First of all Catherine, thoughtful piece. Second, I am thrilled you made the point about the SUV. We drive one. Believe me, we made serious research and test efforts at going smaller. Even though our older dog passed away, we still have a black lab. And even when we go on overnights where my husband (the only one tall enough with long enough arms) puts on the car carrier, we are hard pressed to have a ton of extra room after even a couple of shopping stops.
We're not talking frivolous shopping here. Boards and bricks for closet shelving, bulk groceries and even drop off stops to donate at the thrift store. And we pack light. Usually just a small backpack and day pack each in addition to our laptops. The dog has her saddle bags where we stuff everything she'll need. Putting everything but day packs (I often turn mine into my purse when we go for an overnight just to cut down on that too.) up top and having the seat put down in back for the dog doesn't leave a whole lot of room. We have a sectioned tote with emergency supplies, but we've sure tried the minimalist approach there as well.
While we don't live as remotely as we used to for sure, we certainly have a drive to get to some things even in the greater Tampa area. The fact is, if you have even the tiniest of families, don't live in walking distance of everything or in a city where nearly everything can be delivered, have even minimal DIY needs (believe me, we're not Mr. and Mrs. Fix It, by any means) or occasionally camp for affordable getaways it's seriously difficult to go with a tiny vehicle. We went as small as we felt we could and still ended up with what most would consider a mid-sized SUV.
Jeep Liberties might not be everyone's idea of eco friendly, but I'd guess that many people who might want to pass judgement on that don't take the pains we do to make the Earth friendly choice in other areas. Also, since we both work at home and my husband goes to school full time online, we leave the house maybe once or twice a week. Even then, it's for a close and quick errand, and we make sure we have three of them to do before we leave the driveway. When it's more than that or further, it's a major planned event. The last time we filled the gas tank my husband estimated it had been at least six weeks since we did so, and even then we still had half a tank or so when we topped off the first time.
Two mastiffs? Kudos on including them on your vacation. The traveling with dogs thing takes planning and serious compromise. In my case, it also takes two (my husband as total leash support) as my dog can and has pulled me over and drug me in front of a semi truck at a gas stop. Not my idea of a good time. But that's another pet hack story . . .
It'll be interesting to see how the discussion on this unfolds.
i've found that applesauce substitution works best when it's a chocolate thing -- i make brownies using applesauce instead of oil and i truly can't tell the difference. but i tried the applesauce substitution for oatmeal cookies and they came out ... weird.
Mastiffs! <3! My family had a hugely huge dog up until a year ago, and I loved the poor thing but good god feeding her was massively expensive.
Very interesting article but it unfortunately makes me realise that my (technically) unnecessary expense is beer and netflix. I don't have cable, internet access in my crapartment, a car, pets, and I rarely buy... well, anything anymore. But when I get home from work, nothing makes me happier than watching a random movie and having a beer.
Good topic. I've been teased mercilessly for my habit of stopping at Starbucks every morning and buying a grande latte (at $4.28, by the way). But you know what? It's a luxury that I enjoy, and I include that $25 per week in my budget and plan accordingly. If I want it and I can afford it, then what's the problem? I don't care if others think it's a waste of money; it's not a waste to me.
Now, if I couldn't afford it (such as the guy with the huge cable bill), that's another story, but your point is valid -- you can't know someone else's situation, so it's best to try not to judge.
I didn't get any stimulus money last year, i'm on L@I and have a rental, didn't make over 20,000 didn't pay any taxes due to not making enough and having write offs on rentals, so why didn't we get any stimulus money? any idea?
I learned this when I wrote my first article on "unnecessary" expenses. There is no expense so obviously unnecessary that there aren't people out there who will defend it. (And more--who will suggest that going without it is not only uncivilized, but very possibly child abuse.) Contrariwise, there is no expense so fundamental to living a safe, healthy, and comfortable life that you can suggest that it is necessary without drawing someone who will point out that a billion people in poor countries get by without it.
