Hi! We have no heat on now. We live in Ohio in the upper half of a house. If people weren't living downstairs I would have to turn the heat on. It is 50 - 60 degrees in each room. Our bedroom is the coldest at 50 -55 degrees.Be careful, the pipes will freeze. The landlord didn't have it turned up enough last winter, when no one living downstairs & pipes froze , then water started running out the side of the laundry room when they thawed. The electric baseboard heat will NOT come on like someone said when it gets too low , if not turned on to at least 55 degrees at least . It is cold in here.We sleep with 2-3 down comforters & we put fleece blanket over head with a hole left to breath out. By morning I'm usually sweating .It is 12 degrees outside right now. This house doesn't have insulation, except some in attic, none in walls.here is an excellent site on electric usagehttp://michaelbluejay.com/:
I was reading an article on heating in Europe this past week. They have to put money in a meter attached to their house for heat. Like you want heat for 5 hours , put in the money. Lots more of us would be hurting if it was that way here.Here is the link:http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/17/eating-heating-furniture-cold-weather
WE keep it off except when gets colder than this or taking bath to keep the bill down. Last winter the electric bill was $200 & it never got above 62 degrees in here. So far it's been highest $84.
are the way I go these days. Goodwill and Salvation Army are just too formulaic. My major scores this season were all at the Jewish Women's Council Thriftstore in West Los Angeles. Perfect store in a great neighborhood where women with money donate clothes they wore no more than twice.
are the way I go these days. Goodwill and Salvation Army are just too formulaic. My major scores this season were all at the Jewish Women's Council Thriftstore in West Los Angeles. Perfect store in a great neighborhood where women with money donate clothes they wore no more than twice.
this is my first winter in my own home and the house had an addition put on in the 1970's that caused a need for second dual stage heat pump. i tend to keep the addition a little warmer anyway because that's the room my old arthritic dog sleeps in.
the main part of the house only gets a little airflow from the addition due to the angle of the single connecting doorway.
i came home wednesday to find that the thermostat in the main part of the house had finally failed.
i already own the replacement programmable thermostat but just hadn't put it in and i still can't until the weekend.
for a couple of hours i thought about moving to the sofa in the addition for the remaining nights of the week but after a little time getting used to it, it turns out i am pretty comfy in the unheated part.
outside is in the 30's at night here but the main part of the house is about 60 degrees and the addition is at 67. the first night i wore my coat in the house. but tonight i'm wearing a t shirt and feeling quite comfy.
we are expecting possibly up to a foot of snow the next 48 hours though so i may end up sleeping on the sofa for the weekend.
Volunteering to Learn is a non-profit, non-governmental organization providing rich volunteer and learning experiences in Nepal. So far, we’ve served the interests of more than one hundred volunteers from various countries.
Our organization builds on the belief that mutual understanding is at the heart of improved relations across communities, cultures, nations, and religions. Through our own experiences both in community organizing in Nepal and with visitors from around the world, we’ve learned that personal encounters and conversations among people working together create some of the best opportunities for mutual understanding.
Our goal is to provide volunteering opportunities in Nepal that make it possible for both hosts and visitors to learn. Volunteers gain a sense of satisfaction from contributing to Nepalese communities, but they also learn language and gain insights into culture, ecology, history and geography. Host families and communities benefit from enthusiastic helpers, teachers, and organizers, but they also learn about diverse cultures and perspectives that help them see beyond stereotypes.
Whatever your interests – language, culture, economics, agriculture, forestry, flora and fauna, history, sustainability, appropriate technology, community organization, leadership, entrepeneurship, children, women, human rights – we can place you with organizations, communities and families that will enrich your understanding of Nepal while also giving you opportunities to learn more specific skills and knowledge.
Explore Core Programs:
* Environmental Awareness
* Homestay and Cultural Exchange
* Teaching English
* Orphanage Program
* Organic Agriculture
* Women’s Empowerment
If I lived alone, I would live in that teeny tiny house, it would be just perfect for me, as long as i had a place to sit, cook, sleep and a shower what more would I need.
The problems are two fold I dont live by myself and zoning bylaws here in canada wont permit you to live a tiny lifestyle, I believe the minumum is 800 sq feet, which in comparison to the tiny house is a mansion. Too bad they have such laws because I think for hubby and me anywhere from 400 to 650 would be far big enough.
