Breaking Even

Too Cute Tuesday: A Little Polish On What I've Got

Usually on Too Cute Tuesday, I tackle a craft or project with a cocktail and some step-by-step instructions. Today I'm not so much making something new as making something better. First off, I didn't feel like spending any money on a craft today (maybe the market was getting me down). And second, I think sometimes it's worth taking a little time to make something better then to create something entirely new.

Sean and I had seen this ginormous brass goldfish at the Chicken Barn (that's right, a huge old chicken barn of random stuff) but of course I went back a week later to buy it but it was gone. Bummer!

So Sean searched far and wide and found a lookalike on eBay. It came in a box and looked like this:

 

Goldy while cute was a dirty girl. So my project tonight was getting her cleaned up.

Materials:
A project you want to work on (in my case, shining a brass goldfish sculpture...who knows, maybe you have the same project)
A computer with internet or handy book like "How To Fix Anything"
Camera (optional, to document progress)

Cocktail:
In the spirit of using what you got, use the spirits you've got (and do comment on any interesting combos that come out of this)

1. After having a little left over cider from last Too Cute Tuesday, I took a before photo so as to feel a sense of accomplishment.

2. I did a little online research to find out what would best clean brass. Turns out there are lots of weird (and "free" to me) options. In order: buff with a microfiber cloth, warm water and soap, and ketchup. Look at a few websites to make sure the ketchup people aren't pulling your leg.

3. Try suggested methods of accomplishing your goal. Laugh at how many towels you are dirtying. Stop when you realize you are an adult who does your own laundry.

4. Finish the project and take a photo.

Here's the after:

 

Not sure if the picture conveys but it looks a lot better. Goldy is so going in the office!

Home improvement with no money spent? Aren't you clever!

So what improvement to something you already have are you working on?

Last Words: Things I Learn From A Dying Friend

I found out late last week that an older woman I used to work very closely with is dying of pancreatic cancer. The message was passed on to me from a friend of a friend. I was hoping that this illnesswould be similar to the breast cancer she had a few years ago: a difficult battle but one that may be ultimately successful.

I called up M who was very truthful about her condition. "Je suis proche a mon Createur. (I am close to my Creator)," she said over the phone. She didn't sound particularly depressed or dramatic so much as honest. I've always loved M's ability to be really honest and pragmatic but at the same time warm. She was happy I called and all I could think of after our conversation was that I needed to see her.

So Saturday morning, I loaded up Sadie and a small bag into my car and drove north five hours in the driving rain. I dropped the dog off with my mom, ate some soup, and said I'd be back much later, though I didn't know when. In my opinion, the visit could have been twenty minutes (if she was really weak or if it was feeling too tramatic for both of us) or it could be several hours.

I went to M's house like I've done many times before. Her garden was still nice, her yard well kept. There were onions drying on her garage floor.

"You look the same!" she said. She hasn't seen me in a couple years and I haven't seen her, only heard from her from time to time. For the most part, she looked the same too but a lot thinner. She moved slower but still had the same mannerisms I remembered: a bounce in her step, a slight squeal to her giggle. 

We talked a long time, about some old things, about some new things. Most of it was in French. And I learned a few things from my brave friend:

1) Take the time you have as a gift. So M is aware that she is going to decline to the point where she'll be spending her last days in hospice care. She thanked me now for our friendship in case the next time I see her she's not as well. While some people would take a ticking time clock as something to be depressed about, she has taken the opportunity to see friends, take care of her affairs, and appreciate life's small things, like a card from her seven year old neighbor.

2) Don't whine about what you can't do: deal with it and (occasionally push it a little). So M found out the hard way she can no longer digest dairy products, rice, or chicken. She has since modified her diet. She does miss some foods but relished telling me how she got away with eating homemade french fries and a lobster roll that she made the other day. She wants to try KFC chicken next (and if Fort Kent had a KFC within an hour drive of it, I would have got her some!).

3) Listen to your body. A modified sleep pattern is keeping M rested. When she's hungry, she eats. She's not up to going anywhere, thanks. She knows her limits and respects them.

4) Be understanding. M told me she has friends who feel they can't visit. They're afraid they'll cry. She understands and is not offended. Even facing the end of like, M doesn't expect the world to revolve around her.

5) Rely on others. When M decided she didn't want chemo or an operation (both very risky for an almost 80 year old), the hospice hooked her up with a team of nurse and a social worker. Her priest comes by and visits her. She needs other people to help her out. Life and death are two hard things to do alone.

When it was time to go, I didn't know how to. What would I say? We hugged and M said "A la prochaine, Nicole." I thought that was quite appropriate. Until next time indeed.

This whole thing made me realize how much I have to learn. But with teachers like M, maybe I'll learn sooner.

What's Your Favorite Way To Get The Word Out Online?

I love the viral marketing possibilities of the internet. The fact that a great idea with little to no funding can get the exposure it deserves with a little hard work is one that I completely agree with.

As I'm nearing the end of finishing a few web projects, I can't help but wonder what the best ways of promoting them are.

I've learned a lot with this blog, mostly through trial and error.

Off internet promotion
First, I would have never thought to write a press release when I started my blog. And I think it's fun how many people I know in real life actually read my blog regularly. Just adding my blog address to my email signature and telling people about my blog has given me more traffic then I ever thought.

Blog Giveaways
I've had a few blog giveaways to increase traffic but neither were super successful. Maybe it's the hassle of having to do a little extra work (like commenting on a post) but this is something I will only do when I have something really cool and worth a substantial amount of money to give away.

Social Networking
I also found that some social networking is worth the effort but easily get out of hand. (I literally set a timer or I get sucked in.) The key though is not to use social networking entirely for self promotion. Those people  are annoying; who wants a one-sided friendship, online or off? So I selectively promote posts on social networking sites and the rest of the time work on being friends with people.

Microblogging 
Twitter was slow to start as far as driving web traffic my way but the lack of time commitment it took made me stick it out. It's a nice way to passively keep in touch and forces me to think "clever and brief" which is something very helpful to have in the back of my mind when blogging. Have you noticed I talk a lot?

Paid Advertising
I did buy a web advertisment with the newspaper I work for. I can see from the stats that my profile gets a lot of views (over 1,000) but this has only translated to a few clicks to my website. Could it be that people don't quite understand what an online communications person does? Could it be the economy? Sure, but at least now when I mention to locals what I do, they are moderately familiar with the idea, and that's worth something. Even big companies have to remind people that they exist.

Free Advertising
I still do Entrecard but I refuse to spend more then about five minutes a week on it. The traffic it does drive my way is random and brief but it's helped me find a few interesting blogs. I also love to browse Craigs List and other free online listings. Why not put my name in that directory? Or trade links with that other website I like?

SEO
Thinking of what search engines look for when I'm writing has taken some work. Links into my blog, links out of my blog, key words, it all helps people find me (and me find them). Asking myself "How can I make this something people are looking for?" is a little annoying but a lot of my traffic is search engine driven so it's worth it. It's not quite marketing to people but marketing to a search engine. Interesting concept.

So what I want to know from all you internet savy people is what has worked for you? How do you hear about cool things online? How do you promote any work that you're doing online? I'd love some new fun ideas that have worked for other people! I can get ideas I could try anywhere but I'd love some testimonials. Can I get a witness?

