Breaking Even

Do Some Companies Really Prefer The Phone?

I like to preface this by saying I resisted getting an email address until I was almost 18 years old. I actually even had a pen pal through high school, you know, the old-fashioned kind involving stamps and (in our case) elaborately decorated envelopes.

But now, I am an email girl. I like things in writing (especially things promising me money). I like issues communicated to me when it is most convenient for the other person to send and when it's best for me to read. I can use the search function to find correspondence I know I have and I can access it all from anywhere. It is the way of today, and of the future as far as I can see.

So why does Time Warner, a cable company with a state of the art website, send postcards to call them?

My friend Mel called me exasperated this afternoon. She was on the Time Warner cable website where she was about to order a basic cable plus internet package at about $80 a month. Only then she checked her mail right before she was about to do this and got this postcard:

This is the card only special people get in the mail that requires you to call in. What the...?

Yup not $20ish a month for cable which was the online price. $9 for the first year.

So Time Warner paid $0.20ish cents for the direct mail, then paid for the phone call Mel made and a person to take the call. This cost them maybe $1-$2 to make this sale.

Filling out a form online seems infinitely easier, not to mention cheaper.

"All I had to do was call, but does this make any sense?" she asked.

Companies may not like it when people bargain but it sounds like, at least in this case, they are rewarding the squeakier wheels who read their mail carefully.

Am I just over simplifying this? Is the phone time an opportunity for the company to upsell, or is there some reason why this isn't written on their website and otherwise easy to sign up for? Oh, and have you heard if other companies are doing something like this?

How Far Would You Go For A Discount?

At the inn, we have a policy about not offering discounted room rates. When your business is the only open four months of the year and you have to pay shorefront property taxes, it is completely understandable to me.

We do, however, have different types of rooms available at different prices and a few available "packages" for off-season visitors (our "season" is Memorial Day to Labor Day).

That said, people have been calling to make reservations asking about discounts other than ones I mentioned. I have come up with a good explanation script that I've been working from:

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer discounts but we do have rooms at different price points. May I help you make a selection?

And if pressed:

Yes, the economy has made things more difficult. Our costs have also risen so I'm sure you understand why our rates are what they are.

And if further pressed:

I'm sorry we can't accommodate you. Have you seen our Chamber Of Commerce website? There are a variety of lodging options on the island and that is a great source of information.

And if pressed even more:

If you like, I can leave a message for the owners of the inn. If they decide the price can be flexible, they will call you back. May I take your name and phone number? (In my head: By the way, they won't call you but I will do anything to get you off the phone with me right now because we are at a communications impass.)

Sometimes there are sob stories or even just insistent pleading. And that's when I start feeling a little uncomfortable.

Personally, I'm all about asking for discount but if I get a no, I take it that I should shop around. You will not get a sob story out of me but hey, I'm going to at least ask for discount because I've got nothing to lose.

I'm curious if other people have boundaries about asking for discounts. How far is too far? Crying? Pleading? Other tactics?

What I Learned Not Going To The Grocery Store This Week: Part Two

This week, after realizing I overspent my grocery budget, I decided to not to go to the grocery store and live exclusively on what I had in the house.

Additional observations (see yesterday's post for part one):

Let me finally experiment with this discount food. You know those packets of soup that were heavily discounted because they were expired or that noodle mix you bought at the salvage store two months ago? I think a lot of us buy these things to try and then totally forgot about them. Boy did I experiment! What I learned: Singapore noodle mix plus the remains of a roast chicken equals three fantastic meals.

Look Mom, I'm baking... at least I could! Flour, salt, yeast, I could have actually baked some bread like I always mean to. In a relative sea of carbohydrate possibilities, I ate ployes for breakfast on Friday. Point is the option was there... as I had more food than I could even eat in one week.

Hey, I can actually donate stuff. There is a basket as I leave the grocery store where you can put food for the local food bank. I kick myself every time because I only remember as I'm leaving the store. Looking through my pantry, I actually had a chance to evaluate what I had (as in more than I need) and took my surplus to the grocery store for drop-off.

All in all, it really wasn't a hard week because I thought since I do keep a lot of staples around like lentils, pasta, and canned vegetables. Although this is possible because I can be really flexible with what I eat.

In short, a good experiment and I'm sure I'll repeat again. And I can even put some extra dishes back in my cupboard again!

When I Learned Not Going To The Grocery Store This Week: Part One

I waited a little too long to update my budget spreadsheet this month only to discover on Tuesday night overspent my usual grocery allowance by $36. And I still had a week left in the month. D'oh!

Rather than panic, I decided to take the Not Go To The Grocery Store For A Week challenge. Usually when I do this, I plan to head so this time, I thought I was really going to have to rough it. (Warning: do not attempt this without a moderately stocked pantry.) I kept a notebook in the kitchen in here are some of my observations:

Hmm (with background sound of rustling bags)....I have oatmeal! Morning one with no milk, bread, juice, cereal, pork product, or fruit. Oh well at least I have coffee, I thought. Moving to coffee bag over in my pantry, I rediscovered some hidden oatmeal. Adding golden raisins and brown sugar, I felt far from deprived.

I really want a pizza. Right. Now. I kept craving food I didn't have in the house this week. (It probably didn't help that I was recommending restaurants to tourists this week.) I decided I wasn't giving in. I had food and I didn't need to buy more food. Guess what? Most of my cravings passed in a couple of hours.

Tap water was so boring... until it met this lime! Thursday, I felt weak and was tempted to bring all my bottles and use a deposit money to buy my usual bottle of seltzer water. Then I realized that I was being ridiculous (and cheating really) and turned on the tap. Hey, there's water in there! I found an errant lime in the fridge to jazz it up. Not exactly the same as my usual fix but equally hydrating and tasty enough for me to sip.

Part two of this fascinating series tomorrow!

Which Is Better, Buying Salvage or Buying Concious?

So if it's one thing my good friends know about me is I'm a socially concious shopper. I let myself eat fast food exactly twice a year (usually when I'm in the process of moving). I buy local whenever I can, which I'm trying to do as I start my business as well. And when I do have to buy something not-so-local, I try to make the socially or environmentally concious choice.

Case in point: The other day, I needed to buy toothpaste. Now I am a religious user of Tom's Of Maine. They are a 'local' company. They are socially and environmentally concious. They treat their employees well. I want to support that.

Meanwhile I was at one of my favorite salvage store and I saw a tube of Crest Pro-Health for $0.69. So I bought it.
 
Now here's my question: Is it better to buy socially and environmentally concious products new? Or is it better to buy things that would otherwise go in a landfill? 
 
Pros To Buying Salvage
- Saving things from prematurely going into a landfill.
- Less expensive.

Pros To Buying Products with A Concience
- Supporting good companies.
- Products can often be healthier and/or safer.
 
What I'm wondering though is what is inherently better. I can't seem to find a good source online one way or the other, but I'm probably not searching the right keywords. What do you think?

Fiddleheads: Why You Should Forage For Food

My friend HK used to use the term "forage" for what she'd do in our college cafeteria. Like any cafeteria situation no matter how good, you end up having to look around and create meals yourself with what's available... you know, unless you like having the same hot meal in rotation every three weeks.

The foraging continues in my adult life, only this time it is inspired by my grandfather. Pepere Bee* is always picking various seasonal crops and sharing them. In the fall, he picks apples from wild trees and potatoes behind the potato harvesters that leave the smaller, though still tasty, ones behind. (Note: You should probably ask the farmer before you do this.) In the summer, it's strawberries and blueberries. And in the spring, it's fiddleheads.

Fiddleheads grow near soggy areas in the spring. Essentially they are ferns before they pop open. If you are looking for fiddleheads, make sure you are pretty confident in your identification skills and try areas alongside (clean) riverbanks in places that are harder to access by people. They end up being less picked over that way plus, you know, if you are going to eat something that's been sitting in water, it ought to at least be clean water.

Here is my foolproof recipe. My friend Jake says it is better then his Memere's** and my friends raved about them at Too Cute Tuesday.

Fiddleheads A La Nicole

1 pound of fiddleheads
Good butter
2 bouillion cubes w/2 c. water
Sea salt
Pepper

Melt butter in a large pan on medium high. In the meantime, wash the fiddleheads at least three times. You want the water to be relatively clean when you are done.

Dump fiddleheads in the pan and saute for a few minutes.

Add bouillion cubes/water. Cook for 10-15 minutes until fiddleheads are tender but not "limp". (I think a lot of people overcook them.)

Add salt and pepper. Yum!

Don't want to forage? They are for sale lots of places around (in Maine at least), including roadsides and at the grocery store.

Eating seasonally: cheaper, healthier, and tastier!

*We call grandfathers "pepere" where I am from.
**We call grandmother's "memere". In both these words, the "r" is sometimes not pronouced, making the words sound like "mah-may" and "puh-pay". Ok that's all the French lesson for today, folks!

Week O Insurance: COBRA

This week it's Mission Health Insurance in my life. I've got to navigate this before my current job ends so this week, it's the Week O Insurance at Breaking Even. More posts about this fascinating topic in the coming days!

