I’m looking for some advice from some more seasoned workers who have the experience to know. I am 25 years old with a trade certificate in Information Technology from a vocational high school in 2003 and havn’t used it since. I worked a few automotive jobs as an uncertified mechanic and parts counter sales for little pay but I loved what I was doing. When I was 20 I fell into a job as a Drop Forge Operator in a factory forging steel which I have been at for 5 years. It’s a union job, 1’st shift, making $17.41/hr plus overtime, health/dental/life insurance, 2 weeks vacation, matching 401k & a pension. Plus it’s a relatively low stress job and I love my boss. My dilema is my job does have a lot to offer but there are not many factories in my area with Drop Forge Machinery and I don’t have any other skills. I fear that if my company eventually closes or outsources that I will find myself older and unskilled making it very difficult to find a good job. Especially as I get older as I know age discrimination is all over the place. Should I get into a new line of work while I’m young enough and most likely take a hit in pay and benefits so I can have a more secure career or should I just take the $$$ now, build up my pension, and worry about it when it happens? I have considered night classes, however if I stay at my current job for too many years my training will be outdated (like my IT cert) so there is no point if I stay at my job. What would you do?
If you are interested in leaving feedback please e-mail me your advice at my1990cavalier@hotmail.com. Please put in the subject line "Should I look for a new job?" So I know it's not spam. Thanks
I'm loving how the man makes the decision to do this experiment, and then the woman does all the work! LOL!
As for the $1 a day, it's definitely possible. You'd be eating rice and beans, oatmeal, and maybe, if it's a special occasion, an egg or some other form of animal protein. No doubt it would be healthier for you. But it would be torture.
I can't wait for my library to get this book in stock!
One thing that makes the $1 a day unrealistic is that $1 possibly buys a lot more food in other parts of the world because of the exchange rate. Yes I think it would have been interesting to read about what people in other parts of the world eat, too, but they were focusing on America.
I've spent two New England winters in old, drafty houses, and with a grad-student budget (that is, try not to spend anything!). One way to warm up fast without kicking up the heat is to drink something warm. In fact, if you're trying to be really cheap, try drinking hot water. My husband once mentioned that a Chinese colleague was surprised that no one here drank hot water, and I thought I'd try it. It's really not that strange, and if you don't want to drink hot chocolate, coffee, or tea constantly, I recommend it!
I just finished this book last night. My take is that the authors were talking more about the politics of food than trying to give tips on eating for less.
They talked about how most of the world eats only $1 of food or less per day. Their experiment showed how hard it is to be productive and learn while worrying about your next meal.
It was an unreal experiment in many ways, because the authors had transportation to get the food, and they had upfront money to buy in bulk. So most people would have even less food than the authors did.
For their second experiment, the authors pointed out how difficult it is for people living in poor areas, or "food apartheid," to get nutritious, fresh food (such as vegetables) at a reasonable cost, or to have access to it at all. They visited a poor area in San Diego and saw that there were few or no grocery stores, just small shops that can't get the price breaks of a WalMart or supermarket chain.
I have lived in areas such as this and it is true, the high calorie processed food (such as mac and cheese) is much cheaper than fresh, healthy food. And these foods, high in saturated fat, simple carbs, sodium and artificial ingredients, tend to contribute to weight gain.
The other part to this experiment was to follow the meal planning guidelines and recipes suggested by the food stamp program (which is called different things in different states). The recipes seemed to encourage use of highly processed foods. The meal plan did not take into account that the adults in the family might be working and not able to fry up some chicken for a mid-day meal.
Overall, I thought the book could have gone more into depth about what the people in the world who do eat on $1 a day or less actually eat. I would have liked to see more discussion on how poor nutrition affects people's ability to work and learn.
If no one else will lend you the $ to pay off your taxes - then the gov't usually WILL - which I don't think is that bad an idea if you think about it that way....So don't panic when it says you owe them XXX - (Also future refunds will simply go against back taxes owed.)
While I love my A/C and view it as a blessing on hot, humid summer days. Most of us can live without it. If you can afford it, great! Use it responsibly. If cash flow is tight, this is a great area to reconsider your usage.
Can someone tell me if the new Cooper tires we just purchased two years ago are bad? The number on one of them read dot w56v 38b 0108 322. I am not sure how many numbers there is suppose to be, but the "0108" and "322" are in a small rectangular box. Thanks for your help.
When looking for "real" work as a college student, it's really hard to beat a co-op job. Co-op (cooperative education) programs usually work something like this: Take a 4 year degree and stretch it into 5 years (or maybe a little more). For the middle three years, alternate terms going to school full-time or working full-time at a company in your field. Co-ops go back to the same company each work term, sometimes rotating into a different department each term.
