Sally, you just don't know what you are talking about. People that say Champaign is "the place where hope goes to die" just need to get out more. Philip is right, we have all of this:
Music
We have all sorts of music played by a bunch of old people that no one wants to listen to but themselves. We have an annual music festival that gets a good band once a year. How can you say that it's boring here?
Theater
I'm sure that the first performance of a community college theater is superb. There is a reason these people are performing at a community college--they are the best of the 35-year-olds that couldn't get into a real school. Be sure to not miss "Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical!" it is sure to be a fine piece of Tony-bait.
Parks (and More)
Our single man-made hill is a stunning sight of what determined people without topographic diversity can achieve. Our amazingly high ratio of park land to developed land is great, yet I have trouble playing ball in our many park district Flower Islands*. Mini Park II, IV, and VIII are all great abandoned lots to score some meth. Crystal Lake Park’s lagoon is a water sport lover’s dream--just avoid the bodies.
Boneyard Creek is a lovely scenic waterway--much more so now that it is no longer an open sewage system. Some communities do rubber duck races ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck#Races ), I preferred betting on which floater in the Boneyard would first reach the collected dam of flushed used condoms. Just a short drive away, Clinton Lake has lovely views of the nuke plant and let us not forget the strip mine that is Kickapoo State Park.
Museums
The many "copies of some of the most famous sculptures in the world" at the Spurlock Museum are amazing. It’s just like being at Pier 1 Imports! Anyone saying that seeing an Elvis impersonator is not the same as seeing Elvis, just hasn’t seen a good impersonation. Uh huh.
Arts
Don’t forget that the Taste of Champaign is coming up soon. This is a great time to pick up all sorts of tchotchkes. I missed out on this http://tinyurl.com/tasteofchambana item last year and have been regretting it ever since.
*Flower Island: n. a flowerpot outside of private businesses that is maintained by the park district. These parks usually have few flowers, and many cigarette butts. http://tinyurl.com/champaignflowerisland
FSAs are great plans, but I usually find that Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are usually better. They don't expire (use it or lose it) much like most FSAs do. The problem is that many employers might not offer them. Check with your company.
Great article! Two other tricks that help: finding some of the free speedtrap (and while you're at it, red light) POIs (points of interest) for your GPS; and, if you have the money for it, buying Uniden's BCT-12 scanner, which gives you a lot of warning if state troopers are receiving or transmitting on their radios - and thus, if they're within a few miles of you.
I would add to watch for new speed limit changes on the roads you travel daily. This has just happened on a couple of roads that I normally use. As you can guess, there wasn't a parade or ribbon cutting for these new signs (with reductions in speed of course). It's easy to kinda get in a zone and drive the same way every day and not realize that the speed limit has changed.
Be especially careful of being on state highways (not interstates), where limits are 55 mph usually, and then entering into towns where the speed limit usually drops down to a 30-40 mph range. Those entrances into towns are common places for speed traps where officers are just waiting for the person who has not slowed down enough after having driven at a faster pace.
Ditto on the cruise control thing. If you are heavy footed and are not checking your speedometer often enough, you can find yourself relaxing into an excessive speed without even knowing it.
I think the decision as to where to live can go beyond whether or not to live in an expensive city. Even cities that are expensive have areas that are less expensive (but still safe). I'm glad you brought up renting vs. owning too. Even though I have almost always owned (except for one 6 month period) there is one place we're considering moving that we would probably rent in even if we could afford to buy. That's because it's an area that's at a (relatively) high risk for natural disasters. I imagine insurance costs on top of the high property costs would be nuts.
According to our FSA's website the limit on contributions limit won't change to $2500 until 2013. Does anyone know if this is correct or is the article correct in saying it will change in 2011?
Thank you for your article! It's hard to find any information as to why the processed food is so much more expensive than fresh food...it's like something that no one wants to talk about in the 'mass media'.
This is a great article! Thanks. I would also like to let you all know of a mobile coupon app I found the other days. Lots of great deals. I like in Scottsdale and it's an awesome app. Qponomics is the name of the app. www.qponomics.com
Then their payments would be late, and Kohl's would be able to levy fees and higher interest rates on their customers. Trust me, my boycott of Kohl's credit card & store started that same day, and I've accelerated my payments to get rid of my balance once and for all.
=====================
I think you could have better called this post "Affairs of the Heart".
If every decision we made was ruled by our heads and not our hearts, I think we'd all be rich.
