We are a one income family expecting our third girl this December and will have 2 in diapers. We are saving lots of money using cloth diapers, I mainly buy one size cloth diapers that fir birth-35lbs (potty training age) and they save us big bucks. I have invested about $600 total and will use them for our third girl as well. I also make my own wipes out of baby receiving blankets or old flannel pajamas and it has helped immensely. I only wash the diapers 2x a week and my water bill has only gone up a few bucks a month. I wish I would have done cloth diapers with my first. That's my two cents!
Cyndi
I would have to say the smartest investment I've made to date is the investment of the time it took to make this comment. It could pay off to the tune of $500, and if it doesn't, I'm only out about 68 seconds of my life!
I agree with most everything in your post. The first six points my husband and I worked through when we made the decision for me to become a stay-at-home mom 13 years ago. At first, I experienced tremendous difficulty adjusting to the isolation, but in time, I discovered new peer groups. I would also like to add that the rewards extravagantly outweigh the drawbacks. I began this path unsure if I was truly suited for it, and 13 years later, I KNOW that I wouldn't want any other person (aside from my husband) to have as much influence in my children's lives than I. I am the best person suited for this job, as is each parent who makes the decision be the number one influencer and leader of their children. The one item upon which I disagree: daycare isn't truly a beneficial place for children. There aren't enough adults to go around, so competition is fierce, and nothing is more educational for a child than a mother or father reading to and interacting with her or his child. As for learning to behave in a group setting, the family is the optimal structure for that type of learning, unless by "learning how to behave in a group" you mean "survival of the fittest," rather than learning compassion, courtesy, respect, which are best taught by parents. At least, this has been my observation. My sister works in a daycare, and while she does her job well, and her heart is full of love for her kids, she can never provide for these children what their own parents can provide. Now that walking through life beside my eldest is nearly over, I wonder if I will find any other work as deeply fulfilling or gratifying as seeing my baby become a beautiful adult, and I'm so grateful that I stuck with it even when times were tough. Especially that I stuck with it when times were tough.
Your "Cubicle Libre" made me laugh out loud! Decades ago one of my friends used to add vodka from his dorm bar to our vending machine Mountain Dews before we headed to evening classes. I enjoy reading your columns. This never ending recession is very trying, and this website provides some comfort.
I HAVE MADE A FAMILY INVESTMENT, WHICH WAS VERY PROFITABLE.
I HAVE INVESTED IN MY UNCLE'S CAR WASH AND IN 1 WEEK I MADE $500 DOLLERS TWICE AS MUCH IN WHICH I INVESTED IN.
The best investment I ever made was my education--I became a teacher. Obviously, being a teacher did not make me wealthy, but it did give me knowledge and skills that I used raising my son after I was widowed. My son is now a 4th year medical student, and that is a great return.
Quote "The eBay shopping cart will allow buyers to pay for items from multiple sellers, both auction and fixed price, in one easy checkout."
Who in the @#$% wants that? Lazy people? I've been using ebay for 11+ years and I'm tired of the "relearning" every 14 months. Love it or hate it, WHERE is the CHOICE to NOT do this. WHERE is the value of familiarity, keep it the way it was (it was fine the way it was). What is with the FORCING of "change" by these major software and web-based monopolies. It's asinine. STOP CHANGING THINGS!
Not only do you really need to plan for retirement as a stay at home parent. You must investigate what to do if you become dissabled. If you have not paid into Social Security for the last 10 years, you just may be out of luck as I found out to late. You must have made the majority of payments in the last 10 years not the first years. Yes you can self pay when you do your annual taxes. Wishing you better luck than I have had. Resurch and plan carefully.
My smartest investment has been the development of my love of learning. In spite of economic rollercoasters, my desire to expand my knowledge base well beyond the limits of my 4-year degree has retained and grown my value as both an employee and freelance business owner for decades. Nia Carter
Joseph Stalin is attributed with saying "Quantity has a quality all its own." I was pretty shocked to read that it was not an American - it sounds so American to me.
There are some things I would never give up my crass consumer ways for: only two handfuls of popcorn? a mere 12 ounces of a favorite diet soft drink? a single slice of thin crust pizza?!? All of these sound so frustrating I would prefer to forgo the experience all together. Popcornus interuptus? No Thanks!
Most of the time I probably settle for the cheap stuff, but I do understand where you are coming from. When my family reduced the restaurant budget it didn't mean we changed to fast food, it just meant we only go out once a month to a nice restaurant, or twice a month to a respectable sit down chain restaurant.
Thanks for the article Phillip, I am a fan but haven't been to wise bread in almost a year.
While I agree that shaving creams aren't necessary, I don't think you should dry shave (though I am impressed with how your skin takes it so well).
I would recommend giving olive oil a try as a shaving lubricant. Since only a few drops are needed this saves lots of money, and actually keeps your skin healthier as opposed to drying it like the shaving creams tend to do.
I agree, one way of looking at it is this - how much would you be willing to pay to get back all the data on your hard drive the day after it crashed? Set that amount as the ceiling on your annual cloud storage budget : )
I'm suprised olive oil isn't mentioned.