I know a couple who wanting to avoid a building permit built a place 10 by 10 and love it, i think for two that would be too small for me but who knows
we are in the process of downsizing right now and we will be looking for something much smaller than our current 1500 sq foot home.
once you eliminate all the unneceassary clutter from your life it is amazing to realize just how little space you need to be comfortable.
I can't believe this, but we are considering walking away from the 2 bedroom house we have owned for over 9 years in southern CA. It is currently only worth 50% of what we owe. Who do we talk to..? A financial advisor; an attorney (who specializes in what?); a real estate agent who does short sales?
Our situation is complex, but we are both employed, and I know we don't qualify for any government programs.
Can the lender go after our assets if we default on payments (we have not yet)? Our only debt is this nightmare mortgage.
All I have to say it's ha ha. So true... He tried to get me. He was renting me a house for rent in Bridgeport, Ct and it sounded to good to be true, so I investigated who was the owmers name and it was different. He said he works for the red cross. He said to send him a deposit of $1000 and then he was going to send me the keys. I'm so mad he tried so hard to get me, but I wasnt gonna let some scammer get away with it. I think I made him a smarter about it because I asked him all these questions, like why his name was different and he said "oh thats my realtor" and why would you have youre realtors name in your house. He was like I promise you will love the house and if you dont like it Ill send you the deposit.
Thanks for the nice comment. Unless you are shopping somewhere like at my earlier post (The Ultimate Thrift Store: How Far Will You Go for a Bargain?), there shouldn't be a smell. Try various stores. The better ones (like Goodwill) seem to have higher cleanliness and service standards. Shame factor? No way, dude. Thrift stores are cool now. Ask a teenager. -M.
I have stayed away from thrift stores, mainly due to the smell factor and the shame factor. But due to gaining weight and blowing out some pants, here we go! Time to get shopping. Thank you for the advice on what to look at. One last piece of advice, for folks struggling with the shame factor and depression, complete a task, get it done, feel great, breathe.
Please be cautious of used appliances, particularly bread machines and mixers which can harbor microscopic gluten even when you think you've got it all out. It is impossible to get every trace of gluten out of a nonstick finish (such as some bread machine pans as well as nonstick cookware) and especially the synthetic gasket around the paddle holder.
We recommend, if you purchase a used bread machine, make at least 4 or 5 loaves of gluten free bread in it that you will give to non-celiacs before anyone with celiac disease eats bread from the machine. This way, any trace gluten in the pan, gasket, and/or paddle will hopefully come out in those first loaves and not remain in the machine to poison your gluten-free person.
Unfortunately, my giving in 2009 was NOT what I wanted it to be due to my debt. I plan on getting out of debt this year so that I can give more to my favorite charity.
I have found that the GF mixes don't beat on the kitchenaid nearly as much as regular mixes. I find it to be a great tool for the kitchen. I also have the extra freezer, toaster over, coffee grinder, crock pot; but I had these before GF. I'm looking into getting a rice cooker, just a small one and nothing fancy. I would love to get a bread machine. Bread is a major staple in this house and can't go without. As healthy as it is to just eat veggies it doesn't jump out at me - I like bread! If you can make it without the gluten, then why not! I'm not too sure about the pasta maker. Right now I just get some at Trader Joe's, I'm the only one who eats that anyway so the pasta maker probably wouldn't be a wise investment for me at the time.
I just started to make GF breads not long ago, still experimenting with different recipes to find just the right one. I made one tonight that finally didn't resemble a very large brink, but it didn't quite have the taste I was hoping. I'm still keeping it and made PB (sunflower) & J sandwiches, put them in the freezer so I can take them for lunch. I found a recipe for a wrap and it is awesome - http://glutenfree.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/gluten-free-sandwich-wrap-tak...
I made wraps with chicken, rice, shredded carrots, lettuce, sprouts, cilantro, onion, garlic and olive oil!
Thankfully my company always me to give a percentage of my take home pay to several charities. This money is taken out of my paycheck before I even receive it. This makes it much easier on me not to count on that money.
