Maybe if you're holding on to real estate that boomers will favor as they downsize over the next decade or two ... otherwise, I don't think investing in exurbia is a great play, as who will buy it 10-30 years down the road?
Great article! I agree with Sarah as well. I must say I wish we would have set some expectations in advance.
We have a guest that has stayed with us 3 years in a row - this will be the final year. The first time is was for a short period of time, we were happy to play host.
The second time - when the person left, it was time.
This time we're realizing that the person is either daft or is just taking advantage of our "friendship".
In the 2.5 months this person has been here, the only time she's taken out the trash is when we've asked, once.
She has never offered to cook (she does do the dishes), never offered to pay for a meal when out, never bought any adult beverages, and seems oblivious to even the basic courtesies.
She has never chipped in for groceries - she has offered to pick something up (milk, eggs, bread) if she's buying something for herself.
At first we thought it was a "cultural" thing. But then we realized this person went to college here, has been coming every summer for over 10 years and staying with other people.
Once again, I believe in part is our fault for not setting expectations - but should we have to tell someone that we EXPECT them to pay for a meal once in a while?
Thoughts?
That is so true,its hard for us to accept what part we played in the fallout....and its takes longer to get back in the swing of life when one acknowledges their part, asks for forgiveness and wants to move forward but the other continues to play the blame game.
" Throughout are reminders of Jefferson's thoughtful mind and keen interest in the scientific, including an entrance hall that functioned as a museum for fossils, a buffalo head, elk antlers, and a seven-day clock, which indicated the day in addition to the hour. Wood costs about $5 for a bundle with six pieces, and ice is about $2 a bag. This was the second crash in August involving a flight school plane. It's in the Blue Ridge Mountains next to Lake Nantahala. A multitude of shops and fine dining await you when you come out to the Shenandoah Valley.
Great advice! I completely agree with the yoga suggestion. I've never felt more in-tune with what my body needs than with my regular yoga practice. Plus, it's cardio, strength training, and meditation all in one! Truly the perfect workout, in my opinion :)!
I joined costco in colorado, because we eat organic and the price and variety of organic foods near Highlands Ranch area is cheaper than going to whole foods. I had one accident in 30 years, and my car insurance doubled. I called Costco auto insurance, and because i am an executive member, my car insurance was reduced (through Ameriprise) less than half. It more than paid for itself over and over.
Research all of your financial aid and scholarship opportunities. I received an additional $2k in scholarship money every year for writing an essay. A very nice pay-out for minimal effort. Apply for as many as you can, since the worst you can do is not be awarded the scholarship, and if you do the effort more than pays off!
I would also advise students should have some kind of job. I worked through college, and while it was difficult at times in the end it helped me to appreciate the worth of my money, how to balance my time, and prepared me for working after college. It also helped me to keep my student loan debt down by using the money I earned to pay for my dorm expenses out of pocket. I learned real-world job and financial lessons that are irreplaceable and still useful to me today.
Excellent points - thank you. Yes, our umbrella policy premium is on the high side, even though we bundle all our insurance with one carrier. One possible reason is that we have rental property and insuring against possible tenant risks could raise the cost.
Great tips. It's been interesting to see my wife evolve on her talking about her body. There is a workout group that goes to a neighbors basement gym each morning and all of a sudden the last three months or so I never hear anything about "my weight is up" or "I've lost weight" it's all about strength and toning. I love it. No more worrying about skinny and weight. It's fit and happy which is awesome!
My suggestion (as the article also states) pick up the phone and ask. Comparison websites are good but you can generally get a better rate by booking with the chain directly or calling the hotel.
Still live at home if possible while attending a local college, oldest daughter did. When she decided to go on for her masters degree she had no student debt. Keep a side job while in school, I realize it is a lot of work but the cash comes in handy.
Christa, you presented some great ideas here. As a long-time dog owner, I've made my own dog treats and shampoos to save money. I do want to point out though, that the tennis ball is a bad idea. For starters, tennis balls are NOT good for dogs- they are a health hazard and should not be used as a chew toy. Even Oprah once lost a dog to choking on a tennis ball.
And economically, it doesn't make sense either. My dog will chew a tennis ball within a few minutes. Three balls last less than three days. Off to the store to buy another can of tennis balls. Yay. Instead, in April of 2012 (based on my Amazon purchase history), I bought a couple of the Chuck-it balls. It is selling for $6.70 for a couple of balls at this moment. I still have both of those balls. That is far LESS than going out and buying cheap tennis balls all the time.
