The best investment I have ever made was/is starting a 501 for my 3 year old. Her education is everything to me and now I can be assured that I am helping her to achieve her educational goals or are they my goals? Ok so hers are Dora and The Backyardigans for now!!
The smartest investment I ever made was purchasing a house in our current town of Louisville, CO, eleven years ago. The town just keeps getting better and better and we recently won the Money Magazine's Best Small Town Award for the second time!
The smartest investment I ever made is in my children's education. They both had four years at private liberal arts colleges and graduated in 2006 and 2010. One is a graduate student, one is employed in her field, planning to go to graduate school. They are self sufficient, responsible and fulfilled.
The smartest investment I have made has been in the development and maintenance of my credit score. I knew at a young age the importance of credit scores when getting loans and influence a single percentage point could have on your long term payments. Therefore, I went through the process of getting small loans and paying them off just to establish credit history. By the time I was in college and applying for student loans, I capable of getting much lower rates and save myself thousands of dollars.
My road bike, a Specialized Dolce. It cost almost $1000 - very tough to swing as a grad student - but I've already put more than 500 miles on it, exploring country roads with my husband, getting some fresh air and exercise.
The smartest investment I've ever made is purchasing a DSLR camera. I have since started a side business doing lifestyle photography that nets me several hundred dollars a month in extra income. Plus, it allows me to fuel my creativity which is not something I can do at my 9-5.
The smartest investment I've ever made is to switch from an inkjet printer to a laser printer. The money I've saved in ink alone made it worthwhile, and the faster print speed, and better quality are just a bonus. You never realize just how much you will be printing when you own a small business!
The best investment I have ever made was was my office chair. The chair is almost 8 years old and is still comfortable as ever. Lots of great decisions have been made in that chair.
We have frozen jugs of water in our freezer. Our emergency pack contains waterproof matches, bandages & alcohol swabs,tweezers, scissors, needle & thread, travel toothbrushes, small soap, flashlight/radio combo that works without batteries (just wind it up), knife, toilet paper, energy bars, survival blankets, and other incidentals all in a small pack near the front door. My husband also keeps a small duffle with a change of clothing that I have yet to cram some clothes in (oh what to wear, what to wear) :) We live on the Oregon Coast in a small town where the signposts are marked with red or blue tape denoting your level of safety during a tsunami. The signpost on our street is "blue"! That's good, by the way.
I have to say an iPod is the best investment for me. It saves my life each day I'm commuting on the bus. It keeps me in the know with podcasts and sane with my music.
The smartest investment that I've made is a good computer and a few books that helped me learn to code. This was about the time I started college and I'm confident that what I taught myself during the next 4 years was equally important as the degree that I earned during that time.
It had been a long time since I had taken care of my health and had gotten very sedentary and lethargic because I had an office job and was a full time student simultaneously. "I had no time to work out." No visit to the doctor ever made me feel any better past being medicated so I decided to start working out. Being it that I was soo out of shape I did not want to invest in a gym membership because I knew if I was embarrassed I wouldn't go so I decided to buy one single 30 minute workout video...needless to say it has been the best thing I've ever done for myself and have since lost about 35 lbs. and have adopted a healthier lifestyle. The feeling of accomplishment when I finished the video even if I didn't do it exactly as they did in the video, made me feel I could do anything and that feeling spilled into all the other aspects of my life. Sometimes we tend to get too worried about the things around us that we don't notice what is happening to us internally. I had no idea how significantly my health was a factor until all my problems seemed to start melting away when I started taking care of myself =)
I've started the process of preparing for a natural disaster (most likely snow here in Minnesota) but haven't gotten very far. My biggest concern would be keeping warm which probably calls for a generator but I'm researching other options as well. We definitely have an emergency fund and I know what our insurance covers, so at least I have that part taken care of!
I read the article twice and I'm still smiling. It's quite refreshing to read a new voice with lots of good advice to offer without overwriting it. I'm a bestselling novelist with a banking background but I'm rather new to writing blog pieces. Thanks for reminding me why I started writing in the first place.
Actually, it's a bad idea to lower the overall temperature of your water heater. Some dangerous bacteria (legionella, for instance) can live and thrive at 120 F, but will not multiply at 140 F.
