I recently took gluten out of my diet after a one year period of detoxing off of fast food and prepackaged convenience foods (years of travel and long hours away from home in a stressful job). It was a long journey to break cravings and old habits but I finally was able to isolate that there was a specific problem that wasn't exactly food intolerance. I was afraid it might end up being one of those vague medical diagnoses like fibromyalgia, ibs or chronic fatigue. I tried taking out gluten as a last resort before surrendering myself to the medical establishment. Yea! Finally I can be healthy again! Its so exciting to be in control and know I can depend on my body from day to day!
Thank you so much for the frugal ideas. I have implemented almost all of them already (in a week!) and no one can even tell the flour has been switched out. This is so easy! I only spent an extra $80 switching out the pantry and my mom was more than happy to give me her counter top mixer that she never used. I would hate to guess how much I might have spent on prescription meds and drs visits if I hadn't been able to access info like yours Sonja! Thank you!
willie-boy
If you take a Jack Plane to a small piece of the oak, you get some great shavings. 6 oz of oak can go a long way when you toast it. I use about 2 Tbs in an imperial pint. I have about 1 oz that I have been using for some time now. I can not even tell it has been taken from yet.
I use the wood flooring left over from the house. I have about 300 pounds sitting in the hall still. Maybe if someone flies to the eastern hemisphere, you could talk them into grabbing a plank of untreated flooring for you.
Since you are on the other side of the pond, I would just stick to the French Oak. Soak it in some red wine for a few days first, then put in your product. Some nice notes come out.
I agree that one would be less willing to work for less or the same as one collects from Unemployment. For eg. I went to a staffing agency after trying to find a job on my own for several weeks..yes I send out at least 20 applications per day and no response. Robert Half told me they have Permanent positions available after they pulled my resume off Monster..They called me in to talk about job opportunities..only to find out they did not have any permanent job available..Perm section pass me on to Temp section who informed me thy can only pay me 10-15 per hr.
I receive the Max in UI in NYC...Why would I take a temp position in a that has nothing to do with my qualifications (i will not learn anything from this job) and end my UI??? I think it would be in my best interest to keep looking for perm positions while concentrating on studying for my CPA exam. NO I WILL NOT GIVE UP 405 PER WEEK AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON STUDYING and finding perm job vs 350 PER WEEK.....If I take the latter I will have to figure out how I will be able to buy lunch 5 days per week and afford transportation to get to and from work.
You people who are not in this situation make it seem as if we did not contribute to UI or we did not pay taxes....If you want to biatch about something please complain about people who are sitting at home having gremlins .....never work a day in their life and get free housing because they have a million children...these people get free food and shelter.
I didnt ask to lose my job.. I worked long hrs every day and even overnights without sleep slaving for the big boys.
This is my first time being unemployed.....and no I do not enjoy staying at home. And this money we receiving is not free money. We work hard all our lives..hell we should be getting more.
I like to buy books at Biblio.com. They have used, rare and out-of-print books, which is really cool. Plus they offset carbon emissions on your book shipment, which is important to me. You can't sell or trade there, but there's some really awesome rare books. Plus they're just an ethical company.
Thank you so much for this eyeopening article. Although a big debt-free advocate my husband and I have been struggling with issue #6. You've made me realize that the time to start giving is now - whether in debt or not. We are going to start tithing 10% of our income again.
Plumber. A job that takes a little tech schooling, and on-the-job-training to work on your own schedule making tons of money. Oh, and medical coding, because no one wants to do it, yet there are tons of places hiring for medical coders. I think it is less than a year of schooling for that one.
I give you a lot of credit, Phillip. This is one of the better articles I have read about deflation. I was excited to see you that mention that prices are only a symptom of inflation/deflation, and that the true definition, at least according to Austrian economists, is the rise or fall in money supply AND credit. Kudos on that!
While it may seem like deflation will lead to an all-on collapse of just about everything, that is very rarely the case. Rather, it is simply the correction of the excess leverage in the system. Yes, there will be pain, and it will not be easy for many. The more debt people have, the more it is going to hurt. But it is a necessary correction and we cannot get out of this depression until the debt is either paid down or defaulted upon.
