I love this article! I recently just wrote a post about working as a freelance filmmaker and what to do come tax time--and I like your list of deductions, but if you want to know what to do AFTER you have that list, and what kind of software there is to ease the freelance workflow come tax time, check it out:
Nice job on this piece, integrating childhood memories for Boomers and Gen-Xers, with practical advice for teaching saving habits for their children. (I too, fondly remember my piggy bank and toy cash register, playing "store" and Monopoly.) -- Amy Yannello, Sacramento, CA
1) High quality food. I've found that Canidae is the most cost-effective high quality food for my dogs. Good food means healthy pups.
2) Homemade treats. Making your own doggy 'ice cream', Kong stuffing, etc. ensures quality control AND keeps the cost down.
3) Home grooming. Get you pets used to nail clipping, hair clippers, bathes, etc. as young as possible. Make it a fun game, with a super treat bonanza at the end.
4) Meds. In my area, we HAVE to keep dogs on flea and heartworm/parasite control year round. Carefully evaluate your options, and check online to see if they offer better prices than the vet.
Amazon, PetMedsDirect and a few others offer an additional discount if you sign up for an auto-ship option. Take advantage when practical.
I'm always on the lookout for cat and dog food coupons for the brands we use. I check the manufacturers websites and the weekly coupons that come in the mail. My family and friends will give me their pet food coupons and print them for me too. I love my furkids and looking for ways to save money on their food is second nature just like saving on my own food.
Having worked in credit unions for a good portion of my adult life, I agree there are wide variations in the services offered. Many of us participate in a "Shared Branch" network that gives our members access to thousands of branches tens of thousands of ATM locations all over the country. Participants allow members from other participating credit unions to do business in their branches and through their ATMs at no cost to the member. Many of us also offer good, solid technology for accessing accounts.
Carol Szaroleta
Destinations Credit Union
Baltimore, MD
What about I Savings Bonds? We contribute monthly to a 529 education savings plan for our grandson (he is 18 months old). He gets sufficient toys, so I have been thinking about giving him cash for gifts, divided into categories--for saving in his piggy bank, for spending. Or I have been thinking about giving him I Savings Bonds because they pay an interest rate that is guaranteed to be higher than inflation. In this time of low, low interest rates, that seemed like a good idea.
I *never* buy toys for the cats - a paper bag, a box, a wad of paper or foil, a sturdy cord, a window to look out of - that's all the entertainment they ask for! Of course, if someone else buys catnip mice, we never say no... 8)
Where I *don't* skimp is food - dealing with 1 diabetic cat and 2 with kidney failure taught me to avoid the cheap stuff...
I buy the large dog frontline medication and use a tiny plastic syringe to the recommended dosage for my dog. The large dog is typically within the price range of all the other size dogs.
I give my dog my son's old stuffed animals as toys.
I buy pet store gift cards on discount to purchase her premium dog food at a discount. I also try to compound that with maybe a $5 off $25 coupon. I buy the dog food if it is ever on sale, it is usually good for a year in the bag. The last two times I bought dog food I bought 4 large bags at a discount and used it all before expiration. She goes through a bag every 2-3 months or so.
Can get chicken livers pretty cheap from the butcher.
I clip my two English Springer Spaniels myself. Probably saves about $150 each time and I do it about 4 times a year. I also work for a vet, so I get employee discounts.
Having a sister who works at a vet's office really helps, but so does not being afraid to try new things with a cat. Thinking "oh, he's too finicky, he'll never go for that (new food, new litter, etc.)" would've cost me. I've been able to switch him to Feline Pine (free after rebate for a time) and back to his old litter and from the $30/bag ProPlan he ate at the shelter to $10/bag Target brand food.
We have unique pets - guinea pigs! So the types of supplies we need don't ever go on sale or have coupons. Luckily, we live near Texas Rustlers Guinea Pig Rescue (http://theguineapigrescue.com/), which has a store with heavily discounted guinea pig supplies, as well as dog and cat supplies! And, as a bonus, the profits go to support the rescue! I imagine similar organizations around the country have stores as well.
DELICIOUS! Just made the first batch of 12. Yum! I added a tbsp of brown sugar but next time will leave out the added sugar. (Trying to eliminate added.) The banana's are sweet enough if you use very ripe ones. My husband said they are mini banana bread bites. Very healthy, delicious recipe. Thank you so much!
If you had 5 gallons of hard cider, you would have "some" methanol. It is a very small amount. If you jacked it down to 2 gallons, you would still have the same amount, just in a smaller package. If you can drink 5 gallons without getting methanol poisoning, then drinking 2 gallons of jack, will not either. Something to think about. If you have an arbitrary number of 2 grams methanol in 5 gallons, each glass gives you 20 mg of methanol. When you drink the same after it is jacked, the same size glass gives you 50 mg.
But that does not matter so much. Just so long as you know, jacking will not cause a greater issue with methanol.
I love this article! I recently just wrote a post about working as a freelance filmmaker and what to do come tax time--and I like your list of deductions, but if you want to know what to do AFTER you have that list, and what kind of software there is to ease the freelance workflow come tax time, check it out:
http://michaelschandler.com/blog/freelance-finance-tips-business-account...
Nice read, keep posting!
Michael S. Chandler
www.michaelschandler.com/blog
I feed high quality home made food, groom them myself.
Liked you on FB
Pets are expensive, that's why I don't have one!
