Thanks for the BRILLIANT intel on Oktoberfest and also on the floating hostel!
With regard to buying a tent and then throwing it away afterward, I have had very good luck buying luggage, linens, clothes, and books (used) for travel purposes, items that I then turn around and sell or trade for money or other resources while I'm on the road. I make a point of never returning home with more stuff than I left with.
Hi Guest,
Thank you for sharing your story. I know what you mean about achieving the right balance between site policies and your own. Best of luck in your sale of personal care items and glad to hear you enjoyed the article. I appreciate the feedback.
Thanks!
Damian
Great, useful article. I am going to stay in a hostel the next time we're in Europe. Things have changed since I was a teen/young 20-something. My daughter is staying in a very nice hostel in Barcelona where they're allowed to cook in the communal kitchen. She's enjoying her stay there.
We replaced our lawn with rocks/pebbles. The upfront cost was a bit high, but the low maintenance and upkeep costs have definitely been useful, especially in our California drought.
I'm about two months from paying off a credit card, then I will turn to paying down a killer HELOC ($48k). Lots of pressure: The HELOC matures in about seven years, plus I'm 10 years away from retirement and want to be reasonably debt-free (just the main mortgage) in retirement. The trouble is that our combined household income just isn't enough to allow us to do both pay down debt AND stock an emergency fund. I've made the calculated decision to pay down debt, while realizing that this means we're going to inevitably be sidetracked by this or that issue with the house or cars. For example, once the credit card is paid off around September, I'm going to stash a bunch of money in savings to deal with a car lease that's due. It's a continual juggle when you don't make enough -- and there's no inheritance windfall on the immediate horizon!
Some of the people profiled did make good money, but not all of them. Check out Cherie Lowe's story. She and her husband really hustled! He worked three jobs and they didn't go out to eat -- not even for a cup of coffee -- for 2.5 years. It's inspiring to me that almost anyone can sacrifice by taking on extra work and cutting down on expenses until they reach their financial goals.
I've been turning off the water while brushing my teeth for years. When the weather' swarm, I'll try to remember to turn the shower off while I soap up, but when it's cold out, I indulge in a hot shower.
Wow - I envy you being able to buy fresh seafood at the Farmer's Market! I am in the midwest and would certainly love being where you are to even have the chance to purchase fresh seafood.
Eggs and bread are great from Farmer's Markets also along with the honey and baked goods.
The person writing the initial article has to come from a large metropolitan area and has no clue what small towns and rural areas are like or all about supporting our local farmer's. We mustn't be too hard on someone who has not had the opportunity to actually experience the true rural America!
I have had rosacea for about 15 years, of course getting gradually worse. Imagine the worst sunburn all over your face, that never goes away. Seriously felt like I was running a fever constantly.
Dermatologist tried pills, cremes, etc, no help. I tried pretty much everything in the natural care aisles at several coops and health food stores. Stumbled across witch hazel, and it calmed my skin down A LOT.
I use Dickensons for preference and follow up with a light moisturizer. My rosacea is the flushing type, with very little rosacea acne (follows my hormone cycles and results in max 5 pimples per episode = I am EXTREMELY lucky). This does not prevent my acne episodes, but it calms them down quickly.
It calms the redness down, and minimizes my pores a lot. It dries up the acne and keeps it from recurring. It is not a cure all for my rosacea, but helps a lot!
Did not know it worked on swollen ankles and good for aftershave, so looking forward to giving those a try next!!
i collect all the cold shower water before i step into the shower. later i use it to water my plants.
after washing my veggies, i pour the water into a gallon jug and water my trees and plants.
after washing the dishes and it's time to rinse, i run the faucet over the soaped dishes as i rinse, this was the dishes almost clean when i get to the bottom ones.
I fill the sink and don't turn the faucet on until I'm ready to rinse all my dishes, so I do it quickly. Also, turn the water off when brushing my teeth
We replaced our kiddie pool with a water table. The baby likes splashing in it just as much, but to fill it takes just 1-2 watering cans of water, rather than 10-15 cans. We got the water table at the thrift store, which made the swap even more cost-effective.