Spending By Percentages: The Average American Vs. You

Category	Dave Ramsey	NFCC	CCCS	Avg American	Me
Charitable Giving	10-15%	4%		?	1%
Housing	25-35%	24%	20-30%	24-30%	25%
Utilities	5-10%	incl. in Housing	4-7%	5-6%	incl. in Housing
Food	5-15%	14%	15-20%	15%	14%
Transportation	10-15%	17%	6-20%	18%	14%
Medical	5-10%	6%	2-8%	6%	4%
Clothing	2-7%	6%	2-4%	4%	4%
Invest/Savings	5-10%	13%	5-10%	?	20%
Debt Payments	5-10%	13%	15-20%	?	0%
Misc. (Personal, Recreation,Life Ins.)	5-10%	5%	5-10%	9%	19%

Chart modified from Debt Free Desitiny

So how do you compare to the average American? Well, I found this great chart comparing what Dave Ramsey, the National Foundation of Credit Counseling, and Consumer Credit Counseling. I decided for fun to put in the numbers from yesterday's NYT graphic as well as my own (by the way, I'm shamed by my charitable giving. Yikes!).

Apparently Americans are pretty well on track as far as most areas of budgeting go. How do you measure up?

Spending By Percentages: The Average American

 So I have this list of links that I maintain and use as a go-to whenever I want to highlight a resource or even if I have a little writer's block (which happens on occasion when one has a daily blog). I realize tonight I've been saving a few of these links since May.

Yup, apparently I wasn't very blocked writingwise this summer, but also I thought that now more then ever, we're all doing number crunching of our own budgets.

The New York Times had a great chart it created back in May showing the spending habits of the average consumer:

"Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics gathers 84,000 prices in about 200 categories — like gasoline, bananas, dresses and garbage collection — to form the Consumer Price Index, one measure of inflation... The categories are weighted according to an estimate of what the average American spends..." Check out the original graph here. It's really fun and interactive.

I put the percentages of the largest items in. Interesting huh?

The other aspect of the graph besides being voyeristic about people's budgets is how it examines inflation.The darker pinks and reds are things we're spending 20-40% more on then we did in 2008. Gasoline, fuel oil, and propane are all expected though eggs was kind of interesting to see. And we're spending 10% less on computers, televisions, and video equiptment (dark blue).

So are you average? I'm not quite but more on that in Part II: Your Spending Versus The Average American. But in the meantime, head to the New York Times and enjoy the graph!

Read the Get Rich Slowly analysis of the same graphic...

No Blogging Today, But A Time To Think

Due to the extreme awfulness of today, I am not going to blog.

I found out this morning that the father of one of my best friends (and a great man in his own right) passed away. It was sudden, and he was young. He was a good man that many people have fond memories with. I remember feeling how she is probably feeling right now a little less then a year ago. I wish I could take it away but I know that we are all forced to go through these things in our own time.

I've also found out today that a personal mentor of mine, one I've worked closely with in the past, is dying of pancreatic cancer. She reminded me in a phone conversation tonight that she is old and has had a wonderful, full life. She is thankful for this time she has to get her life in order, and for thinking all these things I think she's pretty brave. I knew she was brave before all this actually. I am hoping that I'll get to see her one last time, and I'm thinking of what it'll be like to say goodbye to someone in person. I've never done that before.

So with all this news today, it seems like it would be pretty frivolous to blog about anything else. Whether you go slowly or quickly, young or old, death is something we can't escape. Some days, it's ok to take the time and think of this. I also can't help but think about my  life and how I want to be living it. So that's what I'm doing.

Thanks, I know you understand.

Shameless Promotion: The Super-Secret Edition

So in the last few weeks, we've found out that Julia Child was a spy, the KFC secret chicken recipe had to be transported by guards, Bank of America bought Merril Lynch in the middle of the night, and the Fed wants one guy to control $700 billion to keep us out of a recession. What's with all the secrets lately?

Well, I'm tired of the secrets. I want to use this link roundup to do a little demystifying of my own. Enjoy these great articles; I sure did!

Car Dealerships Demystified at Get Rich Slowly
If you're thinking of getting another car or selling your own car, get inside the brain of a car dealer. Knowledge is power!

Your Credit Score Demystified Via BudgetsAreSexy and Wisebread
Even in my earliest blogging days, I knew how to get free credit reports. But a free score? Cool!

Thrift Store Fashion Demystified at DC Goodwill Blog
Thrift store shopping is a great way to save a few bucks. (I'm pretty well dressed and I'm sure if I told people over 50% of my closet is thrift store clothes, they'd be shocked.) DC Goodwill Blog is among the best fashion blogs I've seen because it talks about real things you could (or may already) actually own. If you want to hone your skills picking out good pieces at the discount stores, skim this blog for awhile.

Buying Stocks Demystified at Blunt Money
A mere few months ago, people thought you were kind of an idiot if you didn't own any stocks. Blunt Money reminds us to proceed with caution on these sorts of things and with the last couple weeks, I'd say thinking before buying is definitely smart.

Identity Theft Demystified from ThinkLikeASpy.com
I first heard from this guy on a podcast. Ok, so obituaries with your family's names in them could be used against you but come on. But while John Sileo is a little paranoid, he is right. There is lots of free stuff (at the very least advice and resources) on his site about how to reduce your risk of identity theft.

Adulthood Demystified at CheapHealthyGood
A few weeks ago, a theoretical course on adult hood geared for high school students was posted at Cheap Healthy Good. Check out parts one and two of the curriculum. Cool, huh? I'm going to read up on my weak points for sure.

So maybe there are some things that aren't so secret...Good thing, because while I am pretty good at keeping secrets, I certainly don't like to.

Too Cute Tuesday: Duct Tape Wallet

I know that I have this facination with duct tape shared by many people. I covered an unfraying storage container with duct tape a few weeks ago. I've covered other things before. I love the industrialness of duct tape. And then I learned that duct tape came in "flamingo pink". Hmmm...

A guy I worked with this summer had a rocking duct tape wallet. A coworker offered to pay him $20 for it. Of course, my famous mantra inhereted from my mother is "Pfff! I can make that!" The work day wore on and I completely forgot about the silent challenge to myself.

So today, I was cruising ReadyMade for ideas for my Too Cute Tuesday and found both a craft and cocktail on the site. I refound my duct tape wallet and hard apple cider. I was too lazy to make my own cider so I bought some but here's the recipe if you'd like to make your own.

Cocktail of the Day: Hard Apple Cider. Tis the season so drink that fine nectar!

Materials:
Duct tape in the color you desire
Scissors
8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of paper (thicker is better, you'll see why soon)
Ruler
velcro strip (approximately 8 inches total, I used two four inch strips)

(Instructions based on those on those on Readymade website but modified slightly for ease of use)

1. Cider is yummy. Nothing says fall quite like it!

2. Lay flat the 81/2” x 11” sheet of paper. Measure off an approximate 11” strip of duct tape and attach to the long edge. Do the same with a second strip, overlapping the first by approximately 1/2”. Repeat until both sides of the paper are covered. This is the most labor intensice part of the whole thing so have a few cider swigs to celebrate!

3. To give a clean edge, attach a 10” strip of tape across one of the 8 1/2” edges so that half the tape’s sticky side is visible on top and 1” is visible on each side. Snip and fold in the corner flaps and fold over the horizontal strip. Repeat at the other end.

4. You just worked hard! Have a few sips of cider. Now fold over the entire sheet, leaving 2” at the top to create the closure flap.

5. Close the sides with some duct tape folded over. (Keeping the duct tape lined up keeps the project looking classy!)

6. Add the velco strips to the flap part of the wallet to hold things closed.

Extra credit: Use this same method to make a little pocket on the inside to hold cards.

So give this easy and cheap (under $5) craft a shot or, if you'd like a different design, check out ReadyMade or do a little web search for duct tape wallets. Aren't you crafty?

Hired Help: Not Just For Rich People

I met my friend Sally for coffee yesterday. She is far from an extravagent person. Actually, her practicalness and willingness to tackle projects are two things I really like about her.

As a woman who works full time (actually she has two jobs) and maintains a house/garden, she gets pretty tired. She sounded guilty when she confessed that she had hired help. A neighbor helped her with a bunch of yardwork this spring for the day and she paid him to mow her lawn once every two weeks this summer.

