This is all well and good, but really you just need to vaccinate (95-100% efficacy is the number I've heard for the H1N1 vaccine as they've been able to directly target the right strain).
i actually like spam e mails because of the occasional e mail from a distressed nigerian prince asking for help in moving millions of dollars around. Sometimes it is an investment banker asking for help in defrauding the bank he works for. While i have never fallen for such, it always amazes me how stupid people think that other people are. What is even more disconcerting is that there are naive(tried very hard not to type unbelievably stupid) people that fall for this tricks
The bottom line for me is this... Horizon Fat Free Milk tastes markedly better than any other fat free milk available to me... by a mile. It's very rich, seems thicker than other fat free milk and has a very sweet taste.
After drinking it for the first time, my question about it was whether or not it was actually fat free.
Depending on where you live, the National Parks Pass can save you a lot. We went to Lassen, Oregon Caves, Olympic, and Crater Lake for one trip. Then 6 months later we went to Arches, Mesa Verde, Zion, the north rim of the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Natural Bridges. We also took small long-weekend trips to places like Joshua Tree and Pinnacles. Factor in minimal camping fees and gas instead of expensive hotel rooms and airfare and we saved a TON of money on our trips.
I'm always afraid that I'll get my withholdings wrong anyway (because my income varies from year to year) so this kind of stuff doesn't help. When I got the extra amount in my check I didn't even want to mess with it, so I just went and had it immediately withheld again.
One of the buried themes in this article (I believe) is that live is an evolution. I wonder if it's when we get stuck in a life of mediocrity (in our eyes) that things start to go downhill.
It's kind of like the stories of two frogs in pots. The first frog was chucked into a pot of hot water. He immediately jumped out to safety, as you do. The second frog, however, was put into a pot of luke warm water which was heated slowly. It didn't perceive the gradual change in temperature until the water was too hot for the frog to save itself.
@CanadianFreeStuff - You say you are happier now with a "regular" job than you were owning a business. You're not alone! Other commenters have touched on this too; this goes to show just how many "tints of rainbow" (as @SilverPurseGal says) there are! Good for you for having the courage to make a big career change in your life too; keep chasing what you love, whatever that may be for you right now!
Awesome comments and discussion, people. Keep 'em coming!
If you are already married with kids and suddenly decide to purse a life long dream of travel and writing telling your family "see you later" can be devastating to THEIR lives. Is that selfish?
You make a great observation about relationships, and honoring commitments you have made. Once again, I don't believe that one has to come without the other. If you love your wife and kids, then your lives will evolve together, as you - individually and collectively - search out what you love. (PS - I know entire families who travel).
Just in case you were wondering, I didn't leave a husband and kids behind; I don't have kids, and the hubby and I decided to travel together!
I could work very long hours pursuing my every dream while ignoring my kids, wife and other relationships. When I finally do achieve my goal/dream these people may have moved on, having given up on a the relationship I was too busy to nurture.
Good one. I don't have an answer for that. I don't know if the speaker had a wife and kids who stood in the sidelines while he worked so hard for those five years. I know many people who have been on both sides of that dilemna, and it is a very difficult one to navigate. This is where communication and (acceptable) compromises are necessary.
@Aussie - TELL me about it! I'm traveling/living in Australia right now, and I got some serious sticker shock when I tried to order a cup 'o' joe and a muffin, and came out with a bill for over $8.
I will say that the difference is a "regular" coffee in North America is pre-made and percolated; coffee in Australia is espresso based and made to order. It took me weeks to learn how to order a coffee with the likes of "flat white"s and "long black"s etc!
It's interesting how my personal life is often reflected in the articles I write for Wise Bread. You see, I'm doing this very exercise right now along with my boyfriend. What I didn't realize (possibly because it is a natural process for me) is that it came about as a function of having first developed a very specific savings goal. And because we are motivated by our goals, the budgeting part is actually providing us with continued inspiration to persevere.
