Recent comments

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Have Yard Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I had no choice this summer to have a yardsale. My mother passed away and left me with a house full of her lifetime to dispose of. It was painful in more ways than one. I live in Indiana and her in Florida (alone).

    I started a week before the actual sale. Mainly because she had SO MUCH STUFF. I invited friends and family to come in and pick out/purchase items that they loved and wanted. This helped me to move many large peices of furniture before the weekend sale.
    By the time Fri & Sat came, I had more room to pull out hidden treasures. The rules in her town were strict so I couldn't hold the sale for longer than two days. Which left me with many items still left over.
    An auctioneer came in and purchased what was left (not for what it was worth either).
    All in all. I made well over $6000 for a ton of work. My hubby & I worked day and night for over a week.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Have Yard Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I usually try to do a yard sale every two or three years, that way, I have more stuff to put out and I do not mind the time I have to put into it as opposed to doing every year. I only make a few hundred dollars, but it is better than nothing.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Have Yard Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    No. We did one once, on neighborhood yard sale day. Our street is only 1 block long and well out of the way of any traffic whatsoever. In six hours we made $40, and that was by selling a piece of furniture. It was a total waste of time. We haven't bothered since then. Instead, I call a local charity that does pickups when I have stuff to get rid of. I have been majorly decluttering as we're house hunting, so I have the charity come about once a month and collect a porchfull of stuff. We itemize on our taxes, so we get the benefit of that plus no weirdos on our property trying to scam us plus the stuff doesn't sit all year waiting for the day of the sale.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Have Yard Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    Do you have yard sales? Yes!
    What are your experiences like? They have always been good. Just be prepared and keep your money on your person.
    Are there any community regulations you need to follow when you host a yard sale?
    Nope.
    How do you spread the word about your sale? Street signs, craigslist, and word of mouth.
    What is the most money you've ever made? not sure. . . probably around $300.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Have Yard Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I don't like yard sales...at all. My neighbor just had one last weekend and there was so much traffic on our street starting at 6 am. I much prefer to sell my items to a consignment store, pawn shop, or on Craigslist.

  • How to Make Moonshine   12 years 50 weeks ago

    Rebel,

    I would start with the column. Make sure it is clean. You could also be getting some oils. What are you using for your mash? If it is fruit, than just run it through a little slower and pull off the heads. That will sepperate the oil a bit better. Though it may taste good, you could still get a wicked hangover from it if its the heads and tails mixed in. Watch your temps and cuts.

    If you have a large batch already done that is cloudy, just run it through again.

  • Green Switch for Green Savings   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I am trying to get info on Greenswitch. Can anyone help? Phone number, email, website???? Anyone?

  • Roll, Don't Fold (and 10 Other Tricks for Packing Fast)   12 years 50 weeks ago

    Good tips. My wife is a big list maker. She will make sure that she and our son are ready to go the night before. I usually just stuff my clothes and supplies in a large overnight bag and I'm good to go. We are going to Hawaii later this year. The main thing for a Hawaiian vacation is that we need to have some space in our luggage to bring back things like Hawaiian shirts and macadamia nuts.

  • Roll, Don't Fold (and 10 Other Tricks for Packing Fast)   12 years 50 weeks ago

    Love your suggestions.

    If you are going through customs put your clothes in several 2 gallon sized zip lock bags. You can roll clothes, put them in, and squash the air out before closing totally. Saves time if the customs official opens your bag up to inspect it. Plus you have a bag to put your dirty stuff in.

    Taking hand wash and quick dry undies and socks is a real space saver. Camping/travel supply places carry them. I got ours mail order from Campmor.

  • Cheap China the Expat Way (or Better, the Chinese Way)   12 years 50 weeks ago

    What Peoria are coming from Illinois or Arizona ? I am going to study abroad in Shanghai for about 4 months.

  • 4 Brain Hacks for Better Investment Decisions   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I especially like advice #3 - Set Short Term Goals. Big, vague goals are hard to quantify and hard to track. But if you break each of them (like retirement) down into individual, smaller goals that are tangible, specific and come with a deadline for completion, you are much more likely to reach your big goal.

