At first glance, I would say that paying $2118 once a year until the loan is paid off would accelerate the payoff faster than paying $1200 yearly in $100 monthly increments. But since I enjoy doing spreadsheets (plus I like to check my intuition, b/c it is not always right), I plugged in numbers to my spreadsheet and found that the extra monthly payment at the end of the year pays off the loan in 25 years whereas the $100 extra pays off the loan in slightly less than 27 years.
I focus on one room/task at a time so it doesn't seem as overwhelming and I make sure to keep a "to-do" list. Not only does it keep me focused on the task at hand, it makes me feel so successful each time I cross something off of it!
I try to keep on top of it year round, so I don't feel overwhelmed. I make my own cleaning products for the most part. White vinegar and water is amazing for most cleaning jobs.
Emily, Yes, It can be good for some who use those products regularly (or those who like to donate these items) but you mentioned things like laundry detergent, toothpaste, gum, deodorants, makeup etc. Like I said, I make a lot of things from scratch, such as soap bars, laundry detergent, deodorant and household cleaners (as well as a lot of food products like 'hamburger helper mix', 'chocolate milk syrup', 'taco and fajita spice mixes', 'pancake syrup', other mixes, graham crackers, cheese crackers, marshmallows, cookies, etc.) in order to avoid chemicals and unhealthy ingredients. So in the end we may not get them free but we pay a fraction of what we would if we were buying the processed food and chemical cleaners etc. And it allows us to spend a little more on other things such as toothpaste and other items that aren't laden with harmful chemicals. I have also started going to Aldi (basics) and Sprouts (fresh produce) rather than Brookshires and Walmart and save even more money and eat even healthier. I'm not trying to discourage anyone that does the coupon shopping if that's their thing, but I don't usually use those (store bought) things at all (and save a ton that way) plus I don't have room to store a bunch of stuff that will take a long time to use (that requires a bigger house and therefore a bigger house payment ;)). And the few things I do buy that I could use coupons for, usually isn't worth buying the Sunday paper for. So, we must consider that there are other ways to live cheap and get what you want besides couponing, and we each live the best way we know how. For me, my family's health is more important than saving money, so I avoid chemicals and processed foods as much as possible. Sadly, I don't see many coupons for things in the produce, meat, and dairy sections, or the baking aisle. And my post was just trying to show the other side, that there are some, like me, who save as much (or more) living healthy and frugal, without --what I feel is a hassle, of -- couponing.
When trying to get a car for our son, we looked into a car with a price which seemed to be a bit too good. When we inquired about having the car looked at by a mechanic, we were told it was on a military base and the owner was about to be shipped to Iraq. We were told the car would be shipped to us once we sent money to one of those escrow sites mentioned above and the money would be refunded if we were not happy with the car. Yeah, right, and what would the dude do about the car now that he was in Iraq?
Peanut butter with just peanuts! On apples, bananas, crackers, wheat bread, (sauce) over stirfry vegetables and brown rice or soba noodles, in oatmeal cookies, in smoothies, on toast or just out of the jar.
Thank you for this great breakdown.
I am from Arkansas and we didn't have Costco or Trader Joe's. Unfortunately Arkansas is the birthplace of one of those retailers that shall not be mentioned.
I'm a single person and I considered Costco for produce but I'm just not sure if it's all that practical for a single person to shop there. Maybe for a few things, but there's no need for me to buy everything in bulk.
The local police where I live have said they are fine with people meeting up with the buyer/seller at one of their precincts or roll call locations for the purpose of buying or selling something off of craigslist. Chances are, if the person who is either selling you something or buying something from you has other illegal ideas in mind, they won't agree to meet at a police station! I will take advantage of this offer next time I am using craigslist!
Sometimes you are making yourself stay mad, stressed, etc. That's when you have to just let it all go and admit to yourself that you are the problem. This is easier said than done. But when you are sick this doesn't always work - over-the-counter medicines such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol generally help, as well as cold medicines. Hope this helps!
