I go for a nice long walk with my dog. Just getting that fresh air and physical exercise plus bonding with my very understanding best friend really helps clear my head. Also good for de-stressing: naps, a decadent bubble bath, and chocolate!
Daily, I find that walking in the park for 30 minutes usually unwinds me. But my real stress-buster is the beach. I live in north Jersey, and I can feel myself unwind as I'm driving down the parkway!
I realize you're trying to spread information about health and frugality here, but telling people that the gym is "a waste of time, money and resources" is a little irresponsible and over-simplified. All you're trying to say is that exercise is over-rated, and diet is more important... I think.
There are other benefits to exercise on top of physical health. Increased self esteem, socializing, inner peace/reflection, etc.
And there are plenty of inexpensive options: running, home workouts/aerobics, jump rope, chin-up bar, bicycling, basketball, soccer, yoga, used weight sets, etc.
I think that investing in your health and well-being is just that; a good investment. It can be cheap, and is by no means a waste of time or money.
Good for you for at least sparking up this conversation.
I sew and bind books when I get stressed. I find that the process of folding paper, sewing the sections of a book together, and the entire process of bookbinding to be therapeutic. Since I usually feel stress because of some sort of chaos in my life, the control that I have over paper, needle and thread gives me a sense of order and calm. I am then able to transfer that calm to whatever aspect of my life has been disrupted.
Like others, exercise is my best remedy. I especially like to play exercise games on the Wii to really take my mind off off life's hassles; the competitive nature gives me a new short-term goal and sense of accomplishment to generate positive emotions. By the end of a really good workout, I'm sweating and exhausted, far too exhausted to worry about whatever was stressing me out in the first place.
Next time, be sure to post your business info so I can be absolutely certain not to frequent your establishment. As the article said, I was not worried about HER stealing my data, I was worried about my unsecured data (and that of every other client she had) by someone else.
And actually, no, my social security number is not "down at the courthouse", but I'd be delighted if you were able to locate it and send it to me as proof.
i THINK YOU over reacted grossly. WE're people, not robots. We take notes, make priority lists, do our jobs. If a 'customer' of mine asked for a sheet of my notebook back, I'd give it to her and she'd be the butt of every joke in my industry for years. Let people do their jobs. This lady was not going to steal your SSN. How naive (yes, too lazy to look up the spelling.) You have no idea how many companies have access to your mortgage info. Ever wonder why you get mailings about new kitchens right after you settle on a house? It's all down there at the courthouse for anyone to read. Many localities keep your SSN on their registered voter list and anyone willing to pay the money to buy the list can get it.
I go to the gym. I drop the kids off and run or get on the elliptical machine and just go - I don't watch the TV, I just think and clear my head. Plus, it gives the kids and I a sort of break from each other in the late afternoon.
IMHO, The best way to relieve stress is to figuring out what is stressing you and deal with it. I'm usually stressed because I have too much to do. The solution is either (a) power through and get it done so I can stop thinking about it or (b) find a way to reduce the workload.
I drink tea and before i take my first sip i put my nose in the rim of the cup and inhale the steam and imagine i am in a different place "zen place". Doesent matter if I am in my car and its storming outside or in a crowded airplane in the shaft middle seat or next to a crying baby.
Carrie, thank you thank you. I used your concept (from last year), redeeming survey points for gift cards as straight up gifts for always-cash-strapped-relatives. So thanks, your system really works.
(We have 22 family members to buy for this round and less than $275, including postage, to pull it off. Postage is the killer. If anyone has any ideas on that one, I'm game. Actually we're cutting costs to about 90% by using older gummed stamps from Henry Gitner on the boxes. Not sure how the post office guys will take it, but it is legal. Until now they liked us.)
Here are a few other methods we've used. Look for freebies throughout the year. Wisebread, for one, has daily deal offerings. These made a nice goody package for my bro in law's dog last Christmas. Free with rebate items (jump drives in this case) worked well for the college aged niece and nephew. Free with purchase items became stocking stuffers. We combine low cost/free items with traditional home made goodies. (Some old fashioned treats like watermelon rind pickle, candied orange peel, and apple peel jelly transform things you'd normally toss and are really good.)
Normally, baking money comes from grocery cash or ingredients squirreled away over time. Presentation packaging is collected after Christmas at crazily discounted prices. So even though not free, it's fairly painless.
Also, not totally free but pretty close... Last year I brewed dandelion wine for the first time. (No fancy equipment or speciality yeasts.) Lovely. This year's batch went into pretty recycled glass bottles, decorated with computer generated labels (plain paper trimmed and attached with left over clear contact paper), then nestled into wooden cheese boxes surrounded by excelsior. The only real costs were the raisons, lemon, orange, sugar, and lots of time. Other items were on hand.
I want to know more about your dog. This just happened to my 5 year old Border Collie yesterday! He was chasing after a ball and then yelped and fell to the ground and couldnt use his hind legs anymore. He is still in the ER doing test to determine if its a clot or a disc. The bill could add up to $7K. Did the surgery help your dog? How long for recovery? Were you advised of other options?
