There isn't much I buy at Trader Joe's--I cook most of my meals from scratch so their mixes and pre-made stuff don't appeal to me. But they do have great prices on organic plain yogurt, butter from pastured cows, and eggs. Good to know they only source cage-free eggs. When I want to splurge a little, I will get a fancy cheese or two. And their english muffins are surprisingly good (and cheap!). But mainly it's yogurt, butter, and eggs for me.
Stuff doesn't buy you security, money unspent buys security. Think about this the next time you're bored with the look of a room. Can you rearrange your belongings or collections? Can you try dusting for a month with a lot less on the end tables?
My weakness is bringing home items from my travels as a reminder of the trip and something I enjoyed about it. All of us have these weaknesses. It's all just a matter of balancing it.
I would never skip the guide book. However, these can be borrowed for free from the library. Nicer yet is to post a request for suggestions on a travel site like Frommers.com. You will be bombarded with reviews, suggestions for great hole in the wall places and worth-it stops nearby where you are visiting.
I do pack twice the number of shirts as pants/skirts and pick shirts that coordinate with the bottoms. Sticking to one extra pair of shoes saves a ton of space as does choosing a summery dress for formal evenings.
I don't bother with a laptop when traveling for leisure. I lot of hotels have computer specifically for checking email so I don't miss my important messages.
Kind of unrelated, but a good way to get that extra $25 is selling stuff on eBay. I just went through my closet a week or two ago and sold an old jacket that I never wore.
That was an extra $60 in my pocket for doing almost nothing.
I want to win free vacations and products! But then again, who doesn't? I always see ads for sweepstakes, but to be honest I never entered because I thought that no one actually won anything! I thought so many people apply to them, there for I don't stand a chance. Well after reading this I wont think that anymore! I might have to set aside a day when I dedicate my time to entering some!
I have to politely disagree. Caring about $25 doesn't imply poverty and poverty doesn't necessarily mean a person shouldn't be able to have a pet to love. I know a lot of folks with solid, healthy incomes who watch every penny.
I can't tell you the number of times I've said I was going to stop intaking so much caffeine. And still every morning the first thing I do is turn on my coffee maker! I've managed to element sodas and energy drink from my diet, and I rarely go coffee shops because I think they are entirely overpriced. I recently stopped adding my usual 2.5 SPOONS full of sugar to my coffee though, and survive on just a light cream. Hopefully this is a step to slowly (very very slowly) cutting back my caffeine in take. I enjoyed this post though, nice to see that other people try and make efforts, although some things are easier said then done.
Great tips! For tip number 4: I always ask for a "To Go" box as soon as I get my food. By putting in half my meal before I even start to eat I am less tempted to over eat. Plus then I know that I'm getting 2 meals for the price of one which will save my money later! Thanks for the other tips, I'll be trying to follow them and save my wallet.
Nice tips! The culprit - corporate marketing - has infected society's desire for natural enjoyments herding most in a commercial and artificial direction. We may try to compete with the life styles of others at work, in the neighborhood and in public; and they with us. If we have been conscripted to the consumption style of existence, the need to acquire more money will keep us wrongly occupied. Others may need to keep up with us and we may feel required to keep up with them, all to the joy of the corporate marketers.
Turning off all advertising is a great first step to getting off the merry-go-round and living life as it should be lived. MUTE it!
My fiance/roommate and I have separate budgets but of course we work together to pay the bills. We review our own budgets after each paycheck. And we evaluate our budgets together monthly to set goals and reallocate funds. We talk openly though when issues come up like what to do with our tax return, or how we are going to pay for a flat tire. We have found that we do best with our money when we check our bank accounts every day and talk often to keep each other accountable.
Really number two is BAD advice. I mean, if you're in the kind of place where $25 is something you'd give this much thought to, you can't afford a[nother] pet. Adoption is cheap, sure. But there's food, which is not so cheap, no matter how good you are at finding cheap. Plus the vet bills, and the meds - even baseline care will cost hundreds of dollars a year.
Pretty much what you do - compost the sensitve papers once they're shredded, copy on the plain backs of printed paper, make note papers for phone messages, frame"art".