This biggest bubble that we currently have is the mortgage bubble. Everyone has heard of the housing bubble, but no one is paying attention to the mortgage bubble. For years there has been a nearly perfect ratio between housing prices and mortgage debt. But as the housing bubble burst, prices fell quickly and dramatically. However, mortgage debts did not, barely declining 2%. Much, much more mortgage debt will need to be paid off or defaulted upon before we can have a sustainable recovery in housing and the rest of the economy. Inquiring minds will want to check out:
For me, the best degree is Economics. And yes I'll admit I'm biased.
A degree in Economics is not only versatile, but provides you with key financial life lessons.
It's also a field where there are plenty of options for jobs. The economy will always have ups and downs, but it will never cease to exist and there will always be jobs trying to predict where it will head next and analyzing its impact. Being an economist is a profession that will always have numerous job opportunities.
In terms of personal learning, I also like that economics is a field that can be applied to many, many other fields. An economist can specialize in so many different fields (health, regional development, culture, neuroeconomics if you want to mix in some psychology, etc.) that there is always an opportunity to learn more about different subjects.
This post argues the opposite of the headline. Lower interest rates do make homes more affordable according to the article. They may not make home buyers more responsible, but the current tighter lending standards do that.
That is one of the problems these days is that instead of buying the cheaper house everyone tries to stretch into something a little bigger. Housing can be real affordable, but we keep pushing it to the limit instead of backing off and taking the cheaper mortgage. Well that is what I just did, we downsized and it was the best move we could have made.
I can't imagine picking out something that I know fabulous without trying it on. I can't fathom the boyfriend being successful at it either. Trying things on is essential. Sizes are not consistent across brands or even product lines within a brand. I cannot begin to count the number of times I've picked up something totally adorable that looked like it would fit, only to try it on and find it was totally unflattering. And for something you intend for your woman to wear in totally intimate, vulnerable moments - you want her to feel fantastic wearing it.
Don't buy your woman lingerie. Just don't. Gift cards and picking it out together? Fantastic!
The author argues that home affordability is bad because it leads to increase in demand which, in turn, leads to increase in price, which is bad because homes need to be more affordable for the hard working Americans because home affordability is good... Wait, so which is it? Is home affordability good or is it bad?
And, how can the author be against both free market AND government intervention? What else is out there? Last decade's "reckless" home buying, yeah that was free market at work. A lot of people blamed the government for NOT intervening. If I'm remembering my econ lessons correctly, interest rates are controlled by the Federal Reserve, which, despite being called "the Fed" is not a government agency. But, for the sake of argument, let's say the government is responsible for the lower interest rate... So, the author is against Free Market, aka reckless home buying of the last decade. He claims that in order for the economy to improve, homes needs to be more affordable. The Feds step in to make that happen and he's against that as well.
Basically, it seems to me that the author is arguing against the very nature of supply and demand, and that's like arguing against gravity. It's natural it just happens there's no real way to control it. There's a reason why recessions happen in 7-10 year cycles. The only way to even try to control supply and demand is with government intervention.
Hi, Guest, and thanks for the nice comments. I hear you on the dry mustard. Going to Costco tomorow, but I don't really need a barrel of it . . . the hunt continues.
I am not all that sensitive to "chemicals," but I too have noticed that 409 seems to bother me.
I bought a bottle of Sal Suds last week and have been very impressed with how well it works for dishes, floors, countertops/bathroom, and as a laundry stain treatment. I think I'm in love!
Odd... I started writing and then the page reloaded. I hope this doesn't post twice..
