Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Living Without a New Car?

Is it possible to live your life without paying car payments?

My response is yes. I know; it's a novel idea. Credit has been a main staple in most people's lives in this day and age. But what did people do 100 years ago when they wanted or needed to buy something? There were no credit cards at that time, and there were no "borrow money from the bank to buy that horse to get you where you need to go". People paid cash...imagine that... using cash for your purchases. "But I need a new car to get to and from work", you say. But do you? Will a good quality used car do the job? We don't have brand new cars, but they are good quality cars that get us both to and from work and we work a minimum of 30 miles away from home; often times my husband works much farther away.

But cash for a car? I am living proof that it can be done. We don't drive new vehicles. My husband drives a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville and I drive 2006 Chevy Malibu Max. These are definitely not luxury cars but they were well maintained prior to our purchase and we have taken good care of them since aquiring them (other than the baseball size hail that put some pretty dents all over mine). But that didn't hurt anywhere near as much as those people in my office watching the storm and crying over their new, financed car and wishing they were in the position I am in.

Is this something that can be done overnight? Of course not...but it can be done. I highly recommend for you to read "Financial Peace Revisited" by Dave Ramsey. This is a guide to help you do the things you want in life...all without paying someone else to use their money.

(Edited 8-1-10)..just found more information on this idea at:
http://www.livingonadime.com/paying-cash-car/comment-page-1/#comment-3623







Tuesday, July 27, 2010

New Uses for Things You Already Have

I love learning about new uses for things I have lying around the house...here is a few ideas for something that most women have lying around.

Nail Polish

1. Keep an eyeglass screw in place. If your specs are a bit wobbly, tighten the screws and top them with a dollop of polish.

2. Secure buttons. Apply a thin layer of polish to the center of a button to keep the thread from coming loose.

3. Avoid rust stains in the bathroom. Coat the bottom of a shaving-cream can to fend off rings on the ledge of the tub.

4. Seal an envelope. When a flap won’t stay stuck, find closure with clear polish.

5. Extend the life of jewelry. Paint a thin coat onto a costume bauble to prevent it from losing its luster.

(From RealSimple.com)28 Uses for Everyday Items By Sharon Tanenbaum and Ashley Tate
The hidden talents (both new and tried-and-true) of kitchen and bathroom staples
.
6. When You bring a new prescription home from the drugstore, paint over the label with clear nail polish. That way, even if the bottle gets wet, the ink won't run and you'll still be able to read the instructions.

7. Do you have trouble lining up those all-but-invisible arrows on childproof medicine bottles? Pain the marks with brightly colored nail polish, and you'll get 'em together on the first try, every time.

8. If you drip-dry clothes on wire hangers, nicks or rust spots on the hangers can end up staining you clothes. Keep 'em sealed with clear nail polish.

9. Are your shoelaces fraying at the ends? Twist the strands together tightly, dampen them just a little, dip them in clear nail polish, and let them dry.

10. Stop pantyhose and stocking runs from spreading by dabbing them with clear nail polish (I have used this..it works!).

(From Supermarket Super Products by Jerry Baker)



Bookmark and Share




Sneaky Chef Mastermind..the Frugal Way

What for dinner? I have leftover taco meat...what to do with it??

Cook some Ziti noodles; drain...
add one can of Spaghetti sauce (I use Hunts w/veggies in it)
add the taco meat
add 1 container of cottage cheese
add in 1 cup of thawed and drained frozen spinach

Stir all this up and put in a dish and add mozzarella on top.Bake until cheese has been melted.

Enjoy.

Don't tell my 13 yr old that there are healthy veggies in this dinner (he just knows it is delicious) ;)


Bookmark and Share


Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

This is day two of being sick and tired..two days that I have had to use vacation time to enable me to continue to get paid while trying to rest and recuperate here at home. I have yet another ear infection and not only is extremely painful...but it is killing me to use vacation time, risk getting written up for missed time at work that is considered "excessive", but it is also not good at all for my budget. After a $20 copay for office visit and then another $10 for my copay for the antibiotics; I know this doesn't sound like much; and it really isn't; it is just more of a nu sense. I pride myself in saving money so that we can do fun things on occasion; and this weekend the hubby wants to go to Cheyenne to celebrate his birthday by going to Sanford's Grub and Pub and watching the Rockies game on one of their many TV screens.