So kudos to Brian and others for observing that goals are truly the first step to budgeting. Thanks!
@David - Great! Let us know what you think, please!
@Charles - Valley of Life looks great - although it falls under the category of Online Memorial Sites, as opposed to Online Estate Planning. Most of the online memorial sites are indeed free.
Hi all--thanks for your thoughtful comments about Thanksgiving. Yes, there's plenty of mythology about this event. But some of the mythology actually makes for a nice holiday, no?
Regarding the actually history, Juan Ponce De Leon's landing in Florida in 1513 was celebrated with a "Day of Thanksgiving" and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado held a Thanksgiving Service and meal in 1541 in Texas. Jamestown, Virginia has two other claims of "the orginal" Thanksgiving (in 1607 and 1610). Naturally, Native Americans had been having harvest celebrations long before any of these Europeans showed up! How are these relevant to Thanksgiving today? Well, all of them were celebrations of gratitude, to God, to Mother Nature, to Lady Luck, etc...But yes, the 1621 Thanksgiving is considered by most to be the basis of our current holiday, which is why the title of this piece references that date.
Squanto (aka Tisquantum) indeed had a hard life. He learned English when he was abducted from the US by George Weymouth who was exploring Maine in 1605 and was then resold and re-enslaved by various English ship captains. When he finally managed to get back home to the US in 1619, he discovered that his tribe, the Patuxet, had been wiped out by a plague (probably small pox) during his absence. His old village site has been reborn as Plymouth.
With regards to his work helping the Pilgrims, even though he fostered alliances, ultimately, he wasn't allowed to straddle the two worlds and became distrusted both by his adopted tribe and the Plymouth Colony. Some historians actually speculate that he was assassinated by Wampanoags for his dealing with the Pilgrims. This is why my fundraising for Heifer International is in honor of the Native American liaisons who generously gave their knowledge to their newly arrived neighbors and not, say, Myles Standish.
If you are going to take the dive for an annual pass, just make sure it is something you are really going to use!
A few years ago, after a 2 year campaign, my wife convinced me that an annual pass to Disney Land was worth the money. I too, did the math and figured to break even we needed to visit the parks 8 times.
She convinced me that she would take the kids on early release days and several times over the summer.
As it turned out, it was Dad that was dragging the family to Disney for the 6th, 7th and 8th visit just so I could say we didn't waste the money!
We now live on the other side of the country. Can you believe she actually suggested a visit to Disney World a couple weeks ago?
This year, I've made agreements with everyone to do homemade gifts, or gifts of things we already own but which may be useful to the recipient. It's cheaper and more ecologically sound.
I have been using less detergent for years and that is in my top loading machine. I read the forums over at gardenweb and the laundry room forum everyone recommends 1 Tablespoon for a large load in a front loading machine. This is of regular detergent and the non HE variety. The only difference between regular detergent and HE detergents is the addition of a foam reducer in the HE version. Also, those with front loaders should know if you use too much detergent it builds up inside the outer part of the drum and you can get a pretty moldy build up. Using liquid detergents seem to build up worse than powdered versions. The use of vinegar does help cut the scum build up in your clothing. The reason why vinegar works is because if you don't have a build up of detergents in your clothing they will not get stiff. I hang dry all of my laundry and I find less is so much better at keeping my clothes soft.
I am one of those people that I will wear clothing several times before washing with the exception of socks and underwear for obvious reasons.
One thing I do advise against though, is cutting product with water to make it go further. I do formulary (but more for bath and body products) and by adding water it throws off the preservative in a product and bacteria and molds grow in those products. Just because you can't see or smell it in those products doesn't mean it isn't there. There are some bacterias that can cause blindness so trying to save yourself 50 cents over a year isn't worth your eyesight. Just buy the cheapest shampoo and use a smaller amount, etc. Same goes for any liquid product.
