I would use it close to home for basic essentials like medicine and groceries and gas and have savings put aside should anything arise rather than spend it on traveling.
Ahhh, the superficiality in the air is almost electric. Functionalty > asthetics. Haveing a larger probility of having sometging stolen is a decrese in overall funcionality, therefore, sacrificing asthetics for a lesser probability of theft increases overall functionality. The only logical choice is for the option that increases funcionality. Lets face it, these arn't vases of flowers, their only purpose being to make something look better. They are tools first asthetic pieces second.
I would like to spend my retirement living in Italy, where my parents are from, and living a simple life filled with fresh food, family, friends and community.
I am within two years of retirement and I'm telling everyone that the very first thing I plan to do is take a cross country trip, from east coast to west and back again, visit all the sights I've always wanted to see. Hope my dream comes true. After that, anything I want to.
We used to call Kmart, Kmart-fall-apart and I thought they were the bottom of the barrel. They continue to amaze me as to the depths they can fall. Like you, the stores are nasty and dirty and regularly out of merchandise, even stuff that's not on sale! The cashiers are idiots and rude on top of it.
Sears used to be a decent place to shop, but since the two merged, they've both not worth going to.
I'm in grocery stores at least once a day comparing prices. With sales and double coupons, most prices are cheaper than Walmart or even the BX and Commissary on base. If it's not cheaper with coupons, we get it where it's cheapest.
Recently, we got hoards of tuna for .50 a can - over 150 of it - but we are donating most of it. Of course, shelters are always looking for personal hygiene items so if we can get a deal on it, we max it out and donate it. People don't think of personal hygiene items when they think about donating, but we always hear that they would almost rather have that since food is much easier to get and hygiene products are expensive.
The only thing I worry about is that the workers will sort through the hygiene items and take what they want before it ever gets to clients.
My daughter arranges our hauls and gets pictures, as well as pictures of the receipt, then we donate what we don't need. I don't see how it's cost effective for people to have storage lockers full of "free" crap when they've got to pay $100 or so a month for a storage unit or a bigger house to store it all in.
Seeing the pictures is fun and since we donate, we don't have to deal with storing the hoards of crap afterward!
This is what we do. We've never been able to tithe the 10% the Bible says, but we donate time. Since I don't work, I spend at least 5 hours a day researching, printing, and cutting coupons so I can donate items to charities. It's become a hobby and since there's no way we'll ever use all the stuff we get, it feels good to do some good with it. We currently feed 7 people - with an 8th on the way - on less than $500 a month in food stamps because of couponing, which regularly stretches to $1200 to $1500 a month or more which is how we donate so much.
I LOVE CVS because they have their own coupons, they have Extra Care Bucks (ECB) - which acts like cash - and take manufacturer's coupons. Since we have a 15 month old, 6 month old living with us and one due in September, we're always buying diapers. Our best deal at CVS was 12 packs of diapers for $50. Then we got $20 back in ECB on top of that bringing the total to $30 or $2.50 each. Even when the kids are out of diapers, I'll be taking advantage of these deals and donating them.
If I can get stuff for free, I get it. I usually get as much as I have coupons for and even for stuff I don't need that - such as free 3.5 pound bags of dog food and I don't have a dog - but then we donate it. For example, we just donated 58 bottles of shampoo and 49 boxes of tampons - all for free - to the local women's shelter. We have over 100 tubes of toothpaste and over 100 toothbrushes we got for free and we donate those, too. A few stores that have Super Double coupons (up to $2) had BOGO dog and cat food. We also had over 100 cans of cat food we got for free because it was on clearance. We donated over $500 worth of pet food to the local animal shelter. We got over 100 boxes of rice, 50+ boxes of Hamburger Helper, and 20+ boxes of cereal for free that we're going to donate to either the food pantry, or a church. Also, over 100 bottles of body wash, laundry detergent and dish soap as well as over 50 razors is getting donated.
We don't clean out the stores on the first day...we wait until the last day of the sale. It infuriates me that some people go in on the first day of Super Doubles and clear the shelves. We can get rain checks, but they won't honor Super Doubles if they get the product in after the sale.
It's also infuriates me to see these couponing shows that shows people with storage units full of crap they got for free just because they can...especially since the stores they show break their own coupon policies and violate the terms of the coupon itself - no more than 4 like coupons per transaction - to do it...AND THEY'RE PROUD OF THEIR GREED!!!
We figure that if we can get stuff for free - or very low cost - and use it to help someone else, we will. One grocery store even gives us a heads up about the Super Doubles weeks before it occurs because they know we're not going to clean them out and because they know we donate most of the stuff.
DH and I have discussed and we want to be able to cut back on working (he is self-employed) while remaining active and be able to take one vacation together each year.
Actually, there is a mistake in this article. The quote on the employer match is incorrect. A three percent match means that if you put in three percent, the employer will match three percent. This article states that a $3,500 employee contribution will get a $3,500 match-- this is only the case if the person is making slightly over $100,000.
I would use it close to home for basic essentials like medicine and groceries and gas and have savings put aside should anything arise rather than spend it on traveling.
Try to use all of it. Seems like I always have a few dollars left on mine that I don't get around to spending. It's a waste of someone's money.
You can also use wallpaper to cover books. There are tutorials online that even show you how to add the book's title to the cover.
I read somewhere that, to lose weight, eat a few nuts before meals, but ONLY almonds, cashews and walnuts.
