In general terms, the difference between bourbon and whiskey is a matter of law. According to the bureau of ATF, bourbon is whiskey that is distilled at no more than 160 proof, made of at least 51% corn, barreled at no more than 125 proof in charred new American white oak barrels, and bottled at no less than 80 proof with nothing but water added to adjust proof.
I wouldn't say that I struggled to find my passion so much as I struggled (and am still struggling) to get to a point in which I am able to pursue it.
Like you, I knew what I wanted at a young age (12, in fact). I am still working on the same thing I was then. Several years have passed since I first discovered what I really loved doing - which was drawing manga. I wanted and still want to be a professional mangaka.
However, several bumps along the way have prevented (and are still preventing me) from achieving the first milestone which is finishing the story. The adverse economic conditions do not help matters very much for anyone. And when you're passion is doing something like manga or comics, it's usually a very difficult thing to break into. Hence, why many comic book artists live with their parents. Unfortunately, this is not an option for me. I know it's possible because people like Ken Akamatsu are doing it and have been for years. But one has to wonder how they got there. More often than not you'll find that they had some type of help.
I have a 15 year mortgage and have been in it for about 7 years. My balance is $63,890 at 5.125%. Is there any reason to try to refinance again? My main focus is to pay off the house as soon as possible and be mortgage free! My payment is $1129.93 with principal being $525.22 and interest being $281.89 and escrow is $322.82. I think I have about 8 years left if I make just the regular payment. What are some options for me? And I am not interested in investing any money that could go toward the mortgage. Just want to get the house paid off! ;0) How much extra would I have to send each month to pay it off in say, 5 years?
I thinks it is fine to regift...I would only regift something new, but I wouldn't mind getting something previously used in good condition (especially books) if it was something someone thought I would like.
Everyone needs to stop worrying that these cards are already tied to your personal information. When something like this is mailed out they are blanks. Yes they have the number, exp date, and name on them already however they are not activated until you call in to activate and setup the account. When you call in to activate one of these cards you have to give them the standard info for a prepaid incl dob, ssn, etc. At that point the information is entered into an account with one of the two banks that netspend uses and the card number is then linked to the account and activated. I've been using a netspend prepaid card for the past 3 years with no problems other than a hold from a hotel not being released one time without calling in. It's much cheaper than my old account with PNC Bank had been. Since I never wrote a check and have always used a debit card for purchases or bills. This costs me $9.99 a mo or you can pay annually for $69. With netspend there are no overdraft fees because you can go no more than $6 over what you have available and the next deposit goes to cover that amount. With my old bank if I went over by even $0.50 then I got hit with a $35 charge. I realize that everyone is worried about these cards already being tied to their information however this is not the case until you call in and actually setup. It's time for everyone to start reading the fine print on the short term loan or prepaid card information sites before you go through the process. If you don't want to receive things like this then you shouldn't be going to the sites that service multiple providers and go directly to the providers site instead, such as netspend.com.
I absolutely regift from time to time, but only when the gift is unused and appropriate for the recipient! But if I receive something that I wouldn't use, and I know someone else would enjoy it, I don't see anything wrong with passing it along to someone else.
In the same way, I don't feel bad about giving a gift that I received for free from a giveaway but decided not to use myself; you don't need to have actually spent money for something to be a thoughtful gift.
In my family there were 6 cousins, all around the same age, 7 aunts and uncles, a grandmother and 2 great aunts. Instead of each kid getting 10 small gifts, my grandmother would set out coffee cans with each of our names at her house. All the relatives added some money (cash only, so no one knew how much) and the parent of each kid picked up the can and bought the kid one great gift.
When we gathered on Christmas Eve, the kids would get to open their one gift first, and then played happily with it for the rest of the evening while the adults exchanged their gifts. To this day I can probably name each gift I received from ages 5-15 - it was always a memorable thing. My family wasn't very well-off, but this was a way to afford to give a kid something really special.
Instead of using rolled oats I often put my oatmeal in the blender and make flour out of it. I use it in place of some of the flour just to bulk up the food value. Thought I'd try doing that in this recipe. I've been looking for a healthy breakfast cookie as I'm not a big fan of breakfast. This one sounds great and I am already thinking of those add ins.
I have looked at financial aid requirements and I think that things have changed Amy K., apparently home equity and retirement are not counted as "assets" anymore.
Plan ahead is my favorite, as I have been asked to contribute to a gift weeks (sometimes days) after I have already done my shopping.
One way of making sure the money comes in as promised is to set a deadline and basic rule that the giver's name will be mentioned to the recipient; that may sound obvious and perhaps too business-like but sometimes organizers will say that the gift is from a group (the office, or the class, for example), which can be disappointing to those who donated and doesn't create any urgency for participants to pay on time.