$22500 saved per year for 30 years at a 4% return isn't even close to 16 million. It's the same thing with the $7500 per year example. It would take 86 years for someone saving $22,500 per year to accumulate 16 million at a 4% return.
Whole Foods can be a good choice for a healthy lunch. I have done this at a few Whole Foods locations. It's not fast-food cheap, or as inexpensive as bringing food from home, but it's a chance to make some healthy choices when eating out. I also like the free Wi-Fi - you can eat a healthy meal and get some things done.
Unless I live near the ocean, there is no way that I am turning my air conditioning off. I get way too hot. So hot that its unbearable and can't even manage to move around. I won't even go outside. I only need to be out there for a second before I decide and say "okay screw this. its way too hot to do anything." Even in the winter where I live, which went well into the entire month of March, while it was 20 degrees outside and lower, I was outside in shorts, a spaghetti strap shirt and flip flops because I was so hot. I thought shaving my legs would help cool me off. It didn't help at all. So you can only imagine how much hotter I am in the summer when it is 86 degrees outside PLUS high humidity. I can't even 76 degree indoors. I can handle 74 degrees and lower.
I can't really deal with heat unless I live near the beach. When your near a beach, it gives off that ocean breeze and you can always go swimming in the water when its hot since southern California oceans are generally cold water. I don't live in Cali anymore obviously. You also need air if you live in the desert parts of southern California because the dry heat is just unbearable. Living in my grandma's house growing up, she still to this day does not have an air conditioner in her house. Which doesn't matter anyway because she lives close to the beach along the coastline. But if you are nowhere near an ocean coastline, there is no reason to have your air turned off. Especially if you have pets. My dogs are ALWAYS hot in the summer, just like me. And I know they get way hotter. They get sent to the groomer to be shaved down for the summer, which I know helps them feel better. But dogs naturally have a higher body temp then humans do. Therefore, they get hotter.
There is no reason to make your pets suffer from the heat like that by turning your air and fans off (this is directed more at my family anyone else.)
Besides, I like my air and other electronics thank you very much. Going out somewhere does not keep me cool. If its hot, I'm not going to want to go somewhere and be moving around. Let alone sitting outside in the shade. Its too hot to be outside in general.
Start saving money on everything online by shopping through Buyer United. Its free to sign up and you will get discounts anywhere from 5-50% on all of your purchases, and the best thing is it is completly free to sign up. the site id
Here are a few examples of stores for eyeglasses and thier discounts Buyer United offers
coastal contacts 10-31% Buyer United savings
lens crafters 10-25% Buyer United savings
contacts america 8-30% Buyer United savings
if your going to buy your glasses or contacts online you might as well get them through http://www.west.buyerunited.com and save money while your doing it.
I have used Hotwire many, many times over the years and saved a lot of money. Beware, however, that they are very stubborn about the no-refund, no-change policy. If a hotel property has changed hands and dropped in quality, the new owners may have contracted with Hotwire and sold rooms through Hotwire based upon the hotel's past glory. It takes a while for bad reviews of properties to affect Hotwire's star ratings, and you may think you are getting a four star property when, in fact, it is only worth two stars. And in that situation, with Hotwire there are no changes, and you are stuck.
Assurance on critical illness may be a great help considering the cost that may be incurred in medication of such deceases that covers an expensive major treatment. But I agree that more than the financial benefits, what matters most is the guaranteed relief that this scientific methods will bring.
I think it's more of a quality living. Diligent ways of spending money deals with valuable costs that is bounded by your needs and not by your wants. Being responsive toward your expenses is a deliverance of personal management. Having t create self standards and being a consistent follower of your dedication is the best way to strive success in having to leave with this option.
Tiff I think has had that excellent knowledge and ability that upholds the company for the reason of protecting their own means. She must really be an asset to the company and using this edge as self protection is just a matter of stability and strong will. If Mike can fool you around with his tactics then I think he needs a straight forward conversation that will put words on his face that your capabilities are ahead better than him. Be strong girl, If you wish to stay on your company then show them off that you're more than better than what they expect of you.
Sally, you just don't know what you are talking about. People that say Champaign is "the place where hope goes to die" just need to get out more. Philip is right, we have all of this:
Music
We have all sorts of music played by a bunch of old people that no one wants to listen to but themselves. We have an annual music festival that gets a good band once a year. How can you say that it's boring here?
