Here's my tip. Go in the Exit, thru the checkout area. They don't like you to do this, but you can. The benefit is that you can hit the clearance/open box area first, since that is near the checkout. See if there are any bargins to be had. Additionally, if you go this way you will be at the warehouse level and can skip the whole showroom madness. This is good if you just want to look at something like lamps, or my favorite area, plants.
I've got my wallet with IDs, credit and bank card, business cards and frequent buyer cards for sandwiches and coffee. Also my phone, keys, makeup bag, allergy pills & tissues, iphone charger, sunglasses, gum, pens, a couple of bandaids, scarf, and camera. It gets heavy.
I love this--I do live 'abroad' in France, having escaped expensive California (at least the expensive parts I lived in). I agree with everything you say above INCLUDING the fact that the live abroad mentality can be brought home.
One drawback of living around fewer wealthy people, however: fewer practically free and hardly used finds on craigslist. In fact, there is only craigslist in Paris here . . .that's about 7 hours's drive.
I'm a graduate student, so I carry a TimBuk2 messenger bag and a wallet instead of a purse. Here's what's generally in both:
Wallet: Discover Card, Visa Card, Amex Card, debit card, driver's license, student ID, CVS rewards card, loyalty punch card for my local coffee shop, some cash (currently $8).
TimBuk2 bag: small note pad and pen, iPod touch, iPod charger, earbuds, Whole Foods coupons, cell phone, phone charger, workout clothes, 2 2-gigabyte USB drives (I transfer a lot of data), checkbook, deodorant, Emergen-C packet, lip balm, keyring with building and apartment keys, garage door clicker, and scooter keys.
Thanks for the comebacks on the Activated charcoal, Zorcy and Willie Boy. I know coal is not charcoal, BUT one of the big suppliers of devices and supplies (for the stuff we like) brags about his activated charcoal being the best he has tried and says it is "bituminous". I think that means charcoal made from coal. I could be wrong. So I would like to hear of any success stories with different charcoal products and brand names and suppliers, other than Brita.
This is so "Mom" of me, but this is what is in my "purse":
Wallet, cash, credit/debit cards, health cards (for me and daughters), doctor business cards (for me and daughters), old receipts, club cards, membership cards, driver's license, one kid photo, AAA card, notecard to track my fun money (stay on budget, right?), pen, handful of napkins (from everywhere), travel sized tissue paper, 3 size3 diapers, pack of wipes, changing pad, coupon envelope thingy, hand sanitizer, lotion, 3 water bottles (yes, you guessed it, for me and my daughters), bag of hard candy (hmm, left over from a pregnancy), mini-first aid kit (bandaids, qtips, cotton balls, neosporin, alcohol wipes), small mirror, caribinger, keys to car and house, usually some kind of snack, advil, feminine products, digital camera, extra battery and cards for digital camera, cell phone, nursing cover.
This all fits in a small (but heavy) messenger bag - 12x6x10. Not bad, eh?
Currently, all I'm carrying is a coupon "wallet" full of coupons, in which I've also put 2 credit cards, 3 driver's licenses (current and 2 previous - so I can compare how my hair has changed), one check from each of two ckg accts, an ATM card, health insurance card, and various other store membership/rewards cards.
I would also like to add that I keep my purse extremely well-organized. There is almost never a time when I cannot find something I am looking for in my purse, no matter that my purse is medium-sized. Each item has its certain place, and so it is easily findable each time. Call me OCD, but at least I can find everything everytime and I have what I need on me at all times. :)
I carry a lot of stuff with me at all times because I figure I never know when I am going to be somewhere I didn't plan and need something that would otherwise be at home and of no use to me. I think this mostly has to do with my coupon/deal-getting habits; it makes me uneasy to think I could have gotten a better deal/discount if only I had had "x" coupon or discount card on me.
Having said that, I carry: personal cell phone, work cell phone, spiral-bound paper planner, coupon pouch (filled with my most commonly used coupons/other deals), sunglasses, wallet (with about $100 in cash, credit cards, insurance card, receipts of recent transactions, business cards, personal business cards, business cards of businesses I need (like a favorite cab driver to get rides to the airport), lucky Asian wallet token, tickets to upcoming concerts/events), check book, pen, digital camera, pouch with various club cards and gift cards, lip balm, spare feminine products, hair ties, bandaids, wet wipes, facial tissue/napkins, common medications (antacid, pepto, aleve, ibuprofen, alka seltzer), individually wrapped toothpicks, spare AA and AAA batteries, 1GB USB stick/flash drive, car keys, house keys (2 sets), change/coin purse, keychain with small-sized club cards and bottle opener, digital watch, and extra hair clip.
