Breaking Even

Ladies: Spend $50 And Double Your Wardrobe

A few months ago, you may remember I bought some Danskin leggings as part of my first Ebates experiment. I had worn out my first pair (from Target costing $10) and I wanted something more durable. I bought a brown and black pair... and was floored to realize that I spent $50 on leggings. Yikes. 

Since I've got them, I've worn them at least once a week. And guess what? They're still holding up! And I've found that my $50 investment has helped maximize my wardrobe. Here's why I love my Danskin leggings:

• In the winter, I wear them with skirts and dressses and tucked them into boots for a warmer, more comfortable experience than tights.
• Speaking of winter, I could wear them under my ski clothes as a cheaper alternative to my silk long underwear.
• In summer, I wear them with skirts or dresses with ballet flats.
• On the weekends, I wear my leggings with a longer shirt or tunic. Comfier than jeans, and great for traveling!
• Adding a long top and some great pumps, I am good to go out.
• They take almost no room in a weekend bag.
• If I've gained a little weight, I know I have at least some nice clothes I can wear anyway.
• A light spin in the dryer after they've air dried helps keep their elasticity.
• I can wear them to work out. Cheaper than yoga pants!
• Unlike the cheap pair I had before, I don't have to worry about them falling down from a stretched-out elastic. Always a bonus!

In short, while I felt ridiculous spending $25 on a small part of stretch fabric, I understand the importance of buying quality. Leggings are a "foundation garmet" on which aspects of my wardrobe are now based. I may buy a couple more pairs at the end of the summer for fall and winter wear, though my current pairs show no signs of wearing out.

So if you're going to buy leggings, try Danskin. They are really worth the price, and will extend your wardrobe greatly!

An All-Business Approach To Blogging- Part 2 of 2

This peice was originally published in the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce newsletter.

The first post in this series outlined blogging as a general trend and discussed examples of how a blog could be used on a business web site. Blogs increase web traffic by adding the content customers are searching for to your site (mainly solutions to their problems). Blogs also increase web traffic by giving a reason for customers to visit your web site more often. More importantly than increasing traffic to your web site, blogs can enhance relationships with customers for minimal effort on the blogger’s part. 

A blog allows for commenting, which gives a customer a chance to ask questions and give feedback to a business. By being honest with customers, listening to their concerns, and responding timely in a public forum, bloggers can not only reach the one customer who commented but hundreds of potential customers as well. For example, if your blog discussed your business’s current renovations and apologized for order delays, a customer is more likely to be understanding. A blog puts a human face on your business in a way that’s hard to do online or even at a storefront. Customer comments also allow you to understand what the public likes and doesn’t like about your business, giving you a chance to improve.

Besides learning more from customers, blogs can help you promote what is going on in your business. You can use your business blog to talk about upcoming special events and promotions. A guest author coming to visit your bookstore, for example, may give the opportunity to not only talk about the upcoming visit but to review the author’s books or to talk about other recommended authors that you carry in your store.

The best thing about a blog is that whether you are techno savvy or not, you can maintain it. You don’t have to know about web design to have a blog; there are many free blogging services like Blogger and Wordpress or you can have your webmaster design a blog to go with your business site. A blog is as easy as writing an email and you can add pictures and links like with email. The difference is you only have to write a blog once for many people to see it.

So consider blogging as a way to personalize your online presence and build relationships with customers. Check out the web sites of other businesses and see how they are using blogging. Talk to your webmaster about setting up a blog. If you decide to try one, commit to setting aside time at least once or twice a week to update it and do so religiously. The content you post should be easy to skim and free of grammar and spelling errors. Bold important words for easy skimming, include helpful links or ideas in bulleted lists, and write in an honest and polite manner. Take time to respond to comments personally. Tell everyone about your new blog. Over the course of six months, did your blog increase overall traffic to your web site? Did your sales increase? Have people been talking about it? These are all signs that blogging is working. You’ll only know if blogging is effective for your business if you try it. Whether you decide to continue it after the trial period or not, you’ll have learned a lot about the internet, your customers, and your business.

An All-Business Approach To Blogging- Part 1 of 2

This piece was originally published in the Ellsworth Chamber Of Commerce newsletter.

Blogging has come a long way from computer savvy types writing their personal lives for all to read online. In the past few years, blogging has become a force itself, gaining credibility as it becomes mainstream and breaks some major news stories before traditional media. Some bloggers are now considered experts, intellectuals, and even celebrities.

A blog, which is short for “weblog” is a type of web site where entries are listed in order of date. Entries are used to share ideas, thoughts, and web site links. All entries (called posts) are archived and searchable by date and keyword, making information easy to find. They can be categorized by type of weblog (a photo blog is a photolog for example) or by genre (such as political, personal, or business). Blogs can be found through a search engine like Google or blog directories like Technorati. Between 27-45 % of Americans currently read blogs and this number continues to grow. Worldwide, bloggers (people who write blogs) number over 112 million. More information about blogs and how they work can be seen in this short video: http://www.commoncraft.com/blogs. The best way to understand the purpose of blogs, however, is to read a few; many of your favorite authors or journalists as well as larger companies have their own blogs.

Blogging may seem to be a frivolous way to spend precious business resources of time and personnel. There are ways, however, that your business can benefit from a blog. The first part of this series will discuss how blogging increases your web presence. The second part of the series will explain how blogging can enhance relationships with your customers as well as ways to start a blog for your business.

It may not be news for you to think of your business web site as a publication. To move your web site beyond general information, however, you must consider how you use the internet. You probably don’t use the internet to search for new businesses or ways to spend money but instead, you search for answers to questions. If your business web site provides this information, your web site is more likely to come up in a web search and people are more likely to visit it. Also, updating your web site regularly with information will keep customers coming back to your site to see what else is new. According to some studies, blog readers spend longer on a web page and often have more disposable income than other web users, making them exactly who you want to attract to your site.

Blogs can help with the age-old questions small businesses struggle with: how to get people to their web site and how to keep people coming back. Your business blog could be used answer some frequently asked questions, highlight new products and upcoming events, or instruct people on how to do something with a product you sell. These strategies will no doubt increase your web presence and, more importantly, your web traffic. 

Next Post: How blogging can enhance customer relations and how to get started blogging for your business.

Shameless Promotion

Due to the serendipitous nature of subscribing to lots of feeds, I ran across a blog discussing the fineness of Madeline Peyroux, an musical artist I happen to love. I commented and then ensued a discussion with a woman who likes the exact kinds of music I like. Her blog is The Laundry Is Never Finished, her name is Jennifer, and she and her blog are fabulous. We are exchanging mix CDs in the mail this week. Horray internet friends!

I participated in this week's Carnival of Personal Finance this week hosted by Mrs. Micah. I credit the title Ten Things You Need In Your Kitchen (Besides A Good Cook) for actually driving traffic my way this week.

Madison at My Dollar Plan listed one of my posts on her blog a few weeks back. Her doing so doubled my traffic so I wrote her to thank her. She not only wrote back but offered to link me again and did so yesterday. Another big traffic spike. It's people like this in the blogging community (and more specifically the personal finance blogging community) that make me proud to be a part of it. So help me return the favor and check our her blog. There's a reason it gets so much traffic.