Theater
I'm sure that the first performance of a community college theater is superb. There is a reason these people are performing at a community college--they are the best of the 35-year-olds that couldn't get into a real school. Be sure to not miss "Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical!" it is sure to be a fine piece of Tony-bait.
Parks (and More)
Our single man-made hill is a stunning sight of what determined people without topographic diversity can achieve. Our amazingly high ratio of park land to developed land is great, yet I have trouble playing ball in our many park district Flower Islands*. Mini Park II, IV, and VIII are all great abandoned lots to score some meth. Crystal Lake Park’s lagoon is a water sport lover’s dream--just avoid the bodies.
Boneyard Creek is a lovely scenic waterway--much more so now that it is no longer an open sewage system. Some communities do rubber duck races ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck#Races ), I preferred betting on which floater in the Boneyard would first reach the collected dam of flushed used condoms. Just a short drive away, Clinton Lake has lovely views of the nuke plant and let us not forget the strip mine that is Kickapoo State Park.
Museums
The many "copies of some of the most famous sculptures in the world" at the Spurlock Museum are amazing. It’s just like being at Pier 1 Imports! Anyone saying that seeing an Elvis impersonator is not the same as seeing Elvis, just hasn’t seen a good impersonation. Uh huh.
Arts
Don’t forget that the Taste of Champaign is coming up soon. This is a great time to pick up all sorts of tchotchkes. I missed out on this http://tinyurl.com/tasteofchambana item last year and have been regretting it ever since.
*Flower Island: n. a flowerpot outside of private businesses that is maintained by the park district. These parks usually have few flowers, and many cigarette butts. http://tinyurl.com/champaignflowerisland
FSAs are great plans, but I usually find that Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are usually better. They don't expire (use it or lose it) much like most FSAs do. The problem is that many employers might not offer them. Check with your company.
Great article! Two other tricks that help: finding some of the free speedtrap (and while you're at it, red light) POIs (points of interest) for your GPS; and, if you have the money for it, buying Uniden's BCT-12 scanner, which gives you a lot of warning if state troopers are receiving or transmitting on their radios - and thus, if they're within a few miles of you.
I would add to watch for new speed limit changes on the roads you travel daily. This has just happened on a couple of roads that I normally use. As you can guess, there wasn't a parade or ribbon cutting for these new signs (with reductions in speed of course). It's easy to kinda get in a zone and drive the same way every day and not realize that the speed limit has changed.
I thought your writing sounded familiar! I had no idea it was you Little House until the very end, but I knew I had read your style before!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and congrats for making it as a staff writer!
Best, Sam
Be especially careful of being on state highways (not interstates), where limits are 55 mph usually, and then entering into towns where the speed limit usually drops down to a 30-40 mph range. Those entrances into towns are common places for speed traps where officers are just waiting for the person who has not slowed down enough after having driven at a faster pace.
Ditto on the cruise control thing. If you are heavy footed and are not checking your speedometer often enough, you can find yourself relaxing into an excessive speed without even knowing it.
I think the decision as to where to live can go beyond whether or not to live in an expensive city. Even cities that are expensive have areas that are less expensive (but still safe). I'm glad you brought up renting vs. owning too. Even though I have almost always owned (except for one 6 month period) there is one place we're considering moving that we would probably rent in even if we could afford to buy. That's because it's an area that's at a (relatively) high risk for natural disasters. I imagine insurance costs on top of the high property costs would be nuts.
According to our FSA's website the limit on contributions limit won't change to $2500 until 2013. Does anyone know if this is correct or is the article correct in saying it will change in 2011?
Thank you for your article! It's hard to find any information as to why the processed food is so much more expensive than fresh food...it's like something that no one wants to talk about in the 'mass media'.
This is a great article! Thanks. I would also like to let you all know of a mobile coupon app I found the other days. Lots of great deals. I like in Scottsdale and it's an awesome app. Qponomics is the name of the app. www.qponomics.com
Great article and congrats on your first Wisebread piece :).
I live in Egypt right now and it is a hell of a lot cheaper than UK where I am from!!
Then their payments would be late, and Kohl's would be able to levy fees and higher interest rates on their customers. Trust me, my boycott of Kohl's credit card & store started that same day, and I've accelerated my payments to get rid of my balance once and for all.
=====================
I think you could have better called this post "Affairs of the Heart".
If every decision we made was ruled by our heads and not our hearts, I think we'd all be rich.