My parents pay for my car insurance (family plan) and the car was a gift.. getting 30+ mpg. Makes little sense to take public transportation here in LA where it takes 10x the time and 3x the gas expense to get to the destination compared to driving.
My "boring" way of saving money is spending much of my free time playing World of Warcraft.. a yearly subscription costs less than $0.50/day prorated.
I also don't use blackberries, smart phones, gym memberships, cable tv, etc. Actually, I work so much I don't have time to enjoy those.. Internet is included in the rent of my bare-bones room.
It must be crazy tempting to NOT spend the money when you have "extra" every month!
I just got a small windfall last month, and I told myself I'd use it to pay a chunk down on the rental prop mortgage. Nope, used 20% of that chunk, and the other 80% is still in savings........ hmmmmmm
I'm a really boring person because I'm 23 and have no friends due in part to my frugality. People my age like to go out, and I refuse to spend a penny on outings. I'll especially never pay so much as $1 at a restaurant or fast food joint - complete waste of money!
As a small business owner I have a fluctuating income, so I totally agree with you. Nevertheless, I suggest separating the "emergency" and "savings" funds; emergencies will come and go, and the savings shouldn't be affected by them (unless they are going to require a lot of money).
Thanks very much for including my link :). I want to start canning but am only likely to be living here in Egypt for another year and don't want to have to move all the equipment round with me.... When I am settled though it's a priority to start.
Nice list Chris. I hope by the age of 30, I can start paying for my place and stop paying all these rents money. If you think about it, the amount of rent money adds up through the years is a lot. Thanks for the article.
"10) Annual vacations. Getting away from my routines and having novel experiences is essential to my well-being, physically and mentally. And, according to research, vacations may help prevent cardiovascular disease."
I totally agree with you on this. Even though it could be quit a bit expensive, having vacations will help you relax and come back more happy. Moreover, you can learn a lot of things and ideas from these traveling vacation as well.
Nope. Never. No one in my house would eat it. Not that they are anti-health food. But Oreos have to be Oreos. And yes, I gained 5 pounds perfecting this recipe. So there you have it. (Sacrificing for my work.)
I go for a nice long walk with my dog. Just getting that fresh air and physical exercise plus bonding with my very understanding best friend really helps clear my head. Also good for de-stressing: naps, a decadent bubble bath, and chocolate!
Daily, I find that walking in the park for 30 minutes usually unwinds me. But my real stress-buster is the beach. I live in north Jersey, and I can feel myself unwind as I'm driving down the parkway!
I realize you're trying to spread information about health and frugality here, but telling people that the gym is "a waste of time, money and resources" is a little irresponsible and over-simplified. All you're trying to say is that exercise is over-rated, and diet is more important... I think.
There are other benefits to exercise on top of physical health. Increased self esteem, socializing, inner peace/reflection, etc.
And there are plenty of inexpensive options: running, home workouts/aerobics, jump rope, chin-up bar, bicycling, basketball, soccer, yoga, used weight sets, etc.
I think that investing in your health and well-being is just that; a good investment. It can be cheap, and is by no means a waste of time or money.
Good for you for at least sparking up this conversation.
I sew and bind books when I get stressed. I find that the process of folding paper, sewing the sections of a book together, and the entire process of bookbinding to be therapeutic. Since I usually feel stress because of some sort of chaos in my life, the control that I have over paper, needle and thread gives me a sense of order and calm. I am then able to transfer that calm to whatever aspect of my life has been disrupted.
Like others, exercise is my best remedy. I especially like to play exercise games on the Wii to really take my mind off off life's hassles; the competitive nature gives me a new short-term goal and sense of accomplishment to generate positive emotions. By the end of a really good workout, I'm sweating and exhausted, far too exhausted to worry about whatever was stressing me out in the first place.
Next time, be sure to post your business info so I can be absolutely certain not to frequent your establishment. As the article said, I was not worried about HER stealing my data, I was worried about my unsecured data (and that of every other client she had) by someone else.
And actually, no, my social security number is not "down at the courthouse", but I'd be delighted if you were able to locate it and send it to me as proof.
i THINK YOU over reacted grossly. WE're people, not robots. We take notes, make priority lists, do our jobs. If a 'customer' of mine asked for a sheet of my notebook back, I'd give it to her and she'd be the butt of every joke in my industry for years. Let people do their jobs. This lady was not going to steal your SSN. How naive (yes, too lazy to look up the spelling.) You have no idea how many companies have access to your mortgage info. Ever wonder why you get mailings about new kitchens right after you settle on a house? It's all down there at the courthouse for anyone to read. Many localities keep your SSN on their registered voter list and anyone willing to pay the money to buy the list can get it.
I go to the gym. I drop the kids off and run or get on the elliptical machine and just go - I don't watch the TV, I just think and clear my head. Plus, it gives the kids and I a sort of break from each other in the late afternoon.
