If you are now unemployed, and you have some funds saved up to help you survive, maybe its time to start your own company. You could also work part time somewhere while doing this, to ensure that you have a least a bit of an income stream. It will not be a comfortable transition initially. You have to forget about the thought failure. You won't fail.... www.readtheanswer.com/index.php?RTA=web2
I agree with most of the posters. If the borrowing against home equtiy is used to buy an asset (ie something that puts money in your pocket every month, like a piece of rental property) then that is a wise use of the equity. However, few people actually do this.
To use home equity to "consolodate bills" (ie pay for your car, cloths and ocmputer) only digs the consumer further into debt. Very few of them alter their spending habits, but rather they just max out the credit cards again. The lifestyle cycle of borrowing and refinancing consumer items a dangereous trend.
What is needed is some common sense finanical education!!
I had waistlength, oily hair for over 15 years. One trick I learned to save time and shampoo was to shampoo just the FRONT of my hair. Take a section of about two inches, and pull the rest back into a ponytail, and shampoo the bangs, and sides. Blowdry the part you've washed, and let the rest out after you've gotten it dry. The back of your hair stays nice and not dry/frizzy, while the front looks freshly shampooed and clean. Although my hair is now shoulder length, I still do this.
This is really central to how I think about things, but I've only very recently begun to understand how it affects my decisions: I make frugal choices, but really only when they're also simple choices.
I tried the dry ice dent removal process exactly as shown on the video to both my son's vehicle and mine over the weekend and the dents appear now as they did before I applied it. I have a 2004 Nissan Altima with a few small dimple dents on the engine hood. My son has a 2008 Mazda 3 with a very shallow depression on the passenger side door just below the window ledge where he dropped a plastic bucket on it. I waited until the sun heated the metal up really well before applying the dry ice. I even made sure to make contact with the center of the dents with the ice. I also continued the application for 3 to 4 minutes as instructed with absolutely no results. I finally got frustrated to the point where I fabricated a tool that I used to massage the dent out of my son's car door the same way the hail damage pros do it.
Thanks so much for this post. I have been trying really hard to simplify my life for years. I also agree about renting, I feel like our culture pushes you to own and I agree that it is not always worth it, especially with all the economic crisis going on now. the simple life give me time to do the things I like and not worry who's going to fix the toilet (or the roof) and how much it's going to cost me!! I really do enjoy your posts!
Hello,
I worked at a Walgreens through the last event. There are a few thing tips you should know.
- There is a chance that it will break your ink cartige. It is not worth it if it is not or close to empty. There is also much more of a chance if it breaking during the free file rush. Employees are spending all day at the machine as well as attempting to do their normal jobs (no extra bugeted hours).
- If it is broken keep it. Many stores (staples) will give you some kind of coupon or credit for it.
- Wait for it; let the person know that you are willing to come back in two days (if you can live with out it). This will allow then to fill yours after the rush with some more TLC. Often it takes two to three attemps to refill ink. During the free giveways it usaully do not happen.
Yes, I agree that the registry thing can backfire and is seen as tacky in many situations. However, most showers I attend have always been very small, intimate affairs, put on by well-meaning family members who neither have the time or patience to run from store-to-store in search of something the new mom/baby may never need. The gift registry cards were a blessing to many, as they could then just go online and see what was needed. (Saving us an hour-long trip into town for an unecessary shopping trip.) I say that it is all a matter of perspective and your social circle.
Most registries can be hinted at without overkill. A simple (we are registered at....) on a handwritten note can also send the message. While not a requirement, gift registries can give inspiration for all kinds of less commercial gifts, including handmade blankets, clothing, and treats. Sometimes people just want to get a feel for your taste, and the registry can do this.
I would never advocate that a registry is either a necessity or the end-all-be-all to a successful shower or new baby experience. :) I do appreciate your thoughts!
Can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days (depending). I usually wrap it up well or put it in tupperware. (Although if kept in its original cooking juices, it can stay very moist and not get all dry and icky. I have also cooked extra and frozen it. I freeze it in its juice in gallon freezer bags or add the seasoning (BBQ sauce, taco mix, etc) and freeze it ready to heat and eat. I try not to leave this in the freezer any longer than a couple months.