I'd also like to give a shout out to one of my current favorite blogs, Cheap Healthy Good. Except for the dislike of mayonnaise, I agree with everything she says and laugh at least once every post. Do subscribe to this blog if you like food, fun, and good healthy recipes.

And the Blood Drive Contest is almost over, folks. People have written with compelling reasons why they can't participate (which is fine, not everyone is able to give blood and shouldn't put themselves in a bad medical situation by trying to do so) but come on! If no one participates, I guess I'm keeping the book from the giveaway all for myself. So comment on this post if you want to participate. Still a couple more days to give if you're thinking about it. I did mention the free book, right?

A Moment of Zen In The Breakroom

Most days, I need a little afternoon pick-me-up. I don't mean necessarily caffeine so much as an excuse to leave the cubicle for a few moments. It gives me a chance to soak in some natural light and give my eyes a break from the computer screen, not to mention a moment to center myself...

Because I am now forgoing my coffee shop coffee, I have brought the experience to the breakroom. Since I now don't have to go anywhere to get my gourmet cup of happiness, that means I have more time to go for a quick walk down the street or even just peruse Better Homes And Gardens (I'm not sure who stocks the breakroom with magazines but I'm grateful!)

The french press that an old employee has left behind is nice though don't worry if you don't have such luck as to stumble upon one. The small Bodum three cup French press we have in there costs only about $20 (three European cups means one big 12 oz in America, land of the supersize).

My bag of coffee that I buy once every three months is $10. I know I've previously endorsed Rock City Coffee Jet blend and I'll keep endorsing it! I keep the coffee, Coffeemate powder, some cocoa powder, and some sugar safely in my cube (probably about $10 of coffee accessories total).

So for about $40, I have coffee for three months and more time in my afternoon break to enjoy the things I truly love: sitting in the quiet of the afternoon and perusing a magazine with pretty pictures. Not sure how Zen it really is but it sure relaxes me!

Anything tricks you have to make that work stress just fade in the middle of the day?

Reader Poll: How Did You Know Your Computer Was Toast?

Clearly if you are reading this blog, you have a computer. And whether you've experienced the loss of a computer firsthand or know a friend of family member that has, you understand what it's like to have a computer completely bleep out on you.

How did you know your computer was dying? (Specific symptoms are helpful). And more importantly, what did you do about it? I'm collecting information to analyze my current technological situation. . . Thanks for your help!

Too Cute Tuesday: The Graphic Pillow

If you're a lover of decorating magazines, you've no doubt seen the cute pillows in graphic and mixed prints casually-on-purpose tossed on furniture in magazines like Dwell or Domino. You may think " Well, I may not be able to afford the $5,000 sofa but I can probably swing that adorable pillow." A quick look at the shopping section and that little pillow is a not so cute price of $200. Boy, have I got a trick for you.

Unless you're a quilter, you probably haven't heard of fat quarters. They are pieces of fabric that are a quarter of a yard (they are rectangle shape but very close to being squares really). They are usually packaged together by color or pattern or designer. They are meant for quilters who don't want to buy a whole mess of fabric but need different fabrics that go together.

Buying fat quarters is like buying perfectly precut fabric for pillows (though you can take off an inch or two to make pillows square). My favorite fabric designer is Amy Butler because she's got great colors and graphics. A quick search online and I find 13 fat quarters for $32. This means I can make six pillows (two pieces of fabric per pillow for way less then one designer pillow.

After fabric, all you need is stuffing. You can buy online or at a fabric store but on the first page of my Google search I saw a great deal on Craigs List. You may also want to take stock of your pillows and see if some of them can be taken out of commission and their stuffing recycled. Even if you have to buy new, stuffing for one pillow shouldn't cost you more than $5.

Materials:
2 fat quarters of fabric that "go together"
Stuffing for one pillow (when in doubt, get more then you think you'll need)
Pins
Sewing machine or needle and thread
1 margarita (optional)

(0. If you want to be a real over-achiever, you can tattoo a design on the fabric you're going to use. The embroidery thing on top of a pattern is hot!)

1. Pin the pillow on three sides, right sides facing each other.

2. Sew the pillow on three sides. You should be looking at the wrong side of the fabric during this process so that when you reverse it, you'll hide the seams. Sew half of the fourth side.

2.5. Invert the pillow. You'll see the right side and the hems are hidden. Yay! Drink some margarita.

3. Stuff the pillow. Fluff the stuffing to declump it and ensure even distribution.

4. Sew a little more of the fourth pillow side and double check the stuffing. Is it even? Do you like it?

5. Finish sewing. Admire your handiness. Lie on your new pillow while finishing margarita.

I'm going to warn you; your first pillow won't come out well. The second one though will be much better so save your best fabric for something besides your first project. And when people ask you where you got your pillow (because they will), say proudly that you made it. Go you!

A Porch Of One's Own: Part I

Outdoor Eatery Or Your Backyard Cozy-fied?

When I moved into Sean's house a year ago, I was very excited in particular about having a deck. It was the one thing my Vinalhaven residence lacked and I saw myself in cute sundresses mingling with friends at my theoretical deck parties.

Only the thing with a deck is it needs something. Something to sit on, eat on, or even look at. Otherwise it's a big expanse of wood. Kind of dull.

While Sean tinkered with his outside project (more on that later this week), it become my goal to make the deck more habitable.

I divided the deck into three distinct areas: the dining/lounging part, the sitting around the firebowl part, and the food/grilling part. In this post, I tackle the dining/lounging area. (Other areas will follow.)

Since Sean hates both wicker and plastic furniture, I'm severely limited on what will work here. I found wooden folding chairs at The Christmas Tree Shop for $5 each last month and bought four. Extra seating, tasteful, and foldable! The added bonus is I can always spray paint them to make them any color I want, though I do like the natual wood look. I used two chairs in my dining area. ($10)

I then made a makeshift table with some leftover lumber in our basement. It looks pretty silly underneath but a water-resistant but cute tablecloth does that trick of hiding my non-handiness. Use lots of brackets to make it as sturdy as possible; remember no one has to know! ($15 for the tablecloth)

To maximize the seating, I took advantage of the bench seating along the edge of the deck. Pillows can make things more comfortable and cozy and with some leftover batting and cloth, I made a bench seat cushion for the other side. (Forgot to take the photo from that angle to show it off. ($20 for batting and cloth on the bench, throw pillows taken temporarily from inside the house)

A planter with bonsai pine tree defines the corner of the deck, and subtly alerts people so they don't fall off the edge (planter $5, tree and rock from yard)

A citronella candle keeps things bug-free, at least relatively ($5). Tea lights on the table will give some light as night falls ($1).

So for just under $60, I can now have four people over (six if we scrunch) for an outside dinner.

Nicole's Tips To A Lounge-y Deck

1. Repurpose. Don't have lumber in your basement? How about a big bulletin board resting on plant stands? Or buy a wide two by four and rest it on a bench. Think of the table height you want (coffee table vs. dining table) and start looking around your house, basement, and garage for things you can use!

2. Invest in a wipeable table cloth. A cloth tablecloth will be in the wash every five minutes. Get one in a plastic-y finish that you can wipe for the occasional spill. Has the added benefit of covering up shoddy carpentry work. 