Nice job on this piece, integrating childhood memories for Boomers and Gen-Xers, with practical advice for teaching saving habits for their children. (I too, fondly remember my piggy bank and toy cash register, playing "store" and Monopoly.) -- Amy Yannello, Sacramento, CA
1) High quality food. I've found that Canidae is the most cost-effective high quality food for my dogs. Good food means healthy pups.
2) Homemade treats. Making your own doggy 'ice cream', Kong stuffing, etc. ensures quality control AND keeps the cost down.
3) Home grooming. Get you pets used to nail clipping, hair clippers, bathes, etc. as young as possible. Make it a fun game, with a super treat bonanza at the end.
4) Meds. In my area, we HAVE to keep dogs on flea and heartworm/parasite control year round. Carefully evaluate your options, and check online to see if they offer better prices than the vet.
Amazon, PetMedsDirect and a few others offer an additional discount if you sign up for an auto-ship option. Take advantage when practical.
I'm always on the lookout for cat and dog food coupons for the brands we use. I check the manufacturers websites and the weekly coupons that come in the mail. My family and friends will give me their pet food coupons and print them for me too. I love my furkids and looking for ways to save money on their food is second nature just like saving on my own food.
You have some great stuff here. Thanks!
Having worked in credit unions for a good portion of my adult life, I agree there are wide variations in the services offered. Many of us participate in a "Shared Branch" network that gives our members access to thousands of branches tens of thousands of ATM locations all over the country. Participants allow members from other participating credit unions to do business in their branches and through their ATMs at no cost to the member. Many of us also offer good, solid technology for accessing accounts.
Carol Szaroleta
Destinations Credit Union
Baltimore, MD
What about I Savings Bonds? We contribute monthly to a 529 education savings plan for our grandson (he is 18 months old). He gets sufficient toys, so I have been thinking about giving him cash for gifts, divided into categories--for saving in his piggy bank, for spending. Or I have been thinking about giving him I Savings Bonds because they pay an interest rate that is guaranteed to be higher than inflation. In this time of low, low interest rates, that seemed like a good idea.
Pretty good EV? EV on this game is 0.
I make a lot of products that are expensive to buy. Doggie shampoo, etc. Toys are easy to make too.
I *never* buy toys for the cats - a paper bag, a box, a wad of paper or foil, a sturdy cord, a window to look out of - that's all the entertainment they ask for! Of course, if someone else buys catnip mice, we never say no... 8)
Where I *don't* skimp is food - dealing with 1 diabetic cat and 2 with kidney failure taught me to avoid the cheap stuff...
I like you on facebook!
I tweeted! https://mobile.twitter.com/monzanitas/status/245530932197601280
I buy the large dog frontline medication and use a tiny plastic syringe to the recommended dosage for my dog. The large dog is typically within the price range of all the other size dogs.
I give my dog my son's old stuffed animals as toys.
I buy pet store gift cards on discount to purchase her premium dog food at a discount. I also try to compound that with maybe a $5 off $25 coupon. I buy the dog food if it is ever on sale, it is usually good for a year in the bag. The last two times I bought dog food I bought 4 large bags at a discount and used it all before expiration. She goes through a bag every 2-3 months or so.
Can get chicken livers pretty cheap from the butcher.
I clip my two English Springer Spaniels myself. Probably saves about $150 each time and I do it about 4 times a year. I also work for a vet, so I get employee discounts.
I make my own pet toys, bedding and tags. I also buy food in bulk.
Having a sister who works at a vet's office really helps, but so does not being afraid to try new things with a cat. Thinking "oh, he's too finicky, he'll never go for that (new food, new litter, etc.)" would've cost me. I've been able to switch him to Feline Pine (free after rebate for a time) and back to his old litter and from the $30/bag ProPlan he ate at the shelter to $10/bag Target brand food.
I save money on my pets by feeding them higher quality food. Its much better for their health and therefore I spend less money on vet bills.
http://www.homevet.com/index.php/diet-discussion/item/315-an-excerpt-fro...
My furkids are my family and they deserve the best care. Most commercial pet foods dont provide that.
I clip my cats hair and toenails. I also mix very high quality food mixed with a slightly lower quality food.
We have unique pets - guinea pigs! So the types of supplies we need don't ever go on sale or have coupons. Luckily, we live near Texas Rustlers Guinea Pig Rescue (http://theguineapigrescue.com/), which has a store with heavily discounted guinea pig supplies, as well as dog and cat supplies! And, as a bonus, the profits go to support the rescue! I imagine similar organizations around the country have stores as well.
I save money on pets by not having any. They seem too expensive.
DELICIOUS! Just made the first batch of 12. Yum! I added a tbsp of brown sugar but next time will leave out the added sugar. (Trying to eliminate added.) The banana's are sweet enough if you use very ripe ones. My husband said they are mini banana bread bites. Very healthy, delicious recipe. Thank you so much!
Guest,
If you had 5 gallons of hard cider, you would have "some" methanol. It is a very small amount. If you jacked it down to 2 gallons, you would still have the same amount, just in a smaller package. If you can drink 5 gallons without getting methanol poisoning, then drinking 2 gallons of jack, will not either. Something to think about. If you have an arbitrary number of 2 grams methanol in 5 gallons, each glass gives you 20 mg of methanol. When you drink the same after it is jacked, the same size glass gives you 50 mg.
But that does not matter so much. Just so long as you know, jacking will not cause a greater issue with methanol.