I used landlordreports.org and avoided renting a home which was in foreclosure. For about $29 they check out the property to make sure is clear of any problems. Totally worth it!
The problem is, people many times live up to their income, so it's a very real possibility that you'll find yourself i the same boat with higher bills and the same level of stress.
A friend of mine in high school worked at Wendy's and told me a similar story regarding burgers and the chili. I'm not a red meat eater, but I never understand why so many people loved the chili at Wendy's.
Interesting stuff. I worked at UPS years ago. I don't think drivers intentionally damage packages. Fragile does not mean anything on a package since half the packages were marked fragile and they don't get special treatment. They aren't treated specially but nobody purposefully abuses them.
You may save a few more $$ by not having the convenience of having a car for and making a haul at a store on your way home from work. Or if you do stop, you may think twice about what's a bargain and what's not, based on how you have to lug it home. If you bike commute as I do and don't live in the flatlands, every pound adds a bit more challenge to the ride home. Although in the case of the 4lb tub of strawberries I spotted in the market back in June for less than $1/lb, it was worth the effort.
Seriously, I don't make nearly as many trips by the "big box" stores on the way home now, and the stops I do make are more likely to be for small, necessary purchases. Bigger trips have to wait for the weekend.
In my families case, it was always easier and cheaper to drive long distances than fly. We live in RI and my wife and I would take regular trips to Disney World with our two young children. Air fares were a little cheaper back then but it always seem that it would cost us atleat $1000 to fly all four of us. In our many trips, I found that even with all expenses it cost us half the cost of flying.
My wife and I are early risers on the first day of long drive. It's not unlikely for us to be on the road at 3am because we try to avoid the New York City morning commute and we could could get some travel time under our belts while the kids were sleeping.
We would pack a cooler with milk and breakfast for the kids and make sandwiches on the road so the meal expense wasn't that bad. When we got to our midway point we would have nice dinner. We also used the discount books on motels that are in the rest areas when you first enter a new state. We did the trip so often we always knew where we were stopping and usually used the same motel from the previous year if it was reasonably priced and clean.
I think the deciding factor is whether you like to drive long distances or not. I don't mind driving. Our 20 hour trip to Disney consisted of a 14 hour drive the first day and 6 hours the next. We alway drove a long and short day so that we were in Disney by the afternoon on the second day. It would give us time to check-in and enjoy the pool.
For us, traveling on a plane was always an adventure. As you mentioned, the time it take to get to the airport and park the car (1 hour for us). What happens if the kids are having ear problems just before you fly? All the time waiting in the airport and in between planes. It was just a hassle for us. Plus, in our case, we always had car to use in Disney so we could eat off Disney property and go grocery shopping to fill the refrigerator in the hotel room.
I drive for the same reason you fly - to help me stay sane. The crowds, the lines, the intrusive searches, the lack of control over my travel circumstances, the limitations on what I can bring and how I can keep myself comfortable.... I would almost always rather drive than fly.
Another thing to consider might be environmental effects. In most cases, you can drive anywhere in the country and use less gas than flying, so if you're worried about that, driving is a good option, especially for short trips.
Also, consider the overall commute. If Chicago is only 6 hours away, even if you were close to the airport, it would probably be worth driving. With airport waits, the drive to the airport, debarking and baggage claim times, etc, you are looking at 3-4 hours. Once in Chicago, you don't have access to a car, so you will have to rent (costly) or find other transportation. In Chicago this might not be a problem, but in many big cities in the US, there is little to no public transportation, so driving allows you to have a car at your destination.
Alternatively, however, many don't figure in wear and tear in their cost. If your car is older, it might not be worth the wear and tear to make a long trip in the vehicle.
Great post, and some good points. You can't evaluate purchases by cost only. There's a lot to be said for value, and that varies by person. Thanks for sharing your insight.
This is a wonderful story. I too grew up with frugal (not cheap) parents and then found myself practicing the art of frugality for my entire adult life (i.e., the past 27 years) and even wrote a series of books on the subject ("Frugal Luxuries" and "Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons", Bantam Books, NY). I can personally verify that the philosophy of defining contentment is vital in creating a happy life! As well, to be a good steward of the resources available to you is immensely satisfying and stimulates creativity, self confidence and happiness!
Warmly,
Tracey McBride http://frugalluxuries.blogspot.com
Don
I'd love to know how the pursuit of green energy business has worked out b/c it is something that I have thought about for years as well and I am sure where to begin. Is there a way to contact you directly?
We can save money by keeping our intake of heavily processed and junk foods to a minimum. We should drink plenty of water. Limit foods high in refined sugars and saturated fats. We should eat a balanced diet meaning get a good variety of all the food groups, especially vegetables and fruits. http://www.healthandsoul.com/right-way-of-eating-fruits-and-healthy-ways...
It could be partly due to your stomach bloating from the fructose sugars of the fruit you are consuming. How it happens is when there is excess fructose/sugars in your stomach, the friendly bacteria and bad bacteria feast upon the sugars, fermenting them and thus releasing gases-you might experience flatulence.