3. Test your table before people come over. Put plates, food etc. on it and make sure it isn't too wobbly. If it is, adjust as necessary. Remember, the tablecloth will hide your adjustments.

4. Fabric adds poshness. Don't be afraid to use cushions. They're fun and say that you care about your guests' butts. Just have an area close to your deck (but protected) where you can put things when you go in for the night. And make it so you don't have to squish them into storage; if puttint them away is a hassle, you'll never do it and after a season outside, you'll have to junk the cushions. (I have a shelf in our breezeway where the cushions and tablecloth fit perfectly.)

5. Think lighting. As night falls, how will your party transition? Like you would with a room, think of a variety of light sources: candles, Christmas lights, tiki torches, solar lamps... Tea lights and the citronella will be fine in this small space but other lighting will need to happen to make the whole deck useable.

6. Delineate possible hazards. If there is a place where your deck just ends, put a big planter plant. Light transitional areas like stairs (you can do this cheaply by putting a tea light on both sides of every stair). You don't want people to get hurt at your party; it's a real showstopper to have to drive someone to the emergency room!

As the other areas come together, I'll post photos. Hope you had an equally productive weekend!

Twenty Things That'll Make You Happy... And Cost Less Than $1

1. Making sun tea on a lazy afternoon.
2. Growing a plant from a seed.
3. Ironing your sheets and pillowcases (makes them soft).
4. Drinking a Monaco on your back deck (to make a Monaco: a dollop of grenadine syrup in a glass, pour cold beer on top).
5. Sending an old fashioned letter (a real one that you mail) to a friend.
6. Swap a favorite summer read with someone... or get one from the library.
7. Paint your toenails. (Those mini bottles mean little commitment. Might as well go bright orange!)
8. Giving yourself a pore-cleansing mask. (You can make them yourself, or buy a little package at the drugstore).
9. Help a friend do a project.
10. Scan an old photograph (like you putting pink curlers in your grandfather's hair) and make it your desktop background.
11. Borrow a dance video from the library and learn some new moves.
12. Eat a corndog (as I found today, they are ridiculously cheap!).
13. Get one or two of those huge gumballs from a gumball machine and blow ginormous bubbles.
14. Going for a run (exercise endophins and healthy!).
15. Put a lemon in your water glass.
16. Call your grandmother, even if for a couple of minutes.
17. Write a thank you note to someone who helped you out... and send it!
18. Get $1 worth of penny candy and sit somewhere scenic to eat it.
19. Buy your local paper and get caught up on the local news and activities.
20. Pick some wildflowers.

A Letter To My Younger Self

Cheap Healthy Good had a letter to her younger self this week that made me laugh... and think about what I'd say to my twelve year old self.

Dear Nicole,

I know you are really expecting some divine intervention in the way of instruction as to what you're supposed to do with your life. You are figuring that Bernadette peasant chick from long-time-ago France got a sign from God and that you should get one too, gosh darn it. Let's just say either God's really subtle or that it's not happening. And that's ok.

I know this because I am you, only years into the future. I'm the 27 year old you more specifically. Don't worry, that's not nearly as old as you think. You know that list that you made of things to accomplish by the time you were 25? The list is still in your mind but you really need to give yourself more time to get there. You have, however, crossed a few things off the list. You've learned French and you are kind of a writer. I'll get to that in a little bit.

So you've just consulted a fortune teller you met in Old Orchard Beach on the last family vacation who told you 1) That you'd be a doctor or a teacher 2) that you'd have a hard time in your early 20s and 3) That you should trust someone with an initial of "A". You wrote these things down so you'd remember, in case she happened to be right about one of them. She was right about one thing; you did have a rough period in your early twenties. Don't dread it though; remember that deep down, you are a very happy person and have no regrets. You also don't worry about things in your adult life, which drives many people you know crazy. You are lucky. Just remember to take care of yourself always.

Let's get to the details you're curious about. You're not married yet. I know you think about that a lot, wondering if there is someone out there for you to share things with. The fact that you're not married says less about you being a weird person that boys don't want to marry and more about not having the luck to stumble on the right person. Someone asked you to marry them at one point but you had the guts to know that it wasn't right. You live with your boyfriend now and Mom and Dad are ok with it. He's not what you expect but he's wonderful. As you predicted, you don't have kids and aren't sure if you want them at all. You do love having a dog though, and your dog loves you.

You've traveled a little like you've wanted to and you will travel more. While you haven't written a book, you have written things that people read and enjoy. I won't get into the technicalities but there will a new technology that'll let you write and let other people all over the world read it. You'll love doing it.

I know you think about the bigger world out there and how you fit in a lot. I know that you feel a little weird because you are saying things no one else is saying. You will meet people in your life that'll value that about you. You'll have many friends and you'll stay close to your family. You are still friends with Robby and Laura, and you make new friends wherever you go.

I'm not sure you really want to know all this. There is actually a lot I'm not telling you that I'll let you figure out. Just keep being who you are. You turn into a great person that people want to know and be with. You won't ever be lonely, so stop preparing yourself in case you are. Trust your gut, you inherited the whole being right thing from Mom. And like I said, take care of yourself. Your friends and family will help but it is up to you to steer the course of your life. And you are not a bad drive at all.

Love,
Yourself

Ten Things You Need In Your Kitchen (Besides A Good Cook)

I spend a lot of time thinking about food. I think it's because I feel like buying food is more necessary then buying other products. It's consumable and nourishes my body in a way a sweater can't.

I do a lot of my own cooking to save money and eat healthier.

Saving Money
The average price for a home cooked meal ranges but I doubt that it is more then your $10+ entree at a restuarant. My average cost per meal comes out to $2 a serving. And I eat very well, in the healthy sense and in the amount sense!

Healthier Meal
If you cook something, you have control of what goes in it. How much salt did the restaurant put into your soup? How much butter in those cookies from your favorite dessert place? You probably don't want to know. You can also do things when you cook like sneak in fiber and vegetables to your unsuspecting victims. (Evil laugh here)

Ok so I've convinced you to at least attempt cooking at home, even at least some of the time. Excellent! Here are ten cooking implements I would recommend having, whether you are just beginning to build your kitchen or a seasoned pro.

