I second the "don't talk about it" thought process. Americans are ridiculous when it comes to that. I can actually see that as a positive thing because if you aren't doing all that hot, you can get help from someone who does it better.
Yes, I agree with all these choices. I would also add jars of capers, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, maple syrup, dijon mustard. I also keep a small assortment of fruit preserves on hand, such as blackberry, apricot, and orange marmalade, which are useful for sauces. For oils, I recommend toasted sesame oil for flavor. For yogurt, I save by making my own in the crockpot. Fortunately, there's a Ghiradelli chocolate factory outlet store nearby on a highway I travel regularly. To save, I grow the herbs I use the most--including parsley, basil, thyme, tarragon, rosemary, mint. And I buy allspice, peppercorns, nutmeg, cloves, mustard, coriander, etc. in whole seed form from Sprouts market where I can get them in the amounts I want from bulk containers; then I grind them myself as needed. Even with these splurges, I am able to keep grocery spending close to the lowest "thrifty" level of USDA Food Plans.
Thanks for your feedback Josh. I agree that all types of expenditures are necessary.
Keep in mind that these classifications are intended to help with evaluating the consequences of major spending decisions...the big ones that have greatest impact on your ability to get ahead financially. In particular they can be used to avoid making a major expenditure mistake - one that creates a large ongoing negative cash flow. Because that prevents you from having the cash to pay down other debts quickly or to make investments that move you closer to financial independence.
I also agree that a house can depreciate. We've seen that during the current recession. Over the long run homes do tend to appreciate, and in general stocks also tend to increase in value but there are no guarantees. These categories provide initial direction and a way to prioritize opportunities generally. When you are making a decision on a specific major expenditure it's then important to run the numbers in advance - in particular the cash flow projections. For even if the asset doesn't appreciate or fluctuates in value over a period of time, if it generates positive cash flow you're increasing your financial independence.
Good question. They key issue is whether the asset can generate positive cash flow, if not now then in the future. An apartment can't, and neither can a single family home that you live in because even after paying off the mortgage there are monthly negative cash flows in the form of real estate taxes and homeowners insurance.
A rental property has the POTENTIAL to generate positive cash flow. In some rare instances a multi-family can generate positive cash flow from rents, even with a mortgage, but much more often you need to pay off the mortgage to get to positive cash flow. And some properties still can't get there even after paying off the mortgage, so it all depends on doing the numbers in advance to select a property that will "work."
I laughed when I read the "don't talk about it" one because that was a big one growing up. I remember when my friends and I were in High School and we started our first jobs. We thought we shouldn't discuss how much we all made, but we decided too anyway since we were all curious. I think by the time I left High School, I could tell you how much every store in the mall paid. I found it so helpful talking about it, because I knew which jobs were worth it and which ones weren't. Talking about it can definitely help, especially at a young age.
" the second ring is ground and the sleeve section is used as a control contact for Play/Pause and Skip Forward/Back function"
I would like to fix and say that the second ring is in fact the ground, but the sleeve is the microphone (that's why there are 2 rings to begin with, because the new headphone connections had to make room for a microphone)
Thanks for this article. I'm in much the same situation as Dorsett. At 58, I finally found a new job after being laid off more than a year ago. I have been investigating strategies for investing once I refund my emergency fund. I need something relatively simple, and with frugal living, hope to reach financial independence, if not retirement.
Cheapest cellphone plan whn limited data and texts, no landline. Planning to cut wifi and buy a hotspot that I can use in the go since it is only me at home and I go on trips often
I always got Halloween candy for Christmas and I didn't realize why until I was older. I just thought my parents were being lazy but in fact they were smart and saving some money.
We got rid of my husband's personal cell phone when he was given a work phone that he was allowed to use for personal reasons. When he was laid off in June, we were trying to cut expenses, and we realized that we could save money and add a landline if I switched my phone from a contract to pre-pay plan. And it even moved my plan to unlimited minutes. We share the phone now so we can still get in touch with each other if one of us is at home while the other is out.
If you use a credit union like I do, you get paid back for all ATM fee's so even if a store pops up as "other ATM" I still get that fee back, so I use debit only when i want money back while i'm shopping. no reason not to
Last week I tried to make up a batch of mash using pot distiller's yeast that I had opened 6 months ago and stored in a ziplock bag. I only made about a gallon batch and used the correct amount of yeast and sugar. I have balloons over my fermenting jugs to keep it clean. I have had no expansion of the balloons yet like I did in the past. The yeast seemed like it may have gotten a little moisture in it. Could it have gone bad? Can I still use my sugar water and add a different yeast? It looks like mold might be forming in the mash.
I dislike math, so do I dislike engineering! -Because I dislike math. But we do need to do quite a lot of math to get our GPA up and also to get a good job right? At least the first job....
I agree with most of what you are saying except for the claims that the cows only go out to pasture for 20 minutes to look good for the press. There are still smaller farms where the cows are in fact out in the pasture eating grass most of the day! Please visit dairy farms and talk with the farmers! Thank you for pointing out the lies about "organic milk". Dairy farms work hard every day to keep our cows happy and healthy.
