"Living Better...For Less"
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In this issue:
Introduction
Save Money on Dry Cleaning
by Colleen Dunn
Cutting Food Costs at your wedding
by Rachel Shreckengast
A Toy to Welcome Spring!
by Louise Wulf
Reduce Your Grocery Bill
A Reader Question
by Gary Foreman
Ask Bob: The Automotive Answer Guy?
by Bob DeP
Advice from Mom
by Rae Osenbaugh
Tips, Quips, Quotes & Questions
IN FUTURE ISSUES:
Devising a Budget
Comparison Shopping
Cleaning Tips
Grocery Savings
Hello out there is Dollar Stretcher Land!
Don't want you to waste time here. Lots of good info this week.
One practical issue. When you send a response to the editor, please do not just reply to the issue you have just received. That sends the whole issue back to me. As you can imagine, a tremendous stress on my in mail box is the result. It also wastes net resources needlessly.
Hope you have a great frugal week!
All the Best!
Gary
Save Money on Dry Cleaning
by Colleen Dunn
cldunn@clover.net
(This week Colleen answers two reader's questions about dry cleaning.)
Q#1: Are there some things where the tag says ""Dry Clean Only" that can be safely cleaned at home?
A. Yes. Some items marked DCO can be safely home laundered. The Care Labeling law states only 1 method of cleaning must be communicated to the consumer, not all acceptable methods. [The dry cleaning processes means a chemical cleaning process, not a 'dry' method.]
What will affect the success of home laundering are the following: fiber type, garment construction, fabric construction, dyes, printing processes, finishings, trimmings (example: beads), soil, and stains.
When washing at home remember to ALWAYS use cold water, a hand process (machine washing may be too rough), and a gentle cleanser ( I have used Dove Dishwashing liquid). NEVER use bleaches, regular laundry cleansers, fabric softeners, or rinse additives. Do not twist or wring the garment as some items can be damaged by twisting or wringing them. Some protein fibers (example silk and wools should be kept away from heat sources and sunlight. When drying the garment dry it in such a way as not to stretch the garment. If necessary, or if in doubt, lay the garment flat on lots of towels which are changed when they absorb too much water. Do not try to dry in the dryer as the heat and/or agitation can cause damage to the garment. Home laundering of DCO items has to be a hand process.
Important to caring for your clothes is when not to home launder.
It is best to take a garment to a professional when:
- There are spots or stains on the garment (some home remedies can
remove the dye).
- The garment is made from acetate fibers.
- It is a rayon garment. They often shrink in water. I was left
with a shorter skirt when I accidentally washed a rayon dress.
Once water-washed, my rayon dress has not seemed to shrink any
further when water-washed.
- There is a special finish on the garment. Such would include
fabrics that are stiff. These may have a stabilizing finish to
maintain the stiffness.
- The garment has a lot of structure, such as a suit. This would
be extremely difficult to iron and not worth saving a few dollars.
This also applies to a garment which requires a lot of attention
when ironing (pleats).
- The garment is leather or suede.
- The garment is special to you.
- The garment is new and not of a fiber you have successfully home
laundered.
- Finally, if the feel, or hand, of the garment is important to
you, as may be with a silk garment, dry clean it. I dry clean my
new silks and home launder the older ones. Maintaining the
original hand of silk is very important.
Items I recommend not to take to the cleaner are garments with beads, sequins, delicate trims, and/or glued-on appliques. The glues have been known to dissolve and the trims can dissolve in the chemical process or melt with the heat.
Q#2 How do you launder these items?
To select items to be home laundered I advise beginning with an older item and one that has a fiber content of which you are familiar. There are many polyester blouses that can be safely home laundered. Using a lot of cold water add in a gentle cleanser and make sure to thoroughly dissolve the cleanser. Add the garment and gently wash. Some fibers, such as silk, are easily damaged when wet. This is why you should not twist or wring silk. I soak man-made fiber garments for 15 minutes or so and then I rinse. I typically hang a polyester blouse on a (plastic) hanger, while silk garments are put on a towel, rolled to absorb excess water, unrolled and then laid flat on a dry towel.
It is important to note that some garments will fade when home-laundered. This normally occurs with natural fibers. If the garment is special take it to the professionals. This usually does not occur with man-made fibers.
