Biking around a new city is always a great way to get around cheaply and get some great exercise! I've been to Montreal before, it is a beautiful city. If one gets the chance, they should go up for the Montreal Jazz Festival it is a great time!
Great tips! Diving for groceries seems a bit extreme, but I work for a Feeding America branch and the amount of good food we get is unreal! Grocery stores constantly throw away food that isn't bad. Also, don't throw away food that isn't past its expiration. I have learned from working with food, everything has an extension to the expiration date to where it is still good to be eaten. Cereal can be kept up to a year after its listed date, and canned goods can be kept for up to two years after their listed dates!
I'd like to move away from storing food in plastic containers and replace them with glass containers. In that same vein, I'd also like to cut back on using plastic wrap and ziploc bags once I find a better alternative.
I also would love to start a windowsill herb garden!
I live in a city with less-than-optimal public transportation, yet two of my friends have successfully gone car-free. My goal is to skip the pricey parking permit next semester at the college where I work, and pick up a monthly bus pass.
It will add some time onto my morning commute, but it will save money, gasoline, and wear & tear on the car, as well as keeping another vehicle off the crowded freeways!
I have started using the idea of cost per use. I bought a pair of high heels for $20 and figure I have to wear them at least 20 times. My car needs to last 14 years to work out to be $2000 a year. It's similar to figuring out the hourly wage cost.
I've heard that Montreal is one of the most European looking cities in North America. So if you've always wanted to visit a city with European ambiance and architecture but don't want to make the trip overseas, it sounds like a great frugal choice. =)
These are all awesome ideas. Dumpster diving is a little crazy for me!! But I know people who do it and tell me all about it! One of my friends went dumpster diving in a Giant nearby and found whole bottles of shampoo, Listerine, and toothpaste that came in a messed up package. He didn't have to buy the bathroom things for almost 3 months!
My goal is to hit up more local farmers markets (which supports the local economy, small business and is green since the product has less to travel) and to slow down the spending in big box stores and start shopping thrift stores, auctions and rummage sales for items. Being "green" doesn't mean you have to throw money at it (actually you usually are less "green" buying all new items to replace your old ones just because it doesn't have buzzwords associated with it)
Steps Ive already taken are things like using compact fluorescent and LED lighting, eating out less (which is more green, healthy, and saves more green then what you think) retrofitting my apartments toilet with a dual flush device (http://www.amazon.com/BlueSource-HYR270-HydroRight-Converter-MJSI/dp/B00...), make my own laundry soap, and use more natural based cleaners (like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon).
We can learn a lot about being "green" from our grandparents, and those who went through the great depression, who learned how to use the most out of an item rather then just throw it away when it doesn't work.
Bond yields are super low for the same reasons. Many of them aren't keeping up with inflation. It's rough for seniors, who are more heavily invested in bonds!
We keep our fridge and pantry pretty well rotated. Freeganism? Uh, no thinks!
When people are faced with an impulse to buy something, I recommend putting it on a list and keeping it there for a month. If you still want or need it after a month, then consider buying it. But most of the time, that adorable dress won't be nearly as irresistible after a month of consideration!
Not going out to eat and not going shopping or buying unnecessary things is the easiest way to start saving. Yes, everyone wants new things or to enjoy a night out with friends but the truth is that if you want/need to save, you need to make sacrifices and this is where it starts. I also like your idea of buying food at the farmer's market which is always a lot cheaper!
Thanks for the article. I haven't gone the freegan route, but everything else makes perfect sense. To those of us without gym memberships, a low flow shower head helps, as does a water heater timer.
Nice tips. I use the hourly wage calculator quite often. It really puts things into perspective and makes running a quick cost-benefit analysis well worth the thinking effort.
I'll also add in addition to smaller plates, eating slowly and chewing food longer than normal also results in being full and satisfied sooner, leaving more leftovers out of most meals and takeaway.
Bad habit can negatively affect our lives.. And financially poor habits can be extremely detrimental!
It is good to start breaking bad habits by learning right financial rules. For example, start saving money constantly! Quit smoking and set aside money saved on that.
Make this process even easier by signing up for automatic savings. It will help to leave on a smaller budget without it being in mind!
As a result bad habit would transform into regular payment to yourself.
1) We aim to cut down on car trips (and do more car pooling).
2) Air dry more of our clothes.
3) Grow more of our own fruits and vegetables.
4) Do more composting.
5) I'd love to invest in solar panels someday -- that's my long-term green dream.
My green goals are to eventually move into a tiny home and to further reduce my carbon footprint by getting an all-electric vehicle, a small one. We already recycle everything we can. I also plan to switch to all-LED lighting.
How about buying gently used rather than new? Why spend an extra 10K or so for the sticker shock when often you can get almost the same car for much less?
Biking around a new city is always a great way to get around cheaply and get some great exercise! I've been to Montreal before, it is a beautiful city. If one gets the chance, they should go up for the Montreal Jazz Festival it is a great time!
Thank you for this article, it was really interesting and I learned a lot!
