Great Article about credit card history and marketing. However I would have to say that the only way you should add the next card to your wallet is by constantly checking which card works the most for you by giving you the best rewards for YOUR purchases. We at Pick2Pay.com address the problem of which card should i use for my purchase with the intention of maximizing my credit card rewards.
Thought there is the sentiment of debt with credit cards. If you take the 30 days and end up paying your card in full, there are ways to make the most out of the rewards you earn with credit cards
My best suggestion is to declutter while you clean. You'll end up with less to clean and put away so it will be easier to keep up later.
I try to declutter small areas regularly~ clean out the medicine when I'm putting vitamins in my daily dispenser; clear out the pen drawer while I'm on the phone; clear out the makeup while I'm cleaning the bathroom sink; clear out clothes while you're switching from winter to spring wardrobe.
I'm totally trying out your recipe this weekend! Even with your "candy fail" (which is impossible, candy never fails), this looks amazing.
Did you use cane sugar or beet sugar for your recipe? If you used beet sugar, that might have caused the crystalizing. This is why most professional recipes for frosting specify cane sugar. Less chance of getting a gritty texture!
I try to motivate myself on that first sunny, warm day when I can open all the windows. Just the feeling of spring and fresh air is enough to help make cleaning less of a drag.
Great article on tuxedos. I own a formalwear shop in Rochester, New York and one thing I wanted to add to the discussion is that most shops will sell slower moving rental inventory to make way for new models and styles they may be bringing in.
Typically, those sales occur early in the season (Jan - Mar) and if you're not fussy about having the latest and greatest designer of the moment, this could be an affordable option. In most cases, these tuxes have a lot of life left in them, they just aren't suitable for day to day rentals anymore.
Also, if you do score a tux somewhere for a great price, you do have the option of just renting accessories like a vest and/or tie that matches your date's dress. Finally, if you're near a locally-owned shop you might have an opportunity to trade-in a tux that doesn't fit for credit toward one that does (assuming that what you have isn't damaged or horribly out of style). I hope that helps!
Use a combination of cash and credit with this philosophy...
Open high limit credit cards, but use them as debit cards. If you have $80,000 in the bank and you want to buy something that costs $90,000, don't buy it unless you are willing to empty your bank account and owe $10,000.
Think of your credit cards as "More convenient than carrying Cash".
Same example...$80,000 in the bank, you want to buy something for $3500. If you are comfortable spending $3500 from your $80,000 then buy it on credit and pay most of it as soon as your statement arrives leaving about 20% about $700. This will keep you semi-debt free as you can eliminate it all together if you wanted to, but will give you an EXCELLENT FICO score to use as LEVERAGE when you desire to purchase investment property.
At least for ladies, I find that clothing swaps are especially good for this -- especially if you know the sort of people who don't want to wear the same fancy dress to more than one or two weddings. At the last swap I went to, I lucked out and got a gorgeous dress. Now I just need someone I know to get married. (HINT HINT, couples I'm friends with.)
For me, the first step to spring cleaning is decluttering every room. Go through each room w/a "donate" box and get rid of any extra stuff that needs to go. Then I tackle one room at a time and clean from top to bottom - starting w/ceiling fans and working my way down.
What people need to understand that "when" rates start to move up they will move very slowy. Rates have crept down here at the bank that I work at by .05 at a time on CDs. That .05 of 1% or.005 if you are to calculate earnings. When Greenspan was moving the Fed funds rate 25 basis points per quarter every quarter that amounted to only 1% a year or .01% a year. I wouldn't get too exicted just yet.
My hacks are all dust related b/c I'm allergic :-/. Rubber gloves while cleaning/sorting so it doesn't dry out my hands, a cheap dust mask so I don't inhale any, and do the dusting of furniture last, after all the other cleaning, possibly the next day after so the dust has settled and you can just get it all up with a cloth.
Get the whole family involved, 1 room a a time. If everyone is involved in the cleaning, they are slightly less likely to undo the tidiness :)
Also, if I do end up cleaning alone, I listen to an audio book so I feel doubly productive!