Co-ops get paid a reasonable rate (I made over $10/hour 1994-1998, and that was considered on the low end), sometimes get health benefits and/or paid vacation. And it's hard to beat the experience. I got to do some great stuff as a co-op. A lot of it was very low level tasks, but it was real engineering work. I found out a lot about what I didn't want to do and learned a bit more about what I did want to do.
By the time I graduated from college, I had 18 months work experience, no debt and a great job in my field that was a direct result of my co-op job (although with a different company). Due to my co-op experience, I hired in as an experienced engineer rather than at an entry level (more money, faster advancement).
My wife and I cook from scratch basically all we eat. And when I say scratch, I mean everything is done with fresh produce, no boxes. Our dinners are vegetarian. When we eat bread we bake it ourselves, using 100% whole grains. Portion control, you say? we eat five small (calories measured) meals along the day. Drink lots of (and only) water.
We exercise daily, moderately but every day. Plus, clean our house ourselves and bike to the store, which has to count for some exercise.
Plenty of sleep as well.
We've been doing this for a long time.
And guess what, this might be a very healthy lifestyle, but both of us are overweight. Under the BMI calculation, we are actually obese (barely but obese anyhow).
As you can see we carry this lifestyle because we believe it makes us healthier. It's obviously not because the weight results are encourging.
I'm sure that somebody will come and disect my life and tell me what I'm doing wrong and what I should be doing right.
The reality is that we do a lot more than a lot of people and still....
I'm glad for the people that have found a long lasting way to be healthy and at their weight, but it is not so easy and straightforward for everybody.
Weight is just a convenient stand-in for the things that have real medical significance: accumulations of fat around the organs, high blood pressure, clogged arteries, and a lack of proper nutrients.
It is possible to be heavy for your height and not have excess visceral fat (for example, if you are a body builder). But in general, weight is still a useful indicator. If you need a more accurate at-home indicator, try a measuring tape around your belly.
About the book:
It's not surprising that people would have trouble following the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan while sticking to organic vegan foods. The TFP is designed to be as close as possible to the current diet and cooking habits of poor Americans, while still providing all necessary nutrients and not costing any more (in inflation-adjusted dollars) than the previous TFP market basket.
If you are willing to have a diet radically different from what poor Americans usually eat and do much more cooking from scratch, you can get healthier and cheaper food than the TFP suggests. Easier said than done, though.
For June 2009, a young woman in a 4-person family following the TFP would have had to spend about $4.92 a day on food.
The House Party idea sounds like the best one to me. Free swag? Who wouldn't want it? But can you charge your guests or do they have to come in for free?
i have roughly 25-28 inches of auburn/red hair how can i go about selling my hair it is virgin no blow dryer no gels only wash and cond. 3 times a week if you would like to get ahold of me to talk about it then you can call me at 1(760)288-6827 that is in Ca.
Every year on the fourth of July I look at how much tax I have paid and estimate how much I need to pay the rest of the year. I aim for just above a zero return. I have had to pay taxes one year because of unforeseen changes. Having to tap the HELOC was not my first choice but the best at the time.
Thank you for the quick response. I always hear that you can tell if your batch is still fermenting by bubbles. How long after adding the yeast should bubbles take to form. And if their is little bubble activity in the first day or so is that a sign of a person who killed off their yeast due to temperature. Thanks again for your quick responses.
That some people who are overweight actually do not eat junk food and do not overeat. They also are rigorous in eating fresh, healthy and in proper portion sizes.
And that there are thin people who eat, quite literally, like pigs and never gain weight, but have high blood pressure and bad cholesterol.
It's not simple for everyone to lose weight. If it were, all the people who cut calories, exercise and don't eat junk food would be slim. But they aren't.
And don't forget the people who are on meds for non-weight-related health issues. They hardly eat and carry around weight.
Never read this book, but I will say that most Americans over eat and that is why they are overweight. You really can survive on less food than you think. I know this because I lost about 37 pounds in the last year or so, and I did it by eating less. Portion control.
I did not diet, I did not exercise. I just ate less food and drank lots of water. And it worked.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom! This post came at a perfect time for me, yesterday I decided to start a new business and was feeling a little daunted by the prospect. Thank you for the encouragement, I'm going to print your post and hang it by my desk for a reminder!
