I don’t want your bill collector calls, Tina
From time to time, bill collectors have reached my home in attempts to contact other people.
In one situation during the early 1990s, the bill collectors were looking for one of my neighbors. That got resolved quickly.
In very aggravating situation during the mid-1990s, the bill collectors were looking for someone who used to have my phone [...]
Continue reading I don’t want your bill collector calls, Tina …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Toledo Blade: 1 in 4 Toledo residents live in poverty
Life is pretty rough in southeast Michigan these days, but it’s no picnic either for our neighbors and friends in northwest Ohio. Just drive 15 miles on I-75 from Monroe, Mich., to Toledo, Ohio, and here is a headline of the day …
The Toledo Blade is reporting today US ranks Toledo as nation’s 8th-most impoverished.
A snippet:
The latest U.S. Census Bureau poverty statistics rank Toledo the nation’s eighth most impoverished city, with 24.7 percent of its residents living below the poverty line. That’s nearly twice the national poverty rate of 13.2 percent.
Many believe the situation is worse now locally and nationally, given that those Census figures were based on late 2008 data. America’s economic crisis worsened during the first half of 2009.
Continue reading Toledo Blade: 1 in 4 Toledo residents live in poverty …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Trimming the Average Budget: Household Operations
This is part of an ongoing series about how to trim the budget of the average American. As this series focuses on such broad-based tips, some will work for you and some will not. You’re invited to mention in the comments the tips that you found to be the most useful for inclusion in a comprehensive budget trimming guide at the conclusion of this series.
Housing – household operations – $984
Household operations? Think housecleaning services, nannies, babysitters, child care, and the like – services people pay for to keep their household running efficiently.
Quite often, these expenses are purchased in order to buy time for other things, like leisure or spending time with family – and that’s understandable. However, there are still many ways to peel back a bit more on the average household operations budget.
Make sure you’re actually utilizing the time you’re saving. If you’re paying for a housecleaning service just so you can sit around each evening and do nothing at all, you might want to reconsider your choices, particularly if you’re swimming in debt. Household services are fine if you actually need the time for something positive and productive in your life, but if you’re not utilizing that time, it’s probably time to reconsider the whole thing.
Cut back on housecleaning services and see if it makes a difference. If you pay for a housecleaner, reduce the frequency of the visits and see if it makes any sort of impact on your life. You might find that with just a bit of casual picking up, you don’t really need that much time from the housekeeper, thus saving you money.
Buy services in cooperation with your neighbors. A few houses on our block negotiated with a lawn treatment service in order to get a reduced rate for all of them. If you utilize services that people you know also use, look into negotiating for a better group rate for all of you. This particularly works well if you’re a new customer or if you overlap geographically in a way that’s convenient.
Look for opportunities for a more flexible working schedule. A more flexible working schedule allows you to rely on childcare and other services less, directly saving you money. Look for telecommuting opportunities, alternate work schedules, and so on.
Start a babysitting co-op. In order to reduce babysitting costs, several families in our area have a babysitting co-op. One weekend evening (often, it’s Fridays) on a rotating basis, one of the sets of parents offers free babysitting for all of the other parents in the co-op, giving those parents a date night or an evening to take care of other business. The babysitting service rotates through all of the families, and each week, all families always have the option of using the service provided by another family. This saves on “date night” babysitting costs for all of the families involved.
Alternately, start a direct babysitting exchange. Another family I know has a direct exchange with another family. One Saturday a month, they watch the children of their partner family. Another Saturday a month, that partner family watches their children. This gives both sets of parents one free weekend day to take care of projects or spend time together without the children – and it’s free. This is often much better than hiring a babysitter each month for a full day.
Try doing things for yourself. Instead of hiring a lawn treatment service, I got a small fertilizing and seeding cart and learned how to do it myself. I just spread seed and dry compost in the spring and more dry compost in the fall using my spreader. It takes about an hour and just replaces my exercise session for the day – and there’s no service fee nor no cost for the fertilizer.