To clean a bedroom, I use "singling handling" a proven time management technique.
1. Clear off the bed (you want an open surface, no crumpled blankets, etc)
2. Put EVERYTHING on the bed. Clear the shelves, closets, floor, etc. all in a huge pile on the bed.
3. Dust, vacuum, etc the empty room
4. Pick up ONE item, and DON'T set it down until it is in it's true place.
5. Repeat step 4 until the bed is cleared.
6. Change sheets and make the bed.
The trick is never put anything back on the bed once you pick it up.
I clean out the pantry and look at expiration dates of all the food - if it's old, it's gotta go. If it's been in there more than 6 months, it's gotta go!
I first throw out/recycle everything that is just weighing me down. Then I clean the floors. Clean floors make all the difference in the world. I do my best to clean with brooms and natural cleaners (Castille soap, lemon juice, and a few drops of tea tree oil). Then I clean windows. It's a hard job, but it is worth it. That's really it. Clean spaces, clean floors, and clean windows.
I don't really participate in the usual spring cleaning ritual. It's just me, my husband, and our cat at our house, so we don't have a lot of "stuff". Keeping our possessions to a minimum and doing normal weekly cleaning does the trick year-round for us.
My biggest rule for Spring Cleaning is getting rid of things that I think I "might" need someday if I realistically know that day isn't coming any time soon. It's tough to throw away things that seem perfectly fine, especially when you're frugal, but NOT throwing away those things is what leads to clutter.
I like to make my own cleaners but do have an exception. I find that my bathtub is not as clean unless I use Tilex. So, I splurge on that but try to buy it when there are coupons/sales.
Great Article about credit card history and marketing. However I would have to say that the only way you should add the next card to your wallet is by constantly checking which card works the most for you by giving you the best rewards for YOUR purchases. We at Pick2Pay.com address the problem of which card should i use for my purchase with the intention of maximizing my credit card rewards.
Thought there is the sentiment of debt with credit cards. If you take the 30 days and end up paying your card in full, there are ways to make the most out of the rewards you earn with credit cards
I love the dollar store. I wrote a similar post awhile ago.
My best suggestion is to declutter while you clean. You'll end up with less to clean and put away so it will be easier to keep up later.
I try to declutter small areas regularly~ clean out the medicine when I'm putting vitamins in my daily dispenser; clear out the pen drawer while I'm on the phone; clear out the makeup while I'm cleaning the bathroom sink; clear out clothes while you're switching from winter to spring wardrobe.
Less stuff equals less cleaning in the long run!
I'm totally trying out your recipe this weekend! Even with your "candy fail" (which is impossible, candy never fails), this looks amazing.
Did you use cane sugar or beet sugar for your recipe? If you used beet sugar, that might have caused the crystalizing. This is why most professional recipes for frosting specify cane sugar. Less chance of getting a gritty texture!
I try to motivate myself on that first sunny, warm day when I can open all the windows. Just the feeling of spring and fresh air is enough to help make cleaning less of a drag.
I break my cleaning down into smaller more managable tasks
Great article on tuxedos. I own a formalwear shop in Rochester, New York and one thing I wanted to add to the discussion is that most shops will sell slower moving rental inventory to make way for new models and styles they may be bringing in.
Typically, those sales occur early in the season (Jan - Mar) and if you're not fussy about having the latest and greatest designer of the moment, this could be an affordable option. In most cases, these tuxes have a lot of life left in them, they just aren't suitable for day to day rentals anymore.
Also, if you do score a tux somewhere for a great price, you do have the option of just renting accessories like a vest and/or tie that matches your date's dress. Finally, if you're near a locally-owned shop you might have an opportunity to trade-in a tux that doesn't fit for credit toward one that does (assuming that what you have isn't damaged or horribly out of style). I hope that helps!
Use a combination of cash and credit with this philosophy...
Open high limit credit cards, but use them as debit cards. If you have $80,000 in the bank and you want to buy something that costs $90,000, don't buy it unless you are willing to empty your bank account and owe $10,000.