Living in an apartment it gets tricky to save water, but I did install a HYR270 HydroRight Drop-in Dual Flush Converter in the toilet, replaced the shower heads with better ones, installed a Pur water filter on the kitchen sink (tap water is cheaper then bottles) and wash only full loads of laundry. The biggest things are habits like keeping pots covered, only using as much water as you need for a given task, and making sure the faucets are not running when they don't need to be.
Thanks for your response. My return policies are clear and fairly strict because of the nature of the items I sell, but as you well know, I have to go along with the rules of the site I use to host my shop as well as the rules regarding returns through Paypal and credit card processors, and often have to take returns on items my policies say I cannot return for sanitary issues even though I can't resell them (I sell personal care items and soap.) Thus the interaction costs me money.
My complaint was not that people return goods - I realize that sometimes it's not a good fit, or money issues cause trouble, or any other number of scenarios.
My complaint was that the article suggested that Ms. Kaling's habit of purposefully buying clothing with the intent of returning most of it was a good money saving trick. It may be for the buyer, but it doesn't take into account the other entity in the equation. Thoughtlessness or selfishness to save money isn't thrift, as other Wise Bread articles have often stated. And for small businesses, enough people with this mindset could cost a lot of money.
But, anyway, I did enjoy the rest of the article, and I found it interesting (and heartening!) that there are people out there I've admired for their acting/singing that have their feet on the ground and are planning ahead. :)
Car is a luxury item for traveling. The main advantage is it gives more pleasure with full comfort. There are many cars in the market according to customer wants, their needs. There are some car sales men who deals with cars on behalf of the concerned car company. The article says the sales men are very smart & talkative at the time of car dealing. They work for the company on commission basis. They don't think about the customers. Their main motive is to sell car & get commission. Some sellers do cheat the customer by saying false thing about cars.
I'd add that during Oktoberfest, not only is it very hard to get a booking, but even the hostels will quadruple+ their prices starting the day Oktoberfest starts.
I did have a very good time at THE TENT hostel in Munich, which is a campground. If you're willing to schlepp in a tent, etc., it's much cheaper than anything else in the city during Oktoberfest. I suspect that's true even if you go to a camping store, buy a cheap tent and sleeping bag, and throw them away afterward. (Not recommended, but seriously, accommodation prices get crazy.) It's on a tram line to downtown and past the Wiese. They serve very good breakfast and dinner for cheap, cheap beer until 11pm, and a hard no-noise rule after 1am. Also, they have a big building that is full of bunk beds if you don't want to carry in camping gear, but that's a little too much "drunk young people" for me.
In Berlin, I love love love the Eastern Comfort hotel/hostel. I've actually never stayed in the hostel part, but the hotel rooms are about an inch bigger than the bed but cheap. And it's a boat! It's by the tram, and the U and S bahns, on the edge of Kreuzberg. The staff are all really knowledgeable, fluent in German and English, and give great recommendations for events and restaurants. If you have a choice, stay on the river side of the boat: Not only is the view lovely, but there is a resident duck on the bank side that makes weird mechanical squeaking noises... all night long.
Potatoes are great!!! You can put anything on them, within reason. I'm a diabetic and Now I'm eating potatoes just about everyday. It hasn't messed with my glucose levels; of course I try to eat a balanced diet with exercise. It is best to eat them in the morning it makes you feel full. I take a medium potato poke some holes in them with a fork. Then I throw them in the microwave for about 5 minutes or until they are cooked. Take them out and smash them and put a egg on top of the potato. Put them back in the microwave for about 45 seconds or until they to your liking. You can have this type of breakfast 4 times a week. This type of breakfast will you save big bucks for that vacation that you will need someday. Just remember moderation on the butter and fattening stuff that goes great on a potato.
I don't leave the water running when brushing my teeth or washing dishes and I take quick showers.
Hi Morfydd!
Thanks for the BRILLIANT intel on Oktoberfest and also on the floating hostel!
With regard to buying a tent and then throwing it away afterward, I have had very good luck buying luggage, linens, clothes, and books (used) for travel purposes, items that I then turn around and sell or trade for money or other resources while I'm on the road. I make a point of never returning home with more stuff than I left with.
