Recent comments

  • 25 Great, Cheap, and Easy Crock Pot Recipes   14 years 17 weeks ago

    Thanks for your encouragement.

    I love trying new recipes but often get overwhelmed by lots of ingredients and multiple steps. So, I was excited to tell people about the easy recipes I use plus find a few more from other bloggers to share.

    Meg will be glad to know that you enjoyed learning about her cookbook.

  • SaveUp Giving Away $1000 to Wise Bread Readers   14 years 17 weeks ago

    I am motivated to save when there is something I really want. It could be a vacation, money for Christmas or something fun like a new TV or game.

  • The Case of the Martini: Is Instant Gratification Financially Responsible?   14 years 17 weeks ago

    how cute was the date? maybe she doesn't have to pay!

  • 10 Cheap and Delicious Marinades   14 years 17 weeks ago

    A lot of these sound like they'd work really well on tofu and tempeh, too! I look forward to trying to salad-dressing version of the first recipe -- that sounds really interesting and so unlike the dressings I usually make.

  • SaveUp Giving Away $1000 to Wise Bread Readers   14 years 17 weeks ago

    What motivates me to save, is I love a great deal! I can never pass something up that is on clearance. I live for saving money. It is in my blood. My dad taught me how to do it, and I am passing it on to my daughter

  • Best Money Tips: Saving on Clothes   14 years 17 weeks ago

    You are welcome!

  • SaveUp Giving Away $1000 to Wise Bread Readers   14 years 17 weeks ago

    I'm motivated to save knowing that it could help when we have emergency expenses, instead of creating more debt.

  • Secret Lawn Tonic Recipe From Golf Course Groundskeeper   14 years 17 weeks ago

    Has anyone tried this tonic along with Scotts? I just put down Scotts and would like to try the tonic, is that going to cause issues?

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Apps?   14 years 17 weeks ago

    I liked your Facebook page

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Apps?   14 years 17 weeks ago

    I save money by not having a smart phone, so I don't buy apps

  • SaveUp Giving Away $1000 to Wise Bread Readers   14 years 17 weeks ago

    My motivation to save is to not have to struggle to pay bills. I don't like having to live paycheck to paycheck.

  • The Case of the Martini: Is Instant Gratification Financially Responsible?   14 years 17 weeks ago

    "Balancing outside influences with the chords in your heart that know what's important to you is a delicate exercise." Well said!

    Knowing what is truly important to you is the first step. I find that getting away from everything once in a while helps me gain that perspective of what truly makes me happy. It turns out that I'm much happier going camping that going on a cruise. The less expensive (and healthier) option is almost always more appealing in the long run.

    As for drinks, my rule of thumb is that if the drink is less than $7 (I will not pay more than $7 for a drink!) and I'm feeling spendy and the time is right (ex: I'm at my best friend's bachelorette or something), then I might splurge. But, I do it consciously and I enjoy every single sip. I can count on one hand how many times I've ordered a $7 drink. Honestly though, it was never worth it... :)

  • 3 Hidden Dangers of Refinancing Your Mortgage   14 years 17 weeks ago

    Here is another pitfall - some institution, let's say AME Financial Corporation, bets in the bond market and loses, so says they cannot honor your loan commitment even though you already paid for the appraisal that AME commissioned, that actually came in high. You tell them you will sue them if they don't honor the commitment, and so they hire LandSafe to make another lowball appraisal that is $100,000 less, claiming you now have no equity in the home, so the loan to value is too low, and though they really want to, AME Financial Corporation no longer has to make you the loan, and you are out your time, appraisal fees and now even worse, have a low ball appraisal on the books that Schwab will later refer to that keeps them from making you a home equity loan for the same reason, even though they were the ones that made the refinance loan after AME did not based on yet another high appraisal.

  • Best Money Tips: Saving on Clothes   14 years 17 weeks ago

    Thanks for including our blog post!

  • SaveUp Giving Away $1000 to Wise Bread Readers   14 years 17 weeks ago

    I am motivated to save because my family's income fluctuates more than my budget does each month. Knowing that I have an emergency fund that I continue to fund takes so much stress out of my daily life!

  • SaveUp Giving Away $1000 to Wise Bread Readers   14 years 17 weeks ago

    We live in a house that is around 100 years old, and both of our cars are 12 years old. We also had one dog and 10 cats. My husband and I also don't have any health insurance right now. Just by shear numbers, we are a breakdown/illness away from needing a lot of money to make things all better again. I always feel better having at least $500-$1000 tucked away in the bank, just for these few reasons.