I know I have given very detailed directions, however home laundering is easy once you understand the do's and don'ts.
Many items marked 'Dry Clean Only' need only be cleaned once a year. For example, this is the case with wool suits. Garments next to the body may need to be cleaned more frequently as they may absorb body oils. To care for these DCO garments use a garment brush between wearings to remove surface soil. Also, air the garment 1-2 days before returning it to the closet.
To reduce the cost of cleaning home launder a garment and have the dry cleaner press them. I do this for silk blouses because I can't get the wrinkles out as well as they can. I also save about 40% on the cost of full service.
Use coupons. Some cleaners meet the price on the competitors' coupons, others will give you their coupon price. Obviously you must ask.
Know where the low cost cleaner is located. This includes
frequently visited places. I dry clean very little where I live,
most of it is done in the neighborhood where I grew up-600 miles
away.
Go to the cheaper cleaners if you are comfortable. If
unsure, ask around.
Combine strategies. I use a $1.39 coupon at the $1.75
cleaners at the cleaners 600 miles away ( I visit 3 times a year
and just save my items).
Use the per pound places. This works especially well if
you have many lightweight garments. I used to go to one in an
older neighborhood when I was in college.
I have used all of these suggestions as I have a lot of
items that have I dry clean. I recommend asking friends and family
about a particular cleaners before using them and then I always
take just one item as a 'test'.
Colleen teaches a college level course and has a background in textiles. If you have a textile question you can write her at cldunn@clover.net. We'll include the best questions in future Dollar Stretcher issues.
*Cutting Food Costs at your wedding*
by Rachel Shreckengast c. 1996
shreck@ptdprolog.net
from "Wedding Dollars and Sense" at
http://www.wednet.com
Question:
The most expensive thing in our wedding planning is trying
to cover the cost of food. Since we are planning a mid-morning
or early afternoon wedding, would it be acceptable to just have
cake and coffee or punch? What would an acceptable menu be,
provided we didn't hold the wedding right at breakfast or lunch
time?
Answer:
Food can take a huge chunk out of your wedding
budget. It's often difficult to figure out what's acceptable as it
is an area in which expert's (etiquette or otherwise) opinions
vary widely. It can also be difficult to choose what type of food
to serve at your reception...especially when you consider all of
the different varieties of food available to you.
The type of reception that you are referring to is commonly called a "cake and punch reception". It's usually held during early to mid afternoon...but can also be held during a mid- morning time frame. The only rule with this type of reception is that it should *not* be held during a mealtime. Most guests expect a meal during this time...and one should be provided. I'll go into further detail on this type of reception as well as others further along in my answer.
There is some debate on whether it's a good idea to add a line on your invitation stating what type of reception is occurring. Some examples of this are: "Cake and Punch Reception to Follow Ceremony", "Light hors d'ouevres reception to follow at two o'clock" and "Dessert Reception Following Ceremony". My personal opinion is that it makes it easier--not only for the couple...but for the guests as well. It's a clear way for the couple to inform guests that a full meal should not be expected...and guests have the option of eating a meal (if needed) prior to or after the wedding.
Here are some descriptions of a few reception types in which a full meal is not served. All of these options are less expensive than a full meal (whether buffet style or sit-down) if you are willing to do most of the work yourself. All of these receptions are acceptable if you aren't holding the reception during meal-time. Breakfast is often served around 8:00 a.m., Lunch at 12:00 p.m. and Dinner at 6:00 p.m., and these are the times in which a full meal is generally expected by guests. These times also vary depending on your area. You should hold your reception two hours before or after these times if not considering a full meal.
*Cake and Punch reception-The most common time of day that this type of reception is held is early afternoon (approximately 2:00 p.m.), but it can also occur in mid-morning (approximately 10:00 a.m.). A cake and punch reception generally consists of the wedding cake and refreshments. Refreshments can include: punch, coffee, tea, champagne, etc. You can also supplement the wedding cake with other types of cake in different flavors and textures.
*Dessert Reception-This type of reception is one in which desserts are served. Desserts can include: pies, cakes, doughnuts, cookies, pastries, brownies, etc. Another option...which can be combined with a normal dessert reception if you'd like...is a sundae bar. In this type of reception you serve bowls of ice cream (usually vanilla) and let your guests choose their topping. Toppings can include: chocolate or fudge sauce, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, crushed walnuts, whipped cream, fruit toppings, etc. Basically the same things you'd find in any sundae bar. Summer is the most common time of year for a sundae bar. A normal dessert bar can be used year round though as there are desserts specific to season. For example, pumpkin pie and apple pie would be a great choice for fall weddings. This type of reception is also an example of an inexpensive choice if you purchase the items on your own.