Always shop around. Sometimes, the service you want for the price you want isn’t available when you want it, so you wind up with your second choice (paying more or receiving a lower-quality product). If you find yourself in that situation, always put yourself on the waiting list, then switch when the opportunity comes around. Just because there isn’t a slot for you right now doesn’t mean there won’t be, and you can often improve your “bang for the buck” by being patient and switching when there’s an opportunity.
I want your help! In the comments, please let me know which of the tips you find most useful for trimming these costs. I’ll include the top choices in a comprehensive budget trimming guide at the conclusion of the series.
Continue reading Trimming the Average Budget: Household Operations …
From The Simple Dollar.
Ways to define frugality
photo by Shyald
What is frugality? According to dictionary.com, it’s being economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful. But it means something different to each person. For years, it has been synonymous with being a cheapskate or miserly or a temporary wagon to jump onto because of a setback or the economy. I like to think of it as choosing the best balance of time and money and creating the least amount of waste based on each person’s priorities. It’s living your life in an efficient way. In other words, it’s about making the best financial and least wasteful choices based on your own situation as consistently as possible. Being cheap means always looking for the least cost of items, and miserly is someone who is stingy. It’s only natural that some view frugal people in a negative light. So how do you define frugality?
Here are a few common ways to understand frugality.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WANTS AND NEEDS: You learn to make positive choices and to enjoy freedom not everyone enjoys. You’re aware of the value of your time and money and aren’t concerned with appearances. You don’t need the approval of others. You’re baffled that anyone would pay more for an item that is available for less. You delay your spending when possible. One reader, Donna in Louisiana, shares: “Frugality is making conscious choices about how I spend my money. It does not mean I can’t have anything. It means I can’t have everything, so when I am frugal, I choose wisely among the many options of both needs and wants. It is my responsibility to determine what is important enough to fund and what is not, and what is possible to fund. Frugality is to manage my money with awareness, not simply react to impulses.”
JOY: You find contentment in knowing you have enough and then some. You are happy with simple pleasures. You don’t need to follow the crowd or keep up with your neighbors. It isn’t that you don’t enjoy modern conveniences. It’s the fact that you value the impact some choices have on your wallet, health and the environment. You enjoy being creative.
KNOWLEDGE: When you’re frugal, you make informed decisions. For example, you research products, compare prices, and consider your options. You don’t purchase stuff just because it’s on sale or inexpensive. Ask yourself the following questions prior to purchasing: Do you need it? Will you use it? Is there room for it? Can you borrow this? How long will it last? Can you do without it? Can you find a better price? Are there negative consequences? You learn to do more tasks yourself, make things last, and repair items when possible.
BUDGETING: You know exactly how much money you have, what you owe and what you spend and save. You have goals for your hard-earned money.
GENEROSITY: Cheap people aren’t generous. Frugal people will be generous and can afford to be because they’re saving in other areas.
PLANNING: You plan and organize to make the best use of your time and money. Frugal people will invest in an item that will help them save money. Rather than buy the cheapest shoes, furnishings or tools, they would rather save and buy higher-quality items that will last longer. They save in some areas so they don’t have to in other areas. It’s not about all the tasks, solutions and strategies. It’s about who and what you’re doing it for.
Continue reading Ways to define frugality …
From Frugal Village.
Ways to define frugality
photo by Shyald
What is frugality? According to dictionary.com, it’s being economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful. But it means something different to each person. For years, it has been synonymous with being a cheapskate or miserly or a temporary wagon to jump onto because of a setback or the economy. I like to think of it as choosing the best balance of time and money and creating the least amount of waste based on each person’s priorities. It’s living your life in an efficient way. In other words, it’s about making the best financial and least wasteful choices based on your own situation as consistently as possible. Being cheap means always looking for the least cost of items, and miserly is someone who is stingy. It’s only natural that some view frugal people in a negative light. So how do you define frugality?