"Good for you, Sal!" I said.

"I just couldn't do it alone." she admitted.

I don't understand how someone can work full time and maintain a house by themselves. In my years living alone, I had whole weeks  that my yard looked fieldlike and the house didn't get vacuumed. Sean and I are two people and we have a hard time getting it all done.

"It's really nice to drive up to the house and have the lawn looking so nice." Sally said, smiling when she realized I was very supportive of this development.  

One reason not to hire help is you can do it yourself. Sure, it doesn't mean that you will or that even if you do, it'll come out well but you are an able bodied adult. You can probably do a lot of things for yourself.

Also, people hesitate to hire help is you don't necessarily have something in the way of a physical object or product to show for it. (Sometimes you just have something to not show actually.) We ask ourselves, Is it spoiled or extreme to pay someone $30 to mow your lawn? $60 to clean your house? In our culture,we like to have a physical object to show for our money spent. If your friend told you she spent $100 on a pair of jeans or $100 on a garden consultant, which do you feel more subliminally judgemental about? Exactly.

Finally we're uncomfortable with hired help because we aren't comfortable with the inequality that is created by the hirer and hiree. A relationship with someone you've hired can be delicate. Don't we spend our lives in disfuctional relationships? Why create another?

I run into this when discussing creating content for or marketing a website with a potential client. I can tell what they're thinking. I can probably do this myself if I put in some time, effort, and research. What will I have to show for it in the end? Do I want to create a relationship with this person? All valid questions when thinking of paying someone to help you out.

But why try to do everything yourself? To be Superman? To prove you don't need anyone? So that if someone ever asks if you did it yourself, you can say yes?

Ok, I've made my point. If it's worth paying for help on a project or chore and you can afford it, you should. Because hiring help says "I can't do it all, and that's ok". And isn't that a pretty healthy way to look at life?

The alternative is I wax my own eyebrows. Not pretty.

Maine Blog Network Update: Is Your Blog On My List?

The Maine Blog Network has been progressing nicely. I spent yesterday on this project and another cool, top-secret-for-now project I'll let you know about soon.

Thanks to those of you who wrote or commented with your own (or your favorite) Maine blogs. I've added them and the list is now at one hundred Maine blogs! But I'm sure I'm still missing some good ones so if you are a Maine blogger or know one, let them know about this project. Here is the updated list:

A Blog About Beer http://www.blogaboutbeer.com/
A New Yorker Talks To Herself About Maine http://ouracadia.wordpress.com/
Acadia Blogs From Acadia National Park http://www.nps.gov/acad/photosmultimedia/blogs.htm
Adventures In Life http://mainemommaof3.blogspot.com/
Adventures In Vactionland www.adventures-in-vacationland.blogspot.com
All Things Maine www.allthingsmaine.blogspot.com
Another Maine www.anothermaine.blogspot.com
Art Night Out http://www.artnightout.blogspot.com/
Becoming Whole www.becomingwhole.typepad.com
Birding In Maine www.birdingmaine.com
Black Fly Blog www.laughmaine.com/Black_Fly_Blog.html
BogBlog www.edgeofmaine.blogspot.com
B's Travel Log http://www.mainelife.net/
Charting Maine's Future http://www.growsmartmaine.org/blog/
Chikblog www.chikblog.blogspot.com
China Lake Life www.chinalakelife.blogspot.com
Compass Rose Review www.compassrosereview.blogspot.com
Condalmo http://condalmo.wordpress.com/
Early Maine www.earlymaine.org
Equality Matters http://mainewomensfund.typepad.com/equality_matters/
Fiddlehedz www.fiddlehedz@blogspot.com
Franco-American News and Events http://fanset8.blogspot.com/
From Away http://blogs.trcmaine.org/fromaway/
Frugal C http://frugalc.wordpress.com/
Full Fantom Five www.mlcoe.typepad.com/Full_Fantom_Five
Gardenpath www.gardenpath.wordpress.com
Grain Surf Boards Blog www.grainsurfboards.com/blog
Growin Up Maine www.mainestories.blogspot.com
GrowSmart Maine: Charting Maine's Future http://www.growsmartmaine.org/
Gulf Of Maine Books http://gulfofmainebooks.blogspot.com/
h2oboro lib blog www.waterborolibrary.org/blog.htm
Henbogle www.henbogle.blogspot.com
In Maine What Now www.inmainewhatnow.blogspot.com
It's A Maine Thing www.itsamainething.com/blog-wp
K-Seas www.k-seas.com
Leave The Lights On http://www.leavethelightson.info/
Life In The Maine Woods http://outdoorwriter.wordpress.com/
Life On Penobscot Bay http://searsportshores.wordpress.com/
Living Downeast www.livingdowneast.wordpress.com
Living The Road Less Traveled http://livingtheroadlesstraveled.blogspot.com/
Maine www.maineu.com
Maine ASCD Weblog http://maineascd.blogs.com/maine_ascd_weblog/
Maine Beerwriters Guild http://www.mainebeerwriters.org/
Maine Birds www.mainebirds.blogspot.com
Maine Dezign http://mainedezign.wordpress.com/
Maine Food and Lifestyle www.blog.mainefoodandlifestyle.com
Maine Ghost Hunters www.maineghosthunters.blogspot.com
Maine Life www.mainelife.typepad.com
Maine Lives Large www.maineliveslarge.blogspot.com
Maine Moves Real Estate Blog http://www.mainemoves.com/blog/
Maine Mysteries www.mainemysteries.blogspot.com
Maine Nature Photos http://mainenaturephotos.blogspot.com/
Maine Network Partners http://www.mainenetworkpartners.org/blog/
Maine Outdoors Today www.maineoutdoorstoday.com/blog/
Maine Owl www.maineowl.net/blog
Maine Politics www.mainepolitics.net
Maine PR Maven www.maineprmaven.com
Maine Public Health http://mainepublichealth.blogspot.com/
Maine Real Estate News http://www.mainerealestatenews.com/
Maine Safety and Security News Blog http://mainesecurity.blogspot.com/
Maine Today Blogs (Network http://blogs.mainetoday.com/
Maine Vacation and Travel Info http://travel-maine.blogspot.com/
Maine Web Report http://www.mainewebreport.com/
Marie In Maine's Whoopie Pies and Lobster http://marieinmaine.com/whoopiepiesandlobster
My Corner Of Maine www.maineliving.blogspot.com
My Maine Cottage http://mymainecottage.blogspot.com/
News from Hawkhill Acres http://lillhawkins.com/
Pemaquid Blog http://www.pemaquidbeach.com/Maine-Coast-Vacation-Rental-blog.html
Portland Psst www.portlandpsst.blogspot.com
Pursue Business Advisors http://pursuebusiness.com/index.php
Realtor Andrew Mooers' Northern Maine Realty Blog http://mooersrealty.blogspot.com/
Red Sox State Of Maine www.redsoxstateofmaine.typepad.com
Sea Coast Eat Local www.blog.seacoasteatlocal.org
Season's Eatings Farm http://seasonseatingsfarm.wordpress.com/
SeevsPlave http://mcseavey.org/blog
Skinny Moose (Network) www.skinnymoose.com/network
Sometimes I Think http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink
Strange Maine www.strangemaine.blogspot.com
The 5 Moores www.thefivemoores.blogspot.com
The Jack Mountain Bushcraft Blog http://www.jackmtn.com/simplog/
The Laundry Is Never Finished www.thelaundryisneverfinished.wordpress.com
The Maine Race http://themainerace.com/
The Mind Dance System Blog www.mainehypnocoach.blogspot.com
The Parish Of Saint Andrew and Saint John http://standrewstjohn.blogspot.com/
The Screaming Room www.marklaflamme.com/blog/
The Vigorous North http://vigorousnorth.blogspot.com/index.html
Turn Maine Blue www.turnmaineblue.com
Two Cents And A Thousand Words http://www.justinrussell.com/blog/
Unsweetened Tea www.homeness.blogspot.com
Useless Nexus http://uselessnexus.com/
Vacationland www.vacationlandmaine.blogspot.com
Wampum http://wampum.wabanaki.net/
Westbrook Diarist http://www.westbrookdiarist.blogspot.com/
Words Matter www.findingwords.blogspot.com

So thanks for your continued help with this project. I'm having a lot of fun with this because I do love a project!  