*Hors D'ouevres Reception-There are actually two distinct types of hors d'ouevres receptions. The first is light hors d'ouerves and consists of a lighter fare than the second which is a heavy hors d'ouerves menu. A light menu often includes items such as: crackers, vegetable platters with dip, fruit, cheese, etc. A heavy hors d'ouerves often includes these as well as items such as: meat and cheese trays, chicken fingers, egg rolls, etc. These types of receptions are also (casually) called "finger-food receptions" in some areas. In order to save money on this type of reception...check your local grocery store deli for prices on "meat and cheese" trays as well as "vegetable" and "cracker and cheese" platters. Their prices are often very reasonable. Another option is to buy the ingredients yourself.
*Tea (or Coffee) Reception-This type of reception is a relic from a bygone era. Originally tea receptions were meant to reflect the mood of an "afternoon tea". An authentic tea reception will include items such as: petit fours, watercress sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, scones (biscuits), etc. Be sure to cut the crusts off the sandwiches and cut in a diagonal cross (X shape) for an authentic look. If you're looking for a more modern approach...you can serve coffee with (or in place of) the tea. You can also serve: bite-size pieces of cake (such as carrot), any manner of sandwich which is easy to cut, cinnamon rolls, etc. This type of reception is relatively inexpensive (depending on the items you decide to serve) and can be relaxing for both the couple and the guests.
*Salad Reception-This choice is becoming more popular and is a viable choice for vegetarians who don't want to serve a full meal. Items served can include: green (lettuce, spinach) salads, fruit salads, pasta salads, potato salads (lacto-ovo), coleslaw (lacto- ovo), etc. A veggie bar (to supplement green salads) can be added as well and may have such choices as: chopped onions, carrots (baby or sliced), celery, broccoli, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, etc. A salad dressing bar can be chosen as well and may include such choices as: vinegar and oil, Italian dressing, garlic and olive oil, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice, etc. If you're a lacto-ovo vegetarian other dressing choices could include: bleu cheese, green goddess, ranch, French, etc. This type of reception is also inexpensive if you prepare most of the items yourself.
These are just a few of your options. For a more substantial meal...you could try a pasta reception in which your guests are served plain pasta with their choice of toppings...a restaurant catered affair where they supply warming trays and a few food choices (such as fried chicken) to supplement a hors d'ouevres menu or even a pot-luck or backyard barbeque. Your choices are truly unlimited.
Rachel writes and advises on wedding budgeting and answers your
questions through "Wedding Dollars and Sense" which is located at
WedNet(http://www.wednet.com). She is also the author of "Say I
do to Saving Money on Your Wedding"
(at http://www.achiever.com/freehmpg/rachel/wedding.html)
A TOY TO WELCOME SPRING!
by Louise Wulf
Wulfx@ibm.net
Spring is a wonderful time to make Ribbon Sticks, beloved by preschoolers and school age youngsters to run and twirl with when it's finally nice enough to pay outside. These are variations of the ribbon apparatus that was so much fun to watch in last summer's Olympic gymnastic competition. You'll need:
- a dowel, 1/2" or 5/8" thick, depending on child's age. Dowels come
in 36" lengths, which is wonderful as is for older kids. Cut your
dowel to the length you think is best for your child; 12" is
about as short as you should go. The wonder of these sticks comes
from the reach they give a child. Long ones are like a wand.
There's something about the ribbons flying over their heads as
they move that children of all ages love. Maybe it's a feeling of
enclosure?)
- an eyelet screw
- a package of fishing swivels
- ribbon- in vibrant, bright colors! I like the 2" width, but you
may prefer lots of very narrow ribbon. You can mix solids and patterns
to suit yourself. make them 1 yard long and use at least 3
different ribbons. For older kids you can use one ribbon, 3 yards
long, perhaps in a rainbow pattern. Keeping a ribbon this long
from touching the ground is an absorbing challenge! 3 and 4
year olds will probably do best with the short, multiple
ribbons. Fives will enjoy both. Older kids may be bored with
the short ribbons.
