Three letters can save you tens of thousands based on this article: D.I.Y.
I have owned a home for the past 3 years, and am spending NOWHERE NEAR the amounts listed above. We are re-landscaping our house, with a new 300ft. fence, 14 x 18ft. pergonal over a brick patio for under $5000. Closer to $4000. We've furnished the house for under $1500 (microfiber couch and chair, crate & barrel table, tons of C&B kitchen stuff and bed, Henredon Couch and chair) but using craigslist and having a decent retail hookup (wife worked at crate & barrel). No HOA dues (definitely avoided those like the plague). Our appliances are old, but we can buy refurb ones at 1/4 cost. The three that we do pay for is taxes, insurance and utilities.
I think it's a great idea to save up and watch out for these expenses, so thank you for listing these for those who haven't done much research on owning a home. But I think a lot of these posts are a scare tactic that validates renting, but really owning a home is not that bad. If you just do a little research and know what you are getting into before buying a home, you shouldn't be surprised with these "unexpected expenses".
Do some searching but once you HAVE bought a flight never, ever check price again. Same for anything you buy; laptop, TV, refrigerator, car, saves a lot of regrets!!
in plain sight??! why do people always think that is a good or clever idea? when people rob houses they dont expect people to leave valualables hidden in a wall or in the floor, they look on tables and in drawers, the kind of place that you would leave ur wallet, duh! so yeah, leaving a wad of 20's right in front of a robber is exactly the best thing to do XD well done you!
I used to play poker online but it just seems fixed to me. I did win $1800 one month playing the $.25/$.50 tables. It took me two years just to build up a $1000 bank roll from $100, then all of a sudden I went on a roll and won $1800. I cashed out and then gave back about $500 the most I have ever lost in a month the very next month. I just don't trust it. People use bots online, the gaming site could be cheating(there are a few that have gotten caught). I also used to bet online for sports gambling. I like to gamble on things I can use my mind or strategy with, so I never play lottery or the slot machines. Do like a little roulette at the casino though. I like to try to find patterns and bet accordingly even though statistics have proved against my theory
The part of me that loves hunting for deals tends to go into overdrive when searching for airfare, especially now that I live on the opposite coast from my family. While I agree that it can be good to book directly through the airline, lately I've been loving searching through Kayak. Their "hacker" fares, which pair one-way flights on two different airlines for a round-trip, are some of the cheapest options I've found.
Including car payments, insurance payments, and potential repairs, 20% seems like about right. You may want to do extensive research before going into the dealership, especially because a lot of times insurance rates relate to the area where you live and drive. The insurance I pay here in Tampa, is about $100 higher per month than what my sister pays in the greater Boston area.
If you want to humanely get rid of rats or mice, you'll need a small trashcan or 5 gallon bucket, a cardboard box, and some peanut butter. Cut a 3 inch strip of cardboard about 4 inches longer than you would need to make a ramp from the ground up to them top of the bucket. Now, make that ramp, and bend the excess back and forth so that it will fall under light weight. Put a dollop of peanut butter on the end of the cardboard and when they try to get it they fall in and can't escape. Release them far from your home. I caught a mouse in 15 minutes of doing this!
Great article! Though it pains me to rid myself of watching tv, I have to agree that getting rid of cable does not only benefit one's wallet, but benefits one's life. Television privatizes leisure time, and makes what was once a shared activity--bowling leagues, softball teams, etc..--into private activity. Not having a tv forces one to seek more social and therefore more rewarding ways of organizing leisure time.
Thanks for this article! Its important to not get lost in the rat race, and lose oneself in a search for money. I really liked tip #2. Its easy to dismiss a big dream, it takes guts to go after it.
Great Article! I find that minimizing travel time, even if it is the most expensive option is best. Less time in the air, means more time to adjust, more time to be productive, and more time to conduct business.
I'll definitely check out Adrian's new book. It sounds like a great read. Money itself does not make us happy. What good does an account with 5M in it have over one that with $5 in it if all it's going to do is sit there?
Love the statement that "your life isn't about money, rather your money is there to support your life."
Good article. I think you should go further and discuss other options versus just purchasing a new car. For example, buying used, leasing, and car-sharing.
For those of us who wear ties to work, thrift stores are a great source. My local store starts them at 99 cents and drops them to 75 or 50 cents after a few weeks. It's the best way to get classics like the BB#1 or a repp tie. Even with a $5 dry cleaning it's far cheaper than a $50-$100 new tie.
And I'll second the mention of accessories like belts.
Great article with little suggestions to make a big difference. Since first reading this, the one that sticks in my mind the most is the gift card idea. It seems people either love or hate them since they can be lost easily and create clutter in a wallet, but the idea of getting rewards and discounts from a gift card has potential for the people that prefer them. I think you caught on to a way to save that doesn't get discussed as much as it could.
Excellent list. In my country, we do not have such a thing called thrift shopping. We just went over to online to do out purchase as i realised online shopping can actully be cheaper than normal offline shops these days.
It is a disgrace how some prepaid cards will nickel and dime you with fees every month. I have been hit several times for crazy decline fees and others. I am currently using Netspend (http://yournetspend.com) and they currently dont have all these crazy fees once you become a Premier member, Plus they offer a savings account so you can also save.
Research the company and what they do BEFORE the interview. Come up with some things you admire about the company's practices or policies.
Yeah, it definitely takes guts to go after a big dream. And a plan :)
Three letters can save you tens of thousands based on this article: D.I.Y.