I know this sounds like a ton of stuff but I have used every single one of these items in the past more than a few times, hence the habit of carrying them with me. I cannot count the number of times having these items on me has saved me in any particular situation. Also, in an case anyone was wondering - I don't carry redundant copies of anything except frequently used coupons. For example, I only have one club card per grocery store I visit, not several (which might be confusing because I have club cards in various places/forms, such as the keychain small-sized club cards vs. the regular credit card-sized cards).
But for those who don't read the post- the more unusual things in my bag are tire pressure gauge, tei shin probe, earseeds, Body Zing Body Gel, piezo stimulator, and a medicine bag.
in my purse is my big wallet, a pencil case, a small pouch wristlet, digital camera, i-pod, cell phone, a commuter reading book and my key ring wallet (and a random packet of ketchup?!?):
in my big wallet is cash, check book, credit cards and debit cards, health insurance card, blockbuster card, sephora card, driver's license, receipts and stamps.
in my small pouch wristlet is gum, tissues, lip balm, bandaids, tampons, small mirror, hair clips, eye drops and hand lotion
in my pencil case are pens, pencils and my USB flash drive
in my key ring wallet is my subway monthly pass and my company ID slash card and attached to my keys are mini cvs extra care and shaws rewards cards.
PERSONAL PAD(WITH MY FINANCIAL LIFE STORY WRITTEN IN IT) I KEEP TRACK OF MY DAILY SPENDING ALONG WITH MASTER SHOPPING LIST OF EVERYTHING I NEED FOR OUR FAMILY FIRST TRIP TO DISNEY.ALSO HAS WEEK TO WEEK BUDGET & MONTHLY BUDGET ALONG WITH ANY OTHER INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS OR IDEAS I GET AS I COMMUTE.
FOLDABLE COMB/BRUSH.
RE-USABLE SHOPPING BAG WRAPPED TIGHTLY WITH RUBBER BANDS.
LOTION/ANTI BACTERIAL CREAM
BOOK,NEWSPAPER,IPOD ALTERNATIVELY(NEVER ALL THREE)
SUNGLASSES ( I LIVE IN A BASEMENT WITH LIMITED WINDOWS & NORMALLY FEEL LIKE DRACULA WHEN I LEAVE MY APARATMENT EVERY MORNING).
ALEVE (FOR THE HEADACHE I GET IF THE SUNGLASSES DONT WORK).
CHAPSTICK
PEN
I NORMALLY TRY TO CRAM ALL OF THIS INTO THE SMALLEST BAG I CAN FIND. I HAT BIG PURSES, SINCE I COMMUTE ON A CROWDED TRAIN AND I AM NORMALLY THE VICTIM OF A WOMAN CARRYING A GIANT PURSE WHO ALWAYS SEEMS TO HIT ME OF BUMP ME WITH IT.
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In my wallet is some cash, credit cards, debit card, store discount/loyalty cards, Sams Club card, insurance (medical, dental, optical, auto) cards, A gift card or two and a couple of pieces of paper with pictures special drawn on them by young friends. Also in my pockets are my keys, Blistex, pocket knife and Leatherman micro.
Right. The "live abroad for less" strategy is much more attractive for someone whose income is still coming from a rich country even after they move to a poor one.
It's certainly true that many poor neighborhoods don't offer a way for locals to meet their needs cheaply. Any place poor people live, though, the people who live there are getting by somehow. Learn from what they do, and then improve on their strategies using your own knowledge and experience.
And, since you're in a position to do advance planning, you can look around for those exceptions.
I like to use the charcoal after you distill and cut it to drinkable levels. Heat releases what ever it caught, so cold is best. If you reuse the charcoal, you will need to clean it. You can do that in an over for about 15 minutes. Make sure you rinse it in water first, alcohol is flamable!
Coal is not charcoal, it is a petrolium product. Don't use it. Aquarium may be ok, but if you are going to buy it, just get a cheap Britta filter. It's made for human use. I have a PVC pipe with a filter in the bottum. It is put together loose, so you can take apart and clean. It goes together like this,,,, very bottum up,,, 6 inches pipe, union joint, filter with top cut off, 18 inches pipe, back fill at least a foot of pipe with the insides from reused filters. The union joint allows the 2 pipes to pinch the filter in tight so no extra carbon will pass thru. Strap this to a brach and pour in enough water so it comes out clear. Let it drain, then start to filter your shine thru. You can use cheap vodka too. Will come out smooth like $100 vodka, amazing!