- paper clips
Where to Shop: Eyelets and dowels are cheapest in a building supply warehouse and they will usually cut it to the length you want for no extra charge. They may even round off the ends for you. Otherwise, you'll need a piece of sandpaper to do it yourself. Dowels can also be found in the large craft stores like Michael's and come pre-rounded. Dowels are under a dollar in my area. Fishing swivels can be found in a sporting goods store. They come about 8 to a package and cost under a dollar. Choose a size that's large enough for you to handle easily and suits the width of ribbon you're going to use. One end of them is like a safety pen and the other is a little ring. Find ribbon at garage sales, outlet malls and on sale at your fabric/craft stores. Your time frame for waiting for the best deals obviously depends on where you live and when spring is likely to arrive.
Technique:
Screw the eyelet into the end of the dowel. "Safety pen" a swivel
onto the eyelet. Fold over about an inch of one end of your ribbon
and punch a little hole in the center of the fold itself, using
the point of your scissors or a seam ripper. Poke the ring end of
the swivel through the hole in the fold of ribbon and clip it onto
the paper clip. Slide the paper clip down the ring (which is now
inside the fold in the ribbon), so that the paper clip now lies
along the inside of the fold, holding the ribbon on to the swivel
(through the hole). Hand sew, glue (glue gun or fabric glue work
great) or staple the fold of the ribbon shut (with the paper clip,
now holding the swivel, inside). If you're using 36" ribbons, add
as many as you like; at least three for best effect. The nice
thing about having a package of fishing swivels is that you can
add ribbons as you can afford to or find ribbons you like or see a
need for more as you watch how your child uses the stick. The fun
of a ribbon stick multiplies when other kids have one, too, and
they can run and perform in a pack. When you make them for your
kids, make a few extras for playmates, if you can afford it.
Louise is the Dollar Stretcher children's expert. If you have a question or a suggestion for an article please email her at wulfx@ibm.net
Reduce Your Grocery Bill
A Reader Question
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com
Dear Dollar Stretcher,
I am just learning how to be frugal. Our grocery bill is
outrageous! I am desperate to cut it in half to $400 to $500 a month or even
less. We have a family of 6 (children - all boys - ages 8 mo., 2, 6, 8). I
would like to know how much everyone else spends for their size family
and what they do to keep their grocery bills down.
Thanks!
Debbie
Good question, Debbie! If you're spending $800 to $1,000 each month in groceries, you have definitely found an area where you can save some money. Let's look at this as two separate questions. First, what do other families spend. And then, in our next column, we'll take a look at ways to reduce that bill.
To get a handle on what families spend for food, we went to the U.S. Statistical Abstract. The information is a couple of years old, but it will give us a good idea of what's going on.
According to them, the average family of five or more people spent $6,229 on food in 1992. That included $4,397 for food at home and $1,832 for food away from home. If you've wondered why there seems to be a fast food place or restraunt on every corner that explains it. We spend nearly 30% of our food budgets away from home.
Let's look at some of the areas where we spend our grocery money. Mom always told you to have a good breakfast. On average we spend $271 on cereals and cereal products. That might seem like a lot until you figure how many boxes of 'Toasted, Frosted, Sugared Whatsit' that you can buy for $271. It adds up fast!.
Some of us like baked goods for breakfast. I'm a bagel or muffin person. The average family spends $430 on bakery products. Let's hope that most of that is for breads rather than cakes and cookies!
As you might have expected 'meats, poultry, fish and eggs' make up the largest category at $1,169. Beef weighs in with $385, pork with $256 and the others with smaller amounts.
We're also big consumers of dairy products. $537 goes to cover our daily bills each year. About half is spend for milk / cream and other half for all other dairy products.
We must be getting some balance in our meals. Fruits and vegetables account for $657 in a year for our large family. Mom would be proud.
Finally, we spend about $330 each year for non-alcoholic beverages. Just in case you were wondering, we also spend $213 on alcoholic beverages.
At this point, I'll bet that some of you are wondering if it makes a difference where in the country you live. And the answer is yes. There are some differences. The average family (of all sizes) spends $4,316 for food. If you live in the South, you'll average less. About $4,028. The Midwest is next least expensive at $4,165. The Northeast and West are most expensive at $4,524 and $4,549 respectively.