All the more reason that it's good to look at your lifestyle both ways. Your actual needs (the stuff you'll die without) are so basic that just about no one (in a rich country) makes any payment that isn't at least partially going to cover wants as well as actual needs. That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy that stuff; it just means that you need to be thoughtful about which of your wants make the cut-off and which ones don't.
This is interesting and thought provoking. My mother (a teacher) works in a very low-income, urban school district. No matter how poor the families are, almost all of them have big TVs and satellite or cable. We've discussed this at length, and her thought is that the TV is really the only form of recreation or leisure for most of these families. They don't travel. At all. Not even to Lake Michigan which is only a 30 minute drive away. They definitely don't engage in outdoor recreation or partake in activities such as golf, hiking, exercise classes, or other pursuits. TV is one of the few ways they get to kick back. So it is a priority.
I need to purchase a a "BOX" for our analog rabbit ears TV. I understand from others that you can change the "channels" with the boxes remote however you must use your TV"s remote to change the volume. Is there a "one" unit that I can purchase that changes both volume an channels"
Thanks,
Thanks y'all. I started with A Job While You Wait but then realized that not everyone has to have outside employment to get through this period. I do try to work while I am waiting but sometimes it is easier to take a break and read magazines; cool idea about finding an auto shop with wireless.
Cool ideas... I'm wondering if I could make an alfredo sauce with the potato flakes & water instead of the heavy cream. Won't help much w/ the cheese and butter though hehe.
When I started reading this post, I was actually thinking to myself, "I hope she mentions beer. I hope she mentions beer."
I'm a big fan of beer in cooking. Mainly because my husband used to do some homebrewing, and he's still got a few dusty cases out in the garage of batches that did not quite work out on the drinkability scale, but can make a fine addition to a crock pot pork roast or beer-batter fish fry, for example.
Here's a great beer cheese soup that I've done several times:
http://www.recipezaar.com/Smoked-Sausage-Beer-Cheese-Soup-36672
The last time I made this one, I also added one of my personal secret ingredients: a can of diced tomatoes, an onion, and a stick of celery, frappe'd to oblivion in the blender. I add this combo to soups and stews and so on whenever possible, because both my kids won't eat onions if they see them (sacrilege!) and the younger is not keen on any vegetables whatsoever.
I've got three other secret ingredients that can kick up the flavor a notch in a lot of savory recipes: a pinch of sugar, a bit of vinegar, or or couple tablespoons of barbecue sauce (which is essentially a spicy version of the first two). Especially if you are cutting back on fat, in small amounts these ingredients act as flavor enhancers that perk up whatever other seasonings you're using.
We've done the beer bread thing before, but I've always wanted to try more recipes for cheddar beer soups as a gourmet cheapie dinner option. We just opened a number 10 can of apple sauce. I've got a bunch of ice cube trays freezing, and a quart canning jar filled for on the fly baking. Thanks for the links, and also for the additional potato flakes ideas. Cool post, as usual.
When I saw the title, I totally expected this to be a productivity piece on choosing automotive repair shops with free wireless. That would have been cool as well, but this is an interesting breakdown of ways to weather the economic storm. Good job.
Sam said: "Every economist on the nation has said this bill is a mistake but what do they know?" Every economist who has spoken about the current bill has said that it is too small and timid, or that it misallocates funding too much to tax cuts and not enough to job creation and spending. If you can cite a few economists who opposed any stimulus, which seems to be what you suggest, it would be instructive. Even the Republicans who opposed the bill didn't want no stimulus, just a different type of bill.
Also, why does this not pass constitutional muster? The Constitution certainly calls for Congress to "provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States;" says that "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises;" "To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes;" and "To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof." So, Congress must provide for the general welfare, is empowered to regulate commerce and to raise and borrow money and to pass laws to perform these duties. What part of this bill is not covered by those elements. (Read Section 8 of Article 1 of the Constitution).
Great post! I've heard about the different uses for potato flakes, but the cola has got me intrigued! It probably makes a nice glaze once it boils down.
