I've chosen to buy a pretty inexpensive costume this year. Since I haven't dressed for Halloween in almost a decade, I figured it wouldn't hurt to spend a little extra this year and try to have some fun for a change :)
Congratulations to your father! Not only did he do retirement right - he's choosing his own retirement date, he's also doing it in uncertain economic times.
To your other points - there are too many who rely on Social Security alone. It wasn't meant to provide complete coverage for retirement. Got to keep writing articles so other generations can avoid that thought, I suppose!
I always make my own, but truthfully, I can't say it saves money. I'm really into Halloween, so my costumes (for daughter) have every detail. This year is Kat Von D. So excited!
We bought a little pumpkin costume for our LO's first Halloween. Dh was all excited about our first child's first halloween costume. Future costumes will be homemade, though. And we did get it for 40% off, so that helps :-)
Great ideas. I especially like the suggestion about making gifts for special people in our lives. I've already begun my holiday shopping and am taking a very slow, measured approach - making a few things, putting together some gift baskets, etc. I'm trying to save some cash by getting a head start and keeping an eye out for bargains. :)
This rule doesn't apply to actual bakeries, as most of them have an system of random scribbles that transcribe to the date, and the cashiers are NOT supposed to tell people what they are. You can ask them when an individual loaf was made, or how often that bakery sells bread as "fresh" before moving it to the "day old" rack (in my experience as a former baker, it's three days at the big places, and 1 at the small unless it's a type of bread that costs a lot to make or stays fresher for longer).
An easy way to deodorize a garbage disposal is to run some citrus peels though it. The citrus oil does the trick. Another is to just grind ice cubes in the disposal. It cuts through any stuck on congealed fat. Any time you put egg shells through the disposal it helps too. The stickiness of the raw egg gathers any food bits hanging around and the sharp shells scour too. All free and easy! Be sure to run the water when you are using these.
Bought kids' costumes at the dollar store ($8-$10 each), made my own costume with clothes and props from thrift shops and other stores (most of the pieces of my costume are reusable).
Nope, won't be buying a costume. I never bought a costume when I was growing up, and my little brother and I still come up with our own costumes (if needed, in my case).
I bought a Halloween costume for myself this year for the first time since I was 8. Seriously. We did buy them for the kids as well but saved over 75% through various deals, sales, and coupons.
No way! Homemade costumes are always better.
Seriously. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_pretenses
I've chosen to buy a pretty inexpensive costume this year. Since I haven't dressed for Halloween in almost a decade, I figured it wouldn't hurt to spend a little extra this year and try to have some fun for a change :)
Congratulations to your father! Not only did he do retirement right - he's choosing his own retirement date, he's also doing it in uncertain economic times.
To your other points - there are too many who rely on Social Security alone. It wasn't meant to provide complete coverage for retirement. Got to keep writing articles so other generations can avoid that thought, I suppose!
Responded on Twitter. http://twitter.com/#!/1bets1/status/128867403500236800
Liked your post on Facebook.
I always make my own, but truthfully, I can't say it saves money. I'm really into Halloween, so my costumes (for daughter) have every detail. This year is Kat Von D. So excited!
When I was a kid, I also liked making things with paper mache -- it's another ultra-cheap (if often ultra-messy) craft.
We bought a little pumpkin costume for our LO's first Halloween. Dh was all excited about our first child's first halloween costume. Future costumes will be homemade, though. And we did get it for 40% off, so that helps :-)
I "like" you on Facebook!
Thanks for mentioning long=term care insurance - it's an often overlooked part of effective retirement planning (and something we all probably need).
No buying this year. I have plenty of bits and pieces of costumery. I am sure I can invent something fun.
We are using last years - still fit the kids!
Great ideas. I especially like the suggestion about making gifts for special people in our lives. I've already begun my holiday shopping and am taking a very slow, measured approach - making a few things, putting together some gift baskets, etc. I'm trying to save some cash by getting a head start and keeping an eye out for bargains. :)
This rule doesn't apply to actual bakeries, as most of them have an system of random scribbles that transcribe to the date, and the cashiers are NOT supposed to tell people what they are. You can ask them when an individual loaf was made, or how often that bakery sells bread as "fresh" before moving it to the "day old" rack (in my experience as a former baker, it's three days at the big places, and 1 at the small unless it's a type of bread that costs a lot to make or stays fresher for longer).
An easy way to deodorize a garbage disposal is to run some citrus peels though it. The citrus oil does the trick. Another is to just grind ice cubes in the disposal. It cuts through any stuck on congealed fat. Any time you put egg shells through the disposal it helps too. The stickiness of the raw egg gathers any food bits hanging around and the sharp shells scour too. All free and easy! Be sure to run the water when you are using these.
No, I'm just planning on passing out candy this year.
Bought kids' costumes at the dollar store ($8-$10 each), made my own costume with clothes and props from thrift shops and other stores (most of the pieces of my costume are reusable).
No Halloween costume for me.
Nope, won't be buying a costume. I never bought a costume when I was growing up, and my little brother and I still come up with our own costumes (if needed, in my case).
No costumes here. The kids (teens, really) make their own and I'm handing out candy so don't really see the need for one for me.
I bought a Halloween costume for myself this year for the first time since I was 8. Seriously. We did buy them for the kids as well but saved over 75% through various deals, sales, and coupons.
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/oshkoshbgosh123/status/128837735128633344
i like wisebread on facebook
no costume this year ;)