I'd say 95% of the items sold at Costco is more expensive than local stores, some of the stuff at local stores may have higher regular prices than Costco, but why would you buy it, just wait for the sale at local stores in a couple of weeks or so. For tires, you can go to various tire websites to buy or even have them installed at designated shops. And trust me, it's cheaper than buying at Costco.
Quite a few years ago, my late husband went to a sign shop & had a magnetized one made up that went on our metal security door out front. It says: "No matter what you are selling, including your religion, go away!" It wasn't because we were getting a lot of sales people, either. Has worked like a charm.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving we always have a pizza party. Toppings vary, but I'm partial to turkey, onion, green pepper, and pineapple. We also usually do a turkey and tofu Pad Thai one night, and turkey usually ends up in stirfry with whatever veggies we happen to have around the house another night.
Another idea is to cube it up, put it in small freezer bags, and freeze it for later use. Twice a year we go camping and this is a quick way to add protein to the pasta and rice dishes that we pack for meals.
Have you tried white vinegar in the rinse cycle? When my son was born, and I used cloth diapers (1978), I didn't want to risk all those softening/scenting chemicals on a baby's bottom (via the diaper).
I can't remember where I found out about vinegar, but it makes an excellent fabric softener and leaves no scent (especially not a vinegary one).
I've used it for years, and I'd never go back (also way cheaper)!
You might want to get a couple signs - one to post near the street and one for your door. I work in a small office, and was constantly interrupted by sales people. I posted a "no soliciting" sign in the front window. I watched these people walk by it, look at and read it, and come on in anyway! So I added a second sign facing the parking lot, and changed the sign to include the definition (and pronunciation and etymology) of "solicit." This has significantly reduced the number of solicitors, but has by no means eliminated them. good luck!
This is all well and good, but really you just need to vaccinate (95-100% efficacy is the number I've heard for the H1N1 vaccine as they've been able to directly target the right strain).
i actually like spam e mails because of the occasional e mail from a distressed nigerian prince asking for help in moving millions of dollars around. Sometimes it is an investment banker asking for help in defrauding the bank he works for. While i have never fallen for such, it always amazes me how stupid people think that other people are. What is even more disconcerting is that there are naive(tried very hard not to type unbelievably stupid) people that fall for this tricks
The bottom line for me is this... Horizon Fat Free Milk tastes markedly better than any other fat free milk available to me... by a mile. It's very rich, seems thicker than other fat free milk and has a very sweet taste.
After drinking it for the first time, my question about it was whether or not it was actually fat free.
Depending on where you live, the National Parks Pass can save you a lot. We went to Lassen, Oregon Caves, Olympic, and Crater Lake for one trip. Then 6 months later we went to Arches, Mesa Verde, Zion, the north rim of the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Natural Bridges. We also took small long-weekend trips to places like Joshua Tree and Pinnacles. Factor in minimal camping fees and gas instead of expensive hotel rooms and airfare and we saved a TON of money on our trips.
It is really easy to see how much you need to withhold. Go to http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96196,00.html and plug in numbers from paystubs.
I'm always afraid that I'll get my withholdings wrong anyway (because my income varies from year to year) so this kind of stuff doesn't help. When I got the extra amount in my check I didn't even want to mess with it, so I just went and had it immediately withheld again.
One of the buried themes in this article (I believe) is that live is an evolution. I wonder if it's when we get stuck in a life of mediocrity (in our eyes) that things start to go downhill.
It's kind of like the stories of two frogs in pots. The first frog was chucked into a pot of hot water. He immediately jumped out to safety, as you do. The second frog, however, was put into a pot of luke warm water which was heated slowly. It didn't perceive the gradual change in temperature until the water was too hot for the frog to save itself.
@CanadianFreeStuff - You say you are happier now with a "regular" job than you were owning a business. You're not alone! Other commenters have touched on this too; this goes to show just how many "tints of rainbow" (as @SilverPurseGal says) there are! Good for you for having the courage to make a big career change in your life too; keep chasing what you love, whatever that may be for you right now!
Awesome comments and discussion, people. Keep 'em coming!