I wrote a post that included a bit about how a higher credit score could save hundreds of dollars per month because of lower interest rates. The math is the same (but the reason is different). You have a number of options with that money, but my favorite is not to buy more house, but to invest the difference on a regular basis. Even conservatively invested, a difference of a few hundred dollars per month could net you six figures in an account 30-years later after taxes. This can make up a lot of the interest you're paying over the years and, depending on the actual numbers, replace the interest paid! I understand the urge to buy "more house" but would be hesitant to buy more house "than I needed" just because the monthly payment is the same. I've heard somewhere recently (don't remember where but it's not an original...) that rich people as "how much" and poor people ask "how much is the monthly payment." I think that applies here (i.e. don't get married to a monthly payment - buy an appropriate house. If you can save money per month because of good credit and low rates generally, great - put that money to work for you somewhere else). That's my take at least.
For me, the MBA was definitely the most lucrative. I stopped working to go in and came out 2 years later making about 250% more. 4 years out and that number has jumped to over 300% higher than a base that was actually quite reasonable. The career trajectory with an MBA from a top 20 program is pretty incredible. The debt, though large, is certainly surmountable, especially in today's low interest rate environment.
I wouldn't take jeans to Europe either but if I were going to Rio, I would pack jeans, black tee shirts, and flip flops. I would leave the jewelry at home. Otherwise, I would look like a tourist there. In addition to packing for climate and location, I think a person needs to check out the culture of the area as well. I like the notecard option.
anonimus360,
Like philip said, a sugar wash won't make methanol. Just think "fruits and roots". Potatoes, grapes, etc, produce VERY small amounts of it. Sugar won't. And Zorcy, I know what you mean; every website I've seen, or every poteen/moonshine maker I've ever spoken to always recommends american white oak. Hard to get hold of around here. Even English oak is scarce. And expensive. The last lot I made was with a piece of Estonian oak; tasted okay, like a good scotch. I'll experiment with the apple-wood and see how it goes.
I recently took gluten out of my diet after a one year period of detoxing off of fast food and prepackaged convenience foods (years of travel and long hours away from home in a stressful job). It was a long journey to break cravings and old habits but I finally was able to isolate that there was a specific problem that wasn't exactly food intolerance. I was afraid it might end up being one of those vague medical diagnoses like fibromyalgia, ibs or chronic fatigue. I tried taking out gluten as a last resort before surrendering myself to the medical establishment. Yea! Finally I can be healthy again! Its so exciting to be in control and know I can depend on my body from day to day!
Thank you so much for the frugal ideas. I have implemented almost all of them already (in a week!) and no one can even tell the flour has been switched out. This is so easy! I only spent an extra $80 switching out the pantry and my mom was more than happy to give me her counter top mixer that she never used. I would hate to guess how much I might have spent on prescription meds and drs visits if I hadn't been able to access info like yours Sonja! Thank you!
willie-boy
If you take a Jack Plane to a small piece of the oak, you get some great shavings. 6 oz of oak can go a long way when you toast it. I use about 2 Tbs in an imperial pint. I have about 1 oz that I have been using for some time now. I can not even tell it has been taken from yet.
I use the wood flooring left over from the house. I have about 300 pounds sitting in the hall still. Maybe if someone flies to the eastern hemisphere, you could talk them into grabbing a plank of untreated flooring for you.
Since you are on the other side of the pond, I would just stick to the French Oak. Soak it in some red wine for a few days first, then put in your product. Some nice notes come out.
I agree that one would be less willing to work for less or the same as one collects from Unemployment. For eg. I went to a staffing agency after trying to find a job on my own for several weeks..yes I send out at least 20 applications per day and no response. Robert Half told me they have Permanent positions available after they pulled my resume off Monster..They called me in to talk about job opportunities..only to find out they did not have any permanent job available..Perm section pass me on to Temp section who informed me thy can only pay me 10-15 per hr.
I receive the Max in UI in NYC...Why would I take a temp position in a that has nothing to do with my qualifications (i will not learn anything from this job) and end my UI??? I think it would be in my best interest to keep looking for perm positions while concentrating on studying for my CPA exam. NO I WILL NOT GIVE UP 405 PER WEEK AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON STUDYING and finding perm job vs 350 PER WEEK.....If I take the latter I will have to figure out how I will be able to buy lunch 5 days per week and afford transportation to get to and from work.