Shameless Promotion: Cheap Entertainment Edition

So what are you doing this weekend? It's a question casually asked during the Office Mass Exodus Friday afternoons. I always want to have something interesting to say. This weekend, I see some apple picking, a diner breakfast with Sean, and lunch with a friend in my future.

There are lots of bloggers out there who have great ideas about cheap entertainment. I may have my Too Cute Tuesdays for crafting but here are some other great ideas if you left work today not quite knowing what to say about your weekend plans:

Learn A Musical Instrument (from The Simple Dollar)
You too can learn an instrument for cheap (though like any hobby, it can get expensive if you let it). Trent has some great tips, and even learned a Coldplay song on his own.

Read That Classic Book You Never Got Around To Reading (from Counting My Pennies)
Megan has two great resources for reading books online: one where you can download the entire book and one where sections of the book are emailed to you every day. Neat! Maybe now I can stop pretending I've read The Godfather.

Read Your Favorite Magazine Online- Page Flipping Included! (from USAToday)
Zinio lets you read through issues of your favorite magazines online. Just create an account and peruse!

Tackle A Few Weekend Projects Around The House (from The Simple Dollar)
Weekends are a good time to tackle a project around the house. Whether you're solving a problem or just taking some time to DIY and save money, it's a good idea to do these things on the weekend when there's time of naps and several trips to the hardware store. Bonus is you can usually rope someone else into helping you because they have time on their hands too!

Make An Ambitious Recipe - Like Peach Gnocchi (from 101 Cookbooks)
I used to cook way more during my days on the V-have but it doesn't mean I'm not up for a good take-all-day-to-cook recipe. 101 Cookbooks is one of my favorite food blogs (if you don't cook just look at the photos!). Heidi always has amazing recipes and today's post about peach gnocchi started off "if you want a project, this is it". Sounds a lot like a challenge to me. Also on the list to attempt one of those days I have hours of time on my hands is paella, a recipe which I have from my France host mom.

And if you haven't been inspired by any of those, I don't know what to say, other then perhaps you'd enjoy a nap. Happy weekend! Speaking of which, what are you up to?

Eight Things You Can Do With A Ton Of Vegetables

Until now, I have had no time to photograph the harvest of my plantings. Here it is:

That's right, a solitary tomato. And not even a big one.

Fortunately, I have friends S and S who are much better at growing things then I ever will be. They gave me a big bag of vegetables two weeks ago and I've been eating them ever since. "We have too much!" they said, which got me to thinking, what are some things I could to with too many vegetables?

1. Donate to a food pantry. (Call ahead though to make sure your local food bank/pantry accepts produce though!)

2. Can. S and S of course are also master canners but they say novice canners should stay safe and can foods with high acidity. You don't want to accidentally poision yourself or people you feed your canned deliciousness too.

3. Freeze. There's a lot you can freeze, just check out that section of your supermarket. Recommended method: double bag, and then push all the air out.

4. Bake. Zucchini and eggplant make a fun lasagna. And of course anything with cheese in an oven is awesome.

5. Give away. Hungry friends or casual neighbors appreciate food gifts, especially healthy ones.

6. Take a tray of grilled vegetables to your next party. Seasonal, yes. Delicious, of course. Bonus: you can "accidentally" leave the leftovers with the hosts.

7. Juice or shake. V8 has proved you can make vegetables in juice not taste terrible. You can too but you'll need fruit to mask the vegetable-ness.

8. Barter. I would trade a home cooked meal for some yummy vegetables. I'm sure other people in your life feel the same. Trade extra food for chores and everyone is happy.

So whether you went crazy on the sale squash at the grocery store or you can actually grow lots of things without killing them, you've got options!

Money On The Side: Tutoring

This guest post is by my friend Sarah. While she was going to school in San Fran, she tutored as a way to earn some extra money. I had her answer some questions over email, and only now realized I don't have a recent picture of her cuteness to post with. Good thing she's smart, so check it out and you too may find tutoring a good way to make some money!

How did you come up with the idea of tutoring as a way to make extra money?
I have always loved working with students in small settings, and I have a few friends who also tutor. They helped me get started and figure out my plan. I also happened to get a part-time job working at a bookstore, so I knew I wanted something else part-time that would also make enough money to get by. (Bookstore jobs are lots of fun but not well-paid, as you would guess.)

How did you figure out what subjects/ages you'd work best with?
I'm a math person (Bachelor's in math, Masters in math education), so that was the clear choice. Ages was actually a little more difficult. I really love 3rd-4th graders, but there aren't many elementary students looking for tutoring in math. Flexibility is key! I tutored mostly middle school students, with a couple students in 9th and 10th grade. All of my students needed help related to math, but again I had to be flexible: one student needed help with physics, and a couple needed help preparing for the SSAT (a version of the SAT for 8th graders applying to private high school).

How did you find clients?
That was harder than expected. My tutor friends showed me a website for a local parents network, and that was the greatest help. The only problem was it was for a neighboring city (Berkeley, CA), not the city in which  I live (San Francisco). So I had to find other ways to find students closer to my home. Craigslist was ok for advertising, but I found it was most helpful for connecting me with local tutoring companies. I was paid less than if I had arranged things directly with the students, but the tutoring agencies were able to connect me with many more students. And they helped figure out my schedule. Hanging fliers in schools didn't work well at all, but word-of-mouth helped significantly.

What were some aspects of this job that came easier then you thought?
Getting around from student to student was easier than I had expected. I wanted to bike (save wear-and-tear on my car), but it turned out to be much easier to drive. And I was nearly never late, which honestly surprised me. And, once I had found students, I had a great time working with them!

What were some unexpected challenges you had?
I had expected my schedule to be a little challenging, but it turned out to be more stressful than I had expected. One of the issues was that it kept changing: one student would start a new after-school activity and need to switch days, or I would switch students (because they no longer needed me). It didn't help that my bookstore schedule wasn't steady. It took several weeks of trial-and-error for me to figure out which days and times were best for the bookstore. The other issue is that I had expected students to be able to come to me, but I quickly discovered that was not going to happen. The students had busier schedules than I did, it seemed!

Could you have done this job full time? Why or why not?
This job could definitely be done full time, but I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much. The pay is definitely good enough so that you would only have to work about 25 hours a week, but that 25 hours doesn't include commute time. Couple that with the fact that most students aren't available during the day (though some have special arrangements with their schools to get tutoring during school), and you're pretty much busy whenever other 9-5 folks are free (meaning evenings and weekends). But this might be just the schedule for you!

What were a couple of techniques or life lessons you took away from this experience and applied to your everyday life?
I learned to be a lot less stressed about my schedule. Well, sort of! I learned how to ask for things, and how to determine when I could be flexible and when I could not (this was especially true with respect to my schedule, restricting when I was willing to work and when I was not). I also gained some perspective on how hard to work by watching my students; most of them were sleep-deprived and stressed, and I became thankful for my slightly-less-crazy schedule. And I tried to pass this perspective on to them, in return. Just because you "should" do something doesn't mean you need to do it.

Too Cute Tuesday: An Idea Folder

You can say a lot of things about me in relation to my cleanliness or organization. I'm a piler. I keep thing sentimentally. I always know where really obscure things are (except for Sean's slippers) at any given time. Point being I'm far from perfect in the housekeeping arena but I know where it all is.