When you snack on those oranges, perhaps have you considered your total daily calorific intake? A healthy diet should include regular exercise, the body will metabolize the excess into fat all the same, be it organic or non-organic.
When we eat fruit and fruit juice then it must be fresh. Nothing cooked, canned or processed in any way. Nothing pasteurized. Fruits such as bananas, raisins, dates and all dried fruits are more concentrated and will stay in our stomach longer than the watery fruits, so we will feel full longer. It is essential, however, to not eat fruit dried with chemicals such as sulfur nitrite. Eat only naturally dried fruit. We should eat some fruit every day, and in the morning is when we can be sure there is nothing else in the stomach that will cause fruit to spoil.
As far as I know, it's not illegal, but some cities don't like it. If you have been able to lock it there without anyone bothering it or complaining, and you have no other options, then I would say just use your best judgment.
Excellent point! I don't ride listening to music since I really depend on listening to the traffic coming up behind me, but for those that do ride and listen, one ear bud is definitely safer.
If you've never lived in Phoenix for more than 6 months (with a majority of those months being summer and autumn), then you really don't know what you're talking about with regards to the difference between "needing" and "wanting" A/C. Southern CA can be hot, but if you're on the right side of the mountains, not really. I can stand a Seattle summer without air conditioning (even if it hits 90 something)... but if you're in a place like Phoenix where it's 100 degrees or more 6 months out of the year, and it doesn't get below 90 degrees most summer nights, you NEED A/C to sleep and function.
Amen, Paul. When I'm out to dinner or "on the town," I tend to have slightly more discerning tastes. But there's almost always some PBR in the fridge at home. The more troublesome issue with PBR is avoiding the hipster moniker.
I recently opened the type of account mentioned in #2 (Well's Fargo) and it was no secret that the 5% + 5% bonus was just an introductory rate, but after that it goes down to 2% + 2% yearly bonus which still seems unexpectedly good considering the 1.1% rates that are pretty common. I did some research and I could not find anything wrong with this account. How can the banks offer what looks like an actually good deal?
I used landlordreports.org and avoided renting a home which was in foreclosure. For about $29 they check out the property to make sure is clear of any problems. Totally worth it!
The problem is, people many times live up to their income, so it's a very real possibility that you'll find yourself i the same boat with higher bills and the same level of stress.
A friend of mine in high school worked at Wendy's and told me a similar story regarding burgers and the chili. I'm not a red meat eater, but I never understand why so many people loved the chili at Wendy's.
Interesting stuff. I worked at UPS years ago. I don't think drivers intentionally damage packages. Fragile does not mean anything on a package since half the packages were marked fragile and they don't get special treatment. They aren't treated specially but nobody purposefully abuses them.
You may save a few more $$ by not having the convenience of having a car for and making a haul at a store on your way home from work. Or if you do stop, you may think twice about what's a bargain and what's not, based on how you have to lug it home. If you bike commute as I do and don't live in the flatlands, every pound adds a bit more challenge to the ride home. Although in the case of the 4lb tub of strawberries I spotted in the market back in June for less than $1/lb, it was worth the effort.
Seriously, I don't make nearly as many trips by the "big box" stores on the way home now, and the stops I do make are more likely to be for small, necessary purchases. Bigger trips have to wait for the weekend.
In my families case, it was always easier and cheaper to drive long distances than fly. We live in RI and my wife and I would take regular trips to Disney World with our two young children. Air fares were a little cheaper back then but it always seem that it would cost us atleat $1000 to fly all four of us. In our many trips, I found that even with all expenses it cost us half the cost of flying.
My wife and I are early risers on the first day of long drive. It's not unlikely for us to be on the road at 3am because we try to avoid the New York City morning commute and we could could get some travel time under our belts while the kids were sleeping.
We would pack a cooler with milk and breakfast for the kids and make sandwiches on the road so the meal expense wasn't that bad. When we got to our midway point we would have nice dinner. We also used the discount books on motels that are in the rest areas when you first enter a new state. We did the trip so often we always knew where we were stopping and usually used the same motel from the previous year if it was reasonably priced and clean.
I think the deciding factor is whether you like to drive long distances or not. I don't mind driving. Our 20 hour trip to Disney consisted of a 14 hour drive the first day and 6 hours the next. We alway drove a long and short day so that we were in Disney by the afternoon on the second day. It would give us time to check-in and enjoy the pool.
For us, traveling on a plane was always an adventure. As you mentioned, the time it take to get to the airport and park the car (1 hour for us). What happens if the kids are having ear problems just before you fly? All the time waiting in the airport and in between planes. It was just a hassle for us. Plus, in our case, we always had car to use in Disney so we could eat off Disney property and go grocery shopping to fill the refrigerator in the hotel room.
I drive for the same reason you fly - to help me stay sane. The crowds, the lines, the intrusive searches, the lack of control over my travel circumstances, the limitations on what I can bring and how I can keep myself comfortable.... I would almost always rather drive than fly.