For our sister site, Parenting Squad, I wrote about group giving for teachers, which is a good way to get something nice for very little individually.
Thanks for the hiding tips. I just took an emergency preparedness course (I live in an earthquake area, and used to live in a hurricane area). They suggested keeping between $300 - $500 in cash at home. If power goes out in your area, and is out for days, so are all the ATM's. Good luck going to the grocery store to charge it - although they may still take checks. BTW, the VCR idea is the best!
So why exactly do we need credit cards? Even if you pay your balance in full every month, why not just pay for whatever you are buying immediately?
I have 2 credit cards. I decided to put them in a zip-lock bag with water and freeze them in my freezer. Interestingly, I have been a lot happier and have had more money to spend on things that I want. I am a big believer in debit cards. I just blogged about a debit card that I think is amazing: The Citibank AAdvantage Debit Card.
@LiveCheap, are you sure home equity isn't counted as an asset for the parents? Back when I was getting ready for college in the 90's I remember my parents' disgust that the seminar they went to expected them to use a home equity loan to pay for my education. I assumed that was the financial aid expectation to.
Does anyone know if retirement accounts are counted as assets with regards to financial aid? I would hope not, but I haven't seen anything one way or the other.
I'm not saying that one shouldn't save for college, I'm thinking more of eligibility for better loan rates for any gap.
several of my friends and family like gift cards. So what I have done is always give a gift reciept for the gifts I give, and when I know where a product is from, if I don't like it I try to take it back for a gift card or for a new gift. If its a card I have them round it to the closest 5 dollar increment so it doesn't seem used. I have even split a large gift card given to me into smaller gift cards to give to more people. I did this because I don't miss the money I never really had and it might not be the most thoughtful gift, but most people won't complain unless the gift receiver expects you to know what to give them like your spouse or something.
When my sweetie and I married we received THREE tea pots. One sported a small print in cornflower blue. Definately not my taste. When an aquaintance had her wedding shower, I had no qualms about giving it to her as it was just right for her future kitchen. The only odd bit occured when her aunt asked where I found such a perfect match.... Since then I've passed on fancy scented soaps to our young neices and crazy socks to a sister who loves those kinds of things. The secret is to pay as much attention to what a person wants, as you would if you purchased the gift. One of my sisters and I have a mutual love for thrift stores and yard sales and have no problem giving each other things we like, purchased that way. It's especially fun for older and hard to find items.
My brother and I do this all the time. It's probaby easier between siblings. I always pick out a gift for my parents and he pays me half to put his name on it too.
...I don't mistakenly re-regift the same thing back to the original person who sent the gift!
As long as the gift is not horribly cheesy, tacky or tasteless, I don't see why you can't regift it. I get lots of generic-type gifts (lotions, candles) from office gift exchanges which I think are appropriate in situations where you have to gift a casual acquaintance/mail person/babysitter/etc. I do draw the line at regifting items that I'm opened, even if they are unused- that's just unsanitary...
Let me start off by saying I have no problem with re-gifting. Re-gifting is not the problem, it is the stigma associated with it, caused is by people who will re-gift a junk item in order to save a dime on a present for another person.
If I get an item I do not want or need but feel it is a truly good gift for another person, then yes I would save myself the time and money by re-gifting, and have done so on a small handful of occasions. I will not, however, re-gift something if I would not have bought it to give as a gift with my own money anyway.
I am much more likely to attempt returning a gift I do not need (although return policies have gotten much stricter over the past year). Since I won't re-gift junk, the practice is really just saving me the time of going to the store and working out an exchange.
I have been regifted to -- and the person told me right after I opened said gift -- not a nice feeling. I have passed on things that were given, but mostly donated to a resale shop or Goodwill. I always hope that people who decide to buy me a gift actually think about what I would like and shop accordingly. If I received something that is totally not me, but would be perfect for my sister, I would probably give it to her, but not as a birthday or Christmas present. I guess I've been burned by regifting once too many times.
Yes, I have re gifted. I think it's fine, as long as the gift isn't scary and weird. Dear Abby had a little poem that she ran in her column once that was intended to be included with any gift, that basically said "This gift is yours, do what you want with it" Of course it said it much more sweetly than I just did! I think you have to know the original giver too. Some people pour themselves into a gift and to find out you've given that away, is really hurtful. But most of us would do well, to really give gifts freely, without obligating the recipient in any way. We shouldn't be giving with strings attached.
I have re-gifted and would do so again if it is something brand new that I can't use but I know for sure someone else wants/needs/would appreciate.
In general terms, the difference between bourbon and whiskey is a matter of law. According to the bureau of ATF, bourbon is whiskey that is distilled at no more than 160 proof, made of at least 51% corn, barreled at no more than 125 proof in charred new American white oak barrels, and bottled at no less than 80 proof with nothing but water added to adjust proof.
great brand by the way.
now you know what is needed for the basics.