Here are a few common ways to understand frugality.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WANTS AND NEEDS: You learn to make positive choices and to enjoy freedom not everyone enjoys. You’re aware of the value of your time and money and aren’t concerned with appearances. You don’t need the approval of others. You’re baffled that anyone would pay more for an item that is available for less. You delay your spending when possible. One reader, Donna in Louisiana, shares: “Frugality is making conscious choices about how I spend my money. It does not mean I can’t have anything. It means I can’t have everything, so when I am frugal, I choose wisely among the many options of both needs and wants. It is my responsibility to determine what is important enough to fund and what is not, and what is possible to fund. Frugality is to manage my money with awareness, not simply react to impulses.”
JOY: You find contentment in knowing you have enough and then some. You are happy with simple pleasures. You don’t need to follow the crowd or keep up with your neighbors. It isn’t that you don’t enjoy modern conveniences. It’s the fact that you value the impact some choices have on your wallet, health and the environment. You enjoy being creative.
KNOWLEDGE: When you’re frugal, you make informed decisions. For example, you research products, compare prices, and consider your options. You don’t purchase stuff just because it’s on sale or inexpensive. Ask yourself the following questions prior to purchasing: Do you need it? Will you use it? Is there room for it? Can you borrow this? How long will it last? Can you do without it? Can you find a better price? Are there negative consequences? You learn to do more tasks yourself, make things last, and repair items when possible.
BUDGETING: You know exactly how much money you have, what you owe and what you spend and save. You have goals for your hard-earned money.
GENEROSITY: Cheap people aren’t generous. Frugal people will be generous and can afford to be because they’re saving in other areas.
PLANNING: You plan and organize to make the best use of your time and money. Frugal people will invest in an item that will help them save money. Rather than buy the cheapest shoes, furnishings or tools, they would rather save and buy higher-quality items that will last longer. They save in some areas so they don’t have to in other areas. It’s not about all the tasks, solutions and strategies. It’s about who and what you’re doing it for.
Continue reading Ways to define frugality …
From Frugal Village.
And The Winner Is. . .
The winner of the Homestead Blessings giveaway is Melissa Logan! Congratulations Melissa.
Here is what her favorite Christmas cookie was:
- On December 16th, 2009 at 8:47 am 4 Melissa Logan Says:Its very simple, but I truly LOVE spritz cookies! You can do so much with them and I make probably a million of them during the holidays. Give them to neighbors and people at work,etc.
I will be contacting you shortly on how to claim your prize!
Continue reading And The Winner Is. . . …
From Econobusters.
When a holiday gift list is beyond your budget
Stew at Gather Little by Little wrote a post about Holiday Finances in general, but I’ll pick out his thoughts on how to deal with a holiday gift list that is beyond your budget.
A snippet:
The problem comes when I start to consider employees, employers, supervisors, neighbors, acquaintances, the mailman, the trash collectors, etc. Every time I turn around, I am being asked to contribute $5 or $10 so we can go together for a gift for someone else or to bring a “gift worth $15″ for a gift exchange or so-and-so is expecting a tip. These gifts are putting us in the poorhouse . . . well, we were already there . . . these gifts are putting us under the poorhouse.
Here are a few solutions that may or may not work for you.
- Homemade gifts: not sure what I can make that anyone will actually appreciate. My wife definitely tries to do this with some success, but this strategy is limited.
- Budget and save up during the year: Very good idea, but we do not have any more room in our budget for another item. We have a negative savings rate as it is. Our finances are heading in the right direction and we are keeping our heads above water, but we just finished a year with an extra $14,000 of expenses due to our house not selling.
- Graciously decline: Not sure if there is a way to do this without offending or appearing cheap or worse – everyone gives me a gift anyway and feels sorry for me. Yikes!
Here’s my followup comments for those who are on tight budgets this year, or whose friends / family / co-workers are on tight budgets:
If you are coordinating a group gift, and I’ve been tasked with that responsibility in the past, do NOT select or purchase the gift until you find out who can contribute and what their budget will be. Even the modest $5, $10 and $15 contributions can throw someone for a loop who is wondering how to put money in the gas tank or buy groceries that week.