Since I didn't commit a felony and since my company has more then 20 employees (among a few other reasons), I qualify for COBRA, which stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.

Passed in the 1980s, it requires that employees can elect to keep their health coverage...if they pay 102% of the cost of the plan. (The extra 2% is administrative costs, apparently.)

So while you may have some money for health insurance taken out of your check, your employer likely kicks part of it in too. With COBRA they don't do this anymore. I get why, I mean, it's kind of like paying part of your ex's rent after you break up.

At first glance, why the heck would anyone do this? COBRA, while expensive compared to a high deductible policy, is cheaper then it would cost for an individual to buy the same health insurance coverage. It's kind of like picking a mid-priced wine. Probably a safe bet but you pay more for that safety.

Today, I got the official amount I'd have to pay each month to COBRA my insurance. I already knew ball park what it was going to be; that was the figure I used for health insurance when I calculated whether I could afford to quit my job and go into business full time. It will cost me about $350 a month to maintain my current coverage (!).

I have to decide within 14 days of finishing work whether I will COBRA or not (I can wait up to 45 days but then other financial penalties can come into play after 14 days). I can keep the coverage for up to 18 months after my job ends.

Clearly I am still gathering some information. Meanwhile, I'd love to know if you've ever COBRAed your insurance and whether you found it worthwhile!

More information on COBRA (via the government)
More information of COBRA (via eHow...better formatting)

Read related post "Week O Insurance: Real Benefits"...
Read related post "Week O Insurance: Health Insurance Co-ops"...

Week O Insurance: Health Insurance Co-ops

This week it's Mission Health Insurance in my life. I've got to navigate this before my current job ends so this week, it's the Week O Insurance at Breaking Even. More posts about this fascinating topic in the coming days!

I was at the airport way too early on Sunday to fly back to Maine when I decided to buy for the first time ever, the Sunday edition of the New York Times. I mean, that thing is quite the commitment but it kept me busy for hours.

One of the articles I read was "The Doctor In The Kitchen", which was basically about a doctor who runs a health care cooperative for a group of restaurants in New York City. Rather then pay an insurance company for individual policies, the restaurant owners buy a share in medical care. Hey, I buy a share in my food co-op to have access to a wide range of healthy food when I want it, why not do it for medical care? Of course, it would take a lot of people to be able to pay for a doctor collectively but clearly, this would be a logical direction for health care to move in urban areas.

Of course, a related way to look at this from an individual perspective is the idea of collective bargaining. For example (and one from a subway ad I saw no less), the Freelancer's Union offers their members insurance at better rates then they could get individually, at least theoretically  (I can't check this; they don't have insurance that works in Maine). There are no doubt other groups like this. Please comment below if you know of any interesting ones!

So is a health insurance co-op the way to go. I'd love to hear from real people who have done this or know people who have, you know, rather then hearing it pitched to me by a salesperson. . .

Read related post "Week O Insurance: Real Benefits"...

Hidden Money Or Why It Pays To Be A Flake

So I've had a "secret" ING Direct account for about a year now. Every pay period, $25 magically disappears from my paycheck. I see it on my direct deposit going out into the universe but other then that, I don't think much about it.

Being the slightly aloof person that I am, I lost my PIN to this account the second I got it. Of course, now that it is tax season, I have to do things like access my online bank statements so I had to call ING last week and answer some ridiculously thorough questions (as in no one else could have possibly answered these but me; it was kind of insane!) They sent me my reset pin number via snail mail.

It has apparently been 5-7 business days because I got the PIN today and got into my account...and holy cow, there is over $1,300 in there! (To be fair, I think I started it off with around $300 at the beginning.)

I named my account "European Vacation" and seeing that kind of money adjacent to my little dream was pretty cool. And there is something to be said for putting a little bit away every week and totally forgetting about it. As you can see, I hardly missed it!

I'm going to see if I can go without checking it for a year again... and I'll hopefully forget again so when it comes time to do my taxes next year, I'll be even more pleasantly surprised!

In A Car Accident? Get All The Information

So, my friend Sarah got in a car accident yesterday. Don't worry, she's perfectly fine, and the car is running smoothly. But it needs some serious body work. Well, the rest from Sarah:

"I was at an intersection turning left, and I stopped short for a pedestrian that appeared in the cross walk (scary how they sometimes do that!). The car coming into the opposite direction (whose lane I was blocking by turning left) hit my back passenger wheel well. There are just some panels that will need to be replaced, but it all took me by surprise. Luckily, I'm not at fault.

So here's where my money-saving idea comes in. I knew the drivers should exchange information, but I didn't know what information was important. I ended up getting his name, phone number, and driver's license number (which turned out to be incomplete).

Because I don't have any detailed information on this guy, he can claim that he wasn't involved in the accident (it was someone else with a similar license number). If he is uncooperative, then I'm responsible for my deductible towards the body work. (If he's cooperative, and his insurance company agrees it was his fault, then I won't have to pay a cent.)

So, if I had known what information was important, I wouldn't have to worry about paying the deductible. Am I making sense? Maybe my brain got a little rattled ;) Either way, the necessary information seems to be: license plate number for the car, driver's license number for the driver, and insurance company of the driver. Just a way to save the deductible (if you're not at fault)."

Good advice Sarah. My friends are so smart!

Lasagna Gardening: Gardening For Those Of Us Who Kill Chia Pets

When my friend Paul posted this idea on his Facebook page last week and I thought it was pretty brilliant.

Lasagna gardening isn't growing ingredients for lasagna  but an easy growing technique that Paul's wife Lorena has successfully implemented. (Those thick noodles are tough to grow! Ha!)

As someone who screwed up her Chia herb garden this winter (seriously), I'm all for easy gardening that works!

The interesting thing about lasagna gardening is while you can do it in a lasagna pan, you can pretty much do it in any container or bed that you want to grow things in. What results is a super productive garden.

I called up Lorena on the phone and by the end of our conversation I was a convert. She started doing this last year, not even digging any beds but sticking her first layer right on the ground.

Basic Concept

Layer 1- Newspaper or cardboard
According to Lorena, this is great to do on a rainy day, as the wet newspapers conform to the shape of the ground.

Layer 2- Something brown- hay or peat moss
Lorena recommends hay. Peat moss  can be problematic; it blows around, doesn't mix well, it's not a sustainable resource and, you have to hand mix it. Embrace the relative laziness of lasagna gardening and try hay.

Layer 3- Something green- Grass clippings and/or seaweed
Lorena gets free stuff from her neighbor.

Layer 4- Kitchen compost waste

Layer 5- The plants you want to grow and some premixed compost
Lorena puts seeds in ground with organic compost that she gets at a local feed store. She says it works so much better then the regular stuff and worth the extra cash.

Layer 6- Mulch*
You probably don't have to do this but Lorena mulched everything with grass clippings.

Her initial bed last year was about eight inches high and she's said now it's compacted to ground level. She'll be adding more layers this year to thicken it. Lasagna gardening provides "a nice, aerated canvas to work with" and is "really fun and productive". This sentiment is won me over "Emptying bags is all I did!"

(An aside: A ten minute conversation with Lorena and I got a process, tips, and good quotes. All interviews should be so easy!)

So despite my small space, I'm going to give lasagna gardening a shot in a couple containers. It sounds like this will be more fun (and ultimately more successful) then my previous attempts.

More about lasagna gardening at ThriftyFun...

Image from ThriftyFun

How Poor Are You? Part II

About four years ago, I did some volunteer work at a local food pantry. My job is interviewing prospective users of the pantry which included an in-depth discussion of the budget and finances. I remember one day having to look up the federal poverty rate and having epiphany that I was below it.

That's right, I could have not only been using the food pantry I volunteered at but I could have also taken advantage of some of these programs I had been talking to people about.

I thought it would be interesting to look up some of the programs I used to know well to see who would qualify for them now. Yesterday, I tackled food and health programs and today I'm talking housing.

Circuit Breaker Program
Paying 20% or more of your income on rent? Maine's Circuit Breaker program may be able to help you out. Click here if you want to read the whole post I wrote about it or download the application. (Just a heads up: You have to apply by May 1st.) Not in Maine? Check to see if your state has something like this.

Heating Assistance
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistnce program) is regulated by states and some programs are even decided at the local level so it's hard to give some hard figures for who qualifies. Your local town office is a good place to start and a full list of contact people by state can be found here.

Low Income Housing
There are three seperate programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Basically, these programs seem to be for people who spend more then 30% of their income on housing. Of course, the HUD site is ginourmous but if you click on your state, you'll see opportunities for homeowners (money for home repairs, home buying classes, etc.) and for renters (directory of substidized apartments, help with utility bills, etc.).

What I thought was going to be purely curiosity research turned into an exercise of realizing my good fortune. I am glad that these programs exist for those who qualify, and I do hope if you're reading this and you find out you qualify for these programs that you pursue it. Because trust me, most of us have been there.*

*I've been thinking about people who work the system and I've certainly run across them in my travels. Once a woman and her mother interviewed with my friend and I seperately at the food pantry, each claiming the same children as dependents so they could get more vouchers. Right after this happened (I was furious having been lied to), a woman came in whose husband was in the hospital. She so clearly did not want to be there but didn't know what else to do. And you know what? I realized that helping that one person was worth losing a few vouchers to scammers. . .