But how frugal you are makes an even bigger difference. There's a table in the Statistical Abstract for 1994 that tells a fascinating story. It displays weekly food cost for January 1993. The figures are for food purchased at a store and prepared at home.
Debbie's family wasn't represented exactly on the chart so we'll have to do some arithmetic. A family of four (including two adults and two children between 1 and 5) could spend anywhere between $73 and $137 each week for food. For Debbie's family we need to add two children between 6 and 8 years old. Their bill adds $35 to $68 each week combined. So Debbie could expect to pay anywhere between $108 ($73 plus $35) to $205 ($137 plus $68) each week for groceries. If you figure four weeks in a month (yes, we're that lazy!) it works out to $432 to $820 each month for food.
Before we leave the subject, there are probably some of you who have families of different sizes. Let's take a quick look at what their range was. For instance, a family of two spent between $50 and $97. A one or two year old adds between $13 and $23 each week. A teenager is another $22 to $44 per week.
One other interesting fact was that large families (eight or more) actually spent less than smaller families. No explanation was given, but I suppose that larger families were more frugal of necessity.
Next time we'll take a look at what some experts suggest to help you reduce those food bills. We'll see if we can't help Debbie get closer to that frugal goal of cutting her grocery bill in half.
The Dollar Stretcher features ways to 'live better...for less'. If you have a question or comment for Gary write to: The Dollar Stretcher, 949 E. Cypress Creek Rd., suite 101, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334 or email him at: gary@stretcher.com.
Ask Bob: The Automotive Answer Guy?
by Bob DeP
Dear Bob,
I have a '90 Subaru Legacy that I've had both CV boots replaced on
once. I think it was a little over a year ago. The CV boot has
"blown" again on the driver side about 4 months ago. I've still
been driving it all this time and it clicks and knocks when I turn
the wheel. Tell me honestly how safe/unsafe this is. Could it
lock up cold at any time and cause a disaster?...Could it just
snap and fall out on the ground one day from lack of lubricant? I
don't work and I don't usually drive any distances longer than 60
miles round trip max. I'm a stay at home mom, and I just bop
around town in it usually. We have a friend who fixed it the
first time and he says Subaru's are bad about those things going
out. He is a mechanic and has his own business. He's not trying
to make money off of us. What do you think?
--Becky
Well Becky,
Generally, you could save the CV joint by just replacing the
boot, if you do it right away. Since you have already noticed the
"clicking" then it's only a matter of time till it falls apart.
Since it was just done, you might want to look to see if there is
anything down there that is rubbing against it or anything that
might be causing the boot to break so pre-maturely.
Hi Bob,
We have a 1989 Eagle Summit with about 120,000 miles on it. This
winter we have been noticing that when the engine gets warmed up
and we turn the heater on, the temperature gauge starts going down
slowly and cool air starts coming out of the vents. This lasts
for up to 5 minutes; it gradually works back to warm air. What
should my dh check? Is this a problem? Thanks.
Lee Ann
Sounds to me like either a faulty thermostat or a heater control valve.
Good Luck!
Drive Safely!
Bob DeP
The Auto Answer Guy?
Bob answers your auto questions. If you have a question for Bob just sent it to him though The Dollar Stretcher (gary@stretcher.com) please put "Ask Bob" in the subject header.
Advice from Mom
by Rae Osenbaugh
rae@kdsi.net
My New Friend and her Oatmeal Recipe
I participate in a few e-mail discussion lists: frugal living, homeschooling, and one called "declutter." Recently on the frugal living discussion a recipe for "instant oatmeal" came through my monitor. This is a great recipe, I couldn't resist passing it on! So, I wrote to Deborah Reynolds (she lives in North Carolina) and begged for permission to tell you all about it. Of course she said yes, so now everyone can enjoy Instant Flavored Oatmeal and not have to pay $2 for 6 small packets of it!