I found abut about chegg through a friend and was given a discount code for 11% off all books with coupon CC100005 plus I used this code and got an extra $5 cash back on one book I sold.I love http://www.chegg.com they offer renters and sellers free return shipping and I don't know how long the 11% off will last,but I know the normal discount is 5% off and no expiration with unlimited coupon usage.
oh my bad. i thought you could make it for yourself. just not sell it. some stupid site i guess. im glad i havent bought any of the stuff yet. wut a waste of money it would have been!! maybe i'll come across someone who could use this great info for a school project or something. there's a lot of chemistry kinda classes in college, right? anyway, thanks everyone so much for all of your help. especially Zorcy. ::)
Glad that there are those who discuss multiple options, pros and cons. And, yes, it would be bad to go into retirement with debt -- in fact, if you have debt in retirement, you may need to sell off assets just to make the mortgage payment, which then increases your taxes, and off you go into a downward spiral. The insurance could be your safety net then.
But what I am concerned about is having to pay so much for insurance that you aren't able to save or pay off a mortgage. Mine, for example, is paid off; others, who are my age and older, many who work in the financial industry and promote life insurance have mortgages that won't be paid for 20 or 30 more years b/c of multiple cash-outs. So, the option of getting rid of debt can work and seems more straightforward to me.
I hv gotten great clothes because they needed very minor repairs - a Bill Blass dress with a seam open at the top, easily sewn in 5 min! And replacing buttons is EZ - I got a nice batik summer dress for a few dollars due to the lack of buttons! Go to the button jar - & voila! Fixed
As for stains, I find that if the stains react positively if I pat it with my saliva, then it's very likely that I can get them out easily. Not all clothes are freshly cleaned before they get to thrift stores.
Don't hesitate to donate even ripped clothing to the major thrift stores, as they can sell them by weight for rags in bulk.
Go for quality fabric - and quality manufacturing. All my designer labels come from thrift stores!
Learn to put up hems yourself. A dry cleaner would cost more than the garment to do this simple fix.
If the fabric is fabulous - consider altering the garment - or making something else out of it. Yardage is pricey.
Mend minor flaws that won't show - Sweaters that are slightly unraveled can often be darned successfully. And pilled sweaters can be "resurfaced". Long straps can be easily made shorter.
Remember to mostly ignore sizes. Often newer items land up in thrift stores because the sizing on the label is too big or too small. Learn to approximate fix & try on garments if possible, especially pants.
You can spray thriftshop shoes with disinfectant if you are nervous about wearing used shoes. (Many shoes are barely worn.)
Remember that leather seams are usually easily mended through the existing holes with a strong thread, like button thread. And some shoes will look great if they just get a good polish. If they are something like very expensive boots, it might be worthwhile to take them to the shoemakers & get them re-heeled.
Don't expect vintage clothes to be without flaws. Very often the thread in the seams will go before the rest of garment - so be prepared to mend them - especially around the arm holes. Remember flaws such as ripped seams are VERY EZ to FIX with a needle and thread. Have a good mending box with a variety of colors of thread so that your mending is nice and neat and doesn't show.
Sometimes you can cover a mend by using felt markers to match the thread you used - or even to fill in a tiny spot. Jeans can be aged by using sandpaper on the front.
As you can see, if you are in the habit of buying from thrift shops - I get almost all of my clothes there - you will develop a whole variety of mending skills to bring to those garments whenever necessary!
Unfunded tax breaks and spending non-existent money: These are the two things the government is good at.
Reducing spending and fixing difficult problems: These are two things the government is very bad at.
More hot air in the 24/7/365 re-election cycle that has choked our elected government officials.
Seriously though, how many more years of ineptness in Washington can the backs of the taxpayers support (or tolerate)? Why can't these people do what they were elected to do?