I think that the book How to Cook a Wolf by MFK Fisher is an interesting read -- about how to stretch food during World War II when many foods, including meat, dairy were rationed in the US. This was back when the government encouraged people to garden for their own consumption & taught its citizens how to really economize.
This is actually not a problem for city dwellers, but for people who visit the city who come from somewhere else. If they had any sense, they would use public transit, like city dwellers do. Instead, they drive in from suburbia when they should have taken the train.
Urbanites tend to have other parking problems (like paying $50k or more for a parking spot) or they don't have a car at all.
Just another incentive to ditch the car & use public transit or better yet, walk. You do NOT need a car in the city of Chicago & probably should be strongly discouraged from driving & parking in downtown Chicago.
This would be better for you, your wallet & the environment.
I, too, am a BIG fan of the Liggett's bar shampoo. Although I find I still have to use some conditioner on my very fine, awfully tangly hair, I use much less of it.
Also, about 2 or 3 years ago, I trained my hair to only be washed once a week. And although you might think it looks really oily by washing day, most people are genuinely surprised when I tell them my hair-washing schedule. It took probably a year to get to that point, beginning with washing every other day and just stretching it out over time. But now it's great--I can take quick showers most days of the week, so I'm saving tons of water, too! I do end up in a ponytail a lot, but that's mostly just laziness on my part.
I keep tabs, but only in my head. And like you, I tend to round up, or group itmes together to come out with a rounded dollar amount. I also only pay for groceries with cash, and I usually am within a few pennies when I check out. I unload the cart and put the cash on the checkout stand - funny to see the looks on the cashiers' faces sometimes when the cash is so correct :)
What a great, concise post. We are going through a process in our household of evaluating "How long does that take? How much does it cost? Would we rather be using that time for something else?" It's a big challenge. For instance, the tax deduction aspect of owning a house is consequential, when rent would cost nearly as much as our mortgage. And our child's opinions, while not running the decision, are influencing us indeed. Great points - thanks.
I don't agree with Heidi of "Amen". I have filled out customer satisfaction surveys and looked at several of them. Most of them are designed for only "satisfied to not satisfied type answers." In other words they are designed to give them the answers that they are looking for and nothing else. I believe the most relevant questions in most of them are not asked. Most, especially online forms, have no comment area where people can relate an experience with their product. Several companies that are online do not even have a contact link so people can "vent" or praise the company for their products.
Although all this is very practical, it is also very bad manners to include registry cards with your baby shower, party or wedding invitations. Inviting people to get you gifts is simply uncouth. Although when asked, it is perfectly acceptable to say that you need x or y, pushing your family and friends to rack up the points at your favorite store so you can get free stuff is simply not on. I get so tired of receiving requests for money and gifts from particular stores from friends and family who are pregnant or getting married. Bad manners, folks! Retailers are cashing in on us to make bigger profits.
Thanks for the tips on the other giveaway, though. Usually I enjoy your articles very much, but felt I needed to caution those who don't know about the poor etiquette of the seemingly now-universally acceptable registry grab. Please stop the madness.
That bank loan amounts could be so close to the equity amount or above (though perfectly reasonable in many cases but perhaps not in the Extreme case) whereas pawnshop loans were much lower compared to the collateral value is one thing that stood out to me. The pawnshop owners seemed to have a solid, hands-on grasp of the value of certain items, understanding of how economic conditions increased flow of merchandise into the shop while lowering demand, etc. Being directly accountable for the loan may make him/her more attuned to judging the value of the collateral.
If you are now unemployed, and you have some funds saved up to help you survive, maybe its time to start your own company. You could also work part time somewhere while doing this, to ensure that you have a least a bit of an income stream. It will not be a comfortable transition initially. You have to forget about the thought failure. You won't fail.... www.readtheanswer.com/index.php?RTA=web2
I agree with most of the posters. If the borrowing against home equtiy is used to buy an asset (ie something that puts money in your pocket every month, like a piece of rental property) then that is a wise use of the equity. However, few people actually do this.
To use home equity to "consolodate bills" (ie pay for your car, cloths and ocmputer) only digs the consumer further into debt. Very few of them alter their spending habits, but rather they just max out the credit cards again. The lifestyle cycle of borrowing and refinancing consumer items a dangereous trend.