If you are coordinating a gift exchange, do not put your participants in a situation where they need to buy a gift in addition to their existing shopping lists. If you want a party game, offer a white elephant / regifting gift exchange so people can swap out a present or knickknack they already have but would be glad to trade out.
If you want to tip or provide a gift to your teacher, mail carrier, newspaper carrier, etc., do so because YOU want to and can afford such an offering. I was a newspaper carrier off and on from junior high into my college years and I did like the cash, candy and cookies that many of my customers gave me at Christmas. But I didn’t stiff customer service to those who didn’t tip. (It was an entirely different story for those who tried to stiff me on the subscription bill.)
I have lots more tips at Help! I Can’t Afford Christmas!
Continue reading When a holiday gift list is beyond your budget …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Cracker Barrel’s holiday gift tips
Cracker Barrel, on behalf of its Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Monroe, Mich., sent a holiday planning press release to The Monroe Evening News that includes these five tips on “how to maximize your shopping experience.”
Make a List. Include who you want to stop for and how much you want to spend. Besides family, be sure to add teachers, neighbors and co-workers.
Shop Smart. Select just one or two retailers that offer a variety of gift categories and prices. With your busy schedule, this convenience will make shopping a breeze.
Little Luxuries. You don’t have to pay expensive spa prices to pamper someone on your list. Purchase a few small soaps and scents, or even combine a few items to create a personal care gift basket.
Food Items. Need a gift for a host or hostess? Consider giving a packaged food item that the recipient can share with others or even a gift card.
Extra, Extra! Look for “extras” such as free gift wrapping to add a personal touch without adding up.
Continue reading Cracker Barrel’s holiday gift tips …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Parade.com: How the economic crisis changed us
Did you see this week’s Parade magazine in The Monroe Evening News and other Sunday newspapers across the country?
The lead article is How the economic crisis changed us.
A snippet:
Nearly four out of five respondents (79%) say that they’ve felt the impact of the financial downturn, with one-third saying that the turmoil has had a big impact on their lives. Most respondents haven’t had to turn on the TV to appreciate the scope of the declining economy—they’ve registered its toll in their own faces or those of friends, family members, and neighbors. Sixty-nine percent have lost a job, suffered a reduction in pay, or know someone who has experienced one of these. Close to half have had difficulty making their mortgage or rent payments or know someone who has.
As a result, many Americans have made significant financial adjustments in their daily lives. Eighty percent say that they’ve been “forced to do more with less,” 73% have had to make unexpected changes, and 19% have sought some form of government assistance. Necessity has led 27% of respondents to pursue extra work.
Continue reading Parade.com: How the economic crisis changed us …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Day 25~Frugal Family Fun: Scavenger Hunt
One fun and frugal family activity is a fall scavenger hunt. Have fun with just your family, or invite a few friends to join in the fun. You can wrap up the festivities with pie and ice cream. Ask each family to bring a pie to help keep things simple.
Use your imagination to make your own list of items to find or use one of the lists below. Give each individual, family, or group a list of items to find and a bag for their goodies and you’re off! A digital camera can be used as a fun way to record items that are too large to carry.
Here is a great Scavenger Hunt list from EverythingMom.com. It’s unlikely you could find everything on the list, but it would make a great contest to see which team could find the most items. Or work on the entire list as a family, maybe taking more than one outing to find all the items.
Or try this ABC checklist or this more simple list of items to hide and find. Here is a pretty, ready-to-go list that involves getting to know your neighbors.
And you don’t need to freit if the weather is uncooperative. Simply use this fall newspaper scavenger hunt to have some fun!
Enjoy! (And don’t forget the pie and ice cream once you get home!)
Continue reading Day 25~Frugal Family Fun: Scavenger Hunt …
From Econobusters.