Hi! We have no heat on now. We live in Ohio in the upper half of a house. If people weren't living downstairs I would have to turn the heat on. It is 50 - 60 degrees in each room. Our bedroom is the coldest at 50 -55 degrees.Be careful, the pipes will freeze. The landlord didn't have it turned up enough last winter, when no one living downstairs & pipes froze , then water started running out the side of the laundry room when they thawed. The electric baseboard heat will NOT come on like someone said when it gets too low , if not turned on to at least 55 degrees at least . It is cold in here.We sleep with 2-3 down comforters & we put fleece blanket over head with a hole left to breath out. By morning I'm usually sweating .It is 12 degrees outside right now. This house doesn't have insulation, except some in attic, none in walls.here is an excellent site on electric usagehttp://michaelbluejay.com/:
I was reading an article on heating in Europe this past week. They have to put money in a meter attached to their house for heat. Like you want heat for 5 hours , put in the money. Lots more of us would be hurting if it was that way here.Here is the link:http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/17/eating-heating-furniture-cold-weather
WE keep it off except when gets colder than this or taking bath to keep the bill down. Last winter the electric bill was $200 & it never got above 62 degrees in here. So far it's been highest $84.
are the way I go these days. Goodwill and Salvation Army are just too formulaic. My major scores this season were all at the Jewish Women's Council Thriftstore in West Los Angeles. Perfect store in a great neighborhood where women with money donate clothes they wore no more than twice.
Margaret Garcia-Couoh
are the way I go these days. Goodwill and Salvation Army are just too formulaic. My major scores this season were all at the Jewish Women's Council Thriftstore in West Los Angeles. Perfect store in a great neighborhood where women with money donate clothes they wore no more than twice.
Margaret Garcia-Couoh
this is my first winter in my own home and the house had an addition put on in the 1970's that caused a need for second dual stage heat pump. i tend to keep the addition a little warmer anyway because that's the room my old arthritic dog sleeps in.
the main part of the house only gets a little airflow from the addition due to the angle of the single connecting doorway.
i came home wednesday to find that the thermostat in the main part of the house had finally failed.
i already own the replacement programmable thermostat but just hadn't put it in and i still can't until the weekend.
for a couple of hours i thought about moving to the sofa in the addition for the remaining nights of the week but after a little time getting used to it, it turns out i am pretty comfy in the unheated part.
outside is in the 30's at night here but the main part of the house is about 60 degrees and the addition is at 67. the first night i wore my coat in the house. but tonight i'm wearing a t shirt and feeling quite comfy.
we are expecting possibly up to a foot of snow the next 48 hours though so i may end up sleeping on the sofa for the weekend.
Volunteering to Learn is a non-profit, non-governmental organization providing rich volunteer and learning experiences in Nepal. So far, we’ve served the interests of more than one hundred volunteers from various countries.
Our organization builds on the belief that mutual understanding is at the heart of improved relations across communities, cultures, nations, and religions. Through our own experiences both in community organizing in Nepal and with visitors from around the world, we’ve learned that personal encounters and conversations among people working together create some of the best opportunities for mutual understanding.
Our goal is to provide volunteering opportunities in Nepal that make it possible for both hosts and visitors to learn. Volunteers gain a sense of satisfaction from contributing to Nepalese communities, but they also learn language and gain insights into culture, ecology, history and geography. Host families and communities benefit from enthusiastic helpers, teachers, and organizers, but they also learn about diverse cultures and perspectives that help them see beyond stereotypes.
Whatever your interests – language, culture, economics, agriculture, forestry, flora and fauna, history, sustainability, appropriate technology, community organization, leadership, entrepeneurship, children, women, human rights – we can place you with organizations, communities and families that will enrich your understanding of Nepal while also giving you opportunities to learn more specific skills and knowledge.
Explore Core Programs:
* Environmental Awareness
* Homestay and Cultural Exchange
* Teaching English
* Orphanage Program
* Organic Agriculture
* Women’s Empowerment
If I lived alone, I would live in that teeny tiny house, it would be just perfect for me, as long as i had a place to sit, cook, sleep and a shower what more would I need.
The problems are two fold I dont live by myself and zoning bylaws here in canada wont permit you to live a tiny lifestyle, I believe the minumum is 800 sq feet, which in comparison to the tiny house is a mansion. Too bad they have such laws because I think for hubby and me anywhere from 400 to 650 would be far big enough.
I know a couple who wanting to avoid a building permit built a place 10 by 10 and love it, i think for two that would be too small for me but who knows
we are in the process of downsizing right now and we will be looking for something much smaller than our current 1500 sq foot home.
once you eliminate all the unneceassary clutter from your life it is amazing to realize just how little space you need to be comfortable.