There is a product by Tastefully Simple (tastefullysimple.com) - and no, I am not a product rep, I just like their products - called Beer Bread. All you do is dump one beer into their powdered mix. Stir and bake. You can add butter on top for a nice crust. It's delicious!! You can also use soda or other carbonated liquids, but the beer actually makes it taste good - not like beer at all. In the winter, I tried one of those "winter brew" kinds of beer. Very nice flavor.
People who like to bake could probably figure out their own recipe, but that's not me so I'll stick to the mix!
It's not the job of govt to run the economy. Economies rise & fall - it's a natural thing.
What's unnatural is the govt trying to stave off a depression. This isn't a Democrat or Republican thing & those of you who don't see that are blind.
It is the job of govt to keep the street lights on and protect our freedoms for foreign entities.
This thing just seriously hosed us over as citizens but what do you expect from a President who didn't even serve a full term in Senate? Yeah, he's giving us "change" all right.
Every economist on the nation has said this bill is a mistake but what do they know? The more "stimulus" the harder the crash will be when it comes.
And for those of you who are going to bash me for being a "Republican" I'm actually a Constitutional Libertarian and care only about elected officials doing their job which is outlined in the Constitution. :)
I will be infuriated if the government comes in and simply hands out money to permanently allow a person to live in their $1,000,000 home that they never could afford and pay the same payment as the person who was responsible and bought the $200,000 home that they could afford. However, I can also see where the fact that so many are in this situation is creating a real catch-22. If we do nothing, we're screwed and we'll all suffer the consequences. If we do something, we're also screwed. I think the best compromise of all would be if the government does do something to help; but instead of a perpetual handout, it needs to be temporary. Yes, the irresponsible ones will get to stay in their home longer; but there needs to be something that makes them pay back this money in the future or allows them to be foreclosed on in the long term - after there aren't so many foreclosures at once and the number is more manageable. So, that way, we are sending the message that they are still doing the wrong thing and aren't being rewarded with a no strings attached handout. Rather, we are helping manage the foreclosure rate so that they all foreclose over a 5 year period instead of all this year; but eventually it will catch up to them but the ripple effect into the economy will not be so great. Likewise, I think any of these people that receive such a benefit and subsequently earn alot of money on other investments, etc. should have this remain as a liability on their record that will be paid back via garnishment of future wages or earnings over a specified amount equal to what they previously had (with a reasonable adjustment for the inflation rate). That way, at least some of it will be paid back and those who were responsible and paid on time will be better off not having that garnishment of future wages looming over them.
Yeah! I'd move back to France or Sweden any day! At least my kids would get a great (college) education and won't come out in debt $100K like me...Europeans enjoy a much better quality of life. I'm really not sure what capitlism has to offer society any more having lived on both sides of the Atlantic. I tried reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (Alan Greespan's long deceased economic guru) and I could not have been more bored...just couldn't bring myself to finish it. All in all Capitalism is built on a tormented greed (see:There will be Blood)...which is an unfortunate aspect of our human nature if left unbridled and to stew in an anti-social petri dish. Sorry, the government does play a vital role in our lives like it or not and America is like an adolesent finally growing up.
TARP and the latest stimulus bill isn't even a reflection of all bailout related government spending, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (neither of which are properly accounted on the government books), the loans to AIG, the deficit of the PBGC, potential FDIC liability, or the worthless assets added to the Federal Reserve balance sheet.
What common sense dictates (and what this article states) is that the government cannot dictate where spending goes. We've already got a country that's got misallocated capital everywhere (credit locked up in the banking system, loaned money to banks being used for unproductive purposes like lobbying, way too much car production) which has yet to correct itself, yet somehow the money is supposed to magically find itself towards productive growth purposes.
See, if you didnt have that premium cable that you shouldnt have then you wouldnt see those commercials during your favorite tv show for fancy new cars and how to get car insurance on them
First of all Catherine, thoughtful piece. Second, I am thrilled you made the point about the SUV. We drive one. Believe me, we made serious research and test efforts at going smaller. Even though our older dog passed away, we still have a black lab. And even when we go on overnights where my husband (the only one tall enough with long enough arms) puts on the car carrier, we are hard pressed to have a ton of extra room after even a couple of shopping stops.