I don't let the water run while brushing my teeth or hand washing dishes. I only run the dishwasher when it is full.
Hi Guest,
Thank you for sharing your story. I know what you mean about achieving the right balance between site policies and your own. Best of luck in your sale of personal care items and glad to hear you enjoyed the article. I appreciate the feedback.
Thanks!
Damian
Great, useful article. I am going to stay in a hostel the next time we're in Europe. Things have changed since I was a teen/young 20-something. My daughter is staying in a very nice hostel in Barcelona where they're allowed to cook in the communal kitchen. She's enjoying her stay there.
We replaced our lawn with rocks/pebbles. The upfront cost was a bit high, but the low maintenance and upkeep costs have definitely been useful, especially in our California drought.
I turn off the water when shaving or brushing my teeth!
I'm about two months from paying off a credit card, then I will turn to paying down a killer HELOC ($48k). Lots of pressure: The HELOC matures in about seven years, plus I'm 10 years away from retirement and want to be reasonably debt-free (just the main mortgage) in retirement. The trouble is that our combined household income just isn't enough to allow us to do both pay down debt AND stock an emergency fund. I've made the calculated decision to pay down debt, while realizing that this means we're going to inevitably be sidetracked by this or that issue with the house or cars. For example, once the credit card is paid off around September, I'm going to stash a bunch of money in savings to deal with a car lease that's due. It's a continual juggle when you don't make enough -- and there's no inheritance windfall on the immediate horizon!
Some of the people profiled did make good money, but not all of them. Check out Cherie Lowe's story. She and her husband really hustled! He worked three jobs and they didn't go out to eat -- not even for a cup of coffee -- for 2.5 years. It's inspiring to me that almost anyone can sacrifice by taking on extra work and cutting down on expenses until they reach their financial goals.
Foreign transaction fees. Some credit cards have them, some don't. Make sure you know before you travel out of the country.
I've been turning off the water while brushing my teeth for years. When the weather' swarm, I'll try to remember to turn the shower off while I soap up, but when it's cold out, I indulge in a hot shower.
Wow - I envy you being able to buy fresh seafood at the Farmer's Market! I am in the midwest and would certainly love being where you are to even have the chance to purchase fresh seafood.
Eggs and bread are great from Farmer's Markets also along with the honey and baked goods.
The person writing the initial article has to come from a large metropolitan area and has no clue what small towns and rural areas are like or all about supporting our local farmer's. We mustn't be too hard on someone who has not had the opportunity to actually experience the true rural America!
I have had rosacea for about 15 years, of course getting gradually worse. Imagine the worst sunburn all over your face, that never goes away. Seriously felt like I was running a fever constantly.
Dermatologist tried pills, cremes, etc, no help. I tried pretty much everything in the natural care aisles at several coops and health food stores. Stumbled across witch hazel, and it calmed my skin down A LOT.
I use Dickensons for preference and follow up with a light moisturizer. My rosacea is the flushing type, with very little rosacea acne (follows my hormone cycles and results in max 5 pimples per episode = I am EXTREMELY lucky). This does not prevent my acne episodes, but it calms them down quickly.
It calms the redness down, and minimizes my pores a lot. It dries up the acne and keeps it from recurring. It is not a cure all for my rosacea, but helps a lot!
Did not know it worked on swollen ankles and good for aftershave, so looking forward to giving those a try next!!
i collect all the cold shower water before i step into the shower. later i use it to water my plants.
after washing my veggies, i pour the water into a gallon jug and water my trees and plants.
after washing the dishes and it's time to rinse, i run the faucet over the soaped dishes as i rinse, this was the dishes almost clean when i get to the bottom ones.
I wish they were inspiring but I found that most of them were able to pay off more debt in under two years than I make in two years! Unrealistic.
I fill the sink and don't turn the faucet on until I'm ready to rinse all my dishes, so I do it quickly. Also, turn the water off when brushing my teeth
We replaced our kiddie pool with a water table. The baby likes splashing in it just as much, but to fill it takes just 1-2 watering cans of water, rather than 10-15 cans. We got the water table at the thrift store, which made the swap even more cost-effective.