Read How Poor Are You? Part I...

Is Your Car Shuddering? Allow Me To Save You $60

I've recently found all be driving along the road, somewhere between 45 and 60 mph, and my car will start to shudder. The first time this happened, I called my friend Robby who knows a lot about cars. He told me I should probably pull over and while I was looking for shoulder to pull off the road (there aren't a lot of those in Maine), the car stopped shuddering. I attributed the incident to bad luck/ice/cruddy road and continued with my evening.

Then it happened again. Another time. And another time.

Since I recently took a long road trip that involved other people, I decided to bring my car to the garage to get the shuddering thing checked out. An hour ($60) later, it turns out I have a very common problem.

Apparently new ethanol additives in gasoline are making car shudder at cruising speeds. My mechanic says he seen this at least six or seven other vehicles recently (and other people apparently have too), and that it can't be anything else because my car is in really good shape.

So if you found that your car will randomly do this, I hope I save you a trip to the garage.

Want to do more reading about ethanol in gasoline? I found this article on Voice of America and this one on MSNBC.

Have you heard of or experienced this yourself?

Battling The Gray Area

Ahhh! I'm Aging!

It is something about our company bathroom's combination of natural and fluorescent lighting... okay, scratch that. It's something about the way I look in any light, or more specifically how a certain part of me looks.

My gray hair is really starting to come in and it's kind of scary.

Genetically it was bound to happen. My father was salt-and-pepper on his mid-20s. I was lucky to have held out this long, as in two months shy of the big 2-8. (Related but unrelated, my boss found an article about gray hair being a build up of hydrogen peroxide. Now what can I do about that?!?)

Whether chemical or genetic, I'm not quite ready to let it all grow out yet. I'm looking at some options, some of which I've tried:

Tried: Professional highlights(beauty school $10-$15, everywhere else $40 plus)
Highlights seem to have the added benefit of changing the chemistry of gray hair by making it lie flatter. But unless I take an afternoon off every 6 to 8 weeks to go to beauty school half an hour away, I cannot afford to maintain them.

Tried: Glaze ($8-$10)
Glaze is an over-the-counter method to tint and deep condition your hair. It works alright but it washes out, is a little messy to apply, it takes at least three minutes to soak into your hair whenever you use it (ie each time you shampoo). If I don't rinse off the walls of the shower well, it looks like I murdered someone in there when I'm done. Coverage is light to moderate at best.

Tried, though not recently: Boxed haircolor (around $10)
Most people I know in my situation just end up dying their hair. I personally never trust myself to pick out the correct color; I usually instead end up picking the woman on the box that I want most to look like. A more permanent solution than glaze but less maintenance than professional highlights.

Not tried: Henna (around $4)
According to the Internet, I can use henna to cover gray. It seems nice and natural but I found one article that said it would take up to 6 hours(?!). Now that's dedicated vanity!

Do I have other options here folks? Clearly I'd like something inexpensive that won't ruin my hair, bonus if it isn't terrible on the environment. Thanks for any help you can give!

Shameless Promotion: The Next-To-Last French Class Edition

I'm home tonight preparing for the last two French classes of my adult education session.

On one hand, le temps passe vite, but on the other, every time I teach a new class I rediscover how much work teaching really is, especially when you want to do a good job.

The people in my class (this time in particular) are hard workers. I mean I don't have anything like a grade that I can hold over their heads and still, they do the outside classwork anyway. You've got to respect that!

So while I try to find out how to make direct and indirect object pronouns interesting, a few fun links I've been reading:

Frugal Upstate: Web-based Calendars For Organization And Planning
After paying my $.90 liber a fine last week I realized the Post-it on my Google homepage was no longer going to cut it for timely reminders. Frugal upstate reminded me of web-based calendars. My new Google calendar system has already made me more productive.

Northern Cheapskate: Can You Fix The Economy?
For all you control freaks and or finance nerds, you can hop online and see if you can save the US and global economies with a computer simulation. If you succeed, you should probably take a screenshot of the winning screen and e-mail it to Obama. You might score yourself a cool cabinet seat or something.
 
Freakonomics: The New Six Word Motto For The US
The winner was "Our worst critics prefer to stay." but check out the other entries for some equally funny stuff.

Master Your Card: The Rule of 72
If you want to actually understand financial stuff, subscribe to this blog. Kristy is great at explaining, in this case how to calculate how long it will take for an investment to double at a given interest rate. Seriously, she can even make this interesting.

The Simple Dollar: Using Twitter To Save Money
And you thought Twitter was just for fun and profit (well, indirect profit anyway). Trent has a list of people with deals that you can follow. It's how I found out about Redbox having free movies on Mondays. I was then able to tell the editor of our paper about it (he has a movie review column) and now he thinks I'm smart.

The Screaming room: Often Misheard Lyrics
Completely unrelated to anything, I've always thought that CCR song said "There's a bathroom on the right" and I guess I'm not alone. I'm having the French class try to figure out song lyrics this week... maybe this post is where I indirectly got the idea!

So Bonsoir and Happy Middle of the Week!

Fabulous Friday: Fantastic Coffee Drinks

Every Friday, I try to tackle an issue of style and lifestyle on the cheap. Isn't Friday fabulous?

I've never gotten the allure of Starbucks. Maybe it's because I've never lived within 50 miles of one but I think it's mostly because I can't imagine spending $4 on a coffee when I can buy a bag of good stuff for between $5-$10 and drink it over the course of a few weeks.

Almost everyday in the company breakroom, I make a cup of coffee in my little French press. It's my moment of zen in my work day and for five minutes I just let my mind be blank while I go through my usual movements of coffee preparation.

Some mornings, I get up early and lounge around awhile with my favorite mug filled with coffee (made in my at home French press). I wake up early if only to do this for a little while before having to leave for work. I usually read magazines or otherwise do something useless. In short, coffee is my relaxation before my day starts, a mini-weekend.

The Coffee:
I like Rock City coffee Jet Blend and Rooster Brother's French Roast. Both are Maine-based coffee roasters, just a little part of me supporting the local economy. Of course, they taste great too.

The Fillers:
I've completely stopped using sugar and sugar substitutes in my coffee. To make it fun, I'll add cream, hot chocolate, marshmellows, or spices (like cinnamon or even chili powder). Extra investment in a device like a milk frother will in the end pay for itself if you love it and use it.

The Experience:
Decorating magazines spread out around me like a fan. The radio on MPBN playing the news softly. Good sunlight. A down comforter. And taking the time to make a fancy coffee just adds to the experience.

So if you're tempted to go out and buy a coffee, stay in your pajamas a little longer. Instead go and stock your pantry with the necessary supplies the next time you are out and about. It'll pay for itself in less then a month (depending how often you do it of course) and you'll have a new little ritual that'll save you $1-$2 each time you do it. Cheers!

Ask And You Shall Recieve

I had taken over the french press in our company breakroom after the employee who owned it left. I made my coffee many days a week and it was a happy frugal little ritual.

Last week, it broke. Ugh.

I looked at a few local discount stores (which seemed to have everything but a french press) and was about to buy a new one at the fancy kitchen store down the street when I went into the breakroom to get my lunch.

"Did you find a french press yet?" one of my coworkers asked.

"Nope, but I'm going to go get one today!" I said. Then someone else piped in.

"Oh, I have an extra one if you want it. I'll bring it by, I never use it anyway!"

Then that same day, my friend G was mentioning how she needed a phone and asked a friend of hers if he had an extra one. And he did.

So twice in less then 8 hours, the belief  "ask and you shall recieve" was proven. Maybe when we need something we should all ask around first, not just on Craigslist but among family, friends, and colleagues. And now we live in a society where it's becoming socially acceptable to do that!

Have you asked for something recently and actually got it? Do share!

How Do I Eat On $100 A Month?

Sally's Niece, a fellow blogger and frequent commenter, asked how I eat on $100 a month. My sister asked me the same question over the phone a couple days later. I figure if they were asking, you're probably wondering too. Here are a few things I've learned the last couple of years:

1) I stay on the perimeter of the grocery store. It's where all the stuff you really need is. Only when I get rice, pasta, or canned veggies do go in the aisles. Why do I avoid the aisles as a general rule? Things like cereal and prepackaged foods really add up. I only splurge on that stuff when I really care, as with my occasional purchase of Odwalla Superfood juice.

2) Despite my small space, I buy some things in bulk. Bags of onions, potatoes, lentils, brown rice, flour, and other staples I use all the time helps me save money.

3) Use some "filler" ingredients to stretch out the meal. Cutting up an onion or mixing some lentils into a dish makes it stretch a serving or two further without sacrificing taste or nutrition. (Fillers are bought in bulk... coincidence? Definitely not.)

4) I have one type of meat a week. This week, I'll roast a chicken. Next week, it may be fake crab meat. I just check out what's on sale and get a source of protein, usually one that I'll use for multiple meals. Check out what's the weekly bargain by examining the price per pound. Plus, eating less meat is good for the planet, folks!