@Khurt -
You make a great observation about relationships, and honoring commitments you have made. Once again, I don't believe that one has to come without the other. If you love your wife and kids, then your lives will evolve together, as you - individually and collectively - search out what you love. (PS - I know entire families who travel).
Just in case you were wondering, I didn't leave a husband and kids behind; I don't have kids, and the hubby and I decided to travel together!
Good one. I don't have an answer for that. I don't know if the speaker had a wife and kids who stood in the sidelines while he worked so hard for those five years. I know many people who have been on both sides of that dilemna, and it is a very difficult one to navigate. This is where communication and (acceptable) compromises are necessary.
@Aussie - TELL me about it! I'm traveling/living in Australia right now, and I got some serious sticker shock when I tried to order a cup 'o' joe and a muffin, and came out with a bill for over $8.
I will say that the difference is a "regular" coffee in North America is pre-made and percolated; coffee in Australia is espresso based and made to order. It took me weeks to learn how to order a coffee with the likes of "flat white"s and "long black"s etc!
por favor si sabes como poner multiregion este dvd explicame como...gracias
please i need code this dvd transform to multizone
how i make this change ?
It's interesting how my personal life is often reflected in the articles I write for Wise Bread. You see, I'm doing this very exercise right now along with my boyfriend. What I didn't realize (possibly because it is a natural process for me) is that it came about as a function of having first developed a very specific savings goal. And because we are motivated by our goals, the budgeting part is actually providing us with continued inspiration to persevere.
So kudos to Brian and others for observing that goals are truly the first step to budgeting. Thanks!
@Khurt - You just touched upon the wonderful world of outsourcing, and using currency/cost of living to get more for your money!
(PS - I've written Wise Bread posts from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the US, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia. Does that count?) ;-)
@David - Great! Let us know what you think, please!
@Charles - Valley of Life looks great - although it falls under the category of Online Memorial Sites, as opposed to Online Estate Planning. Most of the online memorial sites are indeed free.
Hi all--thanks for your thoughtful comments about Thanksgiving. Yes, there's plenty of mythology about this event. But some of the mythology actually makes for a nice holiday, no?
Regarding the actually history, Juan Ponce De Leon's landing in Florida in 1513 was celebrated with a "Day of Thanksgiving" and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado held a Thanksgiving Service and meal in 1541 in Texas. Jamestown, Virginia has two other claims of "the orginal" Thanksgiving (in 1607 and 1610). Naturally, Native Americans had been having harvest celebrations long before any of these Europeans showed up! How are these relevant to Thanksgiving today? Well, all of them were celebrations of gratitude, to God, to Mother Nature, to Lady Luck, etc...But yes, the 1621 Thanksgiving is considered by most to be the basis of our current holiday, which is why the title of this piece references that date.
Squanto (aka Tisquantum) indeed had a hard life. He learned English when he was abducted from the US by George Weymouth who was exploring Maine in 1605 and was then resold and re-enslaved by various English ship captains. When he finally managed to get back home to the US in 1619, he discovered that his tribe, the Patuxet, had been wiped out by a plague (probably small pox) during his absence. His old village site has been reborn as Plymouth.
With regards to his work helping the Pilgrims, even though he fostered alliances, ultimately, he wasn't allowed to straddle the two worlds and became distrusted both by his adopted tribe and the Plymouth Colony. Some historians actually speculate that he was assassinated by Wampanoags for his dealing with the Pilgrims. This is why my fundraising for Heifer International is in honor of the Native American liaisons who generously gave their knowledge to their newly arrived neighbors and not, say, Myles Standish.
Shot glass or jigger measure for laundry detergent is the perfect amount for a front load washer. One shot equals one ounce.
If you are going to take the dive for an annual pass, just make sure it is something you are really going to use!
A few years ago, after a 2 year campaign, my wife convinced me that an annual pass to Disney Land was worth the money. I too, did the math and figured to break even we needed to visit the parks 8 times.