I dip the razor in a small amount of olive oil, it works great.
I also recommend shaving using olive oil, give it a try.
The smartest investment I've ever made is buying my own house. I know that every payment is making it closer to me owning it outright, and I know I will have something to sell when I retire, or to help my child go through college, or for him to inherit.
You could always take those old magazines, cans of paint and cards to your local school or community center for the art classes. Phone books too! And those styrofoam meat trays. Metal hangers are good too.
Magazines are great for collage fodder for students, as well as paint palettes and printmaking as well... same for those phone books.
The cans of paint should be self explanatory, any art teacher worth their salt can think of something to do with them.
The meat trays can be used for printmaking and the cards would come in handy at the holidays for the teachers who do an art project [elementary level] for a card for their children to take home to the fam. Come on, can't tell me you wouldn't save that card. :D
I personally butcher any and all cards people send me for the little imagery, designs and cardstock. Unless it was a very special card, it does lack use.
The best advice I got when I was young, companies don't care about you. I had just been forced to quit a job of 2 years, when my vacation time was rescinded a couple days before I left for a training program. I wasn't even on the schedule when they decided they needed me there. I was only 18, and companies have not gotten any better with their compassion or care for the employees.
It's true that some things only work if you use the whole thing. No point in buying a plane ticket to fly half-way (or even 90% of the way) to Europe, no matter how good of a deal you get. But even that's only partially true. Instead of buying a sports car and then only driving it part way to the destination, maybe it makes more sense to buy a sports car—and then arrange your life so you don't also need a station wagon. Or if you do need a station wagon, maybe instead of getting a sports car you get a motorcycle.
The general principle of using less works for lots of things. Half a grilled-cheese sandwich might make a pretty meager meal, but that doesn't make a whole sandwich the only alternative option. Maybe the half sandwich could be served with a salad or bowl of soup or side order?
The point is: Think carefully about what you really want, make your choices, and then imbue those choices with meaning. It's a lot more likely to lead to satisfaction than just going with more.
Saw a movie once where the brash young man wanted a scotch and coke, and when the stuffy butler looked shocked at the notion, the man said, "I know, I know—waste of good coke."
We are a one income family expecting our third girl this December and will have 2 in diapers. We are saving lots of money using cloth diapers, I mainly buy one size cloth diapers that fir birth-35lbs (potty training age) and they save us big bucks. I have invested about $600 total and will use them for our third girl as well. I also make my own wipes out of baby receiving blankets or old flannel pajamas and it has helped immensely. I only wash the diapers 2x a week and my water bill has only gone up a few bucks a month. I wish I would have done cloth diapers with my first. That's my two cents!
Cyndi
I would have to say the smartest investment I've made to date is the investment of the time it took to make this comment. It could pay off to the tune of $500, and if it doesn't, I'm only out about 68 seconds of my life!
I agree with most everything in your post. The first six points my husband and I worked through when we made the decision for me to become a stay-at-home mom 13 years ago. At first, I experienced tremendous difficulty adjusting to the isolation, but in time, I discovered new peer groups. I would also like to add that the rewards extravagantly outweigh the drawbacks. I began this path unsure if I was truly suited for it, and 13 years later, I KNOW that I wouldn't want any other person (aside from my husband) to have as much influence in my children's lives than I. I am the best person suited for this job, as is each parent who makes the decision be the number one influencer and leader of their children. The one item upon which I disagree: daycare isn't truly a beneficial place for children. There aren't enough adults to go around, so competition is fierce, and nothing is more educational for a child than a mother or father reading to and interacting with her or his child. As for learning to behave in a group setting, the family is the optimal structure for that type of learning, unless by "learning how to behave in a group" you mean "survival of the fittest," rather than learning compassion, courtesy, respect, which are best taught by parents. At least, this has been my observation. My sister works in a daycare, and while she does her job well, and her heart is full of love for her kids, she can never provide for these children what their own parents can provide. Now that walking through life beside my eldest is nearly over, I wonder if I will find any other work as deeply fulfilling or gratifying as seeing my baby become a beautiful adult, and I'm so grateful that I stuck with it even when times were tough. Especially that I stuck with it when times were tough.
Your "Cubicle Libre" made me laugh out loud! Decades ago one of my friends used to add vodka from his dorm bar to our vending machine Mountain Dews before we headed to evening classes. I enjoy reading your columns. This never ending recession is very trying, and this website provides some comfort.
If you wouldn't do your job for free, get another job.
I HAVE MADE A FAMILY INVESTMENT, WHICH WAS VERY PROFITABLE.
I HAVE INVESTED IN MY UNCLE'S CAR WASH AND IN 1 WEEK I MADE $500 DOLLERS TWICE AS MUCH IN WHICH I INVESTED IN.
The best investment I ever made was my education--I became a teacher. Obviously, being a teacher did not make me wealthy, but it did give me knowledge and skills that I used raising my son after I was widowed. My son is now a 4th year medical student, and that is a great return.
Quote "The eBay shopping cart will allow buyers to pay for items from multiple sellers, both auction and fixed price, in one easy checkout."