We're not talking frivolous shopping here. Boards and bricks for closet shelving, bulk groceries and even drop off stops to donate at the thrift store. And we pack light. Usually just a small backpack and day pack each in addition to our laptops. The dog has her saddle bags where we stuff everything she'll need. Putting everything but day packs (I often turn mine into my purse when we go for an overnight just to cut down on that too.) up top and having the seat put down in back for the dog doesn't leave a whole lot of room. We have a sectioned tote with emergency supplies, but we've sure tried the minimalist approach there as well.
While we don't live as remotely as we used to for sure, we certainly have a drive to get to some things even in the greater Tampa area. The fact is, if you have even the tiniest of families, don't live in walking distance of everything or in a city where nearly everything can be delivered, have even minimal DIY needs (believe me, we're not Mr. and Mrs. Fix It, by any means) or occasionally camp for affordable getaways it's seriously difficult to go with a tiny vehicle. We went as small as we felt we could and still ended up with what most would consider a mid-sized SUV.
Jeep Liberties might not be everyone's idea of eco friendly, but I'd guess that many people who might want to pass judgement on that don't take the pains we do to make the Earth friendly choice in other areas. Also, since we both work at home and my husband goes to school full time online, we leave the house maybe once or twice a week. Even then, it's for a close and quick errand, and we make sure we have three of them to do before we leave the driveway. When it's more than that or further, it's a major planned event. The last time we filled the gas tank my husband estimated it had been at least six weeks since we did so, and even then we still had half a tank or so when we topped off the first time.
Two mastiffs? Kudos on including them on your vacation. The traveling with dogs thing takes planning and serious compromise. In my case, it also takes two (my husband as total leash support) as my dog can and has pulled me over and drug me in front of a semi truck at a gas stop. Not my idea of a good time. But that's another pet hack story . . .
It'll be interesting to see how the discussion on this unfolds.
i've found that applesauce substitution works best when it's a chocolate thing -- i make brownies using applesauce instead of oil and i truly can't tell the difference. but i tried the applesauce substitution for oatmeal cookies and they came out ... weird.
still ate 'em, though. :-)
Mastiffs! <3! My family had a hugely huge dog up until a year ago, and I loved the poor thing but good god feeding her was massively expensive.
Very interesting article but it unfortunately makes me realise that my (technically) unnecessary expense is beer and netflix. I don't have cable, internet access in my crapartment, a car, pets, and I rarely buy... well, anything anymore. But when I get home from work, nothing makes me happier than watching a random movie and having a beer.
Good topic. I've been teased mercilessly for my habit of stopping at Starbucks every morning and buying a grande latte (at $4.28, by the way). But you know what? It's a luxury that I enjoy, and I include that $25 per week in my budget and plan accordingly. If I want it and I can afford it, then what's the problem? I don't care if others think it's a waste of money; it's not a waste to me.
Now, if I couldn't afford it (such as the guy with the huge cable bill), that's another story, but your point is valid -- you can't know someone else's situation, so it's best to try not to judge.
I didn't get any stimulus money last year, i'm on L@I and have a rental, didn't make over 20,000 didn't pay any taxes due to not making enough and having write offs on rentals, so why didn't we get any stimulus money? any idea?
I learned this when I wrote my first article on "unnecessary" expenses. There is no expense so obviously unnecessary that there aren't people out there who will defend it. (And more--who will suggest that going without it is not only uncivilized, but very possibly child abuse.) Contrariwise, there is no expense so fundamental to living a safe, healthy, and comfortable life that you can suggest that it is necessary without drawing someone who will point out that a billion people in poor countries get by without it.
All the more reason that it's good to look at your lifestyle both ways. Your actual needs (the stuff you'll die without) are so basic that just about no one (in a rich country) makes any payment that isn't at least partially going to cover wants as well as actual needs. That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy that stuff; it just means that you need to be thoughtful about which of your wants make the cut-off and which ones don't.