I find Yoga to be super helpful. I also really like to do puzzles. I can just sort of zone out and put the thing together.
My stress relief is nothing special, just exercise and talking out my frustrations with my husband, mom, dad, or friend.
And sometimes a stiff drink does the trick.
IMHO, The best way to relieve stress is to figuring out what is stressing you and deal with it. I'm usually stressed because I have too much to do. The solution is either (a) power through and get it done so I can stop thinking about it or (b) find a way to reduce the workload.
I drink tea and before i take my first sip i put my nose in the rim of the cup and inhale the steam and imagine i am in a different place "zen place". Doesent matter if I am in my car and its storming outside or in a crowded airplane in the shaft middle seat or next to a crying baby.
I have bought a new Samsung BD-C7500, I need to reset to multiregion, help me.
If anyone has any suggestions or knows a code can you please email me on
newserp@fibertel.com.ar
Regards
Ernexzto
Carrie, thank you thank you. I used your concept (from last year), redeeming survey points for gift cards as straight up gifts for always-cash-strapped-relatives. So thanks, your system really works.
(We have 22 family members to buy for this round and less than $275, including postage, to pull it off. Postage is the killer. If anyone has any ideas on that one, I'm game. Actually we're cutting costs to about 90% by using older gummed stamps from Henry Gitner on the boxes. Not sure how the post office guys will take it, but it is legal. Until now they liked us.)
Here are a few other methods we've used. Look for freebies throughout the year. Wisebread, for one, has daily deal offerings. These made a nice goody package for my bro in law's dog last Christmas. Free with rebate items (jump drives in this case) worked well for the college aged niece and nephew. Free with purchase items became stocking stuffers. We combine low cost/free items with traditional home made goodies. (Some old fashioned treats like watermelon rind pickle, candied orange peel, and apple peel jelly transform things you'd normally toss and are really good.)
Normally, baking money comes from grocery cash or ingredients squirreled away over time. Presentation packaging is collected after Christmas at crazily discounted prices. So even though not free, it's fairly painless.
Also, not totally free but pretty close... Last year I brewed dandelion wine for the first time. (No fancy equipment or speciality yeasts.) Lovely. This year's batch went into pretty recycled glass bottles, decorated with computer generated labels (plain paper trimmed and attached with left over clear contact paper), then nestled into wooden cheese boxes surrounded by excelsior. The only real costs were the raisons, lemon, orange, sugar, and lots of time. Other items were on hand.
I want to know more about your dog. This just happened to my 5 year old Border Collie yesterday! He was chasing after a ball and then yelped and fell to the ground and couldnt use his hind legs anymore. He is still in the ER doing test to determine if its a clot or a disc. The bill could add up to $7K. Did the surgery help your dog? How long for recovery? Were you advised of other options?
My parents pay for my car insurance (family plan) and the car was a gift.. getting 30+ mpg. Makes little sense to take public transportation here in LA where it takes 10x the time and 3x the gas expense to get to the destination compared to driving.
My "boring" way of saving money is spending much of my free time playing World of Warcraft.. a yearly subscription costs less than $0.50/day prorated.
I also don't use blackberries, smart phones, gym memberships, cable tv, etc. Actually, I work so much I don't have time to enjoy those.. Internet is included in the rent of my bare-bones room.
It must be crazy tempting to NOT spend the money when you have "extra" every month!
I just got a small windfall last month, and I told myself I'd use it to pay a chunk down on the rental prop mortgage. Nope, used 20% of that chunk, and the other 80% is still in savings........ hmmmmmm
I'm a really boring person because I'm 23 and have no friends due in part to my frugality. People my age like to go out, and I refuse to spend a penny on outings. I'll especially never pay so much as $1 at a restaurant or fast food joint - complete waste of money!
As a small business owner I have a fluctuating income, so I totally agree with you. Nevertheless, I suggest separating the "emergency" and "savings" funds; emergencies will come and go, and the savings shouldn't be affected by them (unless they are going to require a lot of money).
Thanks very much for including my link :). I want to start canning but am only likely to be living here in Egypt for another year and don't want to have to move all the equipment round with me.... When I am settled though it's a priority to start.
Nice list Chris. I hope by the age of 30, I can start paying for my place and stop paying all these rents money. If you think about it, the amount of rent money adds up through the years is a lot. Thanks for the article.
"10) Annual vacations. Getting away from my routines and having novel experiences is essential to my well-being, physically and mentally. And, according to research, vacations may help prevent cardiovascular disease."
I totally agree with you on this. Even though it could be quit a bit expensive, having vacations will help you relax and come back more happy. Moreover, you can learn a lot of things and ideas from these traveling vacation as well.
Nope. Never. No one in my house would eat it. Not that they are anti-health food. But Oreos have to be Oreos. And yes, I gained 5 pounds perfecting this recipe. So there you have it. (Sacrificing for my work.)
It should work great for pie crust. I can't imagine you having a problem with it.
Thanks, Michelle. I'm going to try that. Not tonight, but probably tomorrow. I'll let you know how it turns out!