For each bowl of oatmeal you want to have a mixture of 1/2 cup oats (regular oats, as the 'quick' kind is unnecessary), 1/4 tsp cinnamon, one tbsp brown sugar (I like it pretty sweet), and one tbsp chopped dried fruit (such as apples or dates). It's easiest to make up in batches of 4 or 16 servings:
for 4 servings, mix up:
2 cups of oats, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup
dried fruit
for 16 servings, mix up:
8 cups of oats, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1 cup brown sugar. and 1 cup
dried fruit
Mix all these dry ingredients together. To make one bowl, scoop 1/2 cup of the mixture into a bowl, add one cup water, and microwave for three or four minutes. Let stand for another 3 or 4 minutes and then it's perfect. Buy all the ingredients in bulk to save even more.
Thanks so much to Deborah for the recipe! Have a good day everyone!
-Rae
Rae is the mother of nine (and grandmother of two) in central Nebraska. She says her house runs smoothly due to "organized chaos, and lots of lists! Anyone wishing to drop her a line is welcome to at rae@kdsi.net
Hi! I've been getting your newsletter for a little over a month
and really enjoy the tips. I print it out so I can sit and ponder
over each article. I read the recipe for granola in this week's
issue....I was wondering if anyone has a recipe for a soft, chewy
granola bar. My husband is diabetic and uses these for a quick
snack in the afternoon to bring his sugars up. Also, the kids
love them in their lunch boxes. I try to buy them on sale or at
discount but it still adds up. We like all flavors. If anyone
one has a recipe I would appreciate them sharing it with me.
Thanks,
Rhonda - Ohio
I have a question for readers. In five months, my husband and I
will be moving overseas and are planning to get rid of almost half
of our household and personal items before we move. We need to
sell several large appliances (portable dishwasher, washer/dryer,
etc.), clothing, dishes, books and small appliances. Does anyone
have any surefire ideas for getting the highest dollar for these
items? We have several years of student loans to pay off and
would like to make some money from our things. We plan to have a
garage sale for the small items closer to the time we move, and
will give some things to charity groups, but we would like to
know how to sell the more valuable items and nicer clothing.
Also, does anyone have any experience with selling clothes on
consignment? Is this the best way to sell clothing?
--B.C.
I have a question that I hope some of the Dollar Stretcher
subscribers can help with. Has anyone found a good substitute for
Armor-All to use on car tires and car interiors? I've found that
Armor-All (and other knock-off brands) just don't last like I
remember them lasting, and they're awfully expensive and contain
ingredients that might be harmful to the environment. Please
advise. Thanks!
--JB
Copy machines need to be serviced from time to time. If you have a copier that "MAKES DARK COPIES" maybe i can give you a few pointers.
1. Make sure that you have your exposure control on a normal
setting.
2. On certain copiers if it is left unplugged the copies may come
out dark. Make sure it's plugged in.
3. If you use a long extension cord you may see darker copies.
4. Make sure you are using the right toner!!!
As a general rule dark copies mean that your copier is in need of a cleaning. It's not that hard to do!!
Unplug the copier.
Wipe down the entire outside of the machine. This sounds stupid
but sooner or later it will find its way to the inside. We use old
white tee shirts , white so that you can see the dirt coming off.
Remove the glass. It may be held on by some screws, the glass will
come off. This glass can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol. make
sure you clean both sides. Look for some mirrors. clean them.
Just wipe them down with a little alcohol on the rag. Clean
around the lamp. same procedure,. just don't touch the lamp! Wipe
down everything just be careful. If you need you can adjust the
lamp. there are VR adjustments. Each machine
is different.
.. barry
Question: Also was looking for information on alternative forms of child care - rather than the day care drop off scenario - my wife wants to stay home with the baby but we can't afford it - at least not right now.
**Why not babysit? I did when my daughter was born. I wanted to
stay home with her and until she went to kindergarten, I watched
little ones. I had 2-3 pre-schoolers at the same time. Since she
was an only child, she got to feel like a sister. The kids
entertained each other and she had a great experience! I decided
to watch a baby that could already hold the bottle to help me when
it came time to feed the kids. A playpen is a wonderful thing
when one child needs changing and you can't watch the other and
change a diaper at the same time. Get one of those travel ones
and you can move it to any room you need to. Good luck!