There is, however, one form of clutter that bugs me: magazines. I love reading them but a week or less after I get them, I need to decide whether I keep them intact forever or rip and recycle. Criteria for keeping a magazine intact involves 1) an article written by or about me (and even then, I may just keep "my article") or 2) more then half the ideas in the magazine being fantastic. I think the second one happened once with a Martha Stewart volume.

So a favorite ritual is going through my magazine one last time (lovingly, of course) and ripping out pages I like. It could be a scarf, it could be a piece of furniture, it could be a future Too Cute Tuesday idea that I just want to remember. Then I organize them. Ah, the simple joys of my life.

Cocktail of Choice: Monaco. Pour a shot of grenadine syrup in a tall beer glass, pour beer on top. Good way to use those random beers people leave behind from parties that you don't love on their own!

Materials needed:
Stack of magazines and catalogs to sort
Scissors
Pretty accordian file (I got my graphic print one at Target, isn't organizing fun? And it was less then $10)
Pencil

  1. Pour yourself a Monaco and find a comfy place to sit. Place your Monaco on a coaster, because you are a polite person who protects furniture.

2. Go through your magazines, cutting out things you like. You can rip but if there is one small tidbit on a page you like, you may want to snip it. Sip beer, this is the fun part!

3. Get your pretty accordian file ready to go (write labels in pencil in case you think of better ones). Here are my categories: Ideas- Living room (though general ideas go in here too), Ideas- Bathroom, Ideas- Bedroom, Ideas- Relationships (for those advice pieces), Ideas- Health, Ideas- Beauty, Ideas-Money, Ideas- Gifts, Projects, Recipes, Ideas-Entertaining, Ideas-Fashion, and Ideas-Garden. Pick the categories that work best for you, with your more frequently accessed items taking up the front compartments of your file.

4. File your articles according to your new system.

5. Once a week or month, repeat your ritual.

Waaaaay later...

6. The next time you are thinking of updating your wardrobe or picking a paint color for the bathroom, open up your idea file. You'll be surprised what will be there to inspire you!

Showing my idea file to people is a big deal. I still remember showing mine to Sean. It's kind of a personal thing because it's all things that I like. And what if the other person doesn't like it? The point is no one else has to.

I was cleaning out my idea file a few months ago when I found a picture of a cute dog with short legs sniffing around a pool. It was an ad for a financial planning company but I had liked the dog. Oddly, that dog looked oddly like the one that is whining at me right now. Ideas are powerful things so keep track because they can help you remember what you want.

You're so crafty!

Making The Most Of My Vacation...With Job Interviews

I decided to take the evening to research my upcoming vacation, but not for the reasons you might think.

I'm attempting to schedule a few informational interviews with communications and public relations companies in the Las Vegas area. Why crowd my vacation with business?

1) The more companies I meet and learn about, the easier it will be to know the kind of companies I want to work for. Everything from work environment to corporate values I can learn about by experiencing a diverse group of businesses.

2) I can exchange ideas with the people I meet with, possibily improving both of our businesses. A meeting may result in a contact or a collaboration or even just some great conversation.

3) It's something productive to do during the days I would otherwise be spending sitting at a pool. (I like to relax, don't get me wrong, but after a few days I'm kind of done with the whole doing nothing thing.)

4) It's always good to have a chance to practice job interview skills: asking thoughtful questions, listening effectively, presenting yourself professionally. An informational interview means nothing to lose and lots to learn.

5) Depending on how my scheduling goes, an interview could make my whole trip to Vegas a tax writeoff.

So I've sent a few emails tonight and will send a few more tomorrow. I also thought it would be fun to interview some Las Vegas based bloggers so if you know any (or are a Vegas blogger yourself), let me know. In true Breaking Even style this is going to be a fun vacation to be tourist-y and learn something.

A Few Reasons Why Renting Is Good

I found an excellent article on renting versus buying in an unlikely source, Metropolitan Home. Here are their reasons why you should rent, and some numbers to back it up:

1. Homes won't appreciate in value the way they have been up to this point. The average price of a single family home this past May was $206K while last year it was $223K.

2. Financing is harder to get these days. A 30 year morgage rate is 6.5 percentbut since the housing bubble banks are tightening their requirements for loans.

3. Renting is less expensive. Between 1996 and 2006, real rents increased 4% while house buying costs were 20 times this, and that is not factoring in additional fees like closing costs.

This made me wonder: is this the advice being given out these days to perspecitve home owners? The New York Time's recent look at Rent Vs. Buy for me sums it up: be especially cautious now and don't buy what you can't afford. Makes sense to me.

So in the meantime, I'm a 27 year old with no property of my own, putting away 20% of my income for that time in my life when I will be ready to buy. Unlike some trendy outfit I regret purchasing, this is not a decision I want to rush.

Rent Vs. Own According to Suze Orman...
The Digerati Life Takes On Rent Versus Buy...

ThingsWeBuy.com

I was over at a friend's house last night watching a Red Sox game (well, Sean was watching the game and we were socializing). This commerical kept coming on for thingswebuy.com. It was a slick guy talking about ThingsWeBuy offering to buy your old watches and jewelry for a good price. You mail them in and they send you a check. An attractive gray haired lady is saying things like: "It was so easy. I just sent in my jewelry and got the check right away. It was a pleasure doing business with such a reputable company!"

In informercials, they say something like "Famous television actress BlahBlahBlah" to introduce someone who isn't really that famous. If people are famous, you don't have to say that they are. If a company is reputable, you shouldn't have to say so either.

I went to the website and found ThingsWeBuy is owned by a larger cooperation called Lippincott, LLC. And since they have a Better Business Bureau ad on their website, I thought I would look up this company's profile on the BBB website. 93 complaints in 36 months. Hmph. To see if that was normal, I looked up a few other companies in my area. Not only did the companies I looked up have a lot less complaints (Hannaford had 3 for example), but all the ones I looked up had a "satisfactory" rating on the top of their page. Lippincott, LLC did not. To be fair, I have no idea how big this company is and the BBB does not evaluate the validity of its complaints. Still though, doing research on this company did not put more at ease with sending jewelry to them. (Not that I would; I'm a personal finance blogger! I have my emergency stash already.)

So are these commericals coming on more often because of the economy or is it just that I haven't had television in awhile? Because if you are pawning your grandma's diamond jewelry or your Rolex you actually couldn't afford to begin with, you've got to need the cash bigtime. One way or the other, a little research into that internet company doesn't hurt and the BBB is a good place to start.

Check out an actual customer experience with this company at ripoffreport.com...
Look up a company at the Better Business Bureau's website...

The Cart Of My Dreams: Yet Another Reason To Hold Out for Exactly What You Want

Ever notice how in decorating magazines you never see a television in the middle of the room? Exactly.

I've been looking for a media cart for two reasons. 1) Ability to tuck the whole thing into a corner or closet when I didn't want to look at it.  and 2) Portability of my ginormous old television from room to room.

I haven't gotten a new television yet because, well, the old one still works so why? Plus it has a huge screen. And if I want to do a work out DVD or watch a movie in bed on this television, I would actually have the option with said cart.

I wanted to sped $50 or less on the cart. I began looking at the usual low price places. $100 for a particle board unit that wouldn't hold my 30 pound television? No way. I then looked at office supply companies, thinking of those simple carts that held the slide projectors, overhead projectors, and other school electronics of my youth. Those cost well over $300. There had to be something better.

Then two weeks ago, my dream was at Mardens Surplus and Salvage (if you click on this link, watch out for the music!). The grill cart was big enough, made of stainless steel, included a drawer, and was on wheels... all for $40. 

Several hours with vague instructions later, my dream is realized. It took me a few months but I'm glad I held out for my little dream cart.

So the lesson my friends is knowing what you want and going for it may not be the quickest path but it will lead to the most happiness.