I just got done putting a German chocolate cake in the oven (from the box) to surprise him when he comes home; this will be a great surprise since his birthday isn't until August 3rd.

I am proud of him for a relatively frugal idea for his birthday. In the past we have actually spent hundreds of dollars actually going to the Rockie's game; this birthday (gas included) will cost around $100. For some people that maybe only have one income or who have a much tighter budget than we do..this would be extremely excessive for a birthday. But that is the exact reason I scrimp on a lot of little things all the time so we can enjoy times like this.


Bookmark and Share


Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Immigration All-Inclusive Resort?!?

On June 9, 2010...this was posted on the Immigration Chronicles: "Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are preparing to roll out a series of changes at several privately owned immigration detention centers, including relaxing some security measures for low-risk detainees and offer some art classes, bingo and continental breakfast on the weekends." (you can view the remainder of this at: http://blogs.chron.com/immigration/archives/2010/06/bingo_detainees.html

Ok...let's face it..I am a republican true and true...I believe if you get into our countries through legal measures and are a benefit to society...come on in...I will welcome you with open arms. If you, however, break the laws to enter this country..GET OUT and STAY OUT! It is not my job to take care of you and your family...provide healthcare for you and your unborn child just so you can "miraculously" go into labor while in the United States so you an give birth to a US citizen, educate your children that don't speak the language, and translate all of our documents to make things more comfortable in my country for you, and I don't believe things should be cushy while we are waiting and detaining you to find out if you actually belong here!

Why don't we just provide a nice B & B with a spa and olympic size swimming pool for their use too!! If we have to detain you and it's not comfy..feel free to go home!!


Bookmark and Share


Monday, July 19, 2010

Sex Offenders Rights??

Ok..is it just me or is this the epitome of an oxymoron??? Sex offender and rights do not belong in the same sentence. As I open up my computer this evening, something comes up in my e-mail box. The title reads "DateLine NBC's 'To Catch a Predator' Violates Sex Offender Rights"...

All I can say is OMG! What is so wrong with our justice system? When did we go soooo wrong that we care that there is no search warrant. We catch them sending vulgar e-mails and messages to a "child" over the Internet and we watch them as they go to a "child's" home with the intentions to have sex. These men show up with condoms and alcohol and WE are doing something wrong???? They are told that these girls are minors so they go to meet these "girls" with that knowledge and we are the ones who are violating rights? I, for one, WANT these creeps off the streets because I don't want them anywhere near my daughter or the daughter's of my friends. I say, thank you DateLine NBC for bringing this awareness to the public. I say, shame on you legal system for trying to protect them!


Bookmark and Share


Sunday, July 18, 2010

Facebook Addiction??

As I get up earlier in the morning to make sure I have sufficient amount of time to take care of my resort and harvest my crops; I wonder...am I a facebook addict? I purposefully make sure I get all the points I possibly can to continue to advance in this artificial world but how does that apply to my real life? Am I doing things I find valuable and rewarding? Have my hobby's gone by the wayside just to harvest artificial crops? The answer is yes...I started some embroidery projects to get to my daughter who is expecting my first grandchild in October; which is currently packed away to allow more room for my laptop. I have tried to teach myself how to crochet but never could stay with it because my computer was begging me to come back for that instant gratification. Is this allure of facebook due to the overwhelming need we have in society today to get it served to us in 5 minutes or less and if it takes longer than that you better believe that a manager will be notified? I want to believe I am far more educated and have the insight to not fall for something so trivial..but do I?

As I contemplate this theory I look lovingly over to my hubby who is not harvesting crops, but is playing pitch online with a group of strangers...is that any better than what I do. Yes there is some sort of "exchange" going on as he is playing this game with other people; not just against the computer. Is this really living or is this just our escape from reality? Are we filling up our minds with petty, useless things instead of dealing with the thousands of things we have to do and procrastinate away?

Hi...my name is Gina..and I am a facebook addict...


Bookmark and Share