You can also recycle old electronics, safely, and for free at Best Buy. Just take them (cords, batteries, CD, DVDs, plastic bags, ink cartridges) to the front doors, or the help desk and mention recycling. You needn't have bought them there either.
I wish to address the last point raised by the poster. I do NOT, repeat DO NOT, leave my vehicle in my unattended car. It is on my person. Why people are willing to leave such a document staggers me. I also do NOT use my home address on GPS. So, if someone should steal my car, they won't know where I live either from the non-existent registration or the GPS.
For years I suffered from painful cysts, a big one in my foot, one on my thyroid etc. Over the past year or so they have been forming in my ears, getting bigger and more painful until popping and the process would start all over again. My doctor gave me pills and ointments, gels that i had to fill my ears with and it barely slowed the process down. My mother told me about witch hazel and with nothing to lose i started cleaning inside my ears with it every day or so. I havent had one cyst since and using it on my skin has worked wonders. Now ill never be without it! Im also a big advocate for tiger balm :-)
Excellent list and advice. We tend to buy stuff 'when we need it' and many times pay premium for this. By doing some smart shopping and buying the items after the event or way before it, is a good way to save money (especially since said products/services don't go 'bad' if are not used right away).
I save on my phone bill by first bundling my internet, tv and landline phone. When I am at home, I do not use my cellphone to save minutes. It can add up so fast.
One thing that's disturbing is how companies are now issuing out prepaid Visa cards instead of checks for items listed as coming with a mail-in rebate. The reason for this trend is.... they are saving money. Most people who use those cards (myself included) never actually use up the entire balance... a few dollars always seem to be left on the card which more than likely gets thrown away. For example, last month I took my truck in for an oil change and tuneup at my local Pep Boys... and the service manager who helped me NEVER even bothered to tell me there was a special going on with Rebates if you have a Tuneup. I just happened to find out while browsing the website. Well, I filled out the online rebate from with info from my receipt and they mailed me a $32 Visa card. I didn't know what I could do.. so I just ordered a few items I really didn't need... just to use the card before it expired. I still have a tiny balance on it that I have no idea what to do with... and it's quite embarrassing going to a store and whipping out a card that only has like a buck or two credit on it.
I think companies issues out these cards knowing the full balance is hardly ever used.
I second the "don't talk about it" thought process. Americans are ridiculous when it comes to that. I can actually see that as a positive thing because if you aren't doing all that hot, you can get help from someone who does it better.
Yes, I agree with all these choices. I would also add jars of capers, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, maple syrup, dijon mustard. I also keep a small assortment of fruit preserves on hand, such as blackberry, apricot, and orange marmalade, which are useful for sauces. For oils, I recommend toasted sesame oil for flavor. For yogurt, I save by making my own in the crockpot. Fortunately, there's a Ghiradelli chocolate factory outlet store nearby on a highway I travel regularly. To save, I grow the herbs I use the most--including parsley, basil, thyme, tarragon, rosemary, mint. And I buy allspice, peppercorns, nutmeg, cloves, mustard, coriander, etc. in whole seed form from Sprouts market where I can get them in the amounts I want from bulk containers; then I grind them myself as needed. Even with these splurges, I am able to keep grocery spending close to the lowest "thrifty" level of USDA Food Plans.
Thanks for your feedback Josh. I agree that all types of expenditures are necessary.
Keep in mind that these classifications are intended to help with evaluating the consequences of major spending decisions...the big ones that have greatest impact on your ability to get ahead financially. In particular they can be used to avoid making a major expenditure mistake - one that creates a large ongoing negative cash flow. Because that prevents you from having the cash to pay down other debts quickly or to make investments that move you closer to financial independence.
I also agree that a house can depreciate. We've seen that during the current recession. Over the long run homes do tend to appreciate, and in general stocks also tend to increase in value but there are no guarantees. These categories provide initial direction and a way to prioritize opportunities generally. When you are making a decision on a specific major expenditure it's then important to run the numbers in advance - in particular the cash flow projections. For even if the asset doesn't appreciate or fluctuates in value over a period of time, if it generates positive cash flow you're increasing your financial independence.
Good question. They key issue is whether the asset can generate positive cash flow, if not now then in the future. An apartment can't, and neither can a single family home that you live in because even after paying off the mortgage there are monthly negative cash flows in the form of real estate taxes and homeowners insurance.
A rental property has the POTENTIAL to generate positive cash flow. In some rare instances a multi-family can generate positive cash flow from rents, even with a mortgage, but much more often you need to pay off the mortgage to get to positive cash flow. And some properties still can't get there even after paying off the mortgage, so it all depends on doing the numbers in advance to select a property that will "work."
I laughed when I read the "don't talk about it" one because that was a big one growing up. I remember when my friends and I were in High School and we started our first jobs. We thought we shouldn't discuss how much we all made, but we decided too anyway since we were all curious. I think by the time I left High School, I could tell you how much every store in the mall paid. I found it so helpful talking about it, because I knew which jobs were worth it and which ones weren't. Talking about it can definitely help, especially at a young age.