Crepe Pan
A light non-stick pan that goes beyond making that wonderful little french dish. You can use it like a frying pan, but its lightness makes it easy to make something a little more delicate like an omelet. Buy a good quality one; I've had mine for over six years. (Average cost: $100)

George Foreman Grill
If you eat meat with any regularity, this makes it easy and healthy (no oil). Also great for grilling crispy tofu and eggplant. Oh, and you can think of it as a panini machine, just add butter to the outside of your bread and *perfection*. (Average cost: $25-$80- depending on size and brand)

Wok
For stirfrys but you can also boil water in it for pasta. Get one with a lid, and don't bother with nonstick surface. The real Chinese cooks use metal. (Average cost: $10)

A Strainer, with a fine mesh
For draining pasta, rinsing sushi rice, and making apple sauce. You can also use it like a sifter! (Average cost: $5-$10)

A Knife
A good knife makes chopping fresh vegetables or cutting open packages that much easier. Check a place like TJ Maxx; you can get a discount on one good quality knife. (Average cost: $15-$25)

Cutting Board
Goes with the knife, keeps you dishes and counter from getting damaged. (Average cost: $3)

A Spatula
Get stuff off a non-stick pan, cutting and serving. It's one of those things you only miss when you don't have it, though I can't think of a really compelling use for it at the moment. (Average cost: $5)

Pan (For the Oven)
A glass or ceramic deeper dish will not only make deserts like brownies and pies but you can make layered dishes like lasagna. Sure it makes a bizarre-shaped lasagna, but you don't need to buy a bunch of oven pans this way. (Average cost $15-$40)

Cookie Sheet
For making cookies, pizza, and roasting swiss chard. (Average cost $2)

Rice Cooker
A versatile appliance for busy people who want to eat well? A rice cooker. (From GenX Finance) It steams, it cooks rice, it can brown onions. The nonstick surface and low temperature make it perfect for cooking rice but also soups would be perfect in here. (Average cost: $25-$80- depending on size and brand)

Obviously, you can build up your kitchen over time. Start out with the thing that excites you the most and go from there.

So do you agree with my list? Anything you'd take off or you think I'm forgetting?

 

 

Times They Aren't A-Changin'

In A Doom-And-Gloom Economy, There's Only One Thing To Do: Learn As Much As Possible 

Reading economics articles make me feel smart. I've included some links to some if you want feel smart too! Since schools all over the country are winding down, I thought I'd divide my findings by theoretical school subject.

Sociology

Could you live with just 100 things? It's an interesting idea, and the article makes me think of my about 100 kitchen utensils and appliances in a whole new way. Anyone want a blender?

When faced with a range of choices, most shoot for the middle. This principle from the book "Predictably Irrational" is explained with graphics by Can I Get Rich On A Salary.

There is an active moment to get Americans thinking that it's cool to save. Um, just check out the personal finance blogs and websites, Confronting the Debt Culture Conference. We've been talking about how cool it is for months, some people out there years. See this New York Times article for analysis. 

And according to the New York Times, rich people are having a hard time not getting to go on fancy vacations or wearing expensive clothes. Cry me a river.

Statistics

Can I Get Rich On A Salary had a great analysis called "What Are Your Chances of Moving Up, Really?" examining the ability to attain the American Dream of doing better than our parents. The short form: It's not where you start but how you save that determines you moving up, that and a good education doesn't hurt. The long form though includes some great charts and additional resources.

But even in a down economy, people still have their priorities: big perky boobs. (via SmartMoney)

Environmental Science

And no need to worry about clubbing baby seals in the Arctic for our oil: The Center For Economic and Policy Research outlines three ways to save consumers money and decrease our country's energy emissions. Now what are they going to do with these ideas? (via Wall Street Journal)

Home Economics/Life Skills (the more PC term)

You too can write a polite Dear John letter to the person you want to buy a home from (or vice versa). Proves the old proverb, you'll never know until you ask. (via NYT)

And you may feel like you pay a lot for rent but a little research may prove otherwise. The Baglady plugged her numbers and found she is getting a good deal. Are you?

What did you learn in school today?

1. Can I Get Rich On A Salary is a great blog you should read often. http://www.canigetrichonasalary.com/

2. The New York Times backs up the obvious, but sometimes surprises with the occasional new nugget.

3. Nicole aggregates articles like no other. (Or at least tries to).

Check out other timely personal finance articles at this week's Carnival of Personal Finance.

Image: Gee, according to Google, people care more and more about saving money all the time. Hmmm....

Have You Joined The June Blood Drive?

There are still a couple of weeks to get in on the June Blood Drive Giveaway.

Apparently, I psychicly predicted that this month is National Blood Donors Day (which was June 14). Trent at The Simple Dollar has also encouraged people to give blood as a frugal and concrete way to help the flood victims in this country. And if you enter my blood drive on this blog, you could win a book. It's a win-win. So comment on this post after giveing blood (honor system folks!) and you'll be entered to win.

I'm coodinating a shared ride to the blood donation place next week so I'll be practicing what I preach real soon. So do enter the June Blood Drive Giveaway!

See where your closest Red Cross is here..
Read a story about blood donations making a difference here...

Too Cute Tuesday: Tattoo Your Towels

Want to make a nice gift that costs you next to nothing and impresses your boyfriend? How about some embroidery?

I got the idea from Tattoo Your Towels. I was in one of those cute stores in the city of Portland Maine, the kind of fun and retro-feeling store where I loved everything but couldn't afford anything. Until I saw a $3 Tattoo Your Towels kit.

Tattooing tea towels seemed very domestic but hip at the same time. I liked the cute, tattoo-like designs and the craftiness of the project.

When I lived on Vinalhaven and had lots of free time, I decided one lonely but goal oriented evening to make Sean a present. My mother had bought me a ginourmous bag of embroidering floss so I got it out along with the cross stitch loop. A glass of wine and twenty minutes later, Sean had a tattooed towel.

He absolutely loves his tatooed towel and thinks I am so handy for making it. The good news is you can do this to your towels in a simple design (like a heart and initials) without kit. (Though the kit is pretty cool when you get good!)

Materials:
Needle ($1 for a bunch)
Embroidery loop ($5 for a whole bunch)
Differnet colors embroidery floss (total cost no more than $3)
Something to embroider, like a bathroom towel
Wine (optional)

Thread the needle. Sketch out a design to stitch (something simple). Stretch fabric into the embroidery loop. (Though you don't need it if you're doing a thick fabric like towels.) Stitch. If you need further instructions on the stitching, see this site for techniques. Drink wine. Be happy with your gift... and you have supplies to make a lot of them!

These towels not only impress not-so-crafty boys but can make great and personal gifts for everyone you know from parents to girl friends. And I'm hard pressed to think of other gifts that can be made in twenty minutes and at such a great price.

Happy Crafting!

Job Resources From The Web

You know how sometimes, your horoscope seems to eerily correspond to what's going on in your life? A similar thing happened to me but instead of communing with Miss Cleo, the magic was with my RSS reader.

While I was going through this job contemplation process these last two weeks, it seemed articles about finding jobs popped up in my RSS reader almost daily. Also, during this time I had friends and family sending things my way to help. I like to consider myself a compiler of useful content so here are some of the more useful links that have come my way.

There are some neat online training videos at www.lynda.com to help make yourself just a little more marketable. There are courses of substantial length about most things tech, from custom CSS to databases (of which I know anything about—I just tried to pick things that sounded smart). By length, I mean hours of video on a particular topic. (Ten hours of custom CSS? Now that's what I call a fun weekend!) You have to pay to use but at $25 a month, it's a little more hands-on then you and the instruction manual but a lot less expensive then a college course on the subject. As things are moving more and more online, more IT knowledge couldn't hurt anyone, though I may be a little biased. (via my friend Mike)

The 30 Best Websites for Job Hunters turned out to be a list of the most popular job boards online, as voted on by their users. If you are posting on job boards, this may help to try one you haven't tried yet or maybe don't even know about. (from CNN Money) Full disclosure: I have never gotten a job off a job board so I'm more skeptical about this method of finding employment.