Colored sheets are good for kids to use in crafts, or draw on. Magazines have tons of possibilites, like collages or paper "mosaics". Cut and fold old greeting cards onto small gift boxes, or cut them into circles and put them together to form Christmas balls, or cut off the backs and reuse as post cards or book marks.
I agree with your tips. I find that so many people forget to ask for the job. They go in there and go through the motions and shake hands at the end. Come out and say you want the job and why you would be good for it!!! Thank you letters and emails always leave a lasting impression.
Great advice, especially the 2nd path but I think you forgot to say a couple of things. Here are some things that I do, or at least hope to do.
1. minimize spending.
2. treat that plastic card as something to purchase important things; food, clothing (no designer apparels please) essential house repairs...
3. don't incur debt to pay other debts, that's just stupid.
4. our grandparents are right, money saved is money earned.
Absolutely excellent article filled with the exact reasons that I am going to buy a new
desktop (I have both desktop & laptop); I identify 100% with all of your superb points!
everyone knows what milk tastes like.
or at least I thought I did. I can't express how angry I was the first time I TASTED horizon whole milk. all this time I had been drinking milk flazored WATER!
honestly Paul,
I don't have a lot of choices where I live. Horizon tastes so much better than anything else sold here that it really doesn't matter. it is what it is and the Horizon product rocks!
I say it's better to make a firm choice. However, if you're going to go with an "it depends" answer then make sure you cut straight to the reason of why "it depends." Employers don't appreciate rabbit trails, but if you can give them a feasible answer for why your family is more important than your job, but that your job sustains your family and gives you satisfaction, then the employer should appreciate your priorities.
I can't imagine paying cash for a decent house at the moment, but I might try to someday. While I agree with your pros and cons, there can't be a better feeling than having your entire house paid off right away.
You can't put a price on that feeling.
Anyways, it's a 30-year mortgage for me until I can save!
There isn't much I buy at Trader Joe's--I cook most of my meals from scratch so their mixes and pre-made stuff don't appeal to me. But they do have great prices on organic plain yogurt, butter from pastured cows, and eggs. Good to know they only source cage-free eggs. When I want to splurge a little, I will get a fancy cheese or two. And their english muffins are surprisingly good (and cheap!). But mainly it's yogurt, butter, and eggs for me.
Super points made here! We enjoyed it and are sharing it with our readers in today's roundup!
Stuff doesn't buy you security, money unspent buys security. Think about this the next time you're bored with the look of a room. Can you rearrange your belongings or collections? Can you try dusting for a month with a lot less on the end tables?
My weakness is bringing home items from my travels as a reminder of the trip and something I enjoyed about it. All of us have these weaknesses. It's all just a matter of balancing it.
I would never skip the guide book. However, these can be borrowed for free from the library. Nicer yet is to post a request for suggestions on a travel site like Frommers.com. You will be bombarded with reviews, suggestions for great hole in the wall places and worth-it stops nearby where you are visiting.
I do pack twice the number of shirts as pants/skirts and pick shirts that coordinate with the bottoms. Sticking to one extra pair of shoes saves a ton of space as does choosing a summery dress for formal evenings.
I don't bother with a laptop when traveling for leisure. I lot of hotels have computer specifically for checking email so I don't miss my important messages.
I would consider starting a portfolio on Lending Club or Prosper as well.
Kind of unrelated, but a good way to get that extra $25 is selling stuff on eBay. I just went through my closet a week or two ago and sold an old jacket that I never wore.
That was an extra $60 in my pocket for doing almost nothing.
I want to win free vacations and products! But then again, who doesn't? I always see ads for sweepstakes, but to be honest I never entered because I thought that no one actually won anything! I thought so many people apply to them, there for I don't stand a chance. Well after reading this I wont think that anymore! I might have to set aside a day when I dedicate my time to entering some!
I have to politely disagree. Caring about $25 doesn't imply poverty and poverty doesn't necessarily mean a person shouldn't be able to have a pet to love. I know a lot of folks with solid, healthy incomes who watch every penny.