Besides, it doesn't really save that much energy. You don't shower in 140 degree water, right? Heating 1.5 gallons of water from 60 F to 140 F costs exactly as much as heating 2 gallons from 60 F to 120 F (in a perfectly insulated system, at least). And when diluted with cold (60 F) water to the shower-friendly temperature of 100 F, each of these heating strategies yields 3 gallons.
I'd say that we are more prepared than the average Joe, but could use some improvement. For example, we've got 72-Hour Emergency Kits ready-to-go for each member of the family, and we've got basic camping supplies. We've got an emergency fund, too.
With people in our area losing power for extended periods of time, it's made us think about generators, extra gas, etc. We need a evacuation plan, too.
I am somewhat prepared, but I could do better. Living inal Florida I have experienced several hurricanes, and with each experience, I have become better at getting through them.
In the case of new/used CD's or DVD's, be aware of an alternative to returning them for a refund: swapping. There are a few large-scale swapping websites, all membership-based, that allow individuals to post books, CD's, or DVD's they are willing to give away. Every title you give away gets you some form of credit to request a different title from another member who's got one they don't want. New media isn't worth any more than used, but if you're stuck with a movie or album you can't stand, trade it for one you really want. Or trade it for a title that someone else really wants as a gift. (I've bought cheap book titles from thrift stores specifically to post as trades, just to get a title that really interests me ~ I play eBay arbitrage too.)
Most of these swapping sites don't charge for membership; your only cost is to pay for postage to ship your item to the requesting member. There are probably similar swapping sites for games, but I don't use them since I don't buy games.
And, until the state governments crack down one by one on internet sales, there's always listings on your Amazon.com seller account, to recoup at least some of the purchase price. Less heartburn than letting it go for a yard sale price.
Thank you for your article. I from a part of America where money is a VERY private matter- I do not even know how much my parents make! I am travelling in Hong Kong and a man asked my Mom how much she paid for her watch- we were shocked! But I think he was just making conversation.
Can you write a little more about money small talk?
The best investment I have ever made was/is starting a 501 for my 3 year old. Her education is everything to me and now I can be assured that I am helping her to achieve her educational goals or are they my goals? Ok so hers are Dora and The Backyardigans for now!!
The smartest investment I ever made was purchasing a house in our current town of Louisville, CO, eleven years ago. The town just keeps getting better and better and we recently won the Money Magazine's Best Small Town Award for the second time!
Honey is not vegan. Agave nectar should work well in its place.
Buying my house a few months ago! Low price and interest rates were a no brainer. It is good t be on this side of the housing bust!
The smartest investment I ever made is in my children's education. They both had four years at private liberal arts colleges and graduated in 2006 and 2010. One is a graduate student, one is employed in her field, planning to go to graduate school. They are self sufficient, responsible and fulfilled.
The smartest investment I have made has been in the development and maintenance of my credit score. I knew at a young age the importance of credit scores when getting loans and influence a single percentage point could have on your long term payments. Therefore, I went through the process of getting small loans and paying them off just to establish credit history. By the time I was in college and applying for student loans, I capable of getting much lower rates and save myself thousands of dollars.
My road bike, a Specialized Dolce. It cost almost $1000 - very tough to swing as a grad student - but I've already put more than 500 miles on it, exploring country roads with my husband, getting some fresh air and exercise.
The smartest investment I've ever made is purchasing a DSLR camera. I have since started a side business doing lifestyle photography that nets me several hundred dollars a month in extra income. Plus, it allows me to fuel my creativity which is not something I can do at my 9-5.
The smartest investment I've ever made is to switch from an inkjet printer to a laser printer. The money I've saved in ink alone made it worthwhile, and the faster print speed, and better quality are just a bonus. You never realize just how much you will be printing when you own a small business!
The best investment I have ever made was was my office chair. The chair is almost 8 years old and is still comfortable as ever. Lots of great decisions have been made in that chair.
We have frozen jugs of water in our freezer. Our emergency pack contains waterproof matches, bandages & alcohol swabs,tweezers, scissors, needle & thread, travel toothbrushes, small soap, flashlight/radio combo that works without batteries (just wind it up), knife, toilet paper, energy bars, survival blankets, and other incidentals all in a small pack near the front door. My husband also keeps a small duffle with a change of clothing that I have yet to cram some clothes in (oh what to wear, what to wear) :) We live on the Oregon Coast in a small town where the signposts are marked with red or blue tape denoting your level of safety during a tsunami. The signpost on our street is "blue"! That's good, by the way.