Sometimes it pays to spend a little more just to have a safer, more durable, and long-lasting product. The same applies to Frisbees. DON"T ever buy a plastic Frisbee for the dog. Instead, buy a durable hard-rubber Frisbee and you won't have to buy another Frisbee again.
I think the biggest point is the prioritizing fixed expenses and setting them to auto-pay. Once you've got positive cash flow and the major expenses are just being paid automatically then all that stress associated with paying it disappears.
Yes, I have all of these. Life insurance not necessary because I'm single with no dependents but it's free from my job. Renter's insurance isn't a choice, landlord requires it in my case. Fifty bucks a month seems very high for a million umbrella, around here it's about $100 per year when topping up auto and renters with the same company. Also an umbrella doesn't cover professional liability (aka malpractice) so if you do any type of consulting/advising activity on the side, that's something to consider.
Last time it checked, my local library had copies of the Rosetta Stone language program. Don't know how the check out policy, but they do have I available.
Thank you for your advice. It's true that people should plan their saving carefully. It's good to start with small amounts and have more money for the bills and generally, life. In this process, I think that it's very important not to forget to have fun and enjoy your money sometimes. Saving shouldn't take all the good from you!
"Habitual consumption of aspartame tends to go hand-in-hand with other consumption behaviors that are also considered unhealthy."
Then it's those other behaviors that are unhealthy, not the aspartame... and the cancer.org site says that BOTH types of studies (lab studies and long-term human studies) have failed to find a link between cancer and aspartame. For long-term studies of humans:
"In the largest study of this issue, researchers from the NCI looked at cancer rates in more than 500,000 older adults. The study found that, compared to people who did not drink aspartame-containing beverages, those who did drink them did not have an increased risk of lymphomas, leukemias, or brain tumors."
Thanks for the tips! I have one bathtub clogged with hair and one kitchen sink clogged with nasty food garbage, despite having bought and used drain catchers for both. The boiling water looks like it's going to work on both, though.
The best and easiest way we started to save money was to stop using a credit card and debit card. Now we are a "cash only" family. It makes everything so much easier and it doesn't involve going through transactions and balancing check books etc.
Maybe if you're holding on to real estate that boomers will favor as they downsize over the next decade or two ... otherwise, I don't think investing in exurbia is a great play, as who will buy it 10-30 years down the road?
Great article! I agree with Sarah as well. I must say I wish we would have set some expectations in advance.
We have a guest that has stayed with us 3 years in a row - this will be the final year. The first time is was for a short period of time, we were happy to play host.
The second time - when the person left, it was time.
This time we're realizing that the person is either daft or is just taking advantage of our "friendship".
In the 2.5 months this person has been here, the only time she's taken out the trash is when we've asked, once.
She has never offered to cook (she does do the dishes), never offered to pay for a meal when out, never bought any adult beverages, and seems oblivious to even the basic courtesies.
She has never chipped in for groceries - she has offered to pick something up (milk, eggs, bread) if she's buying something for herself.
At first we thought it was a "cultural" thing. But then we realized this person went to college here, has been coming every summer for over 10 years and staying with other people.
Once again, I believe in part is our fault for not setting expectations - but should we have to tell someone that we EXPECT them to pay for a meal once in a while?
Thoughts?
That is so true,its hard for us to accept what part we played in the fallout....and its takes longer to get back in the swing of life when one acknowledges their part, asks for forgiveness and wants to move forward but the other continues to play the blame game.
Spend wisely but enjoy life also. A ticket to a great concert is a better purchase than fast food lunches and dinners.
" Throughout are reminders of Jefferson's thoughtful mind and keen interest in the scientific, including an entrance hall that functioned as a museum for fossils, a buffalo head, elk antlers, and a seven-day clock, which indicated the day in addition to the hour. Wood costs about $5 for a bundle with six pieces, and ice is about $2 a bag. This was the second crash in August involving a flight school plane. It's in the Blue Ridge Mountains next to Lake Nantahala. A multitude of shops and fine dining await you when you come out to the Shenandoah Valley.
Great advice! I completely agree with the yoga suggestion. I've never felt more in-tune with what my body needs than with my regular yoga practice. Plus, it's cardio, strength training, and meditation all in one! Truly the perfect workout, in my opinion :)!
I joined costco in colorado, because we eat organic and the price and variety of organic foods near Highlands Ranch area is cheaper than going to whole foods. I had one accident in 30 years, and my car insurance doubled. I called Costco auto insurance, and because i am an executive member, my car insurance was reduced (through Ameriprise) less than half. It more than paid for itself over and over.