A very recently launched website www.peopleahead.com combines the function of a job board with the ease of social networking and an eHarmony-esque matching service. (An added surprise: if you have a LinkedIn profile, it'll transfer all your profile information into its system for you.) After creating a "profile", the site will match you with jobs that are a good fit. Check out this link if you are interesting in learning more about the site (via Xconomy).

Then, of course, right around the the day of my informational interview, Get Rich Slowly sung the praises of informational interviews as a tool towards job search success. The only reason I got the interviews at all is that I met someone from www.compete.com at an alumni networking event. He was kind enough to ask for my resume and forward it to some key individuals on my behalf. To summarize, informational interviews do work as a low-pressure way to meet with the kind of companies you want to work for.

Happy hunting!

The Guest-House

A thoughtful poem given to me by my friend Kate. Because it's Sunday, because I'm a little tired, and because it is true.

 

The Guest-House

 

This being is a guest-house

Every morning a new arrival.

 

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

 

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture.

 

Still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you

out for some new delight.

 

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

 

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

 

-Say I Am You poems of Rumi

Translated by John Moyne and Coleman Barks

Maypop 1994

A Decision Made, Now A Deep Cleansing Breath

So thanks to those of you who commented or emailed about my job dilemma post. I think most of us have been in a situation (work or otherwise) where we've had to choose love or money. I chose love, for now anyway. I'm staying at my current job. Here's my rationale.

1. I like my job. I like my boss, I like my coworkers, I feel successful, I'm learning a lot. These things have never been as true across the board as they are now, even though the pay could be better.

2. I'm in a situation where I don't need to make a lot of money. I live with Sean in his house. I have no kids, I have no debt. Expenses are low, and the learning I've been doing from this saving money and living the good life blog is helping me get costs even lower.

3. We couldn't sell our house, even if we wanted to. There are comparable houses in our neighborhood that have been for sale for a year. Sean had the house appraised six months ago and it's worth less then he bought it for. So relocating would mean maintaining two seperate households and being a landlord from afar. So we're staying for now.

4. I don't have the energy to do another job search at the moment. Yes there are other communications-related positions around where I live in Downeast Maine, but very few. It tends to be competitive and there is no guarentee that I'll get a job in the field I want in any amount of time.

5. I live in a beautiful place and close to family and friends. It is a little expensive to live here but being close to Bar Harbor and close enough to my hometown of Fort Kent to drive there is nice, especially this past year with what my family has been going through.

6. I have no commute. I can literally be at work in 5-10 minutes, depending on traffic. The money I save on gas and the time I save not commuting is worth at least $200 a month (estimating a 30 minute commute that many people who live near me have). And the extra time I have in my day allows me to blog (among other things).

7. I have a lot to learn still. I've learned a lot about websites, blogging, newspapers and many other things this past year. I think there is still more to learn.

8. Sales could be a new skill I develop. The ability to sell things is one skill that is valued across many careers. If I can get very part time selling experience (5-8 hours a week my boss estimates), and if I become good at it, this could make me even more marketable.

9. Breaking Even, Inc. Communications (my very microenterprise) is still really important to me. If I am selling people on websites and web advertisements, it is just another way to make new contacts for my web content creation and blog consulting business. I think there is a market for this in my geographic area and I think I could convice people of that if I could meet them face to face. (Though I love this blog, I think I'm much better in person).

10. Doing more selling and content creation at work means I can get rid of the more boring aspects of my job. I talked to my boss about freeing up my time by eliminating some boring and seemingly unnecessary tasks. He is helping me look for solutions. One change taking effect next week will free up about 5 hours of my time.

So these last two weeks, I've learned a lot about not only the company I work for and those I could work for but about myself and what's important to me. Here are some lessons I've learned:

1. Talk to your supervisor about your job. You don't need a job offer to come up to set up a meeting. If you are doing good work in one area and having trouble with another, talk solutions. If you don't advocate for yourself (and sell your boss on why it's good for the company), no one else will.

2. Listen to those who see talents in you. You may be too close to it to see them. I would have never thought that I would be good at selling things but the ad manager has wanted me to sell web advertising for months.

3. Know what's important to you, not just your bottom line. Is it important for you to have an hour lunch everyday? Or not have to travel too much? Know thyself, and thou shalt knoweth thy bestest job.

So I feel good about all this. Resolution is a wonderful thing.

Are Coupons All They're Cut Out For?

First of all, my apologies for the corniness of the title. Even though I usually skirt the edges of corniness, today I just dove right in. Somehow, I just thought "coupon update" was too boring.

I decided a photo would help me summarize my coupon experience so far. Voila.

That's right, my zen experience of coupon cutting has since been trumped by a few facts: 1) the stuff that has a coupon is stuff I never buy (mostly brand name products and prepackaged food) and 2) the whole waiting-for-things-to-be-a-low-price-before-using-the-coupon strategy seems to lead to a lot of crumbling expired coupons into my purse. A few lessons:

Coupon websites will only get you far if you are a certain kind of buyer.

If you do buy a lot of packaged foods or brand name products , here are some sites where you can print coupons:
www.coupons.com
www.smartsource.com
www.coolsavings.com
www.printable-coupons.blogspot.com
www.wow-coupons.com
To be fair, I did find a coupon for Sean's contact lens solution and a coupon for Benefiber that saved us a combined $2. Sean also has a bizarre fascination with the smell of Tide so I'm keeping the Tide coupon in reserve. That was about it.

In-paper coupons seem better in both quality and useability in your area.

My combined coupon savings from coupons I've physically clipped from fliers have saved me much more money (about $6) then searching and printing off of online websites.

Usually there is a reason they are giving a coupon for a product.

As far as deals went, I found the lower unit price was often on a generic product or on a similar version of the product not on sale. The coupon sounded like a good deal...until you had to buy in major bulk (do I need 3 Tide-to-go pens ever?) or try some new gimmick-y product (that cereal that comes pre-poured into a bowl just seems lazy to me!).

That said, there is plenty of useful information online.

Freebielist (free samples by product type)
A great system for keeping track of mail-in rebates (from Sense to Save).
Eating healthy with coupons (from Cheap Healthy Good)

And add these two blogs to your RSS reader:
Money Saving Mom (she breaks down the sales flier for you for the best deals)
Spending Less 101 (how I saved $8 on my senior dog's expensive food)

If you buy online, see my buy online guide. It'll change your life.

Summary: While I'm not cheerleader-excited about coupons, I'm going to only spend my time going for the ones I like.

I'm going to check online coupon sites only monthly; stay subscribed to the coupon blogs above; and read my grocery and drug store fliers religiously. Saving money on food is certainly worth a little effort but only if it pays off.

This post was submitted to the Carnival of Personal Finance.

How I Get Motivated To Save: Reverse Psychology

Do I Really Need More Stuff? I Guess I Just Don't Care

There is a story in our family of my first Christmas, or one of them anyway. I open a gift and begin playing... with the box. After waiting awhile for me to get tired of it (apparently I wasn't), my parents show me the toy in the box so I begin playing with that. They have to practically force me to open my other gifts, which they think is pretty funny. Little Nicole would have been just as happy with the box.

I've been thinking hard of a post to submit to the Summer Savings Contest at Bible Money Matters. One of the categories is motivation to save money. So I've been giving this a lot of thought.