What is needed is some common sense finanical education!!
I had waistlength, oily hair for over 15 years. One trick I learned to save time and shampoo was to shampoo just the FRONT of my hair. Take a section of about two inches, and pull the rest back into a ponytail, and shampoo the bangs, and sides. Blowdry the part you've washed, and let the rest out after you've gotten it dry. The back of your hair stays nice and not dry/frizzy, while the front looks freshly shampooed and clean. Although my hair is now shoulder length, I still do this.
Thanks, everyone, for the kind words.
This is really central to how I think about things, but I've only very recently begun to understand how it affects my decisions: I make frugal choices, but really only when they're also simple choices.
I tried the dry ice dent removal process exactly as shown on the video to both my son's vehicle and mine over the weekend and the dents appear now as they did before I applied it. I have a 2004 Nissan Altima with a few small dimple dents on the engine hood. My son has a 2008 Mazda 3 with a very shallow depression on the passenger side door just below the window ledge where he dropped a plastic bucket on it. I waited until the sun heated the metal up really well before applying the dry ice. I even made sure to make contact with the center of the dents with the ice. I also continued the application for 3 to 4 minutes as instructed with absolutely no results. I finally got frustrated to the point where I fabricated a tool that I used to massage the dent out of my son's car door the same way the hail damage pros do it.
Thanks so much for this post. I have been trying really hard to simplify my life for years. I also agree about renting, I feel like our culture pushes you to own and I agree that it is not always worth it, especially with all the economic crisis going on now. the simple life give me time to do the things I like and not worry who's going to fix the toilet (or the roof) and how much it's going to cost me!! I really do enjoy your posts!
All around I am pretty simple. My 401k is in growth, international and index funds.
My saving is ING and we have a checking acct at an local credit union.
That's it. I also own 2 individual stocks
Hello,
I worked at a Walgreens through the last event. There are a few thing tips you should know.
- There is a chance that it will break your ink cartige. It is not worth it if it is not or close to empty. There is also much more of a chance if it breaking during the free file rush. Employees are spending all day at the machine as well as attempting to do their normal jobs (no extra bugeted hours).
- If it is broken keep it. Many stores (staples) will give you some kind of coupon or credit for it.
- Wait for it; let the person know that you are willing to come back in two days (if you can live with out it). This will allow then to fill yours after the rush with some more TLC. Often it takes two to three attemps to refill ink. During the free giveways it usaully do not happen.
as most people will recognize..its actually difficult just to make any taxable income!
good informative article
I enjoy the piece very much and I like the concept that voluntary simplicity is a tool to a better life rather deliberate self deprivation.
I would think that a lot of this has to with how we spend out time as a whole. Being conscious about time helps one understand what you actually value. We just published an article on this subject at: http://www.whakate.com/lead-articles/how-to-become-more-time-conscious/
Best.
Yes, I agree that the registry thing can backfire and is seen as tacky in many situations. However, most showers I attend have always been very small, intimate affairs, put on by well-meaning family members who neither have the time or patience to run from store-to-store in search of something the new mom/baby may never need. The gift registry cards were a blessing to many, as they could then just go online and see what was needed. (Saving us an hour-long trip into town for an unecessary shopping trip.) I say that it is all a matter of perspective and your social circle.
Most registries can be hinted at without overkill. A simple (we are registered at....) on a handwritten note can also send the message. While not a requirement, gift registries can give inspiration for all kinds of less commercial gifts, including handmade blankets, clothing, and treats. Sometimes people just want to get a feel for your taste, and the registry can do this.
I would never advocate that a registry is either a necessity or the end-all-be-all to a successful shower or new baby experience. :) I do appreciate your thoughts!
Linsey
Can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days (depending). I usually wrap it up well or put it in tupperware. (Although if kept in its original cooking juices, it can stay very moist and not get all dry and icky. I have also cooked extra and frozen it. I freeze it in its juice in gallon freezer bags or add the seasoning (BBQ sauce, taco mix, etc) and freeze it ready to heat and eat. I try not to leave this in the freezer any longer than a couple months.
