Recent comments

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    My beloved and I would have paid off our house in Nebraska. We would spend four of the winter months in beautiful, sunny Croatia, and then back in Nebraska I would have my own business as freelancer: writing, proofreading, creating custom art pieces, and fixing/decorating furniture and other flea market and garage sale finds. He would continue do shows as a mentalist/magician. We would still walk and bike to work, geocache, be active in our parish, and spend time with our family and friends.

  • From Dumpster Diving to Garage Sales, Turning Trash Into Cash   13 years 2 weeks ago

    It depends on what it is! I found a coffee table that was wobbly, just tightened the screws, repainted, and it has served us well for 15 years.

  • From Dumpster Diving to Garage Sales, Turning Trash Into Cash   13 years 2 weeks ago

    This was a great read. I enjoy your articles and learn a lot from it. I just read about the giving crafts article that you also wrote. Bookmarked it. So many great ideas. Thank you.

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    I still haven't given up the idea of finding all the dreams that never came true. I never found the love of my life, I never was able to pursue the career that I really wanted. I just want some happiness before I have to leave this world.
    It would be nice to be able to see the things I never got to see, like Bavaria, where my family came from. I'd like to have a little garden and maybe a few chickens so I could have really fresh eggs.
    If nothing else, I just want peaceful days, and to genuinely love everybody who will let me love them. I want to do as much for my church as I can.

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    My dream retirement would be to own a nice house in LA, and have lots of free time for writing and for taking care of many dogs! I'm a good 40-50 years away from retirement, so it's tough to tell whether I'm on the right track. But I do have a dog.

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    Our dream retirement is selling our house, hooking up the camper and hitting the road! Working at state/national parks in exchange for campsites/stipend to help defray some costs of traveling. Seeing more of the US and visiting family from west to east coast.

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    Retiring to a lovely cottage in a small town in the mountains. It should have access to an airport and lakes. It should have a wood stove and bike paths!

    I want to be able to take hikes, garden, and travel the world if I feel like it.

  • From Dumpster Diving to Garage Sales, Turning Trash Into Cash   13 years 2 weeks ago

    Hi Olivia--

    Those are some awesome scores!

    With regards to your tree fort, I've always wondered how long it would take to trash pick enough building supplies to actually make a small--like 500 square foot--home. My old neighbor made the most beautiful Victorian-style greenhouse in her backyard from trash picked windows and lumber.

  • From Dumpster Diving to Garage Sales, Turning Trash Into Cash   13 years 2 weeks ago

    Hi Matt--

    Do you know how much it costs to rent the conference room at the Recycling Center?Way out of my budget!

    I got married on live radio at the radio station where my husband and I met (he's had a radio show for 25 years). I wore my great grandmother's Sterling silver embroidered, Edwardian wedding dress. My husband wore the suit and tie he wore on our first date. Since we got married at midnight, we served midnight snacks at the wedding (caviar, milk and cookies, etc)... Our wedding cake was the famous whipped cream and strawberry cake from The Phoenix Bakery in Los Angeles. You can pay more for a wedding cake, but why? For $26.95 The Phoenix Bakery will give you a taste of heaven.

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    My retirement dream is to share the golden years with hubby and both stay healthy. As long as we can live comfortably I will be happy.

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    Retirement came early and unexpectedly for me through a disability. So I've learned to bloom where I'm planted.

  • 7 Strategies for Controlling Toy Clutter   13 years 2 weeks ago

    What a great idea!

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    Finding happiness in the little things in life. I don't need a big house or a bunch of amazing around the world vacations. I just want to be happy and to find happiness in the little moments that make up my life. I think too often we set big goals and dreams, but it is the everyday moments that make up an amazing life.

    ... oh and not having to work or worry about money of course.

  • From Dumpster Diving to Garage Sales, Turning Trash Into Cash   13 years 2 weeks ago

    That is a really interesting side hustle, kudos!

  • 6 Tax Deductions Job-Hunters Can’t Afford to Overlook   13 years 2 weeks ago

    Really interesting, I had no idea you could write this stuff off!

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    My husband and I are working towards owning rental properties that will fund our retirement. So far, we have one (I am 25 and he is 30) and are working on buying a vacation rental. We'd like to be free from outside jobs before retirement age, so we can work full-time on our rentals and be free to take a month or two to travel. Work hard now, so you can enjoy later - that's my motto!

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    My dream retirement would be to travel by RV to as many national parks as possible. I'd also love to travel to Ireland to visit my ancestral home.

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    My dream retirement is to travel, volunteering around the U.S.A. How I plan to do this is to buy a small van & convert it into a mini home to travel in. I want to give my current home to my kids, then set out. If I ever get to "OLD" and I'm unable to travel alone anymore, My son has already said they will build a little "Granny House" in the backyard for me to live in. Imagine...after climbing all the mountians, building all the sand castles on the beach, watching all the sunrises & sunsets over nature that I wanted...I will be blessed to garden & bake cookies with my great grandkids. What greater retirement could there be!

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    Over the years, I have learned what is possible, and what is important to ME. So, here goes...I would like to dump my house, purchase a nice camper and spend my time alternating locations, visiting with family and enjoying the beach and the mountains. (I live fairly close to both). If family is free to travel with me, I would like to see some of the west and would definitely like to visit the Holy Land before I die.

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    Honestly, I just want to make it to 'retirement' with my health. Unfortunately, dying young seems to be the normal in my family. So travel, spending time with grandchildren and volunteering would all just be the frosting on the cake!!!

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    I would love to work part-time at a job I like (or love) and save money for travel; staying at a place for about a month at a time to really learn about it and not just be a tourist. I would also love to be able to see my family and friends often and enjoy some warm weather. (Living as far north as we do, there is still snow on the ground and I'm SO ready for some warmth!!)

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    to have my health and the money to travel the world

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    dream retirement is to travel the world many times over! then settle for 1 year in ireland, then india, then tokyo, then keep moving to different countries each year!

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    My dream retirement would be to rebuild my home for the kids and their future, Travel the world and relax on the beach in Hawaii.

  • Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Retirement?   13 years 2 weeks ago

    My dream retirement would be to move to a mid-size town in Europe, most likely Italy. I'd get my exercise by walking to the market every day to pick up just the food I would need for the next meal or two. I'd enjoy reading books outside and definitely drink lots of coffee and eat pastries like there's no tomorrow.