  • In Two-Income Households, Can Making More Put Us Further Behind?   14 years 17 weeks ago

    It also depends on where you live.

    My husband and I live in a major metro area. In order to afford a small house on a small lot in a town with good public schools, we need to both work even with professional jobs. Our lifestyle isn't particularly inflated. We have no cable, drive 10 year old cars, clean our own house and mow our own lawn. Our kids are in two extracurricular activities each. It isn't a crazy life, but the cost is a challenge.

  • SaveUp Giving Away $1000 to Wise Bread Readers   14 years 17 weeks ago

    We are doing more gardening here. That motivates us to save because we want to put in cold frames and raised beds so that we can eat more healthy and save money in the long run. Eventually we want a greenhouse.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Apps?   14 years 17 weeks ago

    Just upgraded to a Smartphone recently and so far have seen very few apps that I feel don't have an equivalent free version. As I use the phone more that may change BUT my goal is to be as frugal with minutes/battery as I am with app expenses.

  • In Two-Income Households, Can Making More Put Us Further Behind?   14 years 17 weeks ago

    My goal has always been to be a stay-at-home mommy. I've been working on building my art business, so that I can do that from home. I'm down to part time. :)

    My husband, who works hard at his full-time job, is a spender, not a saver. We'd be a lot closer to managing debts if he would stick to the budget that we both created.

  • SaveUp Giving Away $1000 to Wise Bread Readers   14 years 17 weeks ago

    Right now, my motivation to save is purely for stability. Being married to someone who is not on the same page as you, as far as financial goals are concerned, will absolutely leave you broke, and in-debt. Save what you can, when you can, because it's one step closer to being able to handle whatever downfall comes your way.

  • 7 Ways to Make the Most of a Tiny Kitchen   14 years 17 weeks ago

    Hi all. Extremely happy I found this! Im in dire need of advice for my studio kitchen. In my opinion its safe to assume this "kitchen" was originally a closet.
    I Moved in last week and Im very happy. However I could use any advice or ideas for my tiny, square block, "hospital" bright white kitchen. The walls are plaster so Im having trouble hanging anything on them, unless it actually hangs from the cealing. It seems like Im going "shopping" every evening searching for anything to make it more fuctional, appear bigger, happier.
    Also any tips on designs or colors that could be used to stencil or freehand on the cabinets that wont appear to busy but also tone down the nurses station feeling
    If it helps you at all..A door opening off the main room goes into the kit. The actual walking around floor space is 3ft x 3ft. the backwall has a counter 3ft across, 2 wide. 1/2 of counter is taken by a mini sink. Above counter I have 1 set of cabinets (2doors). B/c they go to the celing I dont have storage above them. Under the counter is a small mini fridge and a nice size single cabinet its fairly deep and Im sure its going to come in hand.
    If you stand looking at the sink, the wall on left has a door opening for another obvious older closet. It has a counter and thats where I have my toaster oven. below is open floor area, which is being used currently for all of my shoes! Above is a shelf that goes back fairly deep.
    I really need to incorporate some office type things..Bag of files, stapler, pens, papers, bills, etc Some clothing or linen items, My tote bag w/ all jewelry making stuff. and a medium tote box I use as a makeup artist.
    I love the place and I know it can work. Any Help? PLEASE!!!!
    -Sarah

  • SaveUp Giving Away $1000 to Wise Bread Readers   14 years 17 weeks ago

    I am motivated to save because there are a lot of places I want to visit and things I want to do in my life which all require money. Also, I've lived the paycheck to paycheck lifestyle with tons of credit card debt and do not want to go there again, so it's helpful to have savings to help cushion against this.

  • SaveUp Giving Away $1000 to Wise Bread Readers   14 years 17 weeks ago

    What motivates me to save, is my families future. I would like us to be comfortable, not rich but comfortable. It would also be nice to have "buffer" savings just incase anything happens.

  • Women and Savings: What to Do at Your Life Stage   14 years 17 weeks ago

    Great post! Any reason saving up an emergency fund isn't early in the 20's stage? I feel like in your 20's the most minor hiccup (car emergency etc.) can set us back so having at least $1,000 in cash - even before retirement savings - is one of the most important financial decisions someone in their 20's could make. Just curious!