What are you holding out for?

Book Review: Fired!

I took this book out of the library last week in part because of its bright almost obnoxiously yellow cover. Also who isn't a rejection junkie? (When it comes to other people, that is.)

Fired! Tales of the Canned, Canceled, Downsized, and Dismissed is a collection of stories of people getting fired. Getting fired is not something in general most people talk about but when asked, there is a sort of cathartic release in telling the story of a tramatic situation like this. I only wish I had a story; I actually have never been fired. (Though as mentioned in the book there are two kinds of people: those who have been fired and those who haven't been fired yet.)

What's fun about this book is you hear some juicy stories, some from people you don't know but many from people you do. Famous actors, comedians, and others in the enterainment industry (which is particularly known for rejection) share their stories. 

The stories are short, allowing you to sneak in "just one more".

The author Annabelle Gurwich was inspired to compile this book when she was fired by her idol, Woody Allen. I went to her website and thought she looked kind of familiar...

Annabelle used to host TBS's Dinner and A Movie, a favorite Friday tradition of my friend Laura and I. TBS would show a movie and hosts Paul and Annabelle would comment on the movie while cooking a dish very loosely related to said movie. Fake example: Dirty Dancing would be played while making Don't back baby into a corner ribs with watermelon salad. If you haven't figured out before, I am quite a corny person so this show appealed to me on a number of levels. Anyway, Annabelle compiled this book! And it was this fact I was excited by as much as reading how Sarah Silverman and some guy at a beta tape video store got canned (by fax and security cameras, respectively). 

So if you want some light breezy reading about rejection (or want to know how to better deal with this rejection yourself) check out the Fired! book or the upcoming movie.

Check out the Fired!/Annabelle's website....
Share your story at Fired the Movie website...

Book Review: Here If You Need Me

I heard about this book via an interview with the author on NPR. I wrote down the title then a few weeks later, I found out my mom was reading it on the suggestion of a friend. I read most of my mom's borrowed copy on a visit to Fort Kent a couple weeks ago and checked it out of the library here in Ellsworth to finish it off. It's a fast read being less then 200 pages and broken into short chapters.

The premise of the book: Experiences of Kate Braestrup, a Uniterian Universalist minister who serves as a chaplain for the Maine Warden's Service. Why does the Maine Warden's Service need a chaplain? Because when you are waiting for a lost loved one to be found or when you're hearing heartbreaking news, it helps to have someone there for counsel on spiritual or psychological levels.

My family and I feel a particular connection to the Maine Warden's Service. They were the agency that found my father's body almost a year ago. They not only  search for missing people in out-of-the-way and sometimes dangerous places but they also break bad news. It's a hard job. In my family's case, they even showed up to pay respects and the funeral. I don't know if it was the uniform or seeing the compassion in them but I found myself throwing my arms around them and sobbing, mostly out of gratitude.

I didn't meet Kate through our experience but she seems to be someone I can relate to. She struggles with faith and fundamental questions (Why do bad things happen to good people? Is there something after this life?) but is clearly an empathetic person who understands the human condition. Anyone can learn how to deal with tragedies a little better in reading how she deals with cases she's been on. And trust me, if we can all better deal with death, most everything else feels easy.

Kate has had her own struggles with death of a loved one. Her husband died in an accident and she became a single mother of four young children years ago. It was after this that she decided to become a minister, which was something her husband was going to do.

A biography, a self help book, a short story collection, and a spiritual tutorial, "Here If You Need Me" is a great book I'd recommend to anyone but especially to someone who has experienced the effects of an accidental death or knows someone who has and wants to better understand their feelings.

While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die. ~Leonardo Da Vinci

Read or listen to an excerpt from the book here...

Too Cute Tuesday: Magazine Folder From The Craft Junkie

The following blog was inspired by Craft Therapy, a crafting blog by Barb, who uses crafting to keep her sane. (It’s funny because I often get a little insane when I craft!) I finally did Barb’s craft she blogged about almost a month ago.  You can read the Craft Therapy blog here or subscribe to it here. I should also say the cocktail is Barb-selected…and delicious!

So you’ve seen those cute little magazine folders at Target but at $13 apiece, who wants to pay that? Not us! We’re making our own, right now!

You can get uniform and perfect size boxes at your local post office for free Barb recommends the flat rate boxes and to make sure whatever you get will be tall enough for whatever magazines you want to stash.

Other kinds of boxes that work well? Boxes used to ship books or small items of clothing. I used a box from a care package my mom sent me. (I know, I’m lucky to still even be getting those!)

Materials:
Box (a box with thinner cardboard will look classier…you’ll see what I mean)
Packaging tape (if I had an arch nemesis, it would be packing tape. But I’ve faced my rival for this project because it really does work best)
Scissors
Scotch tape
Blade/straight edge to cut the box
Ruler
Pen/pencil
Paper to cover it (optional)
Spray paint (optional)

Cocktail: Pomegranate Martini from Rachel Ray via Oprah (for a trendy two servings)

1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
2 ounces Absolute Citron vodka (I use Sky Vodka)
1 ounce Cointreau liquor (I used Grand Manier)
Cup of ice
Squeeze of lemon (optional)

Shake ingredients in a shaker and strain into chilled martini glasses. Put pomegranate fruit into glass as garnish.

Step 1: Make your Pom Martini. Yum. (Don’t sip too quickly or your blade skills may be compromised, causing a crafting-related injury.)

Step 2: Close your box and then tape it completely shut with packaging tape. It sounds silly but all you're doing right now is taping up an empty box, making sure to line up the closing parts well to give yourself a uniform and square box to work on.Though it is evil and flimsy, you too will master it.

Step 3 : Make sure your magazines will fit inside by putting a sample magazine alongside the box. Make sure it's deep enough for your magazines and catalogs will fit (you can always cut off the top if your magazines are taller then the box). After your ordeal with the packaging tape, you deserve a little martini break.

Step 4: If you’re not good at cutting straight (I must have blown kindergarden), mark using a straight edge how you want to cut along the box. (See the photo of my drawn in lines. I measured so the lines would be the exact same on the other side.)
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Step 5: Cut along your lines with the straight edge. Make sure you are cutting through all the layers of cardboard. You should see your project shaping up!

Step 6: Now time to reinforce your cardboard creation. Take your packing tape and tape the inside of the seams that you taped the outside of when we began to firm it up. Basically tape everything down inside that needs taping down too. You don’t want the magazines to get caught on anything when you slide them in and out of the holder.

Step 7: By now your magazine rack should be done and ready to decorate! I covered mine in newspaper but I think decoupage, wrapping paper, or spray paint would have looked a lot cooler (unfortunately, I didn’t have any of these materials). Finish your martini while you decorate.

So thanks to Barb for the idea and now it’s your turn. If you want to craft and cocktail with Too Cute Tuesday, do drop me a line! Also, feel free to send photos of projects that have been successful for you. I’d love to see them

Happy Crafting!!!

Money On The Side: Etsy Store Owner

The following guest post was written by Jen at the blog The Laundry Is Never Finished. Having connected over Madeline Peyroux, we have now bonded over (among other things) Etsy, the hip place for homemade goods online. Check out her Etsy store, Bliss Home Goods. Have no idea what Etsy even is? Read on, my friends. Jen is going to school us (you know, in a good way) on this cool way to make money on your handiwork.

Etsy.  An amazing, much needed, incredible idea; brainchild of some very far-sighted individuals who thought up a good thing and ran with it.  And aren't we all glad?

If you haven't stumbled upon this shopping experience, be forewarned that it is incredibly addicting, while a bit overwhelming.  It is a collection of 3 particular types of items; handmade, vintage, and supplies, all sold by your average joe (which is the amazing part).  I  can't even remember how I found Etsy last year but it was love at first sight and made me realize that not only could I shop for well made, completely unique objects, but that I could have a store of my own; a dream that I have had for a long time.