$22500 saved per year for 30 years at a 4% return isn't even close to 16 million. It's the same thing with the $7500 per year example. It would take 86 years for someone saving $22,500 per year to accumulate 16 million at a 4% return.
I remember my Dad saying they had corn syrup on pancakes when he was a kid. That was the only kind he knew about until he went into the army.
How about bread with LARD and sugar! My Hubby worked with a man who carried that in his lunch pail to country school every day!
so if im able to find some white oak could i just stick in the mason jar of the shine, and how do i go about charring it
Whole Foods can be a good choice for a healthy lunch. I have done this at a few Whole Foods locations. It's not fast-food cheap, or as inexpensive as bringing food from home, but it's a chance to make some healthy choices when eating out. I also like the free Wi-Fi - you can eat a healthy meal and get some things done.
Unless I live near the ocean, there is no way that I am turning my air conditioning off. I get way too hot. So hot that its unbearable and can't even manage to move around. I won't even go outside. I only need to be out there for a second before I decide and say "okay screw this. its way too hot to do anything." Even in the winter where I live, which went well into the entire month of March, while it was 20 degrees outside and lower, I was outside in shorts, a spaghetti strap shirt and flip flops because I was so hot. I thought shaving my legs would help cool me off. It didn't help at all. So you can only imagine how much hotter I am in the summer when it is 86 degrees outside PLUS high humidity. I can't even 76 degree indoors. I can handle 74 degrees and lower.
I can't really deal with heat unless I live near the beach. When your near a beach, it gives off that ocean breeze and you can always go swimming in the water when its hot since southern California oceans are generally cold water. I don't live in Cali anymore obviously. You also need air if you live in the desert parts of southern California because the dry heat is just unbearable. Living in my grandma's house growing up, she still to this day does not have an air conditioner in her house. Which doesn't matter anyway because she lives close to the beach along the coastline. But if you are nowhere near an ocean coastline, there is no reason to have your air turned off. Especially if you have pets. My dogs are ALWAYS hot in the summer, just like me. And I know they get way hotter. They get sent to the groomer to be shaved down for the summer, which I know helps them feel better. But dogs naturally have a higher body temp then humans do. Therefore, they get hotter.
There is no reason to make your pets suffer from the heat like that by turning your air and fans off (this is directed more at my family anyone else.)
Besides, I like my air and other electronics thank you very much. Going out somewhere does not keep me cool. If its hot, I'm not going to want to go somewhere and be moving around. Let alone sitting outside in the shade. Its too hot to be outside in general.
Okay, I'm done with my rant.
Start saving money on everything online by shopping through Buyer United. Its free to sign up and you will get discounts anywhere from 5-50% on all of your purchases, and the best thing is it is completly free to sign up. the site id
http://www.west.buyerunited.com
Here are a few examples of stores for eyeglasses and thier discounts Buyer United offers
coastal contacts 10-31% Buyer United savings
lens crafters 10-25% Buyer United savings
contacts america 8-30% Buyer United savings
if your going to buy your glasses or contacts online you might as well get them through http://www.west.buyerunited.com and save money while your doing it.
Well, if you don't like music or theater or parks or museums or the arts, you may be right.
I have used Hotwire many, many times over the years and saved a lot of money. Beware, however, that they are very stubborn about the no-refund, no-change policy. If a hotel property has changed hands and dropped in quality, the new owners may have contracted with Hotwire and sold rooms through Hotwire based upon the hotel's past glory. It takes a while for bad reviews of properties to affect Hotwire's star ratings, and you may think you are getting a four star property when, in fact, it is only worth two stars. And in that situation, with Hotwire there are no changes, and you are stuck.
Assurance on critical illness may be a great help considering the cost that may be incurred in medication of such deceases that covers an expensive major treatment. But I agree that more than the financial benefits, what matters most is the guaranteed relief that this scientific methods will bring.
I think it's more of a quality living. Diligent ways of spending money deals with valuable costs that is bounded by your needs and not by your wants. Being responsive toward your expenses is a deliverance of personal management. Having t create self standards and being a consistent follower of your dedication is the best way to strive success in having to leave with this option.
Tiff I think has had that excellent knowledge and ability that upholds the company for the reason of protecting their own means. She must really be an asset to the company and using this edge as self protection is just a matter of stability and strong will. If Mike can fool you around with his tactics then I think he needs a straight forward conversation that will put words on his face that your capabilities are ahead better than him. Be strong girl, If you wish to stay on your company then show them off that you're more than better than what they expect of you.