5) My friends and I take turns cooking for each other. This way, we can make a regular sized meal and not eat it for five days straight. Plus it's fun to eat with people!

6) My rule: Unit price of $2.99 or less. Next time you're in the grocery store, look at onions. Do you really think that in a stirfry, the $1.29/pound onions will be all that different then the $2.69/pound onions? Probably not. In every aisle, you have these kind of choices. Think store brand and items higher and lower on shelves (not at eye level). It's amazing how being mindful can save you a lot of money.

7) I eat when I'm hungry. Some nights, I have a bowl of soup and some nights a three course meal. My host parents in France often had an orange for dinner on Saturdays when I went out. They usually had a big lunch and just weren't hungry. I used to think it was a little sad but then I realized they were just being practical and thrifty.

8) I make it from scratch. Nothing kills a craving like making yourself cook it. I mean, the $3 baguette is great but I can make it for a third of the price at home, even if it isn't quite as good. This has the added benefit of making me appreciate the baguette when I do buy it.

9) I splurge when it counts. Fresh basil with my tomato and mozzerella salad? Absolutely! Some things are worth a splurge for me and since it is a treat, I enjoy it when I do have it.

10) I use every last bit of food. From the hunk of cheese to a small amount of tofu, I find some way to use food items before they go bad. Because throwing away food is not only wasteful of money but of resources.

So that's how I do it. Nothing fancy but it works for me!

Other reading on the subject:

Tips and Tricks To Eat Healthy On A Budget (Wisebread)
Don't Waste Your Food (Being Frugal)
What The Great Depression Can Teach Us About Food And Frugality (Cheap Healthy Good)

Fashion Forward Friday: Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap

Every Friday, I tackle an affordable idea of fashion or style in a fun segment I call Fashion Forward Friday.

That's right, I'm about to blog about soap. But since personal care falls in the realm of being fashionable and stylish, I figure I'm allowed. Now let me preach to you...

I bought some Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap initially to go on a camping trip (wash me and my dishes with one bottle? Yes please!). I ended up, of course, with a mostly full bottle when I got back so I stuck it in my shower.

This $5 has been working for me since August and I'd like to make multiple cases for this lovely product:

1) Certified fair trade an organic. That's always good because normally there's all kinds of crazy stuff in your cosmetics.

2) Multi-use. This product has 18 uses according to the bottle including pet wash, mouthwash, body cleanser, foot soak, dish detergent and dentures. (Yeah, I know, I finally write something for you denture wearers out there! About time I'm sure.)

3) Clean minty smell. If this doesn't wake you up in the morning, I don't know what will.

4) Good for boys and girls. You don't have to put up with her girly flowery stuff or his boy musky stuff. One bottle for everyone!

5) A little goes a long way. I've had my bottle since August and yes, I do take regular showers. A dab will do you in this case.

6) Fun writing on the bottle. Read Biblical verses while you're hanging out in the shower. You know, because why not?

So if you are looking for a natural cleaner that'll leave you smelling nice at a great price, may I recommend this little bottle of fantasticness. Want to know more? Check out Dr. Bronner's website.

Happy Friday! Did I mention you smell fantastic today?

Other Fashion Forward Friday posts:
Fondue Makes For Cheap And Easy Entertainment
Finding Workable Vintage

Three Months Later: My Finalized Budget

Part I: What I Cut

When other people write about stuff like this, to be honest my eyes glaze over. It's your budget, why do I care? I think. But I realize that occasionally as bloggers with a take on personal finance, we have to look at our budgets. It's a way of keeping ourselves honest.

I’ve famously said that you should give yourself a few months to get into your budget, not as a way to procrastinate but as a way to be realistic and fair to yourself.

Now I moved about three months ago into my new place which meant, among other things, a new budget. While I’ve worked hard to keep costs low, living on your own is inherently more expensive. So it’s been a balance for me between keeping costs low and stepping up work outside of my 8 to 5 weekday job. Part One of this (today) is about my cuts. Part Two will be about stepping up my extra curricular jobs (this will run Thursday, since tomorrow is Too Cute Tuesday and Wednesday is my Writer's Series).

New Budget (Final Draft—Three Months In The Making)

Needs (First Draft Budget: $790, Now: $735)
$500 rent (includes heat, gas for stove, and electricity)
$50 gas for car
$100 food
$55 car and renters insurance
$30 car repairs
_____
50% of my primary income

Wants (First Draft Budget: $453, Now $402)
$55 cell phone
$35 internet
$50 my dog Sadie
$100 gifts
$50 clothes/personal care
$37 Y membership
$75 entertainment
_____
29% of my primary income

21% of primary income into retirement and savings

So a few dollars saved a month. Big deal right? Well folks every little bit helps!

How I cut down on my needs:

I have a new commuting buddy. I’ve cut down on fuel costs by giving someone a ride into Ellsworth everyday. My commute is now mostly paid for with the gas money she gives me plus she regales me with interesting stories of her life. (G's a hoot!) I am still keeping a flyer up at the laundromat though because I could fit another person in my car easily (and in case commute buddy doesn’t stick around the area).

I’ve cut way down on laundry. Since when does it cost $2 to wash a load of clothes? I’ve went from two loads of laundry a week to two loads a month. I have a lot of clothes so this development just means everything in my wardrobe gets into the rotation (excluding ball gowns, of course). To get through, I sometimes do a little handwashing once a week. And once a month, I lug my clothes to a friend’s house and use their washer. So I took laundry right out of my budget!

I previously renegotiated my car insurance and got a further discount by paying for the whole year ahead. Glad I took the time to do that last month because an extra $15 is still an extra $15, right?

How I cut down on my wants:

I watch my cell phone useage like a hawk. Initially, I fell into that cell phone trap where I used too many minutes the first month and got a huge bill. Ouch, but lesson learned. Now I monitor my use on my carrier’s website and stay within my monthly minutes.

I am putting aside less money for my dog. Sadie is actually doing really well despite the fact she’ll turn 15 this year. I have some friends who are really great at helping me out with her care, meaning I don’t have to pay someone to let her out at night when I have to work late. These same friends also used to be vet techs and/or also have dogs themselves so I can talk to them about issues she’s having rather then hauling her into the vet when she has a little something wrong.

Socializing is now done at friends’ houses or at the gym. Not a lot of nights out for drinks or seeing the newest movies for me but good company and a chance to leave my little house is fine with me.

The biggest change to my situation, however, is I now have about 50% more additional income coming in. How am I managing that? That's for Thursday my friends!

Meanwhile have you been fine tuning your budget lately?

Related posts:
How To Save Money When You Can't Stock Up
New Life, New Budget (First Budget Draft)

Shameless Promotion: The Zonked Sunday Night Edition

My Saturdays have become full in the last few weeks, which is good from the standpoint that I am making more money and in general growing my little business. On the other hand, by Sunday I am completely exhausted and ready for my day of rest.

And if you're wondering why the heck bloggers like myself do lists of cool links about once a weekish, check this out. It pretty much explains the logic, and I did write it so I think it's good!

At Breaking Even

This week, I participated in the Carnival of Personal Finance hosted by CleverDude. (And if you are wondering what the heck carnivals are check out this post.)

Some Great Links

For those of you like me who need their protein, it's getting harder to find cheap sources isn't it? (Not to mention that eating a lot of meat is not good for our planet either.) Enter imitation crab meat, which you can actually do a ton with. (via Wisebread)

Hard times give people new insights. Blunt Money lets us in a little on her personal life and reminds us that in life's difficulties are opportunities. At least, I hope so...

Could you live without spending any money for a year? This guy is trying to. I'm not hardcore thrifty enough to ever try anything like this but it's always interesting to live vicariously through people who are. (from Give Me Back My Five Bucks)

On the same note, these people are eating on $1 a day. (from Portland Psst!)

And I feel let in on a big secret: how you know Sam's Club pricing is as low as it'll go. And it's not even complicated or hard to remember. (from Spending Less 101)

This woman is living one of those crazy exciting lives those with dogs and cherished kitchen gadgets can only dream of (that would be me folks). I'd like to travel more but could I ever travel this much? The adventures and costs of full time travel. (from Wisebread)

Free Stuff

Suze Orman's latest book- Oprah's queen of personal finance. I'm not a huge fan (something about her I can't quite put my finger on) but, hey, if it'll help you make better financial decisions in 2009, that's great? (from BudgetsAreSexy)

Vowed to manage your money better in the new year? Quicken is now free but so is Mint.com. (from Mrs. Micah)

Ordering your credit reports yearly is a good idea, and free. And how to do it online. (from CleverDude)

Weight loss podcasts that could keep you motivated. My fat-looking Wii will only do so much for that I suppose! (from No Credit Needed)

Captain Obvious Links
Common sense, sure, but some links to back up the statements.

Library use is going up.

United States living standards still among best in the world.

Walking like a penguin will help you walk on ice. (Check out the animation...hilarious!)

Greyhound has lowered their fares to get people to travel.

People who are in jail for embezelling will try to get rid of anything they have of worth rather then have it get taken by the government.

Happy Sunday! And if you have any good links, feel free to let me know about them. I'm always on the lookout!