I wouldn't say that I struggled to find my passion so much as I struggled (and am still struggling) to get to a point in which I am able to pursue it.
Like you, I knew what I wanted at a young age (12, in fact). I am still working on the same thing I was then. Several years have passed since I first discovered what I really loved doing - which was drawing manga. I wanted and still want to be a professional mangaka.
However, several bumps along the way have prevented (and are still preventing me) from achieving the first milestone which is finishing the story. The adverse economic conditions do not help matters very much for anyone. And when you're passion is doing something like manga or comics, it's usually a very difficult thing to break into. Hence, why many comic book artists live with their parents. Unfortunately, this is not an option for me. I know it's possible because people like Ken Akamatsu are doing it and have been for years. But one has to wonder how they got there. More often than not you'll find that they had some type of help.
I have a 15 year mortgage and have been in it for about 7 years. My balance is $63,890 at 5.125%. Is there any reason to try to refinance again? My main focus is to pay off the house as soon as possible and be mortgage free! My payment is $1129.93 with principal being $525.22 and interest being $281.89 and escrow is $322.82. I think I have about 8 years left if I make just the regular payment. What are some options for me? And I am not interested in investing any money that could go toward the mortgage. Just want to get the house paid off! ;0) How much extra would I have to send each month to pay it off in say, 5 years?
Thanks!
Sherry
I thinks it is fine to regift...I would only regift something new, but I wouldn't mind getting something previously used in good condition (especially books) if it was something someone thought I would like.
Everyone needs to stop worrying that these cards are already tied to your personal information. When something like this is mailed out they are blanks. Yes they have the number, exp date, and name on them already however they are not activated until you call in to activate and setup the account. When you call in to activate one of these cards you have to give them the standard info for a prepaid incl dob, ssn, etc. At that point the information is entered into an account with one of the two banks that netspend uses and the card number is then linked to the account and activated. I've been using a netspend prepaid card for the past 3 years with no problems other than a hold from a hotel not being released one time without calling in. It's much cheaper than my old account with PNC Bank had been. Since I never wrote a check and have always used a debit card for purchases or bills. This costs me $9.99 a mo or you can pay annually for $69. With netspend there are no overdraft fees because you can go no more than $6 over what you have available and the next deposit goes to cover that amount. With my old bank if I went over by even $0.50 then I got hit with a $35 charge. I realize that everyone is worried about these cards already being tied to their information however this is not the case until you call in and actually setup. It's time for everyone to start reading the fine print on the short term loan or prepaid card information sites before you go through the process. If you don't want to receive things like this then you shouldn't be going to the sites that service multiple providers and go directly to the providers site instead, such as netspend.com.
I absolutely regift from time to time, but only when the gift is unused and appropriate for the recipient! But if I receive something that I wouldn't use, and I know someone else would enjoy it, I don't see anything wrong with passing it along to someone else.
In the same way, I don't feel bad about giving a gift that I received for free from a giveaway but decided not to use myself; you don't need to have actually spent money for something to be a thoughtful gift.
In my family there were 6 cousins, all around the same age, 7 aunts and uncles, a grandmother and 2 great aunts. Instead of each kid getting 10 small gifts, my grandmother would set out coffee cans with each of our names at her house. All the relatives added some money (cash only, so no one knew how much) and the parent of each kid picked up the can and bought the kid one great gift.
When we gathered on Christmas Eve, the kids would get to open their one gift first, and then played happily with it for the rest of the evening while the adults exchanged their gifts. To this day I can probably name each gift I received from ages 5-15 - it was always a memorable thing. My family wasn't very well-off, but this was a way to afford to give a kid something really special.
Instead of using rolled oats I often put my oatmeal in the blender and make flour out of it. I use it in place of some of the flour just to bulk up the food value. Thought I'd try doing that in this recipe. I've been looking for a healthy breakfast cookie as I'm not a big fan of breakfast. This one sounds great and I am already thinking of those add ins.
I have looked at financial aid requirements and I think that things have changed Amy K., apparently home equity and retirement are not counted as "assets" anymore.
Plan ahead is my favorite, as I have been asked to contribute to a gift weeks (sometimes days) after I have already done my shopping.
One way of making sure the money comes in as promised is to set a deadline and basic rule that the giver's name will be mentioned to the recipient; that may sound obvious and perhaps too business-like but sometimes organizers will say that the gift is from a group (the office, or the class, for example), which can be disappointing to those who donated and doesn't create any urgency for participants to pay on time.
For our sister site, Parenting Squad, I wrote about group giving for teachers, which is a good way to get something nice for very little individually.
