thing on Fannie & Freddie. Theirs was more of an after effect problem of falling prices that was caused by the really sketchy private banking mortgages that were defaulting. That and home prices reaching the point mentioned where they had to fall. Fannie & Freddie are a symptom, not the cause.
Ironically Ginnie Mae isn't tanking because it is still federally owned and regulated.
Probably the worst most misdirected blame (it was on Fox) for the economic meltdown.... minorities buying homes. My jaw hit the floor that anyone would have the audacity to suggest such a thing. Not to mention being utterly off base.
Greed.
I'm waiting for mine from the military shipment, but DANG! That's a slamming deal for a new one!
Nora:
With the exception of volunteering and traveling, the other items on your list are career changes, not a new definition for retirement.
As someone who left a corporate career in banking, started a B&B in Costa Rica, and returned to the U.S. to start a retirement planning company, I have a unique insight into the issue.
Starting a business after retirement, is a great way to kill your retirement, lose your life savings, and be forced to back to full-time work. 95% of business fail within 5 years. I owned a B&B for four years, hardest job I ever had, not as romantic as it's pictured.
Farms and investment properties, if you don't know what you are doing, don't get involved. In general, do not place your retirement savings into any investment, that if it fails will force you to return to work.
However, I have to congratulate you on living a frugal lifestyle, to enable your early retirement, that is the secret to Green Retirement. You can learn more about it by clicking the link.
Really, I thought the cause was people not paying their bills.
FOX MULDER! a happy part of this drowning country!
Hey guys! I found the same Sunbeam bread machine at Circuit City for $33 plus FREE SHIPPING! (A better deal than what I got.) I love this bread machine!
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Search.do?c=1&searchType=user&keyword=sun...