I completely agree. I've used Craigslist for everything from apartment hunting to car shopping (I actually just got bought a car last weekend through Craigslist) — and overall I've had awesome experiences. BUT I think that's mainly because I'm incredibly wary of any possible scam someone could be trying to pull. I've definitely run into multiple scammers who "are moving out of the country tomorrow" - which is why I've learned to trust my gut. If it seems out of place, or if it just doesn't feel right, it's not worth pursuing.
I also make sure to speak with the person prior to meeting, which may not sound fool-proof, but you'd be surprised how much you can glean from a simple conversation beyond the computer screen.
I was surprised when an interviewer asked me "List 10 things you can do with a pencil other than write." I'm sure there was a pause between her question and my answer, but I made it to six uses before admitting defeat. Looking back, I understand her question was designed to see how well I thought on my feet, and likely to analyze the creativity of my answers.
People keep commenting that "coupons are only for processed junk food and I eat healthy."
I coupon a LOT, but I also eat healthy food. Don't people who eat healthy food also need toilet paper, paper napkins, pet supplies (if you have pets, of course,) shampoo, bath soap, dish soap, laundry soap & dryer sheets, garbage & storage bags, household cleaners, feminine products, hair products, make up, OTC medicines, baby supplies, bandages, vitamins, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving supplies, peanut butter, preserves, mayo, ketchup, pickles, olives, soy sauce, tortillas, seasonings, dry pasta, granola, tuna, cereal, milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, juice, meats (turkey sausage & turkey bacon), salad dressing, butter, flour, sugar, olive oil and maybe coffee/tea & creamer? Because THOSE are what I mostly use coupons on.
I very RARELY buy those processed, frozen, canned or boxed meals everyone associates with couponing!
(1) Try to go green every year - buy a little less of the same bought last year.
(2) Do away with paper towels and use washable cotton towels instead.
I blast music and turn my spring cleaning into a personal dance party.
There is a downloadable amortization schedule in this post (look for "one file") http://www.wisebread.com/diy-mortgage-acceleration.
At first glance, I would say that paying $2118 once a year until the loan is paid off would accelerate the payoff faster than paying $1200 yearly in $100 monthly increments. But since I enjoy doing spreadsheets (plus I like to check my intuition, b/c it is not always right), I plugged in numbers to my spreadsheet and found that the extra monthly payment at the end of the year pays off the loan in 25 years whereas the $100 extra pays off the loan in slightly less than 27 years.
My best tip is to set aside a whole day to clean, crank up the music and get to it!
I clean a little bit every day to make the spring cleaning easier
The cracker jack that bites you back.
http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2013/03/sriracha-caramel-corn-083-recipe...
Made this last night. Awesome.
So a little bit throughout the year so that it isn't a major chore in the Springtime when you want to be outside! :)
I focus on one room/task at a time so it doesn't seem as overwhelming and I make sure to keep a "to-do" list. Not only does it keep me focused on the task at hand, it makes me feel so successful each time I cross something off of it!
I try to keep on top of it year round, so I don't feel overwhelmed. I make my own cleaning products for the most part. White vinegar and water is amazing for most cleaning jobs.
I tackle one room each day when spring cleaning.
Emily, Yes, It can be good for some who use those products regularly (or those who like to donate these items) but you mentioned things like laundry detergent, toothpaste, gum, deodorants, makeup etc. Like I said, I make a lot of things from scratch, such as soap bars, laundry detergent, deodorant and household cleaners (as well as a lot of food products like 'hamburger helper mix', 'chocolate milk syrup', 'taco and fajita spice mixes', 'pancake syrup', other mixes, graham crackers, cheese crackers, marshmallows, cookies, etc.) in order to avoid chemicals and unhealthy ingredients. So in the end we may not get them free but we pay a fraction of what we would if we were buying the processed food and chemical cleaners etc. And it allows us to spend a little more on other things such as toothpaste and other items that aren't laden with harmful chemicals. I have also started going to Aldi (basics) and Sprouts (fresh produce) rather than Brookshires and Walmart and save even more money and eat even healthier. I'm not trying to discourage anyone that does the coupon shopping if that's their thing, but I don't usually use those (store bought) things at all (and save a ton that way) plus I don't have room to store a bunch of stuff that will take a long time to use (that requires a bigger house and therefore a bigger house payment ;)). And the few things I do buy that I could use coupons for, usually isn't worth buying the Sunday paper for. So, we must consider that there are other ways to live cheap and get what you want besides couponing, and we each live the best way we know how. For me, my family's health is more important than saving money, so I avoid chemicals and processed foods as much as possible. Sadly, I don't see many coupons for things in the produce, meat, and dairy sections, or the baking aisle. And my post was just trying to show the other side, that there are some, like me, who save as much (or more) living healthy and frugal, without --what I feel is a hassle, of -- couponing.