I’m looking for some advice from some more seasoned workers who have the experience to know. I am 25 years old with a trade certificate in Information Technology from a vocational high school in 2003 and havn’t used it since. I worked a few automotive jobs as an uncertified mechanic and parts counter sales for little pay but I loved what I was doing. When I was 20 I fell into a job as a Drop Forge Operator in a factory forging steel which I have been at for 5 years. It’s a union job, 1’st shift, making $17.41/hr plus overtime, health/dental/life insurance, 2 weeks vacation, matching 401k & a pension. Plus it’s a relatively low stress job and I love my boss. My dilema is my job does have a lot to offer but there are not many factories in my area with Drop Forge Machinery and I don’t have any other skills. I fear that if my company eventually closes or outsources that I will find myself older and unskilled making it very difficult to find a good job. Especially as I get older as I know age discrimination is all over the place. Should I get into a new line of work while I’m young enough and most likely take a hit in pay and benefits so I can have a more secure career or should I just take the $$$ now, build up my pension, and worry about it when it happens? I have considered night classes, however if I stay at my current job for too many years my training will be outdated (like my IT cert) so there is no point if I stay at my job. What would you do?
If you are interested in leaving feedback please e-mail me your advice at my1990cavalier@hotmail.com. Please put in the subject line "Should I look for a new job?" So I know it's not spam. Thanks
Possibly an oxymoron.. LOL.. but the tips for wine were especially appealing :)
Linsey Knerl
I'm loving how the man makes the decision to do this experiment, and then the woman does all the work! LOL!
As for the $1 a day, it's definitely possible. You'd be eating rice and beans, oatmeal, and maybe, if it's a special occasion, an egg or some other form of animal protein. No doubt it would be healthier for you. But it would be torture.
I can't wait for my library to get this book in stock!
A cheap drunk with taste? That's a bit of an oxymoron isn't it?
One thing that makes the $1 a day unrealistic is that $1 possibly buys a lot more food in other parts of the world because of the exchange rate. Yes I think it would have been interesting to read about what people in other parts of the world eat, too, but they were focusing on America.
I've spent two New England winters in old, drafty houses, and with a grad-student budget (that is, try not to spend anything!). One way to warm up fast without kicking up the heat is to drink something warm. In fact, if you're trying to be really cheap, try drinking hot water. My husband once mentioned that a Chinese colleague was surprised that no one here drank hot water, and I thought I'd try it. It's really not that strange, and if you don't want to drink hot chocolate, coffee, or tea constantly, I recommend it!
I just finished this book last night. My take is that the authors were talking more about the politics of food than trying to give tips on eating for less.
They talked about how most of the world eats only $1 of food or less per day. Their experiment showed how hard it is to be productive and learn while worrying about your next meal.
It was an unreal experiment in many ways, because the authors had transportation to get the food, and they had upfront money to buy in bulk. So most people would have even less food than the authors did.
For their second experiment, the authors pointed out how difficult it is for people living in poor areas, or "food apartheid," to get nutritious, fresh food (such as vegetables) at a reasonable cost, or to have access to it at all. They visited a poor area in San Diego and saw that there were few or no grocery stores, just small shops that can't get the price breaks of a WalMart or supermarket chain.
I have lived in areas such as this and it is true, the high calorie processed food (such as mac and cheese) is much cheaper than fresh, healthy food. And these foods, high in saturated fat, simple carbs, sodium and artificial ingredients, tend to contribute to weight gain.
The other part to this experiment was to follow the meal planning guidelines and recipes suggested by the food stamp program (which is called different things in different states). The recipes seemed to encourage use of highly processed foods. The meal plan did not take into account that the adults in the family might be working and not able to fry up some chicken for a mid-day meal.
Overall, I thought the book could have gone more into depth about what the people in the world who do eat on $1 a day or less actually eat. I would have liked to see more discussion on how poor nutrition affects people's ability to work and learn.
But the authors at least started the discussion.
If no one else will lend you the $ to pay off your taxes - then the gov't usually WILL - which I don't think is that bad an idea if you think about it that way....So don't panic when it says you owe them XXX - (Also future refunds will simply go against back taxes owed.)
While I love my A/C and view it as a blessing on hot, humid summer days. Most of us can live without it. If you can afford it, great! Use it responsibly. If cash flow is tight, this is a great area to reconsider your usage.
I am sorry but they are Firestone. The Cooper tires are on the other car.
Hello,
Can someone tell me if the new Cooper tires we just purchased two years ago are bad? The number on one of them read dot w56v 38b 0108 322. I am not sure how many numbers there is suppose to be, but the "0108" and "322" are in a small rectangular box. Thanks for your help.
When looking for "real" work as a college student, it's really hard to beat a co-op job. Co-op (cooperative education) programs usually work something like this: Take a 4 year degree and stretch it into 5 years (or maybe a little more). For the middle three years, alternate terms going to school full-time or working full-time at a company in your field. Co-ops go back to the same company each work term, sometimes rotating into a different department each term.