Friends Helping Friends Free: Swap Your Stuff

I've decided to do a five part mini-series about how friends can help friends for free. On the surface, it's a common sense series of posts but a concept I think a lot of us need to be reminded of, especially single folks who have families far away like myself. My point: we need to rely on each other now more than ever!

My friend Jen just gave me a pair of black boots today. She got some new ones and wasn't going to wear the old ones anymore. Still in good shape and in my size, I'm the happy recipient. (I think my boots may be at the cobblers indefinitely...)

Jen probably could have put the boots on eBay and gotten $20 or so for them. She could have kept them in her closet a few years and then eventually donated them to charity. But she gave them to me...and I'm already happily wearing them to an event I'm covering tonight!

So the next time you have something cool you aren't using but that you think a friend would like, why not pass it on? If you have a lot of cool somethings to get rid of, have a swap. As someone who made $100 for a full two days work holding a garage sale and about that amount in 4 weeks selling stuff on eBay, I can now safely say swapping stuff with someone who is truely appreciative is a lot better use of your time and will probabaly in the end be more lucrative (For example, I've got some beauty products I just thought of with Jen's name on them!).

Because a smile on my friend's face is definitely worth $20, at least to me.

Read Part One of the Friends Helping Friends Free Series: Trading Favors...

Friends Help Friends Free: Trading Favors

I've decided to do a five part mini-series about how friends can help friends for free. On the surface, it's a common sense series of posts but a concept I think a lot of us need to be reminded of, especially single folks who have families far away like myself. My point: we need to rely on each other now more than ever! 

My friend Dorrie really wants to paint her bathroom and was trying to convince me to put the project on Too Cute Tuesday. Since I was thinking that may be as interesting as watching paint dry (well, since it would be that), I told her  that I'd help her this weekend. She seemed pretty excited, but a slightly off paint color is putting off our plans until next weekend.

It can be really overwhelming to hold down a job (and possibly a second job), have hobbies and friends, be supportive of family, and maintain a household. You certainly can't do it alone, and even when you have other people to help, it's still hard.

So here's the thing I've been thinking about. As Americans, we have this underlying value of self-reliance to the point where asking for help is the last thing we will do. Buy why? If you can't hire help or do it yourself, are you just supposed to not do a task? That seems kind of ridicuous!

Being a good friend means in part getting excited about painting. And to be honest, it's easy to get excited to help good friends. Dorrie has fed and let my dog out around dinnertime countless times these last couple months when I've had to work late or couldn't make it home in time, which means so much to me. And your friends you help out are just as happy to reciprocate for you.

So hopefully I've gotten you excited about asking for help from friends in completing some of your tasks, especially at the start of the new year. Some guidelines:

1. Be specific about what you want. If you want people to help you move, have boxes and tape ready. When they show up, tell people what to do. "If you could pack all the dishes in the kitchen and wipe out the cupboards after, that would be great." Nothing feels as inconsiderate as making your buddies stand around on their day off. And don't feel like you're being bossy, telling people what's going on is helpful and done in a friendly tone comes off just fine.

2. Provide food. If someone is giving up a day or even an afternoon to give you a hand, don't leave them wondering when they'll eat next. Some of us have blood sugar issues, some of us just need some additional not-so-alturistic motivation.

3. Have an end-point to the task. Quitting time can be when the pizzas get there or at 6 p.m. Signing on to help someone for an indefinite period of time can feel a little overwhelming to your free help so give them a heads up as to what you are thinking.

4. Be gracious but don't apologize the whole time. Say thanks is nice but continuously apologizing the the chaos or thanking over and over can be a little annoying. Your friends don't want you to grovel. (If they did, you'd know it.) Know your buddies are there to help you because they want to be, say thanks once and follow up after the task is finished with a thank you email or phone call if you really want to.

5. Make it fun. My friends S and S bought this house two years ago from someone who was really into 1970s style wallpaper. Their style is more contemporary country (not to mention aging wallpaper is not pretty regardless of style preferences) but getting rid of all that wallpaper was an overwhelming project to undertake. To jump start their efforts, they had a "stripping party", sending out scandalous-looking invitations and inviting us all to come over for pizza, beer, and stripping wallpaper. We all smelled like vinegar but with beer and cranking tunes, it was an almost fun way to spend an afternoon. So if you've got a big project, make it a party!

6. Be the first to jump in when a friend asks for help. Reply all to that group email and ask what time you should be there. And if your friend is a little shy but you know they could use a hand with a task, make a concrete offer: "I'm going to come by Sunday afternoon and we are going totake everything you need to to the recycling center." Helping each other works in both directions. (That said, if you have helped people before and they never seem able to help you, feel free to make yourself less available.)

Remember your friends are a resource and a gift but not indentured servants. That said, a resource untapped is just a waste. Let's help each other out!

Tomorrow: My Theory Of "Karma Money"

Attention Slackers: Today Is Free Shipping Day

Haven't bought everything you've wanted to as of right now? No worries!

Free Shipping Day, a yearly event offered by online retailers and the last day they can guarentee delivery before Christmas, is today! Of course, the obvious part I'm leaving out is that shipping is free. After today, you will pay for slacking in the way of ridiculous shipping charges.

See www.freeshippingday.com for a list of all participating merchants.

Other Ways To Find Fellow Commuters?

Update: Nicole will not have Internet at her house until December 6. She is still reading and loving a lot of websites but hopes her friends, family, and fellow bloggers understand her limited ability to comment, write e-mails, social network, and link to fabulous online articles/blogs they are writing. She will start that all back up just as soon as she can.

So I put that carpooling out on Craigslist but since I've never used Craigslist before I'm not sure how many other people in my area use the service. Not being a passive (or patient) person, I've not put all my eggs in one basket. Here are a few other places I've posted my carpool request:

www.iCarpool.com
I had to register only to find out that there was one person in my area. Set up like a dating or social networking website, I have a profile into my own inbox on the site. I hope I get some kind of a work on e-mail someone writes to me because I'm totally going to forget about this.

www.erideshare.com
while there seem to be more people on this website, there is no one going in my direction. The site does get points for being searchable without having to register. I of course did anyway.

www.dividetheride.com
Focused more on the movement of children, this would be a good website for parents and families. There is even an option for ridesharing for one-time events.

www.rideshare.com
This is a nonprofit website focused on getting more people to carpool. They have their own vans which are probably not in my area but I did sign up for some information from them. They have some good (if slightly biased) information about the environmental and economic benefits of carpooling.

www.paidride.com
I'm only putting this on the list because I think it's kind of hilarious. Apparently companies will pay to put advertisements on your car, essentially making your commute free. (This was one of those Google ads that came up in my search.) The catch is that you have to pay a $15 one-time fee to look at the directory of potential advertisers.

Some may think that the whole commuting thing isn't worth the money I could save but I would have to disagree. According to this handy little calculator, my yearly cost to commute is around $3,800 (!?!). Because if what's keeping me from $2000 is a 40 minute ride with a stranger then sign me up, though I reserve the right to be a little the picky (non-smoking and non-sketchy, please).

If you've had any success finding a commuting buddy online or off-line, let me know how you did it.

Four Cheap Things (Under $5) That Save Me Tons Of Money

There are several objects that cost less than five dollars each that have become indispensable in my life lately.

Tide To Go Pen
Since I'm now a laundromat girl, I have to be a little bit more careful about how much laundry I'm generating. I keep my Tide To Go in my purse and now rather than washing something right away I give the pen a try. This has single-handedly kept me from having to wash it least five things this week. Bonus: I thought I ruined my sister's wedding dress two years ago but Tid To Go got the stain out. Thank goodness!

Sleep Mask
My apartment came with the essentials, among them vertical blinds. They do keep sketchy people from looking in on me but because of the sheer amount of windows in this place a(nd the fact that all the walls are whitewashed) there is a ridiculous amount of light in here at 5 AM. And while I feel like a Hollywood starlet I put on my little mask every night to cover my eyes, it's cheaper than blackout curtains and a definitely works for me.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
I thought I ruined my walls while hanging some pictures yesterday but apparently all it needed was a little Magic Eraser buffing. My mom always goes out and buys me one of these whenever I move somewhere and now I finally get why. Just for what it did in the shower alone I am eternally grateful.

Spare Key
There are times where even the most self-reliant person needs a little help. For example, sometimes I'm running late but the dog needs to be let out. And I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Ieventually get locked out. A spare key left with trusted friends is peace of mind, not to mention less embarrassing than calling the police to break into my house.

What costs less then $5 that saves your butt every time?

Image: The sleep mask makes me  look high maintenance but really it's just cheaper then window treatments.

Stranger Stuff: Danger or Savior?

I spent a good part of today moving into my new apartment. And by moving into my new apartment, I mean moving just enough stuff here to live for a few days comfortably until my big move Sunday. One aspect of moving I had completely forgotten about is stranger stuff.

Stranger stuff is an item or items that the previous tenant has left behind for you, seemingly on purpose.

It would make logical sense to use some of these items. First of all, they are free to you. Second, it allows you to not waste as many resources when you use a product completely. It's a frugal thing to do.