LOL! That's TOO funny.
I love the fact that the Google ad served up with this post is:
"That Pee Stink is Gone"
I Finally Got Rid of the Urine Odor This Spray Works, Read Reviews Here
Talk about knowing when to take a pass on a thrift-store bargain...
I can't believe this, but we are considering walking away from the 2 bedroom house we have owned for over 9 years in southern CA. It is currently only worth 50% of what we owe. Who do we talk to..? A financial advisor; an attorney (who specializes in what?); a real estate agent who does short sales?
Our situation is complex, but we are both employed, and I know we don't qualify for any government programs.
Can the lender go after our assets if we default on payments (we have not yet)? Our only debt is this nightmare mortgage.
All I have to say it's ha ha. So true... He tried to get me. He was renting me a house for rent in Bridgeport, Ct and it sounded to good to be true, so I investigated who was the owmers name and it was different. He said he works for the red cross. He said to send him a deposit of $1000 and then he was going to send me the keys. I'm so mad he tried so hard to get me, but I wasnt gonna let some scammer get away with it. I think I made him a smarter about it because I asked him all these questions, like why his name was different and he said "oh thats my realtor" and why would you have youre realtors name in your house. He was like I promise you will love the house and if you dont like it Ill send you the deposit.
Thanks for the nice comment. Unless you are shopping somewhere like at my earlier post (The Ultimate Thrift Store: How Far Will You Go for a Bargain?), there shouldn't be a smell. Try various stores. The better ones (like Goodwill) seem to have higher cleanliness and service standards. Shame factor? No way, dude. Thrift stores are cool now. Ask a teenager. -M.
I have stayed away from thrift stores, mainly due to the smell factor and the shame factor. But due to gaining weight and blowing out some pants, here we go! Time to get shopping. Thank you for the advice on what to look at. One last piece of advice, for folks struggling with the shame factor and depression, complete a task, get it done, feel great, breathe.
Please be cautious of used appliances, particularly bread machines and mixers which can harbor microscopic gluten even when you think you've got it all out. It is impossible to get every trace of gluten out of a nonstick finish (such as some bread machine pans as well as nonstick cookware) and especially the synthetic gasket around the paddle holder.
We recommend, if you purchase a used bread machine, make at least 4 or 5 loaves of gluten free bread in it that you will give to non-celiacs before anyone with celiac disease eats bread from the machine. This way, any trace gluten in the pan, gasket, and/or paddle will hopefully come out in those first loaves and not remain in the machine to poison your gluten-free person.
Good luck!
Chandra
Unfortunately, my giving in 2009 was NOT what I wanted it to be due to my debt. I plan on getting out of debt this year so that I can give more to my favorite charity.
I cannot say enough positive things about goose down comforters.
Wow, thanks for more fantastic ideas. Laura, I about fell off my chair when you wrote about "cadaver juice." I don't even want to go there. :-)
You folks are hard-core shoppers. Pam, thanks for adding on all those great suggestions.
I have found that the GF mixes don't beat on the kitchenaid nearly as much as regular mixes. I find it to be a great tool for the kitchen. I also have the extra freezer, toaster over, coffee grinder, crock pot; but I had these before GF. I'm looking into getting a rice cooker, just a small one and nothing fancy. I would love to get a bread machine. Bread is a major staple in this house and can't go without. As healthy as it is to just eat veggies it doesn't jump out at me - I like bread! If you can make it without the gluten, then why not! I'm not too sure about the pasta maker. Right now I just get some at Trader Joe's, I'm the only one who eats that anyway so the pasta maker probably wouldn't be a wise investment for me at the time.
I just started to make GF breads not long ago, still experimenting with different recipes to find just the right one. I made one tonight that finally didn't resemble a very large brink, but it didn't quite have the taste I was hoping. I'm still keeping it and made PB (sunflower) & J sandwiches, put them in the freezer so I can take them for lunch. I found a recipe for a wrap and it is awesome -
http://glutenfree.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/gluten-free-sandwich-wrap-tak...
I made wraps with chicken, rice, shredded carrots, lettuce, sprouts, cilantro, onion, garlic and olive oil!
Nice post, thanks!