I have to say an iPod is the best investment for me. It saves my life each day I'm commuting on the bus. It keeps me in the know with podcasts and sane with my music.
The smartest investment that I've made is a good computer and a few books that helped me learn to code. This was about the time I started college and I'm confident that what I taught myself during the next 4 years was equally important as the degree that I earned during that time.
It had been a long time since I had taken care of my health and had gotten very sedentary and lethargic because I had an office job and was a full time student simultaneously. "I had no time to work out." No visit to the doctor ever made me feel any better past being medicated so I decided to start working out. Being it that I was soo out of shape I did not want to invest in a gym membership because I knew if I was embarrassed I wouldn't go so I decided to buy one single 30 minute workout video...needless to say it has been the best thing I've ever done for myself and have since lost about 35 lbs. and have adopted a healthier lifestyle. The feeling of accomplishment when I finished the video even if I didn't do it exactly as they did in the video, made me feel I could do anything and that feeling spilled into all the other aspects of my life. Sometimes we tend to get too worried about the things around us that we don't notice what is happening to us internally. I had no idea how significantly my health was a factor until all my problems seemed to start melting away when I started taking care of myself =)
I've started the process of preparing for a natural disaster (most likely snow here in Minnesota) but haven't gotten very far. My biggest concern would be keeping warm which probably calls for a generator but I'm researching other options as well. We definitely have an emergency fund and I know what our insurance covers, so at least I have that part taken care of!
I read the article twice and I'm still smiling. It's quite refreshing to read a new voice with lots of good advice to offer without overwriting it. I'm a bestselling novelist with a banking background but I'm rather new to writing blog pieces. Thanks for reminding me why I started writing in the first place.
Victor
Actually, it's a bad idea to lower the overall temperature of your water heater. Some dangerous bacteria (legionella, for instance) can live and thrive at 120 F, but will not multiply at 140 F.
Besides, it doesn't really save that much energy. You don't shower in 140 degree water, right? Heating 1.5 gallons of water from 60 F to 140 F costs exactly as much as heating 2 gallons from 60 F to 120 F (in a perfectly insulated system, at least). And when diluted with cold (60 F) water to the shower-friendly temperature of 100 F, each of these heating strategies yields 3 gallons.
I'd say that we are more prepared than the average Joe, but could use some improvement. For example, we've got 72-Hour Emergency Kits ready-to-go for each member of the family, and we've got basic camping supplies. We've got an emergency fund, too.
With people in our area losing power for extended periods of time, it's made us think about generators, extra gas, etc. We need a evacuation plan, too.
Add want to add stop by, say hello or offer help to a neighbor to this list.
I am somewhat prepared, but I could do better. Living inal Florida I have experienced several hurricanes, and with each experience, I have become better at getting through them.
In the case of new/used CD's or DVD's, be aware of an alternative to returning them for a refund: swapping. There are a few large-scale swapping websites, all membership-based, that allow individuals to post books, CD's, or DVD's they are willing to give away. Every title you give away gets you some form of credit to request a different title from another member who's got one they don't want. New media isn't worth any more than used, but if you're stuck with a movie or album you can't stand, trade it for one you really want. Or trade it for a title that someone else really wants as a gift. (I've bought cheap book titles from thrift stores specifically to post as trades, just to get a title that really interests me ~ I play eBay arbitrage too.)
Most of these swapping sites don't charge for membership; your only cost is to pay for postage to ship your item to the requesting member. There are probably similar swapping sites for games, but I don't use them since I don't buy games.
And, until the state governments crack down one by one on internet sales, there's always listings on your Amazon.com seller account, to recoup at least some of the purchase price. Less heartburn than letting it go for a yard sale price.
I love to treat myself to the following little luxuries:
awesome handmade soaps (from Etsy)
Godiva chocolate
Oberweiss ice cream
Krispy Kreme donuts
stationery
nice pens
These are occasional little luxuries, we ALL should treat ourselves to.
Cheers,
Danny
The Frugal Quack
lol that's pretty funny how you're comment is realistic but sticks out and makes sense
Thank you for your article. I from a part of America where money is a VERY private matter- I do not even know how much my parents make! I am travelling in Hong Kong and a man asked my Mom how much she paid for her watch- we were shocked! But I think he was just making conversation.
Can you write a little more about money small talk?
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/oshkoshbgosh123/status/108753274798219264