Think of your credit cards as "More convenient than carrying Cash".
Same example...$80,000 in the bank, you want to buy something for $3500. If you are comfortable spending $3500 from your $80,000 then buy it on credit and pay most of it as soon as your statement arrives leaving about 20% about $700. This will keep you semi-debt free as you can eliminate it all together if you wanted to, but will give you an EXCELLENT FICO score to use as LEVERAGE when you desire to purchase investment property.
I plan the end of my cleaning to coincide with a yard sale. It's easier to clean when you don't have clutter.
At least for ladies, I find that clothing swaps are especially good for this -- especially if you know the sort of people who don't want to wear the same fancy dress to more than one or two weddings. At the last swap I went to, I lucked out and got a gorgeous dress. Now I just need someone I know to get married. (HINT HINT, couples I'm friends with.)
I've made a rotor so I have a room or tasks that I do each day to keep on top of everything.
For me, the first step to spring cleaning is decluttering every room. Go through each room w/a "donate" box and get rid of any extra stuff that needs to go. Then I tackle one room at a time and clean from top to bottom - starting w/ceiling fans and working my way down.
What people need to understand that "when" rates start to move up they will move very slowy. Rates have crept down here at the bank that I work at by .05 at a time on CDs. That .05 of 1% or.005 if you are to calculate earnings. When Greenspan was moving the Fed funds rate 25 basis points per quarter every quarter that amounted to only 1% a year or .01% a year. I wouldn't get too exicted just yet.
My hacks are all dust related b/c I'm allergic :-/. Rubber gloves while cleaning/sorting so it doesn't dry out my hands, a cheap dust mask so I don't inhale any, and do the dusting of furniture last, after all the other cleaning, possibly the next day after so the dust has settled and you can just get it all up with a cloth.
Get the whole family involved, 1 room a a time. If everyone is involved in the cleaning, they are slightly less likely to undo the tidiness :)
Also, if I do end up cleaning alone, I listen to an audio book so I feel doubly productive!
To clean a bedroom, I use "singling handling" a proven time management technique.
1. Clear off the bed (you want an open surface, no crumpled blankets, etc)
2. Put EVERYTHING on the bed. Clear the shelves, closets, floor, etc. all in a huge pile on the bed.
3. Dust, vacuum, etc the empty room
4. Pick up ONE item, and DON'T set it down until it is in it's true place.
5. Repeat step 4 until the bed is cleared.
6. Change sheets and make the bed.
The trick is never put anything back on the bed once you pick it up.
I clean out the pantry and look at expiration dates of all the food - if it's old, it's gotta go. If it's been in there more than 6 months, it's gotta go!
I first throw out/recycle everything that is just weighing me down. Then I clean the floors. Clean floors make all the difference in the world. I do my best to clean with brooms and natural cleaners (Castille soap, lemon juice, and a few drops of tea tree oil). Then I clean windows. It's a hard job, but it is worth it. That's really it. Clean spaces, clean floors, and clean windows.
I don't really participate in the usual spring cleaning ritual. It's just me, my husband, and our cat at our house, so we don't have a lot of "stuff". Keeping our possessions to a minimum and doing normal weekly cleaning does the trick year-round for us.
Give yourself a reward to look forward to at the end so you get that last project done instead of saving it for later.
Open the windows and get rid of all that stale air. Then work on the clutter and hold a garage sale.
None of it is fun or easy--Just get started. Starting seems to be the toughest part for me but once I jump in there is no stopping.
we keep a goodwill box in the laundry room and try to declutter whenever we have a spare 10 or 15 minutes.
My biggest rule for Spring Cleaning is getting rid of things that I think I "might" need someday if I realistically know that day isn't coming any time soon. It's tough to throw away things that seem perfectly fine, especially when you're frugal, but NOT throwing away those things is what leads to clutter.
I like to make my own cleaners but do have an exception. I find that my bathtub is not as clean unless I use Tilex. So, I splurge on that but try to buy it when there are coupons/sales.