I would have to say pasta! Cheap and kids love it!
If you're going to meet with cash, meet in a bank lobby. Lots of cameras and security.
When trying to get a car for our son, we looked into a car with a price which seemed to be a bit too good. When we inquired about having the car looked at by a mechanic, we were told it was on a military base and the owner was about to be shipped to Iraq. We were told the car would be shipped to us once we sent money to one of those escrow sites mentioned above and the money would be refunded if we were not happy with the car. Yeah, right, and what would the dude do about the car now that he was in Iraq?
Peanut butter with just peanuts! On apples, bananas, crackers, wheat bread, (sauce) over stirfry vegetables and brown rice or soba noodles, in oatmeal cookies, in smoothies, on toast or just out of the jar.
Thank you for this great breakdown.
I am from Arkansas and we didn't have Costco or Trader Joe's. Unfortunately Arkansas is the birthplace of one of those retailers that shall not be mentioned.
I'm a single person and I considered Costco for produce but I'm just not sure if it's all that practical for a single person to shop there. Maybe for a few things, but there's no need for me to buy everything in bulk.
Thank you again for this great breakdown.
The local police where I live have said they are fine with people meeting up with the buyer/seller at one of their precincts or roll call locations for the purpose of buying or selling something off of craigslist. Chances are, if the person who is either selling you something or buying something from you has other illegal ideas in mind, they won't agree to meet at a police station! I will take advantage of this offer next time I am using craigslist!
I love pasta! I make a box or more on Mondays and then eat it all week with whatever leftovers are in the refrigerator.
Sometimes you are making yourself stay mad, stressed, etc. That's when you have to just let it all go and admit to yourself that you are the problem. This is easier said than done. But when you are sick this doesn't always work - over-the-counter medicines such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol generally help, as well as cold medicines. Hope this helps!
I completely agree. I've used Craigslist for everything from apartment hunting to car shopping (I actually just got bought a car last weekend through Craigslist) — and overall I've had awesome experiences. BUT I think that's mainly because I'm incredibly wary of any possible scam someone could be trying to pull. I've definitely run into multiple scammers who "are moving out of the country tomorrow" - which is why I've learned to trust my gut. If it seems out of place, or if it just doesn't feel right, it's not worth pursuing.
I also make sure to speak with the person prior to meeting, which may not sound fool-proof, but you'd be surprised how much you can glean from a simple conversation beyond the computer screen.
Cindy, how long do you cook this, and at what temperature? It sounds good and I would like to try it.
Thanks!
Split pea soup.
I was surprised when an interviewer asked me "List 10 things you can do with a pencil other than write." I'm sure there was a pause between her question and my answer, but I made it to six uses before admitting defeat. Looking back, I understand her question was designed to see how well I thought on my feet, and likely to analyze the creativity of my answers.
I love beans cooked all kinds of ways!
People keep commenting that "coupons are only for processed junk food and I eat healthy."
I coupon a LOT, but I also eat healthy food. Don't people who eat healthy food also need toilet paper, paper napkins, pet supplies (if you have pets, of course,) shampoo, bath soap, dish soap, laundry soap & dryer sheets, garbage & storage bags, household cleaners, feminine products, hair products, make up, OTC medicines, baby supplies, bandages, vitamins, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving supplies, peanut butter, preserves, mayo, ketchup, pickles, olives, soy sauce, tortillas, seasonings, dry pasta, granola, tuna, cereal, milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, juice, meats (turkey sausage & turkey bacon), salad dressing, butter, flour, sugar, olive oil and maybe coffee/tea & creamer? Because THOSE are what I mostly use coupons on.
I very RARELY buy those processed, frozen, canned or boxed meals everyone associates with couponing!