To give you a quick run down of Etsy as a "shopper", there are multitudes of ways to browse, or even pinpoint just the right thing.  You can search treasuries (a group of favorites), showcases (seller's favorites), or even stare at your screen while new items pop up as they are added.  You can also type in what it is you are looking for, such as "necklace" (although that might yield 232,549 results...seriously), or you could type in "blue glass necklace", which might whiddle you down to 10,700 results.  And this is just the tip of the iceberg.  I don't want to bore you with all the techicalities, so I'll leave you with this paragraph and let you go experience the magic on your own.  Oh!  But I will tell you with what I think is the most important advice that I missed out on at first; go ahead and register as a user, then while you are browsing, be sure to "heart" those items or sellers that you really admire.  It'll add them to your list, so you don't have to go search for them later on.  (Trust me...this is a big deal.  There are such vast amounts of sellers that if you don't mark them right away you will very likely lose them!)

As for those that might be interested in Etsy as a seller's venue...this is what I've learned.
Although Etsy is an amazing platform for your business, and it is online, and it doesn't require much creative/website upkeep on your end (minus making a fancy little banner for your store), it is still a full-fledged, take-up-your-time business.  You almost have to work at it a bit harder than if you owned a storefront, because you quickly, and I mean QUICKLY, get lost in this amazing wonderland.  Just because you check your store 10 times a day doesn't mean that others do.  I've learned from Etsians that it pays to add your items multiple times a day, every day (20 cents per add).  The first painting I sold was purchased minutes after I added it, from someone across the country, who just happened to be sitting at her computer and saw it pop up.  I've learned that networking and PR is HUGE, and will probably take up 95% of your time when you begin your business.  I've also learned not to get too discouraged...if you like what you do-someone else will like it too!  I think that is the most important part.  Believe in what you do, and love it.  If you don't love it, it's not worth it. 

I'm still a relative newbie to Etsy, and while I'm in the midst of a full-fledged house renovation and have put my biz on the backburner for awhile, I can't wait to jump back in and go full force ahead.  It truly is a unique opportunity unlike anything that has popped up before, and has literally made dreams come true for multitudes of people.  Although this is an exeptionally streamlined rundown on the Etsy scene, you can find masses of information on the website itself, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Have fun shopping!

I Went To Beauty School And I Didn't Mess Up Anyone's Hair

It's been a few weeks that needed a haircut. It got to the point last week where I did a quick bang trim, twice.

I am a big advocate of beauty schools. First of all, I can barely brush my hair while looking in the mirror so I admire the talent required (and the diplomacy required for certain customers!). Also, I like going to beauty schools because you often are having your hair cut by someone who is interesting, trying really hard to do a good job, and not stuck in a rut from having been cutting hair for their entire lives. All that and you can get a haircut for $5.

RJ was a smart sassy lady who cut my hair yesterday. With the money I saved on the haircut, I thought I would get some highlights to cover up my quickly greying hair. A couple hours, $20, and a new friend later, I have a rocking haircut. (Just a haircut would have been $5.)

Because I saved so much on my hairstyle, even with a good tip it cost half the price it would have in a salon in my town.

The catch? I had to wait an hour and since Saturdays are the walk-in days, and my getting in for an appointment was an unsure thing. But I'll happily wait anywhere with magazines. Plus I decided that whatever happened, I'd take the morning for me time.

This makes my second wonderful beauty school experience. Have you given them a try?

Car Insurance 101

You know when you have a really great relationship with someone you do business with? I feel that with my insurance company. I am on a first name basis with them. They tell me when I've forgotten to sign something. It's lovely.

While I was reading All Your Worth, I got the idea to renegotiate the larger expenses in my life (as in save dollars not pennies). I don't have many bills but car insurance is a big-ish and regular one. There are so many commericals for car insurance companies, I thought I would see if fifteen minutes really could save me 15% or more on car insurance. 

Geico seems to be saving me about $10 a month and Progressive about $20 a month from what I'm currently paying, even when factoring in two accidents in the last three years.

I thought my insurance company was giving me the best rate. It's kind of like finding out some guy I really liked was flirting with other gals on the side.

So I have two options. One is to switch companies without telling my old company but the other is to let my insurance person know about the quotes I found and see what she can do. And since our relationship is so wonderful, it's certainly worth a conversation. Over email, that is. Plus switching companies without a conversation would feel like stopping calling some guy back: a little passive-aggressive and unclear. I'll keep you posted on how the conversation goes.

I feel so silly for expecting someone else to do it for me. So lesson learned yet again, advocate for yourself and know where your money is going. It could save you 15% or more on car insurance. And that's a lot cuter then a gecko.

The Things I Carried (In My Car)

Still Driving Myself Crazy but it's taking a little longer to demystify car insurance then I thought. So a slightly different car-related post for today.

Today, as I was driving in the fog, nearish the town of Gouldsboro but still lost, I was pretty frustrated with myself. I was clearly going to be late to my dinner party. I didn't have a cell phone to call my hosts, though reception would have been doubtful anyway. My frustration lowered as I entered survival mode and I began thinking about what I had in my car:

Early in the trip, I drank from my Sig water bottle to keep me from getting ravenously hungry. (I also usually keep a snack but I ate it my last trip and haven't replenished yet.)

Part way through the trip, I consulted the book of maps I keep in the car (I have one for Maine and one for the lower 48).

I have $20 cash I keep in a hidden spot in my car in case I need it but ascertained fairly quickly that even if I wanted to spend money on something, there was no stores where I was driving.

The sweater and sunglasses are for the constantly changing weather conditions of Maine.

I was thinking that if I got really lost, I have a blanket, toothbrush, and flashlight in my car as well.

I like to think that if I have to, I can survive in my car one night. I would have freaked out a bunch of people but it was survivable.

It was right after I had this thought when I saw a light on in a house, the first I had seen the whole rural trip. There were toys outside it- usually people with kids are less creepy so I tend to look for those kind of houses. I pulled in the driveway and was greeted by a friendly man, a cute little girl, and two happy dogs. The man let me use his phone to call my dinner dates and pointed me in the right direction. I was at my destination in less then ten minutes.

An exciting night that made me appreciate what I carry with me. Besides emergency car repair supplies, am I forgetting anything?

Tomorrow: Car insurance I swear. :^)

Why I'm Keeping My SUV

The Driving Me Crazy mini-series continue today with me making the huge decision to keep keeping my car.

I never thought I would an SUV driver. I love the earth, I had a small Mazda. But a car-moose collision and the need for a car a week afterwards meant I needed to buy something reliable and quick.

The used Subaru Forester was bought off a dealer and was originally owned by a priest (and I may have misunderstood but this priest may have made a hasty exit out of the priesthood). Talk about bad Carma.

So after long deliberation, I have decided to keep the Subaru even though it is not the most fuel efficient car. Here's how I made my decision, in hopes it will help someone else who is wondering if they should walk away from their car or stay and try to make it work.

1. How much is your car worth?
The Kelly Blue Book is of course the standard which these things are decided. My car is worth between $5,000-9,000. Besides the Kelly Blue Book, you can also look at eBay Motors. For my car, mileage, and model year, the prices seem to be around $7,000. To further refine prices, you can look at websites for area car dealers. So my car is worth let's say $6,000 (it's in fair condition and has doggy-ness all over it).

2. How much maintenace does your car require?
This is a very individual question. You can haul out your reciepts, credit card statements, or budget to figure this out. I've had oil changes and one major repair every year since having this car, which have cost me around $700 a year. When my car hits over 100,000 miles in the next year, I'm sure this will increase slightly but even $900 or $1000 spread over twelve months is much less then a car payment.