Thanks for the hiding tips. I just took an emergency preparedness course (I live in an earthquake area, and used to live in a hurricane area). They suggested keeping between $300 - $500 in cash at home. If power goes out in your area, and is out for days, so are all the ATM's. Good luck going to the grocery store to charge it - although they may still take checks. BTW, the VCR idea is the best!
So why exactly do we need credit cards? Even if you pay your balance in full every month, why not just pay for whatever you are buying immediately?
I have 2 credit cards. I decided to put them in a zip-lock bag with water and freeze them in my freezer. Interestingly, I have been a lot happier and have had more money to spend on things that I want. I am a big believer in debit cards. I just blogged about a debit card that I think is amazing: The Citibank AAdvantage Debit Card.
@LiveCheap, are you sure home equity isn't counted as an asset for the parents? Back when I was getting ready for college in the 90's I remember my parents' disgust that the seminar they went to expected them to use a home equity loan to pay for my education. I assumed that was the financial aid expectation to.
Does anyone know if retirement accounts are counted as assets with regards to financial aid? I would hope not, but I haven't seen anything one way or the other.
I'm not saying that one shouldn't save for college, I'm thinking more of eligibility for better loan rates for any gap.
several of my friends and family like gift cards. So what I have done is always give a gift reciept for the gifts I give, and when I know where a product is from, if I don't like it I try to take it back for a gift card or for a new gift. If its a card I have them round it to the closest 5 dollar increment so it doesn't seem used. I have even split a large gift card given to me into smaller gift cards to give to more people. I did this because I don't miss the money I never really had and it might not be the most thoughtful gift, but most people won't complain unless the gift receiver expects you to know what to give them like your spouse or something.
When my sweetie and I married we received THREE tea pots. One sported a small print in cornflower blue. Definately not my taste. When an aquaintance had her wedding shower, I had no qualms about giving it to her as it was just right for her future kitchen. The only odd bit occured when her aunt asked where I found such a perfect match.... Since then I've passed on fancy scented soaps to our young neices and crazy socks to a sister who loves those kinds of things. The secret is to pay as much attention to what a person wants, as you would if you purchased the gift. One of my sisters and I have a mutual love for thrift stores and yard sales and have no problem giving each other things we like, purchased that way. It's especially fun for older and hard to find items.
Some useful links include:
http://www.ukims.co.uk/docs/services/mystery-shopping.asp
http://www.mysteryshopmybusiness.com/
http://www.oldenough2drink.co.uk/
wow I had no idea! Thats actually kind of scarey and isnt it invasion of privacey?
wow great ideas! what a great way to cut down on Christmas costs
My brother and I do this all the time. It's probaby easier between siblings. I always pick out a gift for my parents and he pays me half to put his name on it too.
...I don't mistakenly re-regift the same thing back to the original person who sent the gift!
As long as the gift is not horribly cheesy, tacky or tasteless, I don't see why you can't regift it. I get lots of generic-type gifts (lotions, candles) from office gift exchanges which I think are appropriate in situations where you have to gift a casual acquaintance/mail person/babysitter/etc. I do draw the line at regifting items that I'm opened, even if they are unused- that's just unsanitary...
The whole idea of buying something that expensive that it requires multiple contributions, to satiate a "I want" desire sounds wrong to me.
Want nothing, and you'll be the happiest person on earth!
Keigu,
Financial Samurai
"Slicing Through Money's Mysteries"
Let me start off by saying I have no problem with re-gifting. Re-gifting is not the problem, it is the stigma associated with it, caused is by people who will re-gift a junk item in order to save a dime on a present for another person.
If I get an item I do not want or need but feel it is a truly good gift for another person, then yes I would save myself the time and money by re-gifting, and have done so on a small handful of occasions. I will not, however, re-gift something if I would not have bought it to give as a gift with my own money anyway.
I am much more likely to attempt returning a gift I do not need (although return policies have gotten much stricter over the past year). Since I won't re-gift junk, the practice is really just saving me the time of going to the store and working out an exchange.
I have been regifted to -- and the person told me right after I opened said gift -- not a nice feeling. I have passed on things that were given, but mostly donated to a resale shop or Goodwill. I always hope that people who decide to buy me a gift actually think about what I would like and shop accordingly. If I received something that is totally not me, but would be perfect for my sister, I would probably give it to her, but not as a birthday or Christmas present. I guess I've been burned by regifting once too many times.
Yes, I have re gifted. I think it's fine, as long as the gift isn't scary and weird. Dear Abby had a little poem that she ran in her column once that was intended to be included with any gift, that basically said "This gift is yours, do what you want with it" Of course it said it much more sweetly than I just did! I think you have to know the original giver too. Some people pour themselves into a gift and to find out you've given that away, is really hurtful. But most of us would do well, to really give gifts freely, without obligating the recipient in any way. We shouldn't be giving with strings attached.