This is interesting and thought provoking. My mother (a teacher) works in a very low-income, urban school district. No matter how poor the families are, almost all of them have big TVs and satellite or cable. We've discussed this at length, and her thought is that the TV is really the only form of recreation or leisure for most of these families. They don't travel. At all. Not even to Lake Michigan which is only a 30 minute drive away. They definitely don't engage in outdoor recreation or partake in activities such as golf, hiking, exercise classes, or other pursuits. TV is one of the few ways they get to kick back. So it is a priority.
I need to purchase a a "BOX" for our analog rabbit ears TV. I understand from others that you can change the "channels" with the boxes remote however you must use your TV"s remote to change the volume. Is there a "one" unit that I can purchase that changes both volume an channels"
Thanks,
Rich Decker
Thanks y'all. I started with A Job While You Wait but then realized that not everyone has to have outside employment to get through this period. I do try to work while I am waiting but sometimes it is easier to take a break and read magazines; cool idea about finding an auto shop with wireless.
Cool ideas... I'm wondering if I could make an alfredo sauce with the potato flakes & water instead of the heavy cream. Won't help much w/ the cheese and butter though hehe.
When I started reading this post, I was actually thinking to myself, "I hope she mentions beer. I hope she mentions beer."
I'm a big fan of beer in cooking. Mainly because my husband used to do some homebrewing, and he's still got a few dusty cases out in the garage of batches that did not quite work out on the drinkability scale, but can make a fine addition to a crock pot pork roast or beer-batter fish fry, for example.
Here's a great beer cheese soup that I've done several times:
http://www.recipezaar.com/Smoked-Sausage-Beer-Cheese-Soup-36672
The last time I made this one, I also added one of my personal secret ingredients: a can of diced tomatoes, an onion, and a stick of celery, frappe'd to oblivion in the blender. I add this combo to soups and stews and so on whenever possible, because both my kids won't eat onions if they see them (sacrilege!) and the younger is not keen on any vegetables whatsoever.
I've got three other secret ingredients that can kick up the flavor a notch in a lot of savory recipes: a pinch of sugar, a bit of vinegar, or or couple tablespoons of barbecue sauce (which is essentially a spicy version of the first two). Especially if you are cutting back on fat, in small amounts these ingredients act as flavor enhancers that perk up whatever other seasonings you're using.
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We've done the beer bread thing before, but I've always wanted to try more recipes for cheddar beer soups as a gourmet cheapie dinner option. We just opened a number 10 can of apple sauce. I've got a bunch of ice cube trays freezing, and a quart canning jar filled for on the fly baking. Thanks for the links, and also for the additional potato flakes ideas. Cool post, as usual.
When I saw the title, I totally expected this to be a productivity piece on choosing automotive repair shops with free wireless. That would have been cool as well, but this is an interesting breakdown of ways to weather the economic storm. Good job.
Sam said: "Every economist on the nation has said this bill is a mistake but what do they know?" Every economist who has spoken about the current bill has said that it is too small and timid, or that it misallocates funding too much to tax cuts and not enough to job creation and spending. If you can cite a few economists who opposed any stimulus, which seems to be what you suggest, it would be instructive. Even the Republicans who opposed the bill didn't want no stimulus, just a different type of bill.
Also, why does this not pass constitutional muster? The Constitution certainly calls for Congress to "provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States;" says that "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises;" "To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes;" and "To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof." So, Congress must provide for the general welfare, is empowered to regulate commerce and to raise and borrow money and to pass laws to perform these duties. What part of this bill is not covered by those elements. (Read Section 8 of Article 1 of the Constitution).
Chris
Great post! I've heard about the different uses for potato flakes, but the cola has got me intrigued! It probably makes a nice glaze once it boils down.
There is a product by Tastefully Simple (tastefullysimple.com) - and no, I am not a product rep, I just like their products - called Beer Bread. All you do is dump one beer into their powdered mix. Stir and bake. You can add butter on top for a nice crust. It's delicious!! You can also use soda or other carbonated liquids, but the beer actually makes it taste good - not like beer at all. In the winter, I tried one of those "winter brew" kinds of beer. Very nice flavor.