3. How much money do you spend on gas?
I've been spending between $75-100 a month on gas for the past six months. Added to maintenance, ($1200 in gas a year + $1000 maintenance divided over 12 months), $183 is still less then a car payment would be. Here is a good little gas calculator you can use to figure out your costs.

4. Is your car a lemon?
If something is constantly breaking in your newish car, it's probably more then bad luck. I was reading the letter of this poor guy online who is having major issues with a new Neon. The response to his letter has some good ideas if you suspect your car is defective, including writing a detailed letter about the history of car troubles to the owner of the car dealership. Essentially, start on the lowest part of the scale and slowly escalate your efforts (though hopefully you won't need to).

5. It is most cost effective to drive your car into the ground but sometimes other forces are at work.
Kiplingers has an interesting calculator that shows costs of a new versus used car over time. One thing not in the calculator? Gas costs. Another? Your happiness. But with some numbers in front of you and some introspection, I'm sure you'll make the best decision for you.

So for now I keep the Subaru. What about you? Are you keeping your car?

Tomorrow: Car insurance demystified. At least I hope.

The Convenience Cost of Car Registration

This week, I'm tackling car talk in a little mini-series I'll call Driving Me Crazy. For the next few days, I'll post related to one of my biggest expenses that I also consider a big pain in the butt.

Owning a car is expensive but if you live in a rural state like Maine (which is not well connected with public transportation options outside major cities), you have to own one.

Every year, car owners have to pony up some money to pay taxes on your car in the form of a car registration. You need to register your car wherever you have residence so there's no finding a better deal (unless you change cars of course). In my city, there are three options:

1. I can go to the DMV and the Town Office to pay.
2. I can pay $2 to do the paperwork online (need required documentation in front of you and access to a printer).
3. I can do all paperwork at the Town Office and be charged $3.

Waiting in line at the DMV indefinitely? I think most of us would pay a little extra to save some time. I tried to do the registration online only to find my VIN number on my insurance and on my registration didn't match. (I understand a "1" can look like an "L".) I had to go to the town office on my afternoon break.

A few things to consider:

1) Older cars are cheaper to register, at least in Maine (I'm not talking antique autos but old cars).

2) You'll pay taxes on "luxuries" such as air conditioning.

3) If you are willing to spend a little time waiting, you can save a couple bucks but in some cases you'll just have to go into a town office to register. (For example, my now-deceased father can only be taken off my registration if I physically bring in a death certificate.)

Fifteen minutes and $150 later, my yearly duty has been taken care of. In case yours hasn't, you have a three month grace period to get it done (this is according to a law enforcement friend of mine).

For more then you ever wanted to know about car registration, check this out.

Tomorrow on Driving Me Crazy: Why I'm Keeping My SUV

Too Cute Tuesday: The Perfect Psych-Up Mix

This week, I'm slightly diverting from domestic craft and dabbling in something a little more art-y and tech-y.

So I love music. I haven't mentioned this before because I feel that a love of music is a pretty generic one. It's the kind of thing you say on a first date or to sound cool to a new friend but truth is most humans are programmed to love music (some are even moved to produce their own!). And I think most of us have a really good psych-up song (the Dems and Republicans sure do when you watch their conventions!).

You know what I'm talking about when I say psych up song, right? That song with a perfect beat, probably some good butt-kicking lyrics? Mine back in the day was Celebration by Kool and the Gang. It moved to Everybody Dance Now By C and C Music Factory... I could go on and on further proving I was born in the 80s. Point is, you have a song. I have a song. And don't you wish there was more songs like it?

Well wish no more. You too can be a music mixing superstar with some free software (and not so free songs).

Materials
Computer w/speakers
Audacity software (Downlad the free software here)
iTunes or other music software (less chaotic then taking CDs in and out of the computer but your choice if you want to do that)
Potential psych-up songs

Cocktail: The Cloudy Number One (my invention)
3 parts slightly old white wine, 1 part Grand Marnier (the sweetness of the Grand Marnier can cut the slight bitterness of the wine plus it's a funky yellow color...hence the name)

1. Download needed software. Pour yourself a Cloudy #1.

2. Find songs that naturally psych you up. Put them in a new playlist like "Run Fast" or "Music I Shake My Booty To". You are the DJ! These foundation songs will be your inspiration.

3. Find a few songs that are close to being perfect. In my case, Fergalicious and SexyBack are lovely but a little slow for my purposes.

4. Open Audacity. Select "Stereo Mixer" from the drop down menu in the top middle of the screen. Press the record button and minimize the window.

5. Go into iTunes and play the song. Audacity is free and cool but you need to play/record the song into the program to work with it. (At least, in my experience). You'll know you're doing this right when you see a "graph" begin to form and the bar graphs in the upper right corner are going crazy. Like this:

6. When your song is done recording, press the stop button in Audacity and iTunes. Cut out any dead air by highlighting the not good parts and pressing delete (within Audacity). Press Control A to select the whole song. Sip slowly.

7. Ok, here's the fun part, click the "Effect" drop down menu, then "Change Tempo". Changing tempo will allow you to change the speed of your song without the pitch of the music (so singers don't sound like Chipmunks). The number box is the percent the song will be sped up (use a negative number to slow a song down). I find most songs are ideally sped up between 10 and 15 percent (the five songs I did total were anyway). Try changing the song by five percent at a time, then listen to a small part to see if you have it right.

8. How do you know it's right? Think of the tempo of your psych up song and compare. (You can even sing it at the same time your preview is playing to see if it works...not that I did that or anything...)
Hint: If you speed up the song by 5 and then 5, you have sped it up a total of ten.

9. Once you have the tempo where you want it, go to "File" and "Export as Wav." Name the file something useful and stick it on your desktop for now.

10.  Repeat this for as many songs as you want (close the Audacity track after each time and start a new one for each song).

11. Drag and drop the files into your mix. The wav files will work on your iPod.

12. Put the mix in your iPod and do something where you can play it. I went for a run but you can try it by cleaning your house or doing some other high energy activity.

Please share your psych up songs (or even your whole playlist). I'd love to add new songs to my running mix.

Aren't you crafty, you deejay you!

At School Savings Accounts and Tin Lunchboxes: Relics of The 1980s

Sean and I spent a lot of hours in a car together this weekend which got us to talking. He mentioned something I had never heard of before, what his school called a Passkey account.

This is how it worked paraphrasing Sean. Each kid had a Passkey account, a savings account at school, which was for their college education. Once a week, they had to bring in some money from their parents to deposit into the account. The rich kids brough $5 or $10. Most kids brought $2 or $3. A few kids couldn't afford to bring any money in. "You didn't want to be the poor kid. Ever." The teacher recorded the amounts and deposited the money for the kids. Ideally at the end of their schooling, the kids would have some money (maybe a couple thousand) to at least start college with. The program died after a couple years.

I found this story fascinating. As someone who's worked in schools, I marveled at the amount of control teachers were given in that situation. (You can't even give some kids a B now without their parent(s) jumping down your throat.) Also the idea of saving money being part of pop culture I find so interesting.

A Google search on Passkey accounts came up with all kinds of irrelavent results online. A search for school savings accounts came up with a question at Wikianswers from someone wanting to know about a savings account at a grammar school in the 1930s. Had this been going on longer then the 1980s? Otherwise I've got nothing but a story from Sean and agreement from his brother.

The pros of the at school savings account are clear. Building a culture of saving for one. Sean said you had to bring some money in to look cool, though he did know some kids who would get $3 from their parents and deposit $2. And I'm all about reinforcing the idea of college at a young age.

But the big con far outweighs the pros. The poor kids got to be reminded every week that they were poor. Like Sean said, "They all knew they weren't going to college."

So how to build a culture of savings in schools? It's not clear to me, but maybe it is to you. Also, have you ever had one of these kind of accounts at your school? I'd love some more first hand info on this one.