You people who are not in this situation make it seem as if we did not contribute to UI or we did not pay taxes....If you want to biatch about something please complain about people who are sitting at home having gremlins .....never work a day in their life and get free housing because they have a million children...these people get free food and shelter.
I didnt ask to lose my job.. I worked long hrs every day and even overnights without sleep slaving for the big boys.
This is my first time being unemployed.....and no I do not enjoy staying at home. And this money we receiving is not free money. We work hard all our lives..hell we should be getting more.
I like to buy books at Biblio.com. They have used, rare and out-of-print books, which is really cool. Plus they offset carbon emissions on your book shipment, which is important to me. You can't sell or trade there, but there's some really awesome rare books. Plus they're just an ethical company.
Thank you so much for this eyeopening article. Although a big debt-free advocate my husband and I have been struggling with issue #6. You've made me realize that the time to start giving is now - whether in debt or not. We are going to start tithing 10% of our income again.
Plumber. A job that takes a little tech schooling, and on-the-job-training to work on your own schedule making tons of money. Oh, and medical coding, because no one wants to do it, yet there are tons of places hiring for medical coders. I think it is less than a year of schooling for that one.
I give you a lot of credit, Phillip. This is one of the better articles I have read about deflation. I was excited to see you that mention that prices are only a symptom of inflation/deflation, and that the true definition, at least according to Austrian economists, is the rise or fall in money supply AND credit. Kudos on that!
While it may seem like deflation will lead to an all-on collapse of just about everything, that is very rarely the case. Rather, it is simply the correction of the excess leverage in the system. Yes, there will be pain, and it will not be easy for many. The more debt people have, the more it is going to hurt. But it is a necessary correction and we cannot get out of this depression until the debt is either paid down or defaulted upon.
This biggest bubble that we currently have is the mortgage bubble. Everyone has heard of the housing bubble, but no one is paying attention to the mortgage bubble. For years there has been a nearly perfect ratio between housing prices and mortgage debt. But as the housing bubble burst, prices fell quickly and dramatically. However, mortgage debts did not, barely declining 2%. Much, much more mortgage debt will need to be paid off or defaulted upon before we can have a sustainable recovery in housing and the rest of the economy. Inquiring minds will want to check out:
http://thenewmortgagecompany.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/10-key-charts-m...
For me, the best degree is Economics. And yes I'll admit I'm biased.
A degree in Economics is not only versatile, but provides you with key financial life lessons.
It's also a field where there are plenty of options for jobs. The economy will always have ups and downs, but it will never cease to exist and there will always be jobs trying to predict where it will head next and analyzing its impact. Being an economist is a profession that will always have numerous job opportunities.
In terms of personal learning, I also like that economics is a field that can be applied to many, many other fields. An economist can specialize in so many different fields (health, regional development, culture, neuroeconomics if you want to mix in some psychology, etc.) that there is always an opportunity to learn more about different subjects.
This post argues the opposite of the headline. Lower interest rates do make homes more affordable according to the article. They may not make home buyers more responsible, but the current tighter lending standards do that.
That is one of the problems these days is that instead of buying the cheaper house everyone tries to stretch into something a little bigger. Housing can be real affordable, but we keep pushing it to the limit instead of backing off and taking the cheaper mortgage. Well that is what I just did, we downsized and it was the best move we could have made.
I can't imagine picking out something that I know fabulous without trying it on. I can't fathom the boyfriend being successful at it either. Trying things on is essential. Sizes are not consistent across brands or even product lines within a brand. I cannot begin to count the number of times I've picked up something totally adorable that looked like it would fit, only to try it on and find it was totally unflattering. And for something you intend for your woman to wear in totally intimate, vulnerable moments - you want her to feel fantastic wearing it.
Don't buy your woman lingerie. Just don't. Gift cards and picking it out together? Fantastic!
I am confused by this article.
The author argues that home affordability is bad because it leads to increase in demand which, in turn, leads to increase in price, which is bad because homes need to be more affordable for the hard working Americans because home affordability is good... Wait, so which is it? Is home affordability good or is it bad?