At the same time I'm mulling this over, I think of all the advertising I'm exposed to about Father's Day. The need to make Father's Day special. The need to find Dad that perfect gift.

You may or may not know that my dad died in November at the age of 51. This is my first Father's Day without him. "Well, at least I don't need to get him a gift." I thought, attempting to look on the bright side of a not very bright situation. But wait a minute, I don't usually buy him a gift. . .

When my dad was alive, the thought of buying him one more knick knack did not seem right. Besides going to his camp, golfing, and hanging out at home with my mother, my father had no hobbies. He didn't read. He didn't collect things. He wore the same pair of jean shorts all summer until they wore out. My gift on Father's Day or most any other occasion was often just showing up, sometimes even with a card. He never gave me any indication that this was anything but fine. He was always grateful that I could drive from wherever I was living and just hang out for the weekend.

So I play with boxes; I don't buy my father a Father's Day present; and I move all the time. What a bizarre person, you're probably thinking. There must be a point for my little stories.

Here's my point. My motivation for saving is simple. I ask myself what I'd use the money on. More stuff I'd have to pack in a box a year from now and move a few hundred miles then unpack again? A gift my father wouldn't even use or remember? If I didn't buy stuff, I guess I'd just have money which sits in a bank somewhere. I wouldn't be buying more things to strain the environment, exploit workers, or take up space in my life or others' lives. Saving becomes pretty easy when you look at it like that.

So my motivation is a lack of motivation to buy and need more and more and more. Is that yours as well?

See a great video "The Story Of Stuff" (as blogged by Get Rich Slowly and other bloggers)...

A New Website For Me!

I made the plunge a few weeks ago and decided to finally do it: get my website designed for me.

You may say, "Don't you know how to design websites, Nicole, I mean you work for a web company!" Here's the thing. I have no design experience. (Why do you think I'm using a template that came with Typepad?) I create the content, folks. I write, podcast, edit video... I don't do cms or know how to use a frame. (I only know these things exist and can use them in a sentence to sound smart).

As far as design, I know what I like, but not exactly what I want. In short, I'm a nightmare client.

I'm paying the company I work for to design the website for me for several reasons:

1) They do a great job. I've seen the thought my coworkers put into other people's designs and I want a product like they put out. Plus they understand me and my blog pretty well from our daily interations.

2) They're affordable. My custom designed Joomla! site is going to run me about $1,000, which is a reasonable rate from what I've seen.

3) I may not be able to design a nice-looking site from the ground up by I can sure mess with a created site. Since I work with Joomla on our newspaper sites, I have an idea of what can be done with my site.

4) Having my own site will teach me a lot of the web stuff I've been avoiding... but not having to set it up takes a lot of it off my mind.

5) Free software means nothing I have to buy... though I did order a $20 Joomla! book to teach me a little more.

Anyway, so if you know anything about websites or Joomla! (I'm going with version 1.5 for you computer types), if you can think of things I should include when I'm thinking about all this, please comment or email me. Suggestions from others are so helpful when you are doing something like this!

And don't worry, I'll try not to turn into more of a nerd then I already am.  

Too Cute Tuesday: Fortunate Clothes Pins

Too Cute Tuesdays will be a semi-regular series about cute inexpensive things you can make as gifts for you or others. It's something new here at Breaking Even Inc. so let me know whether I should keep it or can it.

I recieved a thoughtful gift from a friend who somehow found a gift that encompassed two of my loves: cute things and Chinese food.

These little clothespins came in a package and have little Chinese fortunes written on them. A cute hostess gift you can make? I should say so!

Not to disappoint but the fortunes that actually come in fortune cookies are too short and fat for the clothes pin. Therefore, there is a little more prep involved.

You'll Need:
Internet access and a computer
A printer and sheet of paper
1 piece of cardstock
Clothespins
Modge Podge or glue
Scissors (or one of those teeny scrapbook croppers—well worth the $5-10 it will cost you)
Small ruler

Go to a "free font" website like www.dafont.com. I picked Shanghai but maybe you'll see something better under "Foreign Look". Install the font on your computer. (It may be noted that my computer is about to die so I really have nothing to lose as far as accidentally installing something). Here's a link that tells you how to install the font on your computer, whether you have a Mac or a PC. (You can also use the fonts that came with your computer, though going through them all may make you feel a little insane.)

After you come up with some good fortunes, type them in the font. (One of my personal favorites: Be mischievous and you will never be lonesome.) Measure your clothespins to see what size you should make your little slip of paper. Print your fortunes. Crop them to size.

Glue the fortunes onto a piece of cardstock. This will keep the paper from bubbling. Then glue the cardstock to the clothespin.

You could make these occasion-specific and put them in a cute little fake takout container if you wanted to go all out. They can function as clothespins, chip clips, paper fasteners... You can even put a magnet on the back to make them fridge or file cabinet ready! I know, I'm so crafty... and now you will be too!

Stay tuned for other "I can make that!" moments on Breaking Even, Inc!

The Three Steps Of Buying Online

A Little Extra Effort Could Save You A Ton

I finally broke down last week and bought myself a digital voice recorder. My boss was supposed to order me one for the podcast I do for our paper but I'm tired of bugging him... plus, I want to use it guilt-free for my own purposes.

When I buy online, I've developed a new pattern. I do three things before I buy anything. I find it's harder to figure out exactly what I want then to do these three things I do afterward:

Step 1: Go to your favorite price comparing website, like www.pricegrabber.com. There is usually quite a range in prices for the item you want. Also it takes shipping and taxes into account, which is nice. Write the three to five cheapest retailers down as well as the price of the item.

Step 2: Check which of the three or five retailers are on www.eBates.com for further savings. Write that down.

(One retailer should stand out to you at this point. It usually does for me.)

Step 3: Go to www.retailmenot.com for coupon codes you can use with your chosen retailer. I don't bother trying the ones with less than a 50% success rate but otherwise, why not?

My digital voice recorder ended up being the cheapest at Overstock.com. (I would have never thought to look there for electronics!) I paid about 15% less for it after doing steps 2 and 3 then if I would have just took the price off of Pricegrabber. Also while Overstock was the second cheapest in the list initially (about $2 more then the cheapest), combining the free shipping with the savings websites put it way ahead in the end.

If there should be another step or two, let me know. I'm working on refining this and making it an easy download...

Book Review: Nickeled And Dimed

"That's the kind of book that old people read." -12 year old girl I know

I finished Nickeled and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America in a record time of five days. It was less then 250 pages and a remarkably quick read for the subject it was about: "case studies" of poverty in America.

When one of the middle school girls I work with saw my book, she immediately could not believe I was reading it. Maybe I seem too young and hip (my words, not hers) to be reading something that seems so boring. But to be honest, it was quite interesting. Heck, they even made this book into a play.

The premise is Barbara who spends a year trying to live on minimum wage jobs (or close to) in different parts of the US. I bought the book even before I knew part of it took place in Portland, Maine (she becomes a maid with an agency similar to Merry Maids). Her detailed accounts reminded me of people I know and made me look about the people who wash my dishes, serve my food, and cash me out at the grocery store in a different way.