Who in the @#$% wants that? Lazy people? I've been using ebay for 11+ years and I'm tired of the "relearning" every 14 months. Love it or hate it, WHERE is the CHOICE to NOT do this. WHERE is the value of familiarity, keep it the way it was (it was fine the way it was). What is with the FORCING of "change" by these major software and web-based monopolies. It's asinine. STOP CHANGING THINGS!
Not only do you really need to plan for retirement as a stay at home parent. You must investigate what to do if you become dissabled. If you have not paid into Social Security for the last 10 years, you just may be out of luck as I found out to late. You must have made the majority of payments in the last 10 years not the first years. Yes you can self pay when you do your annual taxes. Wishing you better luck than I have had. Resurch and plan carefully.
My smartest investment has been the development of my love of learning. In spite of economic rollercoasters, my desire to expand my knowledge base well beyond the limits of my 4-year degree has retained and grown my value as both an employee and freelance business owner for decades. Nia Carter
my best investment ever has to be my show dogs. we show them alot and love them like our children. dogs are the best.
Joseph Stalin is attributed with saying "Quantity has a quality all its own." I was pretty shocked to read that it was not an American - it sounds so American to me.
There are some things I would never give up my crass consumer ways for: only two handfuls of popcorn? a mere 12 ounces of a favorite diet soft drink? a single slice of thin crust pizza?!? All of these sound so frustrating I would prefer to forgo the experience all together. Popcornus interuptus? No Thanks!
Most of the time I probably settle for the cheap stuff, but I do understand where you are coming from. When my family reduced the restaurant budget it didn't mean we changed to fast food, it just meant we only go out once a month to a nice restaurant, or twice a month to a respectable sit down chain restaurant.
Thanks for the article Phillip, I am a fan but haven't been to wise bread in almost a year.
The Smartest Investment I ever made was a 2008 428 Mustang. I got the car of my dreams and its a collector car. I own #72 out of 200.
Methanol?
Make sure you cut it from your drinking alcohol - it is a neurotoxin. It comes out of the still first and has a dirty/sweet smell.
While I agree that shaving creams aren't necessary, I don't think you should dry shave (though I am impressed with how your skin takes it so well).
I would recommend giving olive oil a try as a shaving lubricant. Since only a few drops are needed this saves lots of money, and actually keeps your skin healthier as opposed to drying it like the shaving creams tend to do.
Avi.
I agree, one way of looking at it is this - how much would you be willing to pay to get back all the data on your hard drive the day after it crashed? Set that amount as the ceiling on your annual cloud storage budget : )
While I enjoyed the tip and will try it for fun, I rather play it safe when it comes to shaving, though I usually dip my razors in olive oil.
I'm suprised olive oil isn't mentioned.
I dip the razor in a small amount of olive oil, it works great.
I also recommend shaving using olive oil, give it a try.
Avi.
http://www.topratedelectricrazors.com
Thanks for the mention Ashley! Those are some good tips for airline tickets.
The smartest investment I've ever made is buying my own house. I know that every payment is making it closer to me owning it outright, and I know I will have something to sell when I retire, or to help my child go through college, or for him to inherit.
You could always take those old magazines, cans of paint and cards to your local school or community center for the art classes. Phone books too! And those styrofoam meat trays. Metal hangers are good too.
Magazines are great for collage fodder for students, as well as paint palettes and printmaking as well... same for those phone books.
The cans of paint should be self explanatory, any art teacher worth their salt can think of something to do with them.
The meat trays can be used for printmaking and the cards would come in handy at the holidays for the teachers who do an art project [elementary level] for a card for their children to take home to the fam. Come on, can't tell me you wouldn't save that card. :D
I personally butcher any and all cards people send me for the little imagery, designs and cardstock. Unless it was a very special card, it does lack use.
The best advice I got when I was young, companies don't care about you. I had just been forced to quit a job of 2 years, when my vacation time was rescinded a couple days before I left for a training program. I wasn't even on the schedule when they decided they needed me there. I was only 18, and companies have not gotten any better with their compassion or care for the employees.
My greatest investment was in my camera. Not only has it given me hours and hours of fun, but now I'm looking at turning photography into a career.
It's true that some things only work if you use the whole thing. No point in buying a plane ticket to fly half-way (or even 90% of the way) to Europe, no matter how good of a deal you get. But even that's only partially true. Instead of buying a sports car and then only driving it part way to the destination, maybe it makes more sense to buy a sports car—and then arrange your life so you don't also need a station wagon. Or if you do need a station wagon, maybe instead of getting a sports car you get a motorcycle.
The general principle of using less works for lots of things. Half a grilled-cheese sandwich might make a pretty meager meal, but that doesn't make a whole sandwich the only alternative option. Maybe the half sandwich could be served with a salad or bowl of soup or side order?
The point is: Think carefully about what you really want, make your choices, and then imbue those choices with meaning. It's a lot more likely to lead to satisfaction than just going with more.
Saw a movie once where the brash young man wanted a scotch and coke, and when the stuffy butler looked shocked at the notion, the man said, "I know, I know—waste of good coke."