Ok, in the past the "obligatory giving" has just about ruined the Christmas season for me. This year I'm only giving a handful of presents, and for the most-part there's no obligation felt at all! Not a lot of money is being spent either, because there's not that much to give. But I'm planning on enjoying what giving I do.
This year I'll stress out about getting the decorations up, instead!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
My "Not-A-Checking-Account" Checking Account...
I have a "checking" account with ING Direct. They call it a checking account, but you can't write checks against it. You do have a debit card, the use of ATMs, and bill-paying. It even pays interest. You just don't get a checkbook to write checks with. The online bill-pay will print a check and mail it to the designated recipient, but that's still not the same as being able to write a check on the spot.
The account is free, however, and the interest rates are relatively high. It's all part of the economizing that most of the "Internet" banks do. No bricks-and-mortar branches. No checks. No tellers. No high fees, either. I think I'll keep them.
I'll also be keeping my account at Truliant Credit Union, so I can write checks, or walk in and make a deposit or get a cashiers check.
The account is free, however, and the interest rates are relatively high. It's all part of the economizing that most of the "Internet" banks do. No bricks-and-mortar branches. No checks. No tellers. No high fees, either. I think I'll keep them.
I'll also be keeping my account at Truliant Credit Union, so I can write checks, or walk in and make a deposit or get a cashiers check.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Gas Saver Tips
Just because gas is less then $2/gall again (Hooray! BTW) it doesn't mean anyone should slack off on their conservation measures. The best way is still to minimize the miles you drive by consolidating and eliminating unnecessary trips.
One of my favorite methods is to keep a well stocked pantry, so that I don't have to make trips to the grocery store. There's nothing like a loaf of bread in the freezer and a few envelopes of powdered milk in the pantry. I generally rotate bread from the freezer when I buy a new loaf. It thaws quickly and there is no deterioration in quality.
Powdered milk is also great, and can cost less than 'real' milk. I buy Walmart's GV brand which is packaged in one-quart envelopes. You can also add a single drop of vanilla, but it tastes great as is. Just follow directions, mix well, and chill.
One of my favorite methods is to keep a well stocked pantry, so that I don't have to make trips to the grocery store. There's nothing like a loaf of bread in the freezer and a few envelopes of powdered milk in the pantry. I generally rotate bread from the freezer when I buy a new loaf. It thaws quickly and there is no deterioration in quality.
Powdered milk is also great, and can cost less than 'real' milk. I buy Walmart's GV brand which is packaged in one-quart envelopes. You can also add a single drop of vanilla, but it tastes great as is. Just follow directions, mix well, and chill.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Electricity Breakdown
Or rather a breakdown of the usage. My electric company, Duke Energy, provides online tools to help you understand your energy usage. It only takes a few minutes to set up and then you'll get an idea of where the electricity goes in your household. I live in an all-electric house, so it's good to know this stuff.
Not surprisingly, heating and cooling the air top the list, followed by heating water. Afterwards it's all about food, keeping it cool and getting it hot (i.e. refrigeration/freezing/cooking). Then there's cleaning (washer/dryer/dishwasher). Then you get to things like lights, computers, televisions, and well pumps).
Obviously for biggest savings it's about insulation and adjusting thermostats. Refrigeration seems like an all-or-nothing proposition, but newer models can be more efficient, and refrigerators and freezers operate more efficiently when they're full.
And turn off the computer when you aren't using it. I used to leave one running 24/7, which can cost $14-$18/month! Now I'm mostly using the laptop, so the power strip with the 'big' computer, monitor, and printers is unplugged.
Finally, the bill analysis shows my monthly usage for the last yeat. Not-surprisingly the hottest and coldest months I used over three times as much as I did in May and October, the most comfortable months.
We'll see what kind of help the electric blanket makes this winter. Not to mention to four-footed, fur-covered heating machines.
Linen's N Things Clearance
An opportunity for anyone with a kitchen-gadget fetish? Not yet.
The advertised sale is "20-40% off" everything in the store, but most of the kitchen stuff is 'only' 20% off. They used to give you 20% off every day with the coupons, with which I used to paper my second bedroom, they were so plentiful. The coupons aren't good towards the sale items.