I use my google phone for daytime calls and long distance calls - it is free!
" the second ring is ground and the sleeve section is used as a control contact for Play/Pause and Skip Forward/Back function"
I would like to fix and say that the second ring is in fact the ground, but the sleeve is the microphone (that's why there are 2 rings to begin with, because the new headphone connections had to make room for a microphone)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio)#TRRS_Standards
Thanks for this article. I'm in much the same situation as Dorsett. At 58, I finally found a new job after being laid off more than a year ago. I have been investigating strategies for investing once I refund my emergency fund. I need something relatively simple, and with frugal living, hope to reach financial independence, if not retirement.
Cheapest cellphone plan whn limited data and texts, no landline. Planning to cut wifi and buy a hotspot that I can use in the go since it is only me at home and I go on trips often
I always got Halloween candy for Christmas and I didn't realize why until I was older. I just thought my parents were being lazy but in fact they were smart and saving some money.
We got rid of my husband's personal cell phone when he was given a work phone that he was allowed to use for personal reasons. When he was laid off in June, we were trying to cut expenses, and we realized that we could save money and add a landline if I switched my phone from a contract to pre-pay plan. And it even moved my plan to unlimited minutes. We share the phone now so we can still get in touch with each other if one of us is at home while the other is out.
I bundled my phone and cable services into one bill!
If you use a credit union like I do, you get paid back for all ATM fee's so even if a store pops up as "other ATM" I still get that fee back, so I use debit only when i want money back while i'm shopping. no reason not to
Last week I tried to make up a batch of mash using pot distiller's yeast that I had opened 6 months ago and stored in a ziplock bag. I only made about a gallon batch and used the correct amount of yeast and sugar. I have balloons over my fermenting jugs to keep it clean. I have had no expansion of the balloons yet like I did in the past. The yeast seemed like it may have gotten a little moisture in it. Could it have gone bad? Can I still use my sugar water and add a different yeast? It looks like mold might be forming in the mash.
Depressingly enough I'm the only one in my house willing to forgo a smart phone so I don't save much.
Right now our landline is bundled with internet service, but I want to try Ooma since we hardly use our phone.
I dislike math, so do I dislike engineering! -Because I dislike math. But we do need to do quite a lot of math to get our GPA up and also to get a good job right? At least the first job....
I agree with most of what you are saying except for the claims that the cows only go out to pasture for 20 minutes to look good for the press. There are still smaller farms where the cows are in fact out in the pasture eating grass most of the day! Please visit dairy farms and talk with the farmers! Thank you for pointing out the lies about "organic milk". Dairy farms work hard every day to keep our cows happy and healthy.
You can also recycle old electronics, safely, and for free at Best Buy. Just take them (cords, batteries, CD, DVDs, plastic bags, ink cartridges) to the front doors, or the help desk and mention recycling. You needn't have bought them there either.
I wish to address the last point raised by the poster. I do NOT, repeat DO NOT, leave my vehicle in my unattended car. It is on my person. Why people are willing to leave such a document staggers me. I also do NOT use my home address on GPS. So, if someone should steal my car, they won't know where I live either from the non-existent registration or the GPS.
Discretion is the key.
For years I suffered from painful cysts, a big one in my foot, one on my thyroid etc. Over the past year or so they have been forming in my ears, getting bigger and more painful until popping and the process would start all over again. My doctor gave me pills and ointments, gels that i had to fill my ears with and it barely slowed the process down. My mother told me about witch hazel and with nothing to lose i started cleaning inside my ears with it every day or so. I havent had one cyst since and using it on my skin has worked wonders. Now ill never be without it! Im also a big advocate for tiger balm :-)
Excellent list and advice. We tend to buy stuff 'when we need it' and many times pay premium for this. By doing some smart shopping and buying the items after the event or way before it, is a good way to save money (especially since said products/services don't go 'bad' if are not used right away).
I save on my phone bill by first bundling my internet, tv and landline phone. When I am at home, I do not use my cellphone to save minutes. It can add up so fast.
One thing that's disturbing is how companies are now issuing out prepaid Visa cards instead of checks for items listed as coming with a mail-in rebate. The reason for this trend is.... they are saving money. Most people who use those cards (myself included) never actually use up the entire balance... a few dollars always seem to be left on the card which more than likely gets thrown away. For example, last month I took my truck in for an oil change and tuneup at my local Pep Boys... and the service manager who helped me NEVER even bothered to tell me there was a special going on with Rebates if you have a Tuneup. I just happened to find out while browsing the website. Well, I filled out the online rebate from with info from my receipt and they mailed me a $32 Visa card. I didn't know what I could do.. so I just ordered a few items I really didn't need... just to use the card before it expired. I still have a tiny balance on it that I have no idea what to do with... and it's quite embarrassing going to a store and whipping out a card that only has like a buck or two credit on it.
I think companies issues out these cards knowing the full balance is hardly ever used.
We have a bundle plan, unused minutes roll over to the next month. We try not to use it often and only use for emergencies.