Co-ops get paid a reasonable rate (I made over $10/hour 1994-1998, and that was considered on the low end), sometimes get health benefits and/or paid vacation. And it's hard to beat the experience. I got to do some great stuff as a co-op. A lot of it was very low level tasks, but it was real engineering work. I found out a lot about what I didn't want to do and learned a bit more about what I did want to do.
By the time I graduated from college, I had 18 months work experience, no debt and a great job in my field that was a direct result of my co-op job (although with a different company). Due to my co-op experience, I hired in as an experienced engineer rather than at an entry level (more money, faster advancement).
@ post #2
Are you talking about me?
My wife and I cook from scratch basically all we eat. And when I say scratch, I mean everything is done with fresh produce, no boxes. Our dinners are vegetarian. When we eat bread we bake it ourselves, using 100% whole grains. Portion control, you say? we eat five small (calories measured) meals along the day. Drink lots of (and only) water.
We exercise daily, moderately but every day. Plus, clean our house ourselves and bike to the store, which has to count for some exercise.
Plenty of sleep as well.
We've been doing this for a long time.
And guess what, this might be a very healthy lifestyle, but both of us are overweight. Under the BMI calculation, we are actually obese (barely but obese anyhow).
As you can see we carry this lifestyle because we believe it makes us healthier. It's obviously not because the weight results are encourging.
I'm sure that somebody will come and disect my life and tell me what I'm doing wrong and what I should be doing right.
The reality is that we do a lot more than a lot of people and still....
I'm glad for the people that have found a long lasting way to be healthy and at their weight, but it is not so easy and straightforward for everybody.
Wonderful information Please keep blogging!!
To the second commenter:
Weight is just a convenient stand-in for the things that have real medical significance: accumulations of fat around the organs, high blood pressure, clogged arteries, and a lack of proper nutrients.
It is possible to be heavy for your height and not have excess visceral fat (for example, if you are a body builder). But in general, weight is still a useful indicator. If you need a more accurate at-home indicator, try a measuring tape around your belly.
About the book:
It's not surprising that people would have trouble following the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan while sticking to organic vegan foods. The TFP is designed to be as close as possible to the current diet and cooking habits of poor Americans, while still providing all necessary nutrients and not costing any more (in inflation-adjusted dollars) than the previous TFP market basket.
If you are willing to have a diet radically different from what poor Americans usually eat and do much more cooking from scratch, you can get healthier and cheaper food than the TFP suggests. Easier said than done, though.
For June 2009, a young woman in a 4-person family following the TFP would have had to spend about $4.92 a day on food.
http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodCost-Home.htm
http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/FoodPlans/MiscPubs/TFP2006Report.pdf
Very interesting:)))
Is there a link for the J.C. Penny application? I went to the main site but found nothing.
Thanks for all the info.
i hate money problems; just the meere fact of not having enough to affset a bill or buy something that you want/need. it is not a good feeling.
The House Party idea sounds like the best one to me. Free swag? Who wouldn't want it? But can you charge your guests or do they have to come in for free?
i have roughly 25-28 inches of auburn/red hair how can i go about selling my hair it is virgin no blow dryer no gels only wash and cond. 3 times a week if you would like to get ahold of me to talk about it then you can call me at 1(760)288-6827 that is in Ca.
Every year on the fourth of July I look at how much tax I have paid and estimate how much I need to pay the rest of the year. I aim for just above a zero return. I have had to pay taxes one year because of unforeseen changes. Having to tap the HELOC was not my first choice but the best at the time.
Thank you for the quick response. I always hear that you can tell if your batch is still fermenting by bubbles. How long after adding the yeast should bubbles take to form. And if their is little bubble activity in the first day or so is that a sign of a person who killed off their yeast due to temperature. Thanks again for your quick responses.
That some people who are overweight actually do not eat junk food and do not overeat. They also are rigorous in eating fresh, healthy and in proper portion sizes.
And that there are thin people who eat, quite literally, like pigs and never gain weight, but have high blood pressure and bad cholesterol.
It's not simple for everyone to lose weight. If it were, all the people who cut calories, exercise and don't eat junk food would be slim. But they aren't.
And don't forget the people who are on meds for non-weight-related health issues. They hardly eat and carry around weight.
Never read this book, but I will say that most Americans over eat and that is why they are overweight. You really can survive on less food than you think. I know this because I lost about 37 pounds in the last year or so, and I did it by eating less. Portion control.
I did not diet, I did not exercise. I just ate less food and drank lots of water. And it worked.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom! This post came at a perfect time for me, yesterday I decided to start a new business and was feeling a little daunted by the prospect. Thank you for the encouragement, I'm going to print your post and hang it by my desk for a reminder!