She convinced me that she would take the kids on early release days and several times over the summer.
As it turned out, it was Dad that was dragging the family to Disney for the 6th, 7th and 8th visit just so I could say we didn't waste the money!
We now live on the other side of the country. Can you believe she actually suggested a visit to Disney World a couple weeks ago?
ahhhh NO!
This year, I've made agreements with everyone to do homemade gifts, or gifts of things we already own but which may be useful to the recipient. It's cheaper and more ecologically sound.
I have been using less detergent for years and that is in my top loading machine. I read the forums over at gardenweb and the laundry room forum everyone recommends 1 Tablespoon for a large load in a front loading machine. This is of regular detergent and the non HE variety. The only difference between regular detergent and HE detergents is the addition of a foam reducer in the HE version. Also, those with front loaders should know if you use too much detergent it builds up inside the outer part of the drum and you can get a pretty moldy build up. Using liquid detergents seem to build up worse than powdered versions. The use of vinegar does help cut the scum build up in your clothing. The reason why vinegar works is because if you don't have a build up of detergents in your clothing they will not get stiff. I hang dry all of my laundry and I find less is so much better at keeping my clothes soft.
I am one of those people that I will wear clothing several times before washing with the exception of socks and underwear for obvious reasons.
One thing I do advise against though, is cutting product with water to make it go further. I do formulary (but more for bath and body products) and by adding water it throws off the preservative in a product and bacteria and molds grow in those products. Just because you can't see or smell it in those products doesn't mean it isn't there. There are some bacterias that can cause blindness so trying to save yourself 50 cents over a year isn't worth your eyesight. Just buy the cheapest shampoo and use a smaller amount, etc. Same goes for any liquid product.
I'd say 95% of the items sold at Costco is more expensive than local stores, some of the stuff at local stores may have higher regular prices than Costco, but why would you buy it, just wait for the sale at local stores in a couple of weeks or so. For tires, you can go to various tire websites to buy or even have them installed at designated shops. And trust me, it's cheaper than buying at Costco.
Quite a few years ago, my late husband went to a sign shop & had a magnetized one made up that went on our metal security door out front. It says: "No matter what you are selling, including your religion, go away!" It wasn't because we were getting a lot of sales people, either. Has worked like a charm.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving we always have a pizza party. Toppings vary, but I'm partial to turkey, onion, green pepper, and pineapple. We also usually do a turkey and tofu Pad Thai one night, and turkey usually ends up in stirfry with whatever veggies we happen to have around the house another night.
Another idea is to cube it up, put it in small freezer bags, and freeze it for later use. Twice a year we go camping and this is a quick way to add protein to the pasta and rice dishes that we pack for meals.
Ooo . . . the hush puppies idea is fabulous! Thanks, Amanda!
Have you tried white vinegar in the rinse cycle? When my son was born, and I used cloth diapers (1978), I didn't want to risk all those softening/scenting chemicals on a baby's bottom (via the diaper).
I can't remember where I found out about vinegar, but it makes an excellent fabric softener and leaves no scent (especially not a vinegary one).
I've used it for years, and I'd never go back (also way cheaper)!
Some others have mentioned it above also...
Leftover stuffing rolled up in thinly sliced turkey, covered in gravy, and baked to heat through.
Leftover turkey, green bean casserole, any other side vegetable, gravy, in a pot pie or (with less gravy) as a pocket pie/empanada/hot pocket.
Stuffing shaped into balls and deep fried as a replacement for hush puppies.
I've already got the taco soup on my menu for that weekend. :)
You might want to get a couple signs - one to post near the street and one for your door. I work in a small office, and was constantly interrupted by sales people. I posted a "no soliciting" sign in the front window. I watched these people walk by it, look at and read it, and come on in anyway! So I added a second sign facing the parking lot, and changed the sign to include the definition (and pronunciation and etymology) of "solicit." This has significantly reduced the number of solicitors, but has by no means eliminated them. good luck!