Another thing to consider might be environmental effects. In most cases, you can drive anywhere in the country and use less gas than flying, so if you're worried about that, driving is a good option, especially for short trips.
Also, consider the overall commute. If Chicago is only 6 hours away, even if you were close to the airport, it would probably be worth driving. With airport waits, the drive to the airport, debarking and baggage claim times, etc, you are looking at 3-4 hours. Once in Chicago, you don't have access to a car, so you will have to rent (costly) or find other transportation. In Chicago this might not be a problem, but in many big cities in the US, there is little to no public transportation, so driving allows you to have a car at your destination.
Alternatively, however, many don't figure in wear and tear in their cost. If your car is older, it might not be worth the wear and tear to make a long trip in the vehicle.
Kicking your packages.....that's logistics!
Great post, and some good points. You can't evaluate purchases by cost only. There's a lot to be said for value, and that varies by person. Thanks for sharing your insight.
This is a wonderful story. I too grew up with frugal (not cheap) parents and then found myself practicing the art of frugality for my entire adult life (i.e., the past 27 years) and even wrote a series of books on the subject ("Frugal Luxuries" and "Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons", Bantam Books, NY). I can personally verify that the philosophy of defining contentment is vital in creating a happy life! As well, to be a good steward of the resources available to you is immensely satisfying and stimulates creativity, self confidence and happiness!
Warmly,
Tracey McBride
http://frugalluxuries.blogspot.com
Don
I'd love to know how the pursuit of green energy business has worked out b/c it is something that I have thought about for years as well and I am sure where to begin. Is there a way to contact you directly?
We can save money by keeping our intake of heavily processed and junk foods to a minimum. We should drink plenty of water. Limit foods high in refined sugars and saturated fats. We should eat a balanced diet meaning get a good variety of all the food groups, especially vegetables and fruits.
http://www.healthandsoul.com/right-way-of-eating-fruits-and-healthy-ways...
It could be partly due to your stomach bloating from the fructose sugars of the fruit you are consuming. How it happens is when there is excess fructose/sugars in your stomach, the friendly bacteria and bad bacteria feast upon the sugars, fermenting them and thus releasing gases-you might experience flatulence.
When you snack on those oranges, perhaps have you considered your total daily calorific intake? A healthy diet should include regular exercise, the body will metabolize the excess into fat all the same, be it organic or non-organic.
When we eat fruit and fruit juice then it must be fresh. Nothing cooked, canned or processed in any way. Nothing pasteurized. Fruits such as bananas, raisins, dates and all dried fruits are more concentrated and will stay in our stomach longer than the watery fruits, so we will feel full longer. It is essential, however, to not eat fruit dried with chemicals such as sulfur nitrite. Eat only naturally dried fruit. We should eat some fruit every day, and in the morning is when we can be sure there is nothing else in the stomach that will cause fruit to spoil.
I find http://www.localautospot.net/ quite easy to use and fast. It also lists nearby vehicles.
As far as I know, it's not illegal, but some cities don't like it. If you have been able to lock it there without anyone bothering it or complaining, and you have no other options, then I would say just use your best judgment.
Excellent point! I don't ride listening to music since I really depend on listening to the traffic coming up behind me, but for those that do ride and listen, one ear bud is definitely safer.
In life there are lies, d*nm lies, and Statistics.
The quoted study is a good example of this statement.
If you've never lived in Phoenix for more than 6 months (with a majority of those months being summer and autumn), then you really don't know what you're talking about with regards to the difference between "needing" and "wanting" A/C. Southern CA can be hot, but if you're on the right side of the mountains, not really. I can stand a Seattle summer without air conditioning (even if it hits 90 something)... but if you're in a place like Phoenix where it's 100 degrees or more 6 months out of the year, and it doesn't get below 90 degrees most summer nights, you NEED A/C to sleep and function.
Amen, Paul. When I'm out to dinner or "on the town," I tend to have slightly more discerning tastes. But there's almost always some PBR in the fridge at home. The more troublesome issue with PBR is avoiding the hipster moniker.
Great headline, too.
-cb
19. Has your immediate boss or mentor gone bye-bye? He left 2 days ago. Gone all-of-a-sudden.
Plus one not on the list:
#21. Doing a complete inventory.
I have to mark everything item and receipt from the past 3 years, mostly all my boss purchased.
I don't know if I'll get his job or be completely gone. I'll know in one month.
Interesting - they're being sued over their health claims.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870465400457551787175723803...
I think the Toronto Real Estate industry read this article! ;)
I recently opened the type of account mentioned in #2 (Well's Fargo) and it was no secret that the 5% + 5% bonus was just an introductory rate, but after that it goes down to 2% + 2% yearly bonus which still seems unexpectedly good considering the 1.1% rates that are pretty common. I did some research and I could not find anything wrong with this account. How can the banks offer what looks like an actually good deal?