I have owned a home for the past 3 years, and am spending NOWHERE NEAR the amounts listed above. We are re-landscaping our house, with a new 300ft. fence, 14 x 18ft. pergonal over a brick patio for under $5000. Closer to $4000. We've furnished the house for under $1500 (microfiber couch and chair, crate & barrel table, tons of C&B kitchen stuff and bed, Henredon Couch and chair) but using craigslist and having a decent retail hookup (wife worked at crate & barrel). No HOA dues (definitely avoided those like the plague). Our appliances are old, but we can buy refurb ones at 1/4 cost. The three that we do pay for is taxes, insurance and utilities.
I think it's a great idea to save up and watch out for these expenses, so thank you for listing these for those who haven't done much research on owning a home. But I think a lot of these posts are a scare tactic that validates renting, but really owning a home is not that bad. If you just do a little research and know what you are getting into before buying a home, you shouldn't be surprised with these "unexpected expenses".
Do some searching but once you HAVE bought a flight never, ever check price again. Same for anything you buy; laptop, TV, refrigerator, car, saves a lot of regrets!!
I like (LOVE) your facebook page!
I have never gambled and really have no desire to. I am conservative with my money and if I am going to spend it, it would never be in that way!
in plain sight??! why do people always think that is a good or clever idea? when people rob houses they dont expect people to leave valualables hidden in a wall or in the floor, they look on tables and in drawers, the kind of place that you would leave ur wallet, duh! so yeah, leaving a wad of 20's right in front of a robber is exactly the best thing to do XD well done you!
I used to play poker online but it just seems fixed to me. I did win $1800 one month playing the $.25/$.50 tables. It took me two years just to build up a $1000 bank roll from $100, then all of a sudden I went on a roll and won $1800. I cashed out and then gave back about $500 the most I have ever lost in a month the very next month. I just don't trust it. People use bots online, the gaming site could be cheating(there are a few that have gotten caught). I also used to bet online for sports gambling. I like to gamble on things I can use my mind or strategy with, so I never play lottery or the slot machines. Do like a little roulette at the casino though. I like to try to find patterns and bet accordingly even though statistics have proved against my theory
I went to a birthday gathering this weekend, and when the birthday boy got the hiccups, I had him do #11. It totally worked!
The part of me that loves hunting for deals tends to go into overdrive when searching for airfare, especially now that I live on the opposite coast from my family. While I agree that it can be good to book directly through the airline, lately I've been loving searching through Kayak. Their "hacker" fares, which pair one-way flights on two different airlines for a round-trip, are some of the cheapest options I've found.
Including car payments, insurance payments, and potential repairs, 20% seems like about right. You may want to do extensive research before going into the dealership, especially because a lot of times insurance rates relate to the area where you live and drive. The insurance I pay here in Tampa, is about $100 higher per month than what my sister pays in the greater Boston area.
If you want to humanely get rid of rats or mice, you'll need a small trashcan or 5 gallon bucket, a cardboard box, and some peanut butter. Cut a 3 inch strip of cardboard about 4 inches longer than you would need to make a ramp from the ground up to them top of the bucket. Now, make that ramp, and bend the excess back and forth so that it will fall under light weight. Put a dollop of peanut butter on the end of the cardboard and when they try to get it they fall in and can't escape. Release them far from your home. I caught a mouse in 15 minutes of doing this!
Great article! Though it pains me to rid myself of watching tv, I have to agree that getting rid of cable does not only benefit one's wallet, but benefits one's life. Television privatizes leisure time, and makes what was once a shared activity--bowling leagues, softball teams, etc..--into private activity. Not having a tv forces one to seek more social and therefore more rewarding ways of organizing leisure time.
Thanks for this article! Its important to not get lost in the rat race, and lose oneself in a search for money. I really liked tip #2. Its easy to dismiss a big dream, it takes guts to go after it.
Great Article! I find that minimizing travel time, even if it is the most expensive option is best. Less time in the air, means more time to adjust, more time to be productive, and more time to conduct business.
I've used this tonic for a little over a year. It's the best my lawn has looked in my 16 years in the house!
Thanks for sharing these lists.
I'll definitely check out Adrian's new book. It sounds like a great read. Money itself does not make us happy. What good does an account with 5M in it have over one that with $5 in it if all it's going to do is sit there?
Love the statement that "your life isn't about money, rather your money is there to support your life."
20% of take home pay on a depreciating asset! Terrible advice.
Good article. I think you should go further and discuss other options versus just purchasing a new car. For example, buying used, leasing, and car-sharing.
For those of us who wear ties to work, thrift stores are a great source. My local store starts them at 99 cents and drops them to 75 or 50 cents after a few weeks. It's the best way to get classics like the BB#1 or a repp tie. Even with a $5 dry cleaning it's far cheaper than a $50-$100 new tie.
And I'll second the mention of accessories like belts.
I still cannot afford a new car.. :(
But I'll get there.. :)
Great article with little suggestions to make a big difference. Since first reading this, the one that sticks in my mind the most is the gift card idea. It seems people either love or hate them since they can be lost easily and create clutter in a wallet, but the idea of getting rewards and discounts from a gift card has potential for the people that prefer them. I think you caught on to a way to save that doesn't get discussed as much as it could.
Excellent list. In my country, we do not have such a thing called thrift shopping. We just went over to online to do out purchase as i realised online shopping can actully be cheaper than normal offline shops these days.
It is a disgrace how some prepaid cards will nickel and dime you with fees every month. I have been hit several times for crazy decline fees and others. I am currently using Netspend (http://yournetspend.com) and they currently dont have all these crazy fees once you become a Premier member, Plus they offer a savings account so you can also save.