Good article, and timely for me. But I must take exception to your statement that poor neighborhoods have cheap options for food and transportation. That would be the ideal. However, many times, there is no supermarket in the neighborhood, so people rely on more expensive small stores or even high-priced 'convenience' stores, or else travel to better-priced supermarkets (and public transport or walking is no picnic with bags of groceries. Laundromats, where they exist, tend to be substandard or run-down. Health-care options are few and expensive. Public transit is often non-existent or sub-standard.All this is aside from the fact that poor neighborhoods are often crime-ridden -- I know there are exceptions.
Finally, one of the chief reasons I am looking at foreign options is reasonably-priced health care. Of course, since I am looking at relocating for retirement, my income will be in us dollars, so a low exchange rate will work in my favor. It's a very complicated issue; good for you for exploring it here.
Vinegar. As an Englishman, I had one use for it. I put it on my Fish 'n' Chips. Then I married a girl from Guam and found another use for it...Adobo sauce. Mmmm. But as a frugal shopper, I began hearing whispers of the incredible versatility of vinegar. So I did some research. I was shocked!
I'll be the first to admit that although some people will buy the DVD, many probably won't. So, I'm not sure I agree with the last part of that statement. But the rest makes good sense. Most documentary movies are made by people passionate about a subject, and they are done on a dime. They are a labor of love, and the focus is not on money but education. Therefore, a free outlet for their voice to be heard, well, it's common sense.
Here's my tip. Go in the Exit, thru the checkout area. They don't like you to do this, but you can. The benefit is that you can hit the clearance/open box area first, since that is near the checkout. See if there are any bargins to be had. Additionally, if you go this way you will be at the warehouse level and can skip the whole showroom madness. This is good if you just want to look at something like lamps, or my favorite area, plants.
I've got my wallet with IDs, credit and bank card, business cards and frequent buyer cards for sandwiches and coffee. Also my phone, keys, makeup bag, allergy pills & tissues, iphone charger, sunglasses, gum, pens, a couple of bandaids, scarf, and camera. It gets heavy.
I love this--I do live 'abroad' in France, having escaped expensive California (at least the expensive parts I lived in). I agree with everything you say above INCLUDING the fact that the live abroad mentality can be brought home.
One drawback of living around fewer wealthy people, however: fewer practically free and hardly used finds on craigslist. In fact, there is only craigslist in Paris here . . .that's about 7 hours's drive.
This is a better perspective on the budgeting. I'm gonna re-focus on placing what i want to save for in hierarchical order.
I'm a graduate student, so I carry a TimBuk2 messenger bag and a wallet instead of a purse. Here's what's generally in both:
Wallet: Discover Card, Visa Card, Amex Card, debit card, driver's license, student ID, CVS rewards card, loyalty punch card for my local coffee shop, some cash (currently $8).
TimBuk2 bag: small note pad and pen, iPod touch, iPod charger, earbuds, Whole Foods coupons, cell phone, phone charger, workout clothes, 2 2-gigabyte USB drives (I transfer a lot of data), checkbook, deodorant, Emergen-C packet, lip balm, keyring with building and apartment keys, garage door clicker, and scooter keys.
*Slips hand into pocket*
*Turns invisibe*
Thanks for the comebacks on the Activated charcoal, Zorcy and Willie Boy. I know coal is not charcoal, BUT one of the big suppliers of devices and supplies (for the stuff we like) brags about his activated charcoal being the best he has tried and says it is "bituminous". I think that means charcoal made from coal. I could be wrong. So I would like to hear of any success stories with different charcoal products and brand names and suppliers, other than Brita.
This is so "Mom" of me, but this is what is in my "purse":
Wallet, cash, credit/debit cards, health cards (for me and daughters), doctor business cards (for me and daughters), old receipts, club cards, membership cards, driver's license, one kid photo, AAA card, notecard to track my fun money (stay on budget, right?), pen, handful of napkins (from everywhere), travel sized tissue paper, 3 size3 diapers, pack of wipes, changing pad, coupon envelope thingy, hand sanitizer, lotion, 3 water bottles (yes, you guessed it, for me and my daughters), bag of hard candy (hmm, left over from a pregnancy), mini-first aid kit (bandaids, qtips, cotton balls, neosporin, alcohol wipes), small mirror, caribinger, keys to car and house, usually some kind of snack, advil, feminine products, digital camera, extra battery and cards for digital camera, cell phone, nursing cover.
This all fits in a small (but heavy) messenger bag - 12x6x10. Not bad, eh?