The evaluation stopped me dead in my tracks. A study shows that the minimum wage to pay for a basic standard of living with a home, a reliable used car, childcare at a liscenced day care, etc. should be $14 an hour. And she was using numbers from 1998-2000. Those making $10 an hour or under are part of the "working poor". My salary translates to about $10 an hour, and it's 2008.

Now until this moment, I didn't think of myself as poor. I have three college degrees and work experience that would put me in the "professional" category. This book made me a little sad and a little inspired at the same time. And more importantly (and beyond looking at my own situation), it made me see the world in a different way then I was seeing it: as a bunch of hardworking people who will one day get to the point where they can't take it anymore and do something about it.

Just a reminder that I'm giving this book away as a prize to the winner of the June Blood Drive. So check out that page for details to enter (it's easy!).

Image from http://www.hoardedordinaries.wordpress.com.

A Thinking Weekend

I Need To Make A Decision About Work Soon...

Many of you know, I work for a local newspaper, which I really like as a job but not as a salary. I understood that initially, they were taking a chance on me. I had no newspaper or web design experience. I was new to the area and, from the looks of my resume, seem to move every two years. I understood (or at least I thought I did) the low salary as a way to test my performance and my loyalty.

As a result for the past year, I've put my heart into this job. To be honest, I feel more successful at this job than I ever have at any other. I've accomplished and surpassed the goals I set for myself. I have tried to go above and beyond when possible, and am proud when someone says something to the effect of  "Give it to Nicole; she'll get it done." I genuinely enjoy the people I work with, my boss in particular. He's honest, positive, gives feedback when I ask, and lets me try out my ideas. My coworkers teach me a lot and make me enjoy going to work everyday.

So full disclosure time. I went to Boston last weekend for two informational interviews. (To be clear, I didn't go looking for a job; I just met someone who knew someone and boom! it was set up.) The digital PR companies I interviewed at were modern and filled with creative, smart people. They had a whole department of web content creation (which is what I really enjoy) and offered a great salary in addition to great benefits and professional development opportunities. One company said if I relocated, they would offer me a position while the HR person for the other company wanted to follow up with me later in the week.

It felt really weird not telling my boss about my trip. I wasn't sure if there would be anything to tell but after my interviews, I felt there was. So I told him. I wanted him to know what I was thinking and I also wanted to make sure he didn't have an offer from our company in mind. My year review is coming up and I was thinking it would be time for a raise.

I sat down with him yesterday for my review. I was offered a commission if I would sell advertising on our web site as my raise. I know that their offer was meant to give me more money than their typical raise and as a compliment to my people skills. But I walked out of the meeting feeling bummed. Not even a cost of living standard 3% raise?

The thing is, I wouldn't feel comfortable upgrading my lifestyle in any way if my extra funds were based on commission. You never know what's coming in moneywise. I also thought that I was productive enough at work in what I was doing to warrent a raise free and clear. But I don't think the company works that way. The low salary wasn't a test of my loyalty; it is how things were going to be.

This is a tough one. Clearly I have a lot to think about this weekend...

How did I get hooked up in the first place? A classic informational interview. To learn more about informational interviews, see this article "The Informational Interview: A Job-Hunter's Secret Weapon" at Get Rich Slowly.

Why I Love Life Without Television

This was originally my guest post on Bible Money Matters. I had quite a day (which I'll probably get into explaining tomorrow) so forgive me for reusing; I figured since it would be new to Breaking Even, Inc. readers that you wouldn't mind. Happy Friday!

 

“Did you watch American Idol?”

 

“Hey about that guy on the Today Show this morning?”

 

“When’s the game on tonight?”

 

When you start paying attention, it is amazing to find how many conversations rely on television. You only start noticing when you don’t have it.

 

I’ve only had cable television for two years of the last ten. I am now in a period sans television.

 

You wouldn’t know it talking to me. I follow enough news and celebrity gossip online to know what’s going on. I am only sometimes completely out of the loop.

 

“Why don’t you just get cable?” people have asked me.

 

I’ve found there are several reasons (some monetary but mostly personal health-related) to not have cable.

 

1)      I save the money I would pay on a cable bill. The two years I did have cable, it was included in my rent. I find that I can find better ways to spend $60 or more a month. . . like high speed internet.

2)      I save money on electricity to run the television. Sure there is a television that we have to watch movies but not running the television means one less electronic device is running.

3)      If you do have a favorite show, there are plenty of ways to watch it without having cable. You can watch many shows online. You can also rent or buy the DVD of a season of your favorite program. You can borrow from you local library or a friend for free. You can have it all, without commercials, which brings me to…

4)      I’m not constantly seeing commercials that make me want to buy things. While I can’t prove this, I bet people who don’t watch commercials buy less.

5)      Television leads to higher incidence of obesity and depression.  When I had cable, I was headed towards both as I ended up watching hours of it every day.

6)      I have more time to do other things. I walk the dog, I blog, I read… There are so many things in life that I do that not watching television seems like a very small thing to not do.

7)      I have less negative energy in my life. I don’t know if it’s less electromagnetic waves or less reality television but I feel like I have less negativity in my life.

 

All this said, it is clear that I don’t have the willpower to turn off my television. If you can watch an hour or two a day and then turn it off, more power to you. If you can watch television and still do what you need and want to do, good for you. I am not disciplined in that way. And I think maybe at least a few other people aren’t either.

 

No matter what, I know that having at least one no television night is doable by everyone. As kids my family had it. We ate dinner and played games usually. It was kind of fun, since we were purposely not turning the television. My mom usually made a special snack. I highly recommend it for anyone. If you live alone, make it the night you have friends over for a potluck dinner. When I lived alone, having my friends over one night a week forced me to socialize initially but after a few weeks, I was looking forward to Wednesday nights and the happiness that only real people can provide.

 

If you do want to watch less television, 43Folders has some great tips. Actually, I’d recommend anyone who thinks television is too big a part in their lives to skim the article because it’s pretty interesting.

 

So here’s to more money in your pocket and a happier life being less controlled by a box. I'd rather sit outside if I'm going to sit on my butt! 

 

Image from http://www.hoardedordinaries.wordpress.com/

A Clothes-Altering State

Normally, I do keep my work and home life seperate but this week, I helped produce a truly great video about something that I've been putting into practice in my money-saving, style-maximizing life: sewing.

I've had my sewing machine for awhile and I recently took it out to make some alterations on pieces I wasn't wearing. I shortened pants, I brought the hem up on a skirt... In short, about two hours after I started, with just a few alterations, I managed to save ten articles of clothing from the giveaway pile.

Even sewing by hand can save you some money. Whether it's replacing a button or fixing a hole, you can salvage something that would otherwise go to waste or you can make a thrifty find work for your body.

One thing I want to attempt is making my own articles of clothing. My friend Jessica turned me on to BurdaStyle, which is an "open source" sewing site with free patterns you can download.

And if you have no clue where to start with sewing (or just want to see video of me), click here (or on the image above if I did this right).