Great tips! Diving for groceries seems a bit extreme, but I work for a Feeding America branch and the amount of good food we get is unreal! Grocery stores constantly throw away food that isn't bad. Also, don't throw away food that isn't past its expiration. I have learned from working with food, everything has an extension to the expiration date to where it is still good to be eaten. Cereal can be kept up to a year after its listed date, and canned goods can be kept for up to two years after their listed dates!
It's very important to keep your returns for Next year. otherwise, states will audit you!
I'd like to move away from storing food in plastic containers and replace them with glass containers. In that same vein, I'd also like to cut back on using plastic wrap and ziploc bags once I find a better alternative.
I also would love to start a windowsill herb garden!
I live in a city with less-than-optimal public transportation, yet two of my friends have successfully gone car-free. My goal is to skip the pricey parking permit next semester at the college where I work, and pick up a monthly bus pass.
It will add some time onto my morning commute, but it will save money, gasoline, and wear & tear on the car, as well as keeping another vehicle off the crowded freeways!
I have started using the idea of cost per use. I bought a pair of high heels for $20 and figure I have to wear them at least 20 times. My car needs to last 14 years to work out to be $2000 a year. It's similar to figuring out the hourly wage cost.
I've heard that Montreal is one of the most European looking cities in North America. So if you've always wanted to visit a city with European ambiance and architecture but don't want to make the trip overseas, it sounds like a great frugal choice. =)
These are all awesome ideas. Dumpster diving is a little crazy for me!! But I know people who do it and tell me all about it! One of my friends went dumpster diving in a Giant nearby and found whole bottles of shampoo, Listerine, and toothpaste that came in a messed up package. He didn't have to buy the bathroom things for almost 3 months!
My goal is to hit up more local farmers markets (which supports the local economy, small business and is green since the product has less to travel) and to slow down the spending in big box stores and start shopping thrift stores, auctions and rummage sales for items. Being "green" doesn't mean you have to throw money at it (actually you usually are less "green" buying all new items to replace your old ones just because it doesn't have buzzwords associated with it)
Steps Ive already taken are things like using compact fluorescent and LED lighting, eating out less (which is more green, healthy, and saves more green then what you think) retrofitting my apartments toilet with a dual flush device (http://www.amazon.com/BlueSource-HYR270-HydroRight-Converter-MJSI/dp/B00...), make my own laundry soap, and use more natural based cleaners (like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon).
We can learn a lot about being "green" from our grandparents, and those who went through the great depression, who learned how to use the most out of an item rather then just throw it away when it doesn't work.
Thank you phaaceutical rep for that input.
Bond yields are super low for the same reasons. Many of them aren't keeping up with inflation. It's rough for seniors, who are more heavily invested in bonds!
We keep our fridge and pantry pretty well rotated. Freeganism? Uh, no thinks!
When people are faced with an impulse to buy something, I recommend putting it on a list and keeping it there for a month. If you still want or need it after a month, then consider buying it. But most of the time, that adorable dress won't be nearly as irresistible after a month of consideration!
Not going out to eat and not going shopping or buying unnecessary things is the easiest way to start saving. Yes, everyone wants new things or to enjoy a night out with friends but the truth is that if you want/need to save, you need to make sacrifices and this is where it starts. I also like your idea of buying food at the farmer's market which is always a lot cheaper!
Thanks for the article. I haven't gone the freegan route, but everything else makes perfect sense. To those of us without gym memberships, a low flow shower head helps, as does a water heater timer.
Nice tips. I use the hourly wage calculator quite often. It really puts things into perspective and makes running a quick cost-benefit analysis well worth the thinking effort.
I'll also add in addition to smaller plates, eating slowly and chewing food longer than normal also results in being full and satisfied sooner, leaving more leftovers out of most meals and takeaway.
what was the motive of the question ?
Bad habit can negatively affect our lives.. And financially poor habits can be extremely detrimental!
It is good to start breaking bad habits by learning right financial rules. For example, start saving money constantly! Quit smoking and set aside money saved on that.
Make this process even easier by signing up for automatic savings. It will help to leave on a smaller budget without it being in mind!
As a result bad habit would transform into regular payment to yourself.
1) We aim to cut down on car trips (and do more car pooling).
2) Air dry more of our clothes.
3) Grow more of our own fruits and vegetables.
4) Do more composting.
5) I'd love to invest in solar panels someday -- that's my long-term green dream.
My goal is to use less energy than I do now. I'd like to be below average in my house.
My green goals are to eventually move into a tiny home and to further reduce my carbon footprint by getting an all-electric vehicle, a small one. We already recycle everything we can. I also plan to switch to all-LED lighting.
How about buying gently used rather than new? Why spend an extra 10K or so for the sticker shock when often you can get almost the same car for much less?
I want to recycle more. My obstacle is my memory!
I am going to get an energy audit on our apartment and make it more energy efficient.
I need to use less water, maybe turn off the shower while conditioning my hair or shaving my legs!