--HK
As a professional fundraiser for a charity (and a person with a
phone), I see both sides of the solicitation question. To all
readers I'd like to say up front--you never have a reason to feel
guilty for saying "No." There are more causes on this planet than
you can ever hope to support, so sit down with your family,
figure out what you value, and base your charitable giving on
those values. When a solicitor calls for a cause you do not wish
to donate to, be polite, firm and direct--"No thank you. I won't
contribute at this time," or "No, thank you--I'll already support
other organizations" should be all you need to say. If they
continue to pester you after you have given a firm "No," then feel
free to hang up. But please be aware--to a fundraiser, only "No"
means "No." If you say, "Well, I don't know . . ." we'll take
that to mean that you don't know, and we'll try to explain our
cause to you. If you say, "Not today," don't be surprised if you
get called again in the near future--"Not today" means "but maybe
tomorrow." "No," is really the best thing to say. It's not rude--
it's direct and clear. It saves both you and the volunteer (or,
in some cases telemarketer!) time. They can go on to the next
call. If you'd like to learn more before contributing, ask for
information to be mailed to you. Most of us jump at any
opportunity to share stories about our clients/animals/art
organizations with you and will be happy to accommodate. If you'd
never like to hear from us again, ask to be removed from the
mailing and call lists. This is not being rude or callous--this
is saving the non-profit sorely needed postage and telephone
dollars and time. Finally, if you still are uncomfortable with the
firm approach (which is ultimately a blessing to any fundraiser),
screen calls during those hours (between 5:30 and 8:30, most
likely) when you are liable to get solicitations. Telemarketers
never leave messages. Charitable giving is a free choice in a
democratic society. We are blessed with the right to choose how
our world is run and the responsibility to stand behind our
choices. If you consider your gifts to you community as carefully
as you consider your household finances (and choose charities who
abide by your standards of frugality) you have no reason to feel
guilt, shame or sadness at setting reasonable limits.
--Keri K
When I had both a mother and a husband diagnosed with 2 separate special needs diets (diabetes, cancer and high tryglicerides!) - instead of trying to create 3 different meals at dinner - I put the whole family on the diet. This cut costs considerably because then I wasn't buying and preparing as much. The side benefit was that we all lost weight and became healthier.
If your child is on a diabetic diet - the fresh fruits and veggies are expensive, especially in winter. Unfortunately, you have to pay the going price until summer, when you'll be able to check around local farms and see if you can glean or even get produce at a reduced rate. You might try contacting the local grocery and seeing what they do with their slightly over-ripened fruit (or commissary - although I don't know what their policies are). Perhaps you can get that at a greatly reduced price.
If you don't have a lot of space - plant a container garden on
your porch. You can get lots of veggies and some dwarf fruit
trees to grow in pots, when you have a limited amount of space.
By keeping them in containers, when you move, you'll be able to
take them with you, unless you head overseas. Be aware that most
fruits don't produce until their 2nd and sometimes 3rd year, so
it's important to plant as soon as possible so you can reap the
benefits in a few years.
--Merry
For RJ with the special needs child:
I am also a military parent with a special needs child. I hope
these suggestions help:
1. Check with your military doctor for a referral to a dietitian
who can help you. Hopefully, it will be fully covered by the military or
you have already made your CHAMPUS copayments for the year, so the
cost will not be too great. Your military Family Support Center or
Family Services might also be able to refer you to someone,
perhaps even a volunteer military spouse.
2. If you have Internet access, go to a search engine and type in
your child's condition. I can almost guarantee that there is a
mailing list, newsgroup, or web site where you can get more
information on diet needs and post your question on budget-wise
meals.
Best wishes,
--SL
Lisa asked about ways to humidify without spending a lot of money.
I have the same problem with dry air. Plants are quite helpful. I
spray mist them often and some of my plants rest in containers
filled with stones and water. The water is just at the top level
of the stones and the plants rest on top of that. As the water
evaporates, it benefit us and the plants. Also, sometimes I run
my vegetable steamer in the living room. Just don't point the
vent at the wallpaper!
--Linda
We have found that a $9.95, fill-once-a-day vaporizer works just as well as the fancy ones costing lots more.
We have also found that there are ways to add humidity to the air that actually save money. If you have an electric dryer (don't do this with a gas dryer because of fumes), vent it into the house, making sure you stuff the hole to the outside with insulation or old rags so you don't lose all your savings. Cover the end of the pipe with an old nylon stocking to keep lint from getting all over the house. On wash day this really boost the temp and the humidity in our home.
A drying rack also puts the humidity from the wet clothes into the
air while saving you money by not using the dryer. We have two
drying racks in the corner of our master bedroom where I hang our
t-shirts, sweat shirts, jeans, pillow cases and other clothes that
dry just as nicely on the rack as in the dryer.