Ahhh, the superficiality in the air is almost electric. Functionalty > asthetics. Haveing a larger probility of having sometging stolen is a decrese in overall funcionality, therefore, sacrificing asthetics for a lesser probability of theft increases overall functionality. The only logical choice is for the option that increases funcionality. Lets face it, these arn't vases of flowers, their only purpose being to make something look better. They are tools first asthetic pieces second.
I'd like to do some traveling and make my garden larger.
I'd love to spend retirement on the beach with my family.
I would like to spend my retirement living in Italy, where my parents are from, and living a simple life filled with fresh food, family, friends and community.
Wish I'd seen your comment before trying WD-40 on an oil stain on my jeans...mine is now even bigger than before... aah!
i'd like to spend my retirement traveling
I am within two years of retirement and I'm telling everyone that the very first thing I plan to do is take a cross country trip, from east coast to west and back again, visit all the sights I've always wanted to see. Hope my dream comes true. After that, anything I want to.
will it work in California ?
We used to call Kmart, Kmart-fall-apart and I thought they were the bottom of the barrel. They continue to amaze me as to the depths they can fall. Like you, the stores are nasty and dirty and regularly out of merchandise, even stuff that's not on sale! The cashiers are idiots and rude on top of it.
Sears used to be a decent place to shop, but since the two merged, they've both not worth going to.
Travel and stay for three months and move on to the next destination
I'm in grocery stores at least once a day comparing prices. With sales and double coupons, most prices are cheaper than Walmart or even the BX and Commissary on base. If it's not cheaper with coupons, we get it where it's cheapest.
Recently, we got hoards of tuna for .50 a can - over 150 of it - but we are donating most of it. Of course, shelters are always looking for personal hygiene items so if we can get a deal on it, we max it out and donate it. People don't think of personal hygiene items when they think about donating, but we always hear that they would almost rather have that since food is much easier to get and hygiene products are expensive.
The only thing I worry about is that the workers will sort through the hygiene items and take what they want before it ever gets to clients.
My daughter arranges our hauls and gets pictures, as well as pictures of the receipt, then we donate what we don't need. I don't see how it's cost effective for people to have storage lockers full of "free" crap when they've got to pay $100 or so a month for a storage unit or a bigger house to store it all in.
Seeing the pictures is fun and since we donate, we don't have to deal with storing the hoards of crap afterward!
I would spend time with my grandkids and garden.
This is what we do. We've never been able to tithe the 10% the Bible says, but we donate time. Since I don't work, I spend at least 5 hours a day researching, printing, and cutting coupons so I can donate items to charities. It's become a hobby and since there's no way we'll ever use all the stuff we get, it feels good to do some good with it. We currently feed 7 people - with an 8th on the way - on less than $500 a month in food stamps because of couponing, which regularly stretches to $1200 to $1500 a month or more which is how we donate so much.
I LOVE CVS because they have their own coupons, they have Extra Care Bucks (ECB) - which acts like cash - and take manufacturer's coupons. Since we have a 15 month old, 6 month old living with us and one due in September, we're always buying diapers. Our best deal at CVS was 12 packs of diapers for $50. Then we got $20 back in ECB on top of that bringing the total to $30 or $2.50 each. Even when the kids are out of diapers, I'll be taking advantage of these deals and donating them.
If I can get stuff for free, I get it. I usually get as much as I have coupons for and even for stuff I don't need that - such as free 3.5 pound bags of dog food and I don't have a dog - but then we donate it. For example, we just donated 58 bottles of shampoo and 49 boxes of tampons - all for free - to the local women's shelter. We have over 100 tubes of toothpaste and over 100 toothbrushes we got for free and we donate those, too. A few stores that have Super Double coupons (up to $2) had BOGO dog and cat food. We also had over 100 cans of cat food we got for free because it was on clearance. We donated over $500 worth of pet food to the local animal shelter. We got over 100 boxes of rice, 50+ boxes of Hamburger Helper, and 20+ boxes of cereal for free that we're going to donate to either the food pantry, or a church. Also, over 100 bottles of body wash, laundry detergent and dish soap as well as over 50 razors is getting donated.
We don't clean out the stores on the first day...we wait until the last day of the sale. It infuriates me that some people go in on the first day of Super Doubles and clear the shelves. We can get rain checks, but they won't honor Super Doubles if they get the product in after the sale.
It's also infuriates me to see these couponing shows that shows people with storage units full of crap they got for free just because they can...especially since the stores they show break their own coupon policies and violate the terms of the coupon itself - no more than 4 like coupons per transaction - to do it...AND THEY'RE PROUD OF THEIR GREED!!!
We figure that if we can get stuff for free - or very low cost - and use it to help someone else, we will. One grocery store even gives us a heads up about the Super Doubles weeks before it occurs because they know we're not going to clean them out and because they know we donate most of the stuff.
I'd like to spend my retirement traveling a lot & working a fun, part-time job in-between trips.
I would love to have the time to volunteer at a women's shelter.
And more time with the grandchildren.
What about Karmin?
DH and I have discussed and we want to be able to cut back on working (he is self-employed) while remaining active and be able to take one vacation together each year.
Actually, there is a mistake in this article. The quote on the employer match is incorrect. A three percent match means that if you put in three percent, the employer will match three percent. This article states that a $3,500 employee contribution will get a $3,500 match-- this is only the case if the person is making slightly over $100,000.