And, how can the author be against both free market AND government intervention? What else is out there? Last decade's "reckless" home buying, yeah that was free market at work. A lot of people blamed the government for NOT intervening. If I'm remembering my econ lessons correctly, interest rates are controlled by the Federal Reserve, which, despite being called "the Fed" is not a government agency. But, for the sake of argument, let's say the government is responsible for the lower interest rate... So, the author is against Free Market, aka reckless home buying of the last decade. He claims that in order for the economy to improve, homes needs to be more affordable. The Feds step in to make that happen and he's against that as well.
Basically, it seems to me that the author is arguing against the very nature of supply and demand, and that's like arguing against gravity. It's natural it just happens there's no real way to control it. There's a reason why recessions happen in 7-10 year cycles. The only way to even try to control supply and demand is with government intervention.
Hi, Guest, and thanks for the nice comments. I hear you on the dry mustard. Going to Costco tomorow, but I don't really need a barrel of it . . . the hunt continues.
Hi, Kevin, and thanks for your comment.
Y'know, when I considered using the corn syrup, I also had misgivings. I ended up doing a little reading about it, and felt better after I read this post on the Mayo Clinic's website:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-fructose-corn-syrup/AN01588
Plus, it was only a tablespoon.
I am totally with you on the local honey.
Thanks again for commenting!
Worst: MBA
Best: RN
Hey, thanks, Guest! :-)
I am not all that sensitive to "chemicals," but I too have noticed that 409 seems to bother me.
I bought a bottle of Sal Suds last week and have been very impressed with how well it works for dishes, floors, countertops/bathroom, and as a laundry stain treatment. I think I'm in love!
Rain-X works for me every time.
The most valuable degree is REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE, even if it is an internship. Right after that, I would probably say an accounting class.
Odd... I started writing and then the page reloaded. I hope this doesn't post twice..
I wrote a post that included a bit about how a higher credit score could save hundreds of dollars per month because of lower interest rates. The math is the same (but the reason is different). You have a number of options with that money, but my favorite is not to buy more house, but to invest the difference on a regular basis. Even conservatively invested, a difference of a few hundred dollars per month could net you six figures in an account 30-years later after taxes. This can make up a lot of the interest you're paying over the years and, depending on the actual numbers, replace the interest paid! I understand the urge to buy "more house" but would be hesitant to buy more house "than I needed" just because the monthly payment is the same. I've heard somewhere recently (don't remember where but it's not an original...) that rich people as "how much" and poor people ask "how much is the monthly payment." I think that applies here (i.e. don't get married to a monthly payment - buy an appropriate house. If you can save money per month because of good credit and low rates generally, great - put that money to work for you somewhere else). That's my take at least.
For me, the MBA was definitely the most lucrative. I stopped working to go in and came out 2 years later making about 250% more. 4 years out and that number has jumped to over 300% higher than a base that was actually quite reasonable. The career trajectory with an MBA from a top 20 program is pretty incredible. The debt, though large, is certainly surmountable, especially in today's low interest rate environment.
Um, the links to each article are after the (respective) blurbs.
I wouldn't take jeans to Europe either but if I were going to Rio, I would pack jeans, black tee shirts, and flip flops. I would leave the jewelry at home. Otherwise, I would look like a tourist there. In addition to packing for climate and location, I think a person needs to check out the culture of the area as well. I like the notecard option.
So you tell me the article name but you don't have a link to it. Makes me think that kids are running the site.
anonimus360,
Like philip said, a sugar wash won't make methanol. Just think "fruits and roots". Potatoes, grapes, etc, produce VERY small amounts of it. Sugar won't. And Zorcy, I know what you mean; every website I've seen, or every poteen/moonshine maker I've ever spoken to always recommends american white oak. Hard to get hold of around here. Even English oak is scarce. And expensive. The last lot I made was with a piece of Estonian oak; tasted okay, like a good scotch. I'll experiment with the apple-wood and see how it goes.