Currently, all I'm carrying is a coupon "wallet" full of coupons, in which I've also put 2 credit cards, 3 driver's licenses (current and 2 previous - so I can compare how my hair has changed), one check from each of two ckg accts, an ATM card, health insurance card, and various other store membership/rewards cards.
I certainly wasn't expecting the reference to Zamenhof in this article. Are you an esperantisto?
I would also like to add that I keep my purse extremely well-organized. There is almost never a time when I cannot find something I am looking for in my purse, no matter that my purse is medium-sized. Each item has its certain place, and so it is easily findable each time. Call me OCD, but at least I can find everything everytime and I have what I need on me at all times. :)
In my jacket and/or pockets: Keys, Burts Bees Lip Balm (good stuff), Bluetooth headset, Blackberry
Wallet: includes photo ID, Metrocard, Amex Credit Card, 2 Debit Cards, emergency $20 bill
I carry a lot of stuff with me at all times because I figure I never know when I am going to be somewhere I didn't plan and need something that would otherwise be at home and of no use to me. I think this mostly has to do with my coupon/deal-getting habits; it makes me uneasy to think I could have gotten a better deal/discount if only I had had "x" coupon or discount card on me.
Having said that, I carry: personal cell phone, work cell phone, spiral-bound paper planner, coupon pouch (filled with my most commonly used coupons/other deals), sunglasses, wallet (with about $100 in cash, credit cards, insurance card, receipts of recent transactions, business cards, personal business cards, business cards of businesses I need (like a favorite cab driver to get rides to the airport), lucky Asian wallet token, tickets to upcoming concerts/events), check book, pen, digital camera, pouch with various club cards and gift cards, lip balm, spare feminine products, hair ties, bandaids, wet wipes, facial tissue/napkins, common medications (antacid, pepto, aleve, ibuprofen, alka seltzer), individually wrapped toothpicks, spare AA and AAA batteries, 1GB USB stick/flash drive, car keys, house keys (2 sets), change/coin purse, keychain with small-sized club cards and bottle opener, digital watch, and extra hair clip.
I know this sounds like a ton of stuff but I have used every single one of these items in the past more than a few times, hence the habit of carrying them with me. I cannot count the number of times having these items on me has saved me in any particular situation. Also, in an case anyone was wondering - I don't carry redundant copies of anything except frequently used coupons. For example, I only have one club card per grocery store I visit, not several (which might be confusing because I have club cards in various places/forms, such as the keychain small-sized club cards vs. the regular credit card-sized cards).
I wrote a post on it!
http://airwanderer.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/whats-in-your-bag/
But for those who don't read the post- the more unusual things in my bag are tire pressure gauge, tei shin probe, earseeds, Body Zing Body Gel, piezo stimulator, and a medicine bag.
in my purse is my big wallet, a pencil case, a small pouch wristlet, digital camera, i-pod, cell phone, a commuter reading book and my key ring wallet (and a random packet of ketchup?!?):
in my big wallet is cash, check book, credit cards and debit cards, health insurance card, blockbuster card, sephora card, driver's license, receipts and stamps.
in my small pouch wristlet is gum, tissues, lip balm, bandaids, tampons, small mirror, hair clips, eye drops and hand lotion
in my pencil case are pens, pencils and my USB flash drive
in my key ring wallet is my subway monthly pass and my company ID slash card and attached to my keys are mini cvs extra care and shaws rewards cards.
WALLET-WHICH CONTAINS DEBIT CARD,CASH, DRIVERS LISCENSE,COUPONS TO PAYLESS SHOE STORE,BUSINESS CARDS.
PERSONAL PAD(WITH MY FINANCIAL LIFE STORY WRITTEN IN IT) I KEEP TRACK OF MY DAILY SPENDING ALONG WITH MASTER SHOPPING LIST OF EVERYTHING I NEED FOR OUR FAMILY FIRST TRIP TO DISNEY.ALSO HAS WEEK TO WEEK BUDGET & MONTHLY BUDGET ALONG WITH ANY OTHER INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS OR IDEAS I GET AS I COMMUTE.
FOLDABLE COMB/BRUSH.
RE-USABLE SHOPPING BAG WRAPPED TIGHTLY WITH RUBBER BANDS.
LOTION/ANTI BACTERIAL CREAM
BOOK,NEWSPAPER,IPOD ALTERNATIVELY(NEVER ALL THREE)
SUNGLASSES ( I LIVE IN A BASEMENT WITH LIMITED WINDOWS & NORMALLY FEEL LIKE DRACULA WHEN I LEAVE MY APARATMENT EVERY MORNING).