People who like to bake could probably figure out their own recipe, but that's not me so I'll stick to the mix!
Great Post! I believe in defensive entrepreneurship and developing a side line business before, during, and after unemployment.
More here:
http://divorceddadfrugaldad.com/2009/01/19/what-is-defensive-entrepreneu...
http://divorceddadfrugaldad.com/2009/02/17/side-business-ideas-recap.aspx
Great alternative ideas!
It's not the job of govt to run the economy. Economies rise & fall - it's a natural thing.
What's unnatural is the govt trying to stave off a depression. This isn't a Democrat or Republican thing & those of you who don't see that are blind.
It is the job of govt to keep the street lights on and protect our freedoms for foreign entities.
This thing just seriously hosed us over as citizens but what do you expect from a President who didn't even serve a full term in Senate? Yeah, he's giving us "change" all right.
Every economist on the nation has said this bill is a mistake but what do they know? The more "stimulus" the harder the crash will be when it comes.
And for those of you who are going to bash me for being a "Republican" I'm actually a Constitutional Libertarian and care only about elected officials doing their job which is outlined in the Constitution. :)
I will be infuriated if the government comes in and simply hands out money to permanently allow a person to live in their $1,000,000 home that they never could afford and pay the same payment as the person who was responsible and bought the $200,000 home that they could afford. However, I can also see where the fact that so many are in this situation is creating a real catch-22. If we do nothing, we're screwed and we'll all suffer the consequences. If we do something, we're also screwed. I think the best compromise of all would be if the government does do something to help; but instead of a perpetual handout, it needs to be temporary. Yes, the irresponsible ones will get to stay in their home longer; but there needs to be something that makes them pay back this money in the future or allows them to be foreclosed on in the long term - after there aren't so many foreclosures at once and the number is more manageable. So, that way, we are sending the message that they are still doing the wrong thing and aren't being rewarded with a no strings attached handout. Rather, we are helping manage the foreclosure rate so that they all foreclose over a 5 year period instead of all this year; but eventually it will catch up to them but the ripple effect into the economy will not be so great. Likewise, I think any of these people that receive such a benefit and subsequently earn alot of money on other investments, etc. should have this remain as a liability on their record that will be paid back via garnishment of future wages or earnings over a specified amount equal to what they previously had (with a reasonable adjustment for the inflation rate). That way, at least some of it will be paid back and those who were responsible and paid on time will be better off not having that garnishment of future wages looming over them.
Cheers for writing about this. FYI - here's some more info about Gas Cards / Gas Rewards Credit Cards you might like!
Yeah! I'd move back to France or Sweden any day! At least my kids would get a great (college) education and won't come out in debt $100K like me...Europeans enjoy a much better quality of life. I'm really not sure what capitlism has to offer society any more having lived on both sides of the Atlantic. I tried reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (Alan Greespan's long deceased economic guru) and I could not have been more bored...just couldn't bring myself to finish it. All in all Capitalism is built on a tormented greed (see:There will be Blood)...which is an unfortunate aspect of our human nature if left unbridled and to stew in an anti-social petri dish. Sorry, the government does play a vital role in our lives like it or not and America is like an adolesent finally growing up.
TARP and the latest stimulus bill isn't even a reflection of all bailout related government spending, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (neither of which are properly accounted on the government books), the loans to AIG, the deficit of the PBGC, potential FDIC liability, or the worthless assets added to the Federal Reserve balance sheet.
What common sense dictates (and what this article states) is that the government cannot dictate where spending goes. We've already got a country that's got misallocated capital everywhere (credit locked up in the banking system, loaned money to banks being used for unproductive purposes like lobbying, way too much car production) which has yet to correct itself, yet somehow the money is supposed to magically find itself towards productive growth purposes.
See, if you didnt have that premium cable that you shouldnt have then you wouldnt see those commercials during your favorite tv show for fancy new cars and how to get car insurance on them
Lindsey, I never thought of using the 4 items as ingredients before. I think I'm going to have to give the pancakes a try.
-Nate