  • How to Make Moonshine   12 years 50 weeks ago

    Hello Zorcy and Dave,
    Sorry it's been awhile since I have been on. Have been trying to make batches on my own. Ran into many problems and have learned a lot. BUT......... I have a problem that I can not get rid of. Don't know what is going on. The alcohol comes out clear but then after a while not so clear. Smells and tastes fine, I don't think I am doing anything wrong. I wash everything before and after use. Didn't have this problem until a couple of batches ago. Please advise me on how to keep the alcohol clear. I'm turning to the best to help me out. Some advise before my next run would be greatly appreciated.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Back-to-School Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I had some great deals from Staples this year. I bought scissors for $1 per pair, dry erase markers for $ 1 per 4 pack, and Sharpies for 25 cents per two pack. I stocked up for home and school.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Back-to-School Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I shop back to school sales online. It's faster and easier to see what's on sale before trudging through every store in town.

  • 18 Awesome, Practically Free Upcycled Craft Projects   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I am the queen of "harvesting" sweaters. Almost everything I make has stripes as a result--because I rarely have enough harvested yarn from one sweater to make a complete garment for myself.

    Making pom poms is weirdly relaxing....

  • 10 Frugal Ways to Keep Your Home Warm This Winter   12 years 50 weeks ago

    Thanks for the share. Another tip would be to utilize a heater rental instead of a traditional furnace. By using a heater rental you can simply heat the space you are in instead of the entire house thus saving you money on your heating bills.

  • 20 Great Frugal Skills — and How to Get Them   12 years 50 weeks ago

    Literally, every one of these skills is a must have to some extent! As the internet centralizes most peoples' day-to-day lives, the days where these skills were learned on a regular basis are dwindling. However, it is important to note that these skills are so universal that self-teaching and improving in these areas is becoming more popular.

  • Are You Happy With Your Bank?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I am extremely unhappy with my bank....B of A. I DREAD going to that bank for any info.
    Am now learning about credit union and intend to change after checking around.
    Can one have juzt a zaving account with C.U. and nothing online at all.?
    I don't want to do anything online at all.
    I only have one cr.card...A/X and am very happy with them.
    What iz Ally?

    forgive the zzzz ..letter after R not working but friendz and Google underztand me.

  • 15 Wonderful Uses for Witch Hazel   12 years 50 weeks ago

    how do u use it though, do u wash your face with it and let it sit for a while then rinse it off, or apply it after cleansing your face and leave it on???

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Back-to-School Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I do a little bit for Operation Christmas Child supplies; my child is too young for school

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Back-to-School Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    Yes, it's a great time to get a deal on pens, pencils, and paper to use throughout the year.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Back-to-School Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I don't have any kids, but I do shop the back to school sales for myself. It is always a good time to buy underwear!

  • “Avoid These Fast Food Items,” Say Fast Food Employees   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I've got to really argue the sweet tea post, it is urban myth at best. Real granulated sugar (right now, cheaper per ounce commercially than HFCS) is 15-calories per teaspoon. That makes a cup of it worth 720-calories. More than 2-cups per gallon of tea, and it gets 'unbearable sweet' to the taste. So, 720 x 2 = 1440 calories per gallon of sweet tea, or 11.25 calories per ounce. That makes a 12 ounce cup of sweet tea have about 135 calories. Definitely not 'diet', but not as high of calorie count as most any name-brand soda, either. FYI, HFCS drinks tend to have a higher calorie count per equal serving to a sucrose-based drink.

    On that idea, the whole 'sweetener issue should have made this list...but didn't. HFCS is far worse for you than granulated sugar, anyways. The next time wants to argue 'they are the same', ask them why HFCS can and does cause cirrhosis of the liver, like alcoholism does, yet consumption of granulated sugar does not. Hint- like alcohol, one is derrived from corn.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Back-to-School Sales?   12 years 50 weeks ago

    I do both. I shop specifically for back to school and throughout the year. I always shop when I find a great deal that I may/may not have a coupon for. I take advantage of Staples/Office Depot summer deals for school supplies and keep an eye for deals that re limited for at least two like items per customers because they tend to be doorbusters. I think the best deal has been an electric pencil sharpner for about $6

  • A Better Way to Rank America's Colleges   12 years 50 weeks ago

    A note about #48 on the list College of the Ozarks. Although the net tuition is 10,480, every full time student has to work on campus to defer that amount.

    The actual net amount of tuition paid by a student is zero.

    The only cost is room, board and incidentals.