On the other hand, there is a sort of creepy factor in using stranger stuff. Sure an extra roll of toilet paper is just common courtesy but there seems to be a line where it becomes weird to use other people's stuff.
 
I was unsure what to make of the gallon of chocolate syrup underneath the sink, Lysol adjacent. The tray table looks perfectly useful but the used sponge is gone.

So I'm curious to know, how do you feel about stranger stuff? Do you use it? Or do you start off on a clean slate? Bonus points if you tell me what is the weirdest stranger stuff you've ever found. For me, it's definitely the chocolate syrup, hands down.

Travel Tip: A Free Guide For Your Opinion

My friend Bailey brought some Las Vegas guide books when she flew in and we've used them a lot of the week. I had heard of and used Zagats a little before but nothing to this extent. (Examples: Best rated campy attractions helped me figure out which tourist stuff to skip and I'm using some recommendations for good solo dining restaurants)

Did you know you can get a free guide for doing a review? It can be as simple as giving an amount of stars to a cafe. Here's the page where you can do just that.

Getting something free and useful for giving my opinion? I'm down with that!

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!

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)...

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...

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!

My First Visit To Trader Joe's

When I lived on Vinalhaven, I discovered Trader Joe's. No, there was no store on the island but my house was stocked: condiments, pasta, spices... all with this brand name on them. I later found out my landlord's wife worked for the company. He told me to eat/use whatever I wanted in the house (I was going to be living there full time for a few years) so I did. First the marinated peppers and then the whole grain pasta... by the time I left, there was a little salt and pepper left but that was about it.  

Trader Joe's was good but felt very unattainable to me. Primarily, it's a city thing (and not online because they want to be your neighborhood store). Since it is a larger city thing, there are none in Maine. I didn't think I'd ever get to one. 

Well that all changed today folks. I'm in Boston for the weekend and since I brought my car this time, I helped my buddy Ally go grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. 

First of all, the tropical theme kind of struck me. "Are they all like this?" I asked. It seemed to put the pizazz back in grocery shopping. Then I started looking through the aisles.

I went to pay and the price was very reasonable. For example, the Emergence-C I usually buy at my local natural food store is normally around $15. At Trader Joe's, it was $8. Luna Bars that are normally $1.25 at the natural food store were $.99. Trader Joe's doesn't use coupons of have sales; according to the website, they just try to buy direct, keep corporate costs low, and sell perishables when they are in season. The result is that I looked at the prices and in addition to seeing a low unit price, nutritional information was prominently featured. Cheap and good, just how I like my food. 

In addition to having some staples that I always need (like a Vitamin C beverage), Trader Joe's seems like a good place to go if you need some fun appetizer to bring to a party. Thai lemon spiced cashews definitely went in my cart and perhaps if you throw a party and invite me, I'll bring them!

So I was happy to help out a friend and have my first Trader Joe's experience. I would have liked to get more frozen stuff to bring home but next time, I guess I'll have to bring a cooler. 

Are you similarly in awe and admiration of Trader Joe's?

Having Way Too Much Fun With Food

The following guest post was written by Randy Devost, my high school penpal and good dear friend. He lives in Quebec, where he lives a cool French and artistic existence. You can email him at randy.devost at gmail.com.

My General Philosophy on Food: I believe most Americans live on a “snacking” diet. Instead of trying to change that by starving ourselves with bland vegetables, “diet” products, and the absence of food, we ought to indulge in healthier snacks! Certain drinks and foods, along with a rigorous weekly exercise of one’s choice, can improve our health enormously.

·        Make your own Italian Sodas! Buying a case of Schweppes brand soda water and adding Torani syrups is an economic and healthy way to enjoy a gourmet soda.

·        For the brave and experimental: mixing teas with floral water, large tapioca pearls, juices, sugars, yogurts, gelatins, milk, spices, etc. (I inspire from Pearl Milk Tea and Lassi drinks.) The goal is to make the most exotic and intoxicating non-alcoholic drink possible.

·        I learned this one from my Mexican friends—a bag of apples with Tajin fruit seasoning is a great way to spice up the ordinary!

·        Forage for your food! Referring to traditional Native American gastronomy is often helpful. (Here’s a list I came up with for us Mainers. We should grow the list as big as possible!)

o       Clams

o       Perrywinkles

o       Mussels

o       Sea Urchin

o       Blueberries

o       Strawberries

o       Dandylion greens

o       Hazlenuts

o       Beach nuts

o       Choke cherries

o       Wild apples

o       Mushrooms

o       Fiddleheads

o       Raspberries

o       Blackberries

o       Wild spices

·        Snacking on toast is cheap! Cheap! Cheap! Depending on the “bread and spread” you use, it can be relatively healthier, and less costly, than a slice of cake or a bowl of ice cream. Here are some spreads I’ve enjoyed over the years:

 

SWEET: butter & Nutella, Peanut butter & fluff, Peanut butter & mollases, Tahini & honey, Butter & cinnamon sugar,

SAVORY: Vegemite, Creton, Hummus,Veggie patés, Cheese-Whiz, Brie or Camembert cheese

·        Popcorn doesn’t have to be boring or bland! I prefer popping popcorn using the classic air popper or even in a pan on a stove. Here are some of my favorite toppings:

 

o       Grated parmesan cheese

o       Lawry’s brand season salt

o       Chili powder

o       Jalapeno oil

o       Sesame oil

o       Black pepper

o       Cayenne

o       Sugar

 

Got any snacks to share? Do tell!

Nicole's State Of The Economy Address

I'll be the first to admit that I have little to no-pull in terms of making people think one thing or the other about the economy. I do, however, come to a point where I have collected some cool links that just need to be shared.

I'll cover the economy in seperate sectors of the agreed-upon needs of all people: Food, Water, Clothing, Shelter, and Love (and I'll throw in Government just for fun!).

Food

Food price inflation may not be as bad as we thought (check out inflation explained at Debt-Free Revolution). I also read a completely hilarious blog about media mass hysteria about food prices meanwhile the average barbeque meal only cost $1.65 more than last year... if you know who wrote this post let me know, because I lost the link! Even the Wall Street Journal has reported rice futures going down.

Water

My friend Sarah sent me this fabulous SIGG water bottle for my birthday. It is amazing. It keeps my water cold and crisp and does not leave a plastic aftertaste in my mouth...and, of course, it's refillable. I don't normally endorse products but here's the store if you want to buy one.

Clothing

Apparently, the New York Times is having a hard time believing that Sarah Jessica Parker's newish Bitten line of clothes is so wonderful. They seem to think that attraction towards inexpensive clothes is a phenomenon in these economic times. Those of us who love women's magazines though have seen a "Bitten" example in every issue for at least the past year. Ok slight exaggeration but SJP (and women wanting cute cheap clothes) is here to stay.

Feeling left out menfolk? Please don't: LL Cool J has got your back! (from USAToday.com)

Shelter

If you want to understand how this whole housing debaucle happened, listen to this hour-long program from This American Life. Great storytelling, which you can expect from TAL but makes this whole thing way more understandable.

And if you're a renter, feel free to get angry. Read this fabulous post by Baglady to see why this housing crisis will effect us all whether we rent or not.

Love

Ah, poor Anne Heche. She may love her kids but can't afford to pay child support. OK, if she can't afford it, I think that pretty much lets everyone else off the hook, too. (I have no sympathy for celebrities who make more money in one day then I have in five years then waste their money. Where I'm from we call that gaspilleuse!)(from People.com)

But in the good news bin about love, people apparently love and appreciate small businesses enough to actually pay in a pay-as-you-wish situation. (from Freakonomics blog)

And according to a recent Gallup poll,almost 50% of us are happy and thriving. How happy? People are working on an index for that! (from Freakonomics blog)

Government

Haven't spent your new government stimulus check on a new Wii or a crazy night in Vegas? Good for you! Here are some more productive things to do with it. (from Mighty Bargain Hunter)

And guess what? The government is doing something about credit card companies (from Debt-Free Revolution).

Need even more government fun? Now you can actually prove if you could do a better job then your Congress people. Balance the federal budget...it's a new game called Budget Hero. (Freakonomics blog)

To summarize: things may or may not be as awful as we thought, but we certianly can't control everything. Might as well smile and wave...

Image from www.shorpy.com.

 

Some Updates On Projects

Project: The Zen And Art On Coupon Clipping
Time Elapsed: Two Weeks

So far, I'm a little discouraged on this project. I find that I haven't been able to use a lot of the coupons I've clipped. Often, it seems the store brand still beats my name brand coupon. My last shopping trip I saved...$2.38 with coupons. My Grocery Game savings the same trip were around $10, and I don't really have to do anything for that except print off the list and pay $5 a month. (and hey, saving me $10 in an average week means that it pays for itself and then some for sure). I'll keep clipping coupons though and give this a solid month to trial to see if it's worth my time

The one exception to coupon discouragement is the $8 Hills Science Diet Dogfood I got from Spending Less 101. That website points you to coupons you can get online. I waited until the food was on sale ($5 off this week) and I saved $14 on my finicky dog's healthy food: $17 of food will now last at least two months for her.