Call me when you get serious, 40-50% off everything.
The advertised sale is "20-40% off" everything in the store, but most of the kitchen stuff is 'only' 20% off. They used to give you 20% off every day with the coupons, with which I used to paper my second bedroom, they were so plentiful. The coupons aren't good towards the sale items.
Call me when you get serious, 40-50% off everything.
Friday, November 7, 2008
A Time To Be Cheap
Cheap is not the same as Frugal. To me, being frugal means getting more from your money, not spending friviously, minimizing expenses. all within reason.
Being "cheap" on the other hand is avoiding spending any money that you don't have to. It means buying lower quality, having less, or not buying at all. It means skipping things instead of merely economizing.
Frugal, to me, is the right way to live. I like to think that even if I were to have a lottery-esque windfall that I would still nmake decisions based on frugality, though I know my lifestyle would change. (New carpet, landscaping, paved driveway).
Cheap, on the other hand, seems more like a psychosis. Don't know if it comes from an impoverished past, or what. Of course more often peoples psychosis tends towards the opposite extreme.
But in tight times with poor economic forecast and cash in short supply even the frugal need to be somewhat cheap.
That being said, I'm off for a frugal weekend at the coast. A friend invited me down, so for the cost of some gas, a little food, and a $5 fishing license I get a vacation! Glad I'm not too cheap to enjoy it.
Being "cheap" on the other hand is avoiding spending any money that you don't have to. It means buying lower quality, having less, or not buying at all. It means skipping things instead of merely economizing.
Frugal, to me, is the right way to live. I like to think that even if I were to have a lottery-esque windfall that I would still nmake decisions based on frugality, though I know my lifestyle would change. (New carpet, landscaping, paved driveway).
Cheap, on the other hand, seems more like a psychosis. Don't know if it comes from an impoverished past, or what. Of course more often peoples psychosis tends towards the opposite extreme.
But in tight times with poor economic forecast and cash in short supply even the frugal need to be somewhat cheap.
That being said, I'm off for a frugal weekend at the coast. A friend invited me down, so for the cost of some gas, a little food, and a $5 fishing license I get a vacation! Glad I'm not too cheap to enjoy it.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Save Money Eating Abroad!
Ok, not really. This post is actually about the money that can be saved by familiarizing yourself with ethnic grocery stores. Chances are that your locale has at least one hispanic grocery store or, if you're lucky, hispanic supermarket. Many larger cities have asian markets, and I know of at least one, um, Indian(?) grocer within 15 miles of my home.
Ifyou're like me, you won't be able to identify some of the ingrediants, nor have any idea what to do with many of the identifiable ones. But I can guaranty that you'll find many staples that are familiar to you. Some ingrediants are more of a staple to traditional American palattes, so are available much cheaper. Talking beans and rice, and many many other staples. Spices and sauces, are frequently cheaper, plus there's likely to be much more variety then you'd find at "regular" grocery stores.
Really, you may feel like you've entered another world, and in a way you are. Admission is free, and you may find that you're visiting on a regular basis. Personally, I only visit the Asian market when I need something specific, but the hispanic market, which I recently visited, will probably be a regular stop because of some good produce deals, the mist extensive meat department you can imagine, and other products which aren't too "foreign" to me.
Ifyou're like me, you won't be able to identify some of the ingrediants, nor have any idea what to do with many of the identifiable ones. But I can guaranty that you'll find many staples that are familiar to you. Some ingrediants are more of a staple to traditional American palattes, so are available much cheaper. Talking beans and rice, and many many other staples. Spices and sauces, are frequently cheaper, plus there's likely to be much more variety then you'd find at "regular" grocery stores.
Really, you may feel like you've entered another world, and in a way you are. Admission is free, and you may find that you're visiting on a regular basis. Personally, I only visit the Asian market when I need something specific, but the hispanic market, which I recently visited, will probably be a regular stop because of some good produce deals, the mist extensive meat department you can imagine, and other products which aren't too "foreign" to me.
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