Research all of your financial aid and scholarship opportunities. I received an additional $2k in scholarship money every year for writing an essay. A very nice pay-out for minimal effort. Apply for as many as you can, since the worst you can do is not be awarded the scholarship, and if you do the effort more than pays off!
I would also advise students should have some kind of job. I worked through college, and while it was difficult at times in the end it helped me to appreciate the worth of my money, how to balance my time, and prepared me for working after college. It also helped me to keep my student loan debt down by using the money I earned to pay for my dorm expenses out of pocket. I learned real-world job and financial lessons that are irreplaceable and still useful to me today.
Please don't say "pets" when you mean "dogs." Hint: Cats (gerbils, fish, birds, et al) need love too.
I had not idea about the sweet potato. I am going to keep that in mind.
Excellent points - thank you. Yes, our umbrella policy premium is on the high side, even though we bundle all our insurance with one carrier. One possible reason is that we have rental property and insuring against possible tenant risks could raise the cost.
Great tips. It's been interesting to see my wife evolve on her talking about her body. There is a workout group that goes to a neighbors basement gym each morning and all of a sudden the last three months or so I never hear anything about "my weight is up" or "I've lost weight" it's all about strength and toning. I love it. No more worrying about skinny and weight. It's fit and happy which is awesome!
My suggestion (as the article also states) pick up the phone and ask. Comparison websites are good but you can generally get a better rate by booking with the chain directly or calling the hotel.
Don't eat a bunch of fast food.
Still live at home if possible while attending a local college, oldest daughter did. When she decided to go on for her masters degree she had no student debt. Keep a side job while in school, I realize it is a lot of work but the cash comes in handy.
You left out ZINIO that lets you borrow magazines, current and back issues.
Christa, you presented some great ideas here. As a long-time dog owner, I've made my own dog treats and shampoos to save money. I do want to point out though, that the tennis ball is a bad idea. For starters, tennis balls are NOT good for dogs- they are a health hazard and should not be used as a chew toy. Even Oprah once lost a dog to choking on a tennis ball.
And economically, it doesn't make sense either. My dog will chew a tennis ball within a few minutes. Three balls last less than three days. Off to the store to buy another can of tennis balls. Yay. Instead, in April of 2012 (based on my Amazon purchase history), I bought a couple of the Chuck-it balls. It is selling for $6.70 for a couple of balls at this moment. I still have both of those balls. That is far LESS than going out and buying cheap tennis balls all the time.
Sometimes it pays to spend a little more just to have a safer, more durable, and long-lasting product. The same applies to Frisbees. DON"T ever buy a plastic Frisbee for the dog. Instead, buy a durable hard-rubber Frisbee and you won't have to buy another Frisbee again.
I think the biggest point is the prioritizing fixed expenses and setting them to auto-pay. Once you've got positive cash flow and the major expenses are just being paid automatically then all that stress associated with paying it disappears.
Yes, I have all of these. Life insurance not necessary because I'm single with no dependents but it's free from my job. Renter's insurance isn't a choice, landlord requires it in my case. Fifty bucks a month seems very high for a million umbrella, around here it's about $100 per year when topping up auto and renters with the same company. Also an umbrella doesn't cover professional liability (aka malpractice) so if you do any type of consulting/advising activity on the side, that's something to consider.
Last time it checked, my local library had copies of the Rosetta Stone language program. Don't know how the check out policy, but they do have I available.
Thank you for your advice. It's true that people should plan their saving carefully. It's good to start with small amounts and have more money for the bills and generally, life. In this process, I think that it's very important not to forget to have fun and enjoy your money sometimes. Saving shouldn't take all the good from you!
"Habitual consumption of aspartame tends to go hand-in-hand with other consumption behaviors that are also considered unhealthy."
Then it's those other behaviors that are unhealthy, not the aspartame... and the cancer.org site says that BOTH types of studies (lab studies and long-term human studies) have failed to find a link between cancer and aspartame. For long-term studies of humans:
"In the largest study of this issue, researchers from the NCI looked at cancer rates in more than 500,000 older adults. The study found that, compared to people who did not drink aspartame-containing beverages, those who did drink them did not have an increased risk of lymphomas, leukemias, or brain tumors."
Thanks for the tips! I have one bathtub clogged with hair and one kitchen sink clogged with nasty food garbage, despite having bought and used drain catchers for both. The boiling water looks like it's going to work on both, though.
The best and easiest way we started to save money was to stop using a credit card and debit card. Now we are a "cash only" family. It makes everything so much easier and it doesn't involve going through transactions and balancing check books etc.
Hi James, nice algebraic explanation of #11!