Project: How To Get Rid Of Carpet Odors
Time Elapsed: Two months

Thanks to everyone who participated in this, including Debt Free Revolution and Bouncing Betty who suggested Odoban from Home Depot. As the daughter of a small hardware store owner, I hate HD but I went to get this product. $8 and only about 1/8 of the bottle later, smell is gone. Completely.

Project: Blogroll Update
Time Elapsed: Too Long!

I finally updated my blogroll with new (well, not so much new as new to me) blogs that I read all the time.

Personal finance-y blogs: Being Frugal, Cheap Healthy Good, Debt Free Revolution, Girls Just Wanna Have Funds, My Small Cents, Northern Cheapskate, Spending Less 101, and The Baglady.

Other great blogs: Intelligent Travel, Shorpy, Hoarded Ordinaries, and Satellite Sisters.

If I haven't added your blog or website yet and I clearly read it and comment on it all the time, let me know!

There I got all those updates done like I've been meaning to! Whew! Now anxiously awaiting five o'clock for the weekend to start... Happy Friday!

Travel Special: All Business

A Week-long Series About Travel

In my moment of zen in the breakroom (this is where I sit for ten minutes with a coffee or chocolate yogurt and a women's magazine on my break), I read a tip yesterday: when you travel and, for example, book a hotel, ask if they have a business rate. Just ask like you do it all the time.

Now other than paying for my car mileage to film local events, my company doesn't really make a globetrotter out of me. But apparently, just asking about a business travel discount will usually get it for you, even if you are shopping with your sister.

Speaking of the business of sisters, mine is a first grade teacher (and, by proxy, a saint) and saves a teacher discount of 10-20% on hotel rooms at the Comfort Inn and related hotels when she travels. She even gets a free stay occasionally. (I couldn't find the exact discount on the website... and I'd call my sister but she's at school!) Check with your professional organization or employer if there are discounts they offer. There may be no "newspaper employee discounts" for me but I do get a Ellsworth Chamber card (2-10% of local businesses) and a discount off my monthly YMCA membership. Just ask around the office.

Outside of "the business", you do have other discount travel options, often for which you pay a nominal fee. For students, there is the Student Advantage card which saves you money at many locations (not just travel). I had in college and just saving 15% off for Greyhound and Amtrak a few times more than paid for the price of the card (and now it looks like they have way more sponsors then they used to have back in the day). The adult version of a discount card would be AAA, which I now have. Sean gets a membership for Christmas every year and I added my name to his account (and got my own card) for $40 for the year. And trust me, I drive the backwoods enough to feel safe knowing I can call a tow truck 24-7 (or you know, get 20% off my tour at the Woodlawn Museum if I never do run into a moose again).

So mentioning being all business when you travel may save you some cash. Just ask for a discount and if that doesn't work, whip out your card. Happy trails! 

The Zen And Art Of Coupon Clipping

There are some things we admittedly can't do much about. Gas prices and high taxes are two such things (though I suppose you could convert your car to biodiesel or work under the table but both those things require too much effort for me).

I've been looking for ways to further trim my budget, which is actually quite lean. I have made it a goal though of cutting off $50 a month from my $250 a month grocery bill (that's for two people).

There are a few tips related to grocery shopping that I seem to keep hearing over and over in my research and from talking to people: make a price book and cut coupons.

Price Book
If you look at your grocery list, you are probably buying the same things most every week. A price book is just a book you bring with you to the grocery store and write down the lowest prices you pay per item. This way, when you are shopping and wondering whether something is a good price or not, you can consult a reference specific to where you live and shop. I think I have one of these in my head but I really should formalize it. I may be surprised.

Coupons
Yes, I have been using the Grocery Game for a few months now and it is quite helpful but I really want to step up my game (plus it's $5 a month, I mean, can I do this myself?). I've also used coupons off their website to go with the sales. The idea with coupons is 1) that you wait until something is on sale and use a coupon to buy it and 2) you buy nonperishable things while they are on sale so as to "stockpile" them.

And here's an article if you want to get really serious about the coupons (From The Digerati Life).

Since I haven't given coupon cutting the chance it deserves, I went out on Sunday and bought the weekend paper for $1.50. I then proceeded to cut the coupons from it (probably at least $20 worth). I listened to the radio and had a coffee. I found myself quite relaxed after! I even took a photo to illustrate the experience.

So my financial goal is to reduce my grocery bill by $50 a month using a price book, coupons, and The Grocery Game.

Wish me luck and do feel free to share your own coupon cutting tips and tricks.

Five Tips To Commerce-Free Days

Going Whole Days Without Buying Anything Is Really Empowering

I was baking a cake when I lived out on Vinalhaven a couple years ago. An angelfood cake. From scratch. I didn't realize a springform pan was required until I was halfway through the recipe. What most of us would do at this point is run out and go buy a pan. But on a little island, there is no kitchen store. There was, however, Carla.

I called around amongst my friends for a springform pan. My friend Liz was living with Carla, who had enough cake pans for a cake pan museum. She even asked me what kind of springform pan I wanted. Incredible.

So on Vinalhaven, even when there were days I could have easily bought something, I was forced to improvise or wait until the next time I was in Rockland. There were multiple days were I bought nothing, often at least 3 or 4 in a row. I decided to carry on this practice into my non-island life.

Commerce-free days are days when I don't buy anything. Not a coffee, not a tube of lipstick. You'll be amazed when you see, "Wow, I've gone two days without spending any money!" You feel so disciplined and self reliant. Here are a few of my favorite tips to a commerce free day.

1. Make your own coffee/tea/iced tea/work treat. When I first moved to a town with a coffee shop, I got one everyday. It was a dollar and something I really had missed having access to. Then I realized one month that I spend $30. On coffee!

At the beginning of April, I bought a pound of my favorite coffee from my local coffee shop (in case you're curious Rock City Coffee's Jet roast) and some creamer. I used the french press in the company breakroom to make coffee whenever I felt like it. It's been over a month and about 1/4 of the bag is gone. I think I'm getting my money's worth, not to mention the chance to peruse a magazine while it brews.

Your weakness may not be coffee. But make that reward you give yourself during your work day something you can make yourself. (You'll see it really add up at the end of the month, trust me!)

2. Borrow, don't buy. I'm not a baker. I needed a springform cake pan once, so why go out and buy one? Borrowing from neighbors, friends, and the library is not only economical but a great way to meet people or learn more about people you already know. (For example, in talking to Carla, I found out why my baguettes never came out baguette-y... I apparently need a form!)

3. Have someone teach you. Michaela and my mom taught me to use a sewing machine so now I don't need a tailor. Sean taught me how to beat eggs to stiff peaks by hand so I've never bought a mixer. You are surrounded in your life by people who know how to do things. Rather than paying someone to "just do it", learn the skill yourself. Family and friends also accept a currency that is appreciated by many of us: pizza and never-ending gratitude.

4. Lead yourself not unto temptation. Don't shop recreationally. Stay away from stores, both online and in person. Make yourself stick to the list if you go in a large store where you need just one or two things. Do what you have to do to avoid the commercialism if you are tempted, even if it means taking a different route home from work to avoid stripmalls or taking your credit card out of your wallet before going with a friend to your favorite store.

5. Do what you have to do. This is your personal journey but if you need to buy cold medicine to sedate you enough to sleep through the fog, do it. Commerce-free days should allow you to think about your purchases, not to make you completely miserable.

I urge you to see how many commerce-free days you can get in. Try it in May then look at your budget at the end of the month. You may be amazed by yourself, which you probably should be more often. I mean, you are pretty great, and you don't need extra stuff to prove it.

Photo: No Willams Sonoma for you on your Maine island of choice.    

My New Favorite Website

Looking For A Discount Code Before Submitting An Online Order: Priceless

The last time I bought something online (business cards at Vistaprint last week), I noticed the little "enter promotional code here" field in the shopping cart. I decided to type in "promotional code vistaprint" in a Google search before submitting my order. I got a code that saved me 80%. (FYI Vistaprint does have free business cards but they use the back of the card to plug their website, which I didn't want for my purposes.) Twenty dollars for 500 cards was a fine deal to me.

I had to adjust my Typepad account information yesterday. I saw the coupon field again so in another window, I typed in "discount code typepad" in a quick Google search. I now have 15% off my monthly subscription rate. Why didn't I think of this before? In addition to buying things through places like Ebates and getting money back, I could also use promo codes to get additional discounts. Where am I getting these codes, you ask?

http://www.retailmenot.com

It gives you the promotional/discount code as well as the likelihood for success. For example, the Greyhound codes I tried a couple months ago for my Boston trip didn't work but at 15% success rate, I wasn't expecting they would.

So before you buy something online, especially from a major retailer, give retailmenot.com a shot. It's about 30 seconds of effort but for frugal-minded folks, well worth it.

Why I Don't Have Television

The good news is that I wrote an entire post on this.

The thing is I put it on someone's blog. Peter (he writes for the blog Bible Money Matters) has had some family medical trouble and a fellow blogger (Lynnae at beingfrugal.net) is organizing guest posters to keep his blog going. I put in my efforts for a guest post this morning. Keep him and his family in your thoughts and if you want to guest post, contact Lynnae.