I turn the water off when I brush my teeth.
Living in an apartment it gets tricky to save water, but I did install a HYR270 HydroRight Drop-in Dual Flush Converter in the toilet, replaced the shower heads with better ones, installed a Pur water filter on the kitchen sink (tap water is cheaper then bottles) and wash only full loads of laundry. The biggest things are habits like keeping pots covered, only using as much water as you need for a given task, and making sure the faucets are not running when they don't need to be.
Hi Damien,
Thanks for your response. My return policies are clear and fairly strict because of the nature of the items I sell, but as you well know, I have to go along with the rules of the site I use to host my shop as well as the rules regarding returns through Paypal and credit card processors, and often have to take returns on items my policies say I cannot return for sanitary issues even though I can't resell them (I sell personal care items and soap.) Thus the interaction costs me money.
My complaint was not that people return goods - I realize that sometimes it's not a good fit, or money issues cause trouble, or any other number of scenarios.
My complaint was that the article suggested that Ms. Kaling's habit of purposefully buying clothing with the intent of returning most of it was a good money saving trick. It may be for the buyer, but it doesn't take into account the other entity in the equation. Thoughtlessness or selfishness to save money isn't thrift, as other Wise Bread articles have often stated. And for small businesses, enough people with this mindset could cost a lot of money.
But, anyway, I did enjoy the rest of the article, and I found it interesting (and heartening!) that there are people out there I've admired for their acting/singing that have their feet on the ground and are planning ahead. :)
Car is a luxury item for traveling. The main advantage is it gives more pleasure with full comfort. There are many cars in the market according to customer wants, their needs. There are some car sales men who deals with cars on behalf of the concerned car company. The article says the sales men are very smart & talkative at the time of car dealing. They work for the company on commission basis. They don't think about the customers. Their main motive is to sell car & get commission. Some sellers do cheat the customer by saying false thing about cars.
I'd add that during Oktoberfest, not only is it very hard to get a booking, but even the hostels will quadruple+ their prices starting the day Oktoberfest starts.
I did have a very good time at THE TENT hostel in Munich, which is a campground. If you're willing to schlepp in a tent, etc., it's much cheaper than anything else in the city during Oktoberfest. I suspect that's true even if you go to a camping store, buy a cheap tent and sleeping bag, and throw them away afterward. (Not recommended, but seriously, accommodation prices get crazy.) It's on a tram line to downtown and past the Wiese. They serve very good breakfast and dinner for cheap, cheap beer until 11pm, and a hard no-noise rule after 1am. Also, they have a big building that is full of bunk beds if you don't want to carry in camping gear, but that's a little too much "drunk young people" for me.
In Berlin, I love love love the Eastern Comfort hotel/hostel. I've actually never stayed in the hostel part, but the hotel rooms are about an inch bigger than the bed but cheap. And it's a boat! It's by the tram, and the U and S bahns, on the edge of Kreuzberg. The staff are all really knowledgeable, fluent in German and English, and give great recommendations for events and restaurants. If you have a choice, stay on the river side of the boat: Not only is the view lovely, but there is a resident duck on the bank side that makes weird mechanical squeaking noises... all night long.
Potatoes are great!!! You can put anything on them, within reason. I'm a diabetic and Now I'm eating potatoes just about everyday. It hasn't messed with my glucose levels; of course I try to eat a balanced diet with exercise. It is best to eat them in the morning it makes you feel full. I take a medium potato poke some holes in them with a fork. Then I throw them in the microwave for about 5 minutes or until they are cooked. Take them out and smash them and put a egg on top of the potato. Put them back in the microwave for about 45 seconds or until they to your liking. You can have this type of breakfast 4 times a week. This type of breakfast will you save big bucks for that vacation that you will need someday. Just remember moderation on the butter and fattening stuff that goes great on a potato.
I find good deals online to save on summer travel.
I agree with the first guest regarding "recycle by returning most of your clothing purchases." That is a really despicable idea.