Thankfully my company always me to give a percentage of my take home pay to several charities. This money is taken out of my paycheck before I even receive it. This makes it much easier on me not to count on that money.
It isn't a lot, but it is something.
I found abut about chegg through a friend and was given a discount code for 11% off all books with coupon CC100005 plus I used this code and got an extra $5 cash back on one book I sold.I love http://www.chegg.com they offer renters and sellers free return shipping and I don't know how long the 11% off will last,but I know the normal discount is 5% off and no expiration with unlimited coupon usage.
Hello!
I tried this with my Toshiba SD-37VESE (combo VHS and DVD player) but it didn't work.
Anybody have the unlock code for this machine??
Thanks!
oh my bad. i thought you could make it for yourself. just not sell it. some stupid site i guess. im glad i havent bought any of the stuff yet. wut a waste of money it would have been!! maybe i'll come across someone who could use this great info for a school project or something. there's a lot of chemistry kinda classes in college, right? anyway, thanks everyone so much for all of your help. especially Zorcy. ::)
A good combination of both makes sense to me --- many people learn of opportunities by networking.
Glad that there are those who discuss multiple options, pros and cons. And, yes, it would be bad to go into retirement with debt -- in fact, if you have debt in retirement, you may need to sell off assets just to make the mortgage payment, which then increases your taxes, and off you go into a downward spiral. The insurance could be your safety net then.
But what I am concerned about is having to pay so much for insurance that you aren't able to save or pay off a mortgage. Mine, for example, is paid off; others, who are my age and older, many who work in the financial industry and promote life insurance have mortgages that won't be paid for 20 or 30 more years b/c of multiple cash-outs. So, the option of getting rid of debt can work and seems more straightforward to me.
I hv gotten great clothes because they needed very minor repairs - a Bill Blass dress with a seam open at the top, easily sewn in 5 min! And replacing buttons is EZ - I got a nice batik summer dress for a few dollars due to the lack of buttons! Go to the button jar - & voila! Fixed
As for stains, I find that if the stains react positively if I pat it with my saliva, then it's very likely that I can get them out easily. Not all clothes are freshly cleaned before they get to thrift stores.
Don't hesitate to donate even ripped clothing to the major thrift stores, as they can sell them by weight for rags in bulk.
Go for quality fabric - and quality manufacturing. All my designer labels come from thrift stores!
Learn to put up hems yourself. A dry cleaner would cost more than the garment to do this simple fix.
If the fabric is fabulous - consider altering the garment - or making something else out of it. Yardage is pricey.
Mend minor flaws that won't show - Sweaters that are slightly unraveled can often be darned successfully. And pilled sweaters can be "resurfaced". Long straps can be easily made shorter.
Remember to mostly ignore sizes. Often newer items land up in thrift stores because the sizing on the label is too big or too small. Learn to approximate fix & try on garments if possible, especially pants.
You can spray thriftshop shoes with disinfectant if you are nervous about wearing used shoes. (Many shoes are barely worn.)
Remember that leather seams are usually easily mended through the existing holes with a strong thread, like button thread. And some shoes will look great if they just get a good polish. If they are something like very expensive boots, it might be worthwhile to take them to the shoemakers & get them re-heeled.
Don't expect vintage clothes to be without flaws. Very often the thread in the seams will go before the rest of garment - so be prepared to mend them - especially around the arm holes. Remember flaws such as ripped seams are VERY EZ to FIX with a needle and thread. Have a good mending box with a variety of colors of thread so that your mending is nice and neat and doesn't show.
Sometimes you can cover a mend by using felt markers to match the thread you used - or even to fill in a tiny spot. Jeans can be aged by using sandpaper on the front.
As you can see, if you are in the habit of buying from thrift shops - I get almost all of my clothes there - you will develop a whole variety of mending skills to bring to those garments whenever necessary!
Unfunded tax breaks and spending non-existent money: These are the two things the government is good at.
Reducing spending and fixing difficult problems: These are two things the government is very bad at.
More hot air in the 24/7/365 re-election cycle that has choked our elected government officials.
Seriously though, how many more years of ineptness in Washington can the backs of the taxpayers support (or tolerate)? Why can't these people do what they were elected to do?
Hope for Change in 2010/2012.