If you want to read why I willingly don't have television, click here. That's right, twice in one day. It can't happen often, folks so enjoy!

What's In Your Wallet?

A Photocopy Of Everything In Your Wallet Can Save Your Butt

When I went to France, I read about all sorts of things I should do to be safe while traveling. Luggage locks, not carrying a lot of cash... I don't remember much of it now (though I do remember compiling quite a paranoid little list). I do remember one thing: "Keep a photocopy of everything in your wallet, (front and back of cards) in your suitcase."

It's easy to misplace a wallet or have it simply "disappear". I made a copy of everything from my credit card to my passport and took one copy in my suitcase and left one copy with my parents. Piece of mind, twice.

I've never had to use my photocopy but should I ever need to cancel a card or simply try to recover missing things, my photocopy is excellent insurance. (That's right, I haven't traveled internationally in years but I still have my photocopy.) If I can't find my library card number or need the phone number to cancel a credit card, it's all in one place.

Do you know what's in your wallet? 

Money For Nothing (Though I Can’t Promise Chicks For Free)

It's ‘Stick It To The Man’ Friday

The theme of this Friday post is “sticking it to the man”. That’s right, there are ways to do it without being publicly humiliated or fired. I also hope that you can share your additional ideas in the comments or by emailing me (I promise to give you props).

Sense to Save had a great post called “Make Installment Payments To Yourself”. The basic idea is, you know how it’s cheaper to pay one lump sum for something like car insurance but you never have the funds up front? She suggests putting the money you would use on a monthly payment into an account with interest. Then you pay the lump sum at the end and get to keep your interest. Way to stick it to the bank, Kacie! They do get to “borrow” your money so why not get something for it.

Moolanomy had a great post last week about making money off credit cards by “Making Money Off Credit Cards” using a similar principle (taking the money out and putting it in an account then paying the credit card back, keeping the interest for yourself). The idea makes me a little nervous so I’d try it with a small amount initially if I could do it at all. But I am all for sticking it to credit card companies.

And Google was abuzz earlier yesterday morning about www.exboyfriendjewelry.com. Guess what that specializes in? That’s right, sell that perfectly good jewelry (or, even better, “gifts that should have been jewelry”)  and get useful cash for useless old gifts. Talk about sticking it to a specific man!

Spending Less 101 and Mommy Gets Paid both have online coupon codes regularly for free or reduced price items. I applied for a free Elle Décor subscription by taking a survey and I used a code to get 80% off business cards at Vistaprint. (Too bad they aren’t coming in for my networking event on Sunday.) Getting free stuff is kind of like sticking it to some big company, right?

A snarkier post, yes, but it is Friday and sometimes, it is nice to have a little power over something that is much more powerful than any individual person. So why not stick it to the man this Friday? And do let us know how it went!

Image from www.allposters.com ...this Google Image search was so right on with the first image it returned!

Want New Books And Movies?

We All Do— But A Swap Website May Make More Sense

Who doesn't love the feeling of a fresh new book? It's pretty tempting to pay $8.95 for that shiny new paperback you won't get around to reading for awhile, isn't it? Or listening to that new CD at the store makes you want to buy it on the spot, right?

It really can be convincing to buy new media to consume. This weekend while we were shopping, my sister paused at the books in a store. "Do we need any books?" she asked and we all paused before saying "no", even though books were not on our lists.

In addition to temptation for new media, you've probably been doing some spring cleaning and have found books, CDs, etc. to get rid of, making it even more ridiculous to buy new. May I suggest the win-win situation of a swap website?

At PaperBackSwap, an email address and valid USPS address will get you registered and when you put ten books on the swap, the website gives you two free credits to order other books. I searched for five books (a few obscure, a few more popular paperbacks) and only one that I wanted were available. Like any used book store, this site may or may not have what you want but at over 2 million books alone (they also have a CD and DVD swap) it's worth a shot.

Free From Broke posted a review of Swaptree last week, which sounds very similar to PaperBackSwap only you can also trade video games as well. (Use the link off Free From Broke to get free shipping on your first trade!) Swaptree is a smaller site, though I haven't learned the cultures of either site enough to know what kind of books, CDs, etc. they tend to have. If it's like any garage sale I've been to, there's probably a bunch of romance novels and a George Michael CD or two at the very least.

Both sites are searchable by multiple fields (title of book or ISBN number for example) and both include printable labels so all you have to do is stick the package in the mailbox.

These sites are free but you do have to pay postage, which is usually a lower rate if you go with the USPS's media mail rate. (I sent my sister a book awhile back for about $1.50, though Swaptree promises a maximum of $2.50 for anything.) You can buy envelopes or cleverly wrap things in layers of scrap paper and packaging tape. Not that I've ever done that of course...

If you've used either of these sites before, do comment below. Because there's nothing I love more then free things I like and a way to get rid of things I don't without throwing them away. Happy Swapping!

Image from: community.bates.edu  

5 Tips On How To Waste Less Energy

A Salute To Earth Week

Today, it's all about energy use, or lack of use more specifically, and how you can cut back on energy use painlessly and save cash. This will give me a chance to use that list of links I've collected and get your ideas.

When I was a little girl, I used to turn off lights in the house. I had just read the book "50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth" and that was my take home message: little things can add up to a lot. Turning off a light in a room no one was using seemed simple, so I began doing it. There was some complaining that I turned off the lights on people when they were still in the room but when the electric bill came in, the critics were silenced.

"You saved us $75 in electricity this month!" my mom told me. And here all I wanted to do was save the Earth! When I found out you could save money, too, there was no stopping me.

Here are a few quick fixes for you:

1) Try not to use your clothes dryer. It's quite a little energy hog. My friend Susan told me if you turn on your dryer and look at your electric meter, it's nuts. And I believe her. Plus I found from Idealbite that the average dryer costs $135/year to run. Try a rack or the clothesline. As The Maine Life mentioned earlier this week, National Hanging Out Day is April 19!

2) Set up your computer for success. The Simple Dollar had a great post this week about how you can set up your computer to use less energy. Savings by doing all these things add up to $350 and prevent three and a half tons of CO2 emissions.

3) Phantom loads on electronics should be curbed. They result from things that are plugged in but not being used and can also be avoided by unpluging unused electronics or buying a powerstrip that turns itself off (see Idealbite if the latter is of interest). The amount of energy used by phantom loads is estimated to be about 75% by Efficiency Maine. So take 75% of your electric bill and that's what you could potentially save!

4) Get a programmable thermostat. It's going to sound so nerdy but I asked for a programmable thermostat for Christmas. I have often forgotten to turn down the heat as I leave the house in the winter so having something do it for me makes so much sense. Sure it's $50 but you can save $150 a year and that's with last year's energy prices. This could also work for those who live in places where air conditioning is more a problem.

5) Take a look at your hot water tank. If you turn down the temperature just a couple degrees on the hot water tank (will you really notice the difference betweek 130 degrees F and 120 degrees F?) and insulate your hot water pipes with foam. I couldn't find an amount on how much this would save but it's probably worth the 5-10 minutes it takes (and $5 in foam for the pipes).

In my travels, I also found a neat Virtual Energy Audit you can do in your own home. I haven't taken it yet but it takes 30 minutes and an electric bill to complete. It can target specific ways you can save money at your home. You can also usually borrow meters from your local library and test the electricity used in your devices yourself. (I'm thinking a kid or a certain scientific-minded boyfriend would love this little experiment.)

There's plenty of ways to painlessly save energy and money; kick it off this Earth Week!

Picture from http://www.darnnews.blogspot.com 

Your Complete Guide To Composting

Salute To Earth Week

This weekend, a compost was started in the backyard. So far, it doesn't stink. Of course, it's only three days old.

Composting is basically a natural process of decay that you can use to eliminate trash and create useable soil for your gardening projects. Decay will happen whether you make it happen or not but there are things you can do to help speed up the process. Composting has the added benefit of saving me money because our local trash service charges by the bag and since thirty percent of most household trash is compostable, it makes sense to at least attempt. My mom bought us a compost bin (it's big and black and has a locking lid) for Christmas and now that spring has come, it is set up in the back yard next to our tiny wood shed.   

If composting interests you, you don't need a fancy compost bin to try it out. The Savy Gardener tells you how. if you live in Maine, you should take advantage of the free services of your local UMaine Cooperative Extension (most other states have similar services so check it out). The CO has all kinds of free information about how to do anything remotely hands-on in relation to flora and fauna.

The one thing I may recommend you purchase is a composting pail. Not only will you not want to go out to your pile everytime you've found something compostable (unless you are easily excited), you will also not appreciate your organic matter decaying early in your kitchen. The special compost pails also have filters in them to keep them from smelling. (You could also just try a container you already have first and if you find it smelly, get the pail.) 

Since I have been worried that this somehow won't work for me, I am keeping this article today about how to kick-start a compost that is happening too slowly in reserve just in case.

If you are still unconvinced, you should check out the list of things you can compost. Fur, Kleenex, tea bags... I took the list and distilled it into a one page list I could post on the fridge near our pail. You can download it below if you want a one page list as well.

Like with other projects I've done, I'll keep you posted on the progress of this one.

Download what_can_you_compost.doc