What is your preferred method of storing the beef for future use? Tupperware/frozen/fridge, etc, and how long do you expect it to last at the maximum?
I think that the book How to Cook a Wolf by MFK Fisher is an interesting read -- about how to stretch food during World War II when many foods, including meat, dairy were rationed in the US. This was back when the government encouraged people to garden for their own consumption & taught its citizens how to really economize.
This is actually not a problem for city dwellers, but for people who visit the city who come from somewhere else. If they had any sense, they would use public transit, like city dwellers do. Instead, they drive in from suburbia when they should have taken the train.
Urbanites tend to have other parking problems (like paying $50k or more for a parking spot) or they don't have a car at all.
Just another incentive to ditch the car & use public transit or better yet, walk. You do NOT need a car in the city of Chicago & probably should be strongly discouraged from driving & parking in downtown Chicago.
This would be better for you, your wallet & the environment.
I, too, am a BIG fan of the Liggett's bar shampoo. Although I find I still have to use some conditioner on my very fine, awfully tangly hair, I use much less of it.
Also, about 2 or 3 years ago, I trained my hair to only be washed once a week. And although you might think it looks really oily by washing day, most people are genuinely surprised when I tell them my hair-washing schedule. It took probably a year to get to that point, beginning with washing every other day and just stretching it out over time. But now it's great--I can take quick showers most days of the week, so I'm saving tons of water, too! I do end up in a ponytail a lot, but that's mostly just laziness on my part.
I keep tabs, but only in my head. And like you, I tend to round up, or group itmes together to come out with a rounded dollar amount. I also only pay for groceries with cash, and I usually am within a few pennies when I check out. I unload the cart and put the cash on the checkout stand - funny to see the looks on the cashiers' faces sometimes when the cash is so correct :)
It's something I do to exercise my brain :)
What a great, concise post. We are going through a process in our household of evaluating "How long does that take? How much does it cost? Would we rather be using that time for something else?" It's a big challenge. For instance, the tax deduction aspect of owning a house is consequential, when rent would cost nearly as much as our mortgage. And our child's opinions, while not running the decision, are influencing us indeed. Great points - thanks.
I don't agree with Heidi of "Amen". I have filled out customer satisfaction surveys and looked at several of them. Most of them are designed for only "satisfied to not satisfied type answers." In other words they are designed to give them the answers that they are looking for and nothing else. I believe the most relevant questions in most of them are not asked. Most, especially online forms, have no comment area where people can relate an experience with their product. Several companies that are online do not even have a contact link so people can "vent" or praise the company for their products.
Although all this is very practical, it is also very bad manners to include registry cards with your baby shower, party or wedding invitations. Inviting people to get you gifts is simply uncouth. Although when asked, it is perfectly acceptable to say that you need x or y, pushing your family and friends to rack up the points at your favorite store so you can get free stuff is simply not on. I get so tired of receiving requests for money and gifts from particular stores from friends and family who are pregnant or getting married. Bad manners, folks! Retailers are cashing in on us to make bigger profits.
Thanks for the tips on the other giveaway, though. Usually I enjoy your articles very much, but felt I needed to caution those who don't know about the poor etiquette of the seemingly now-universally acceptable registry grab. Please stop the madness.
Tammy
That bank loan amounts could be so close to the equity amount or above (though perfectly reasonable in many cases but perhaps not in the Extreme case) whereas pawnshop loans were much lower compared to the collateral value is one thing that stood out to me. The pawnshop owners seemed to have a solid, hands-on grasp of the value of certain items, understanding of how economic conditions increased flow of merchandise into the shop while lowering demand, etc. Being directly accountable for the loan may make him/her more attuned to judging the value of the collateral.
Just discovered your blog. Kyle, from Green with a Gun, blogger and reader of my blog quoted you in one of his comments.
Love your focus. Practical, and getting to the heart of things. The pocketbook. Also helping people struck by increasingly high gas and food prices.
http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/4-big-ways-to-be-smart-abou...
That "Extreme Makeover" family apparently got a $450,000 loan for what is now a $350,000 house.
Even that's a stretch since it is surrounded by $150,000 homes.
I think they got a pretty good deal out of the lender, even if they did blow the proceeds.