Bye Bye Y

Suspending My Gym Membership For The Summer

I joined the local Y (which happens to be right near where I live) when I first moved to lovely Ellsworth, Maine. It has served its purpose. I have been getting to the fitness room for some elliptical and strength training on a consistent basis. I have lost ten pounds (but remain firmly there, not losing any more for some reason!) Primary motivation to get to the gym besides avoiding fatness has been free fashion magazines to read while sweating and not wanting to be outside in yucky cold weather.

For several reasons, I have suspended my gym membership for the summer:

1) There is a ton going on. Between day trips and nighttime local events, I feel I should maximize the fact that this time of year, Maine comes alive. I shouldn't be worried that I haven't got in my semi-weekly date with the free weights.

2) The dog needs to walk. Sadie hates do go outside in the winter (mostly because the snow is usually deeper then her little legs) but loves her summer walks. If she doesn't get to go for one, she gets really impatient with me.

3) Longer daylight means it's easier to go for a walk after work, both physically and mentally. The only alternative in the winter to walking outside in the dark is the relative comfort of the Y. So if it's nice out, why not be out? Which brings me to...

4) I'm near cool outdoor attractions. Some places I could be in half an hour or less include Acadia National Park and lots of smaller walking/hiking venues like the Great Pond Fish Hatchery, Birdsacre, and Woodlawn Museum. I can not only walk me and the dog but take in some nature, too.

5) When else but summer can I use my mountain bike?

6) l'll save over $100. And who doesn't like that?

My lack of Y membership will definitely require me to have more discipline. I'll have to make sure to walk (at least) three nights a week and try to do some active crosstraining on the weekends like a hike or bike ride.

But I remind the Y that this is not "goodbye" but only "see you in the fall."

What are your fitness plans for the summer? 

Budgets Are Sexy!

I forgot to mention this morning my crosspost at Budgets Are Sexy. The guy who writes it totally cracks me up so it was fun that I got to put something on his site while he's marrying/honeymooning with Mrs. BudgetsAreSexy. Enjoy!

June Blood Drive

You may remember a few months ago that I gave blood at the Red Cross and thought the whole thing was a pretty good use of my time. This month alone, I've gotten two phone calls and one postcard from the Red Cross asking for another donation.

I remember my Dad getting a lot of phone calls for blood donations because he was AB negative, which is fairly rare. But I do know the Red Cross needs blood of all types all the time. In light of recent events and due to the drop in blood donations during the critical summer months, I thought I'd launch a challenge with this blog: The June Blood Drive.

The goal is 50 pints of blood for the Red Cross by the end of June. Can you give a pint? 

To let me know you've donated, comment on the blog or email nicole @breakingeveninc.com and let me know that you have. If you want to take a picture of your "I Donated Blood" sticker or you showing Oreos in your mouth moments afterward to prove your story, go for it. I could always use cool blog art! I trust in your honesty because what sick person would lie about a blood donation?

The prize is a book I picked up in Boston, pre-windshield incident. "Nickeled and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America". It's a fascinating read (I'm half way through in two days) and interesting from both a personal finance and anthropological perspective.

Ready, set, give! Contest ends June 30.

May Movie Giveaway Winner

Congradulations to Randy Devost who won the May Movie Giveaway contest. Here are some of Randy's favorite forms of cheap entertainment, both on and offline:

Cheap Online Entertainment

• Subscribing to YouTube vlogs (for some) is in many ways better than TV. Cable and Satellite subscriptions are SO EXPENSIVE! Some YouTube favorites of mine are: What the Buck Show, ThoseLilRabbits, Rocketboom, Leslie Hall, etc. I’m interested primarily by shows that make me laugh and inform me on what’s going on in popular culture. You can also watch regular TV programming for free using services like: Joost, Hulu, etc.
• For those who seek the latest dance trends, there are those sharing new dance styles online. Here are a few that are fun to learn and alter upon: Sydney Shuffle, Tektonic, C-walk, Le Tabarnak, etc. Upload your own!
• Using Flickr to create photo slideshows of goals you feel like are impossible and then sending them off to your most critical friends may help add viability to your convoluted fantasies. My last, “Shack on a Wharf,” is about how I dream of converting a fishing shack into my home.” What’s nice is that letting yourself dream helps you stay happy and keeps you motivated for the future. “Life is never bland with dreams at hand.”  -Randy Devost

Cheap Real World Entertainment:

• Learning a new card game with friends
• Running, swimming, hiking, biking, fishing, etc.
• Inviting friends for a night of board games. Have everyone bring a new or strange board game found in grandma’s attic or from a yard sale!
• Sewing parties for guys and girls!
• People watching (malls, public transportation, public squares, etc.)
• Playing “makeover” and letting your friends dress you up.
• Internet cafés or finding new WIFI zones. jiwire.commay be of help.

Thanks to those who participated and thanks to Randy for fun suggestions. Next time you're bored, try a few off that list!

In June, I'm launching another contest. The prize this time: the book "Nickeled and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America. I'll make a page for it later today. It'll be a random drawing and it will involve blood. Stay tuned!

Flapping In The Breeze

And You Thought You Had A Rough Weekend!

You know when you know something bad is about to happen about a millisecond before it does but you are powerless to stop it? See the picture below? That was my Saturday night.

Allow me to explain. It's dinnertime-ish, and I'm helping a friend of Ally's (I'll call her "G") move a desk since I have a car (she doesn't) and am visiting Boston for the weekend. We loaded the desk into the car and I went to the front seat to grab something. I looked up to see G closing the trunk door. I wanted to say "Nooooo!" but it's too late. The desk, not quite into the car enough, smashed out my back window.

Being that it was Saturday night, there was no way I could get it fixed. There was also the added problem of leaving it parked on the streets of Boston in that state. So we dealt.

I sent two people to get electrical tape and clearish plastic at the hardware store while I brought the desk to the apartment with G. G and I cleaned the glass out of the car as much as we could (wearing thick gloves).  Upon our return, Ally and company taped up the back window (painter's tape = won't ruin your paint job). I decided I should head back to Maine, not wanting someone to vandalize my car (or worse) that night. I packed a quick bag and headed north.

The flapping of plastic was a little annoying and my gas mileage got cut substantially by the drag from the sheet of plastic. The good news is the rain held (as did the plastic) for the entire trip. I pulled into my driveway at 1:30 a.m.

There are a few things that I think that made this not the most annoying thing ever:

1) G apologized but didn't repeat the apology over and over. I tend to do apologize obsessively and annoyingly, so that fact that G did one sincere apology and moved on to helping solve the problem was helpful.

2) G borrowed a phone book and proceeded to call companies herself. This was much appreciated.

3) The group attempted to think of solutions for the car (back it into a driveway, park it in a garage) but did not attempt to sway my decision to leave town once I had made it. As a result, I didn't feel guilty but did appreciate that they gave the problem some thought.

4) G offered to pay for the damage. It was not only helpful but the right thing to do.

5) The radio volume was able to be cranked up pretty high.

6) The temperature did not get below 57 degrees F, making me warm enough in the car.

7) While I couldn't see out the back window, I could hear cars coming.

8) Driving with a big sheet of plastic covering your back window makes driving in Boston with a normally functioning car seem like a piece of cake.

So my car looks a little ghetto in the driveway but it could have been much worse. Tomorrow (hopefully) it'll get fixed. Another exciting weekend in my life, hope yours was also but in a more fun way!