I can't tell you the number of times I've said I was going to stop intaking so much caffeine. And still every morning the first thing I do is turn on my coffee maker! I've managed to element sodas and energy drink from my diet, and I rarely go coffee shops because I think they are entirely overpriced. I recently stopped adding my usual 2.5 SPOONS full of sugar to my coffee though, and survive on just a light cream. Hopefully this is a step to slowly (very very slowly) cutting back my caffeine in take. I enjoyed this post though, nice to see that other people try and make efforts, although some things are easier said then done.
Great tips! For tip number 4: I always ask for a "To Go" box as soon as I get my food. By putting in half my meal before I even start to eat I am less tempted to over eat. Plus then I know that I'm getting 2 meals for the price of one which will save my money later! Thanks for the other tips, I'll be trying to follow them and save my wallet.
About twice a year. Once at the beginning (January), and once in the late summer.
We review our budget at least once a week. We keep ours in the form of cashflow for personal and business finances.
I use junk mail envelopes for grocery lists. You can put your coupons in the envelope.
Nice tips! The culprit - corporate marketing - has infected society's desire for natural enjoyments herding most in a commercial and artificial direction. We may try to compete with the life styles of others at work, in the neighborhood and in public; and they with us. If we have been conscripted to the consumption style of existence, the need to acquire more money will keep us wrongly occupied. Others may need to keep up with us and we may feel required to keep up with them, all to the joy of the corporate marketers.
Turning off all advertising is a great first step to getting off the merry-go-round and living life as it should be lived. MUTE it!
My fiance/roommate and I have separate budgets but of course we work together to pay the bills. We review our own budgets after each paycheck. And we evaluate our budgets together monthly to set goals and reallocate funds. We talk openly though when issues come up like what to do with our tax return, or how we are going to pay for a flat tire. We have found that we do best with our money when we check our bank accounts every day and talk often to keep each other accountable.
Nice tips! Saying NO is a big one, and something many of us have a lot of trouble doing. Its almost counter-intuitive for us!
Here's another take on work-life balance:
http://www.wisebread.com/the-secret-to-time-management-and-work-life-bal...
Really number two is BAD advice. I mean, if you're in the kind of place where $25 is something you'd give this much thought to, you can't afford a[nother] pet. Adoption is cheap, sure. But there's food, which is not so cheap, no matter how good you are at finding cheap. Plus the vet bills, and the meds - even baseline care will cost hundreds of dollars a year.
Pretty much what you do - compost the sensitve papers once they're shredded, copy on the plain backs of printed paper, make note papers for phone messages, frame"art".
Colored sheets are good for kids to use in crafts, or draw on. Magazines have tons of possibilites, like collages or paper "mosaics". Cut and fold old greeting cards onto small gift boxes, or cut them into circles and put them together to form Christmas balls, or cut off the backs and reuse as post cards or book marks.
I agree with your tips. I find that so many people forget to ask for the job. They go in there and go through the motions and shake hands at the end. Come out and say you want the job and why you would be good for it!!! Thank you letters and emails always leave a lasting impression.
Great advice, especially the 2nd path but I think you forgot to say a couple of things. Here are some things that I do, or at least hope to do.
1. minimize spending.
2. treat that plastic card as something to purchase important things; food, clothing (no designer apparels please) essential house repairs...
3. don't incur debt to pay other debts, that's just stupid.
4. our grandparents are right, money saved is money earned.
Absolutely excellent article filled with the exact reasons that I am going to buy a new
desktop (I have both desktop & laptop); I identify 100% with all of your superb points!
everyone knows what milk tastes like.
or at least I thought I did. I can't express how angry I was the first time I TASTED horizon whole milk. all this time I had been drinking milk flazored WATER!
honestly Paul,
I don't have a lot of choices where I live. Horizon tastes so much better than anything else sold here that it really doesn't matter. it is what it is and the Horizon product rocks!
I say it's better to make a firm choice. However, if you're going to go with an "it depends" answer then make sure you cut straight to the reason of why "it depends." Employers don't appreciate rabbit trails, but if you can give them a feasible answer for why your family is more important than your job, but that your job sustains your family and gives you satisfaction, then the employer should appreciate your priorities.
I can't imagine paying cash for a decent house at the moment, but I might try to someday. While I agree with your pros and cons, there can't be a better feeling than having your entire house paid off right away.
You can't put a price on that feeling.
Anyways, it's a 30-year mortgage for me until I can save!