ALEVE (FOR THE HEADACHE I GET IF THE SUNGLASSES DONT WORK).
CHAPSTICK
PEN
I NORMALLY TRY TO CRAM ALL OF THIS INTO THE SMALLEST BAG I CAN FIND. I HAT BIG PURSES, SINCE I COMMUTE ON A CROWDED TRAIN AND I AM NORMALLY THE VICTIM OF A WOMAN CARRYING A GIANT PURSE WHO ALWAYS SEEMS TO HIT ME OF BUMP ME WITH IT.
This is also new to me. But I can easily adopt changes and I found this a good one. Thank you for sharing this one. I appreciate this.You may find some relevant works about <a href="http://thegetwealthy.com/2010/04/349/">Stock Market Tips</a>. Thanks!
I'm a girl, but I don't carry a purse.
In my wallet is some cash, credit cards, debit card, store discount/loyalty cards, Sams Club card, insurance (medical, dental, optical, auto) cards, A gift card or two and a couple of pieces of paper with pictures special drawn on them by young friends. Also in my pockets are my keys, Blistex, pocket knife and Leatherman micro.
It may be more approriate to answer this with "what's not in my purse" At this very moment I have:
1. Wallet w/ credit cards, driver's license, used gift cards, receipts, some change, business cards, appointment reminders
2. Crab Rattle
3. Small photo album w/ pictures of my baby
4. Keys
5. Small tube of hand lotion
6. Burt's Bee's Lip Balm
7. Small pad of paper and 3 pens
8. Netflix movie and a RSVP to a wedding (to be mailed)
9. Apple
10. Nutrigrain bar
11. A small bible
12. Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss (just recently went to the dentist)
13. Sunglasses
14. Reimbursement check
15. My own business cards.
16. Checks
17. More receipts
After writing this, I may think about getting a smaller purse.
Right. The "live abroad for less" strategy is much more attractive for someone whose income is still coming from a rich country even after they move to a poor one.
It's certainly true that many poor neighborhoods don't offer a way for locals to meet their needs cheaply. Any place poor people live, though, the people who live there are getting by somehow. Learn from what they do, and then improve on their strategies using your own knowledge and experience.
And, since you're in a position to do advance planning, you can look around for those exceptions.
I like to use the charcoal after you distill and cut it to drinkable levels. Heat releases what ever it caught, so cold is best. If you reuse the charcoal, you will need to clean it. You can do that in an over for about 15 minutes. Make sure you rinse it in water first, alcohol is flamable!
Coal is not charcoal, it is a petrolium product. Don't use it. Aquarium may be ok, but if you are going to buy it, just get a cheap Britta filter. It's made for human use. I have a PVC pipe with a filter in the bottum. It is put together loose, so you can take apart and clean. It goes together like this,,,, very bottum up,,, 6 inches pipe, union joint, filter with top cut off, 18 inches pipe, back fill at least a foot of pipe with the insides from reused filters. The union joint allows the 2 pipes to pinch the filter in tight so no extra carbon will pass thru. Strap this to a brach and pour in enough water so it comes out clear. Let it drain, then start to filter your shine thru. You can use cheap vodka too. Will come out smooth like $100 vodka, amazing!
Good article, and timely for me. But I must take exception to your statement that poor neighborhoods have cheap options for food and transportation. That would be the ideal. However, many times, there is no supermarket in the neighborhood, so people rely on more expensive small stores or even high-priced 'convenience' stores, or else travel to better-priced supermarkets (and public transport or walking is no picnic with bags of groceries. Laundromats, where they exist, tend to be substandard or run-down. Health-care options are few and expensive. Public transit is often non-existent or sub-standard.All this is aside from the fact that poor neighborhoods are often crime-ridden -- I know there are exceptions.
Finally, one of the chief reasons I am looking at foreign options is reasonably-priced health care. Of course, since I am looking at relocating for retirement, my income will be in us dollars, so a low exchange rate will work in my favor. It's a very complicated issue; good for you for exploring it here.
Vinegar. As an Englishman, I had one use for it. I put it on my Fish 'n' Chips. Then I married a girl from Guam and found another use for it...Adobo sauce. Mmmm. But as a frugal shopper, I began hearing whispers of the incredible versatility of vinegar. So I did some research. I was shocked!
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I'll be the first to admit that although some people will buy the DVD, many probably won't. So, I'm not sure I agree with the last part of that statement. But the rest makes good sense. Most documentary movies are made by people passionate about a subject, and they are done on a dime. They are a labor of love, and the focus is not on money but education. Therefore, a free outlet for their voice to be heard, well, it's common sense.
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