--CR
(editor's note: there are kits available at your local home improvement center that allow you to vent your dryer either inside or outside. Be sure to read and follow installation instructions!)
Lisa had asked about humidifying her bedroom up a bit before bed
inexpensively. If it's mainly for at night why not plug in an
electric kettle in the bedroom for a few minutes before bedtime.
If she doesn't already have one they're pretty cheap (even new).
As it starts to boil the water will evaporate and make it's way
around the room. If she did this with quite a bit of water till
the kettle was 'almost' empty it should produce enough humidity in
the air to sustain them through the night. During the day they can
just do the same in the kitchen or using a pot of water on the
stove. If the humidity level in the house is maintained most of
the day she'll need to use the electric kettle trick for less time
at bedtime. Just please keep an eye on the water and don't forget
about it. An injured child or a fire aren't what you're trying to
achieve.
--Isabelle
(as Isabelle points out, you need to be very careful with a method like this. Remember, a fire or visit to the hospital for burn treatment is NOT a frugal idea!)
Reader Question: In snowy Chicago it is really hard to avoid
getting my boots covered with road de-icing salt. Does anyone know
how to do this and save a pair of nice boots?
--Mary Y
Just last week, here in snowy Chicago, my brilliant girlfriend
asked if I had any white vinegar. "Sure," I said. "It's in with
the cleaning supplies." (I never cook with that kind of vinegar).
She then used it, undiluted, to remove salt stains from her boots.
--tony a
Hi, this is to the person who wanted some ideas for keeping kid's
rooms organized. It is not easy, I know, as we have three
children of our own. We have two young boys ages 3 and 5 who
share a room and they have tons of toys! We have found those 5
gallon buckets that they put spackle in to be a great help. (We
get them from a restaurant I used to work for free. Pickles are
packaged in them and they are always looking for ways to get rid
of them, so try your local deli for some free ones.) We put all
legos and matchbox cars in these buckets. They are stackable and
come with nice tight lids. We even put things such as ninja
turtles, other action figures, and Fisher Price Little people and
accessories in them. Then we take a permanent marker and draw a
picture of what is inside on the lid so the kids can find what
they are looking for on their own. These are neatly stacked in
the closet and no one has to see the mess. Clean up is easy since
they just bring the bucket out in the living room and dump the
stuff where it goes, then return the bucket to the closet. (ps
another thing we use these for is to put recyclables in such as
soda and beer cans and newspapers) Hope this tip helps!
--Beth
When our daughter was born, we "couldn't afford it" either, and my husband was still in school to boot, but we did it anyway. We didn't have any family in the area, and I didn't have it in me to drop my tiny baby off at a day care centre all day. I felt that if anyone should take care of the baby, it should be her parents, not someone just babysitting who, no matter how good with children, did not have as much invested in our child as we did. We had only one car, we used cloth diapers and I breastfed the baby, we didn't buy anything for ourselves except groceries and school supplies. You would be surprised at how much you can live without. We budgeted every dollar of my husband's paycheck, we ate a lot of red beans and rice, we did without a lot of material goods, but the rewards were immeasurable. She was never sick during the first three years of her life except for a couple of minor cases of the sniffles, and I was there for all the milestones: first smile, first word, first step...I'll never regret being home with her, even though we were dirt poor.
Find a way for one of you to be home with your baby,
especially when it is so little, especially for the first two or
three years. I got a part-time evening job when my daughter was
about 10 months old and beginning to be weaned, but my husband
was at home in the evenings to care for her. So she's had the
two people who love her more than anything in all the world as
her "primary caregivers".
--Donna
in response to Pat S. question on ink jet refills: Having worked at HP, these refills are generally NOT a good idea. In some cases you can void your manufacturer's warranty by using a refill or generic brand ink if it is faulty and harms your machine.
If your printer is an older model and out of warranty, the cost
savings may outweigh the risk. At any rate, I'd be wary of a
mail-order brand and would get a recommendation from a reputable
sales person or printer repair shop.
--Kelly in Atl
An ink-jet cartridge can be refilled several times if care is used. Many cartridges have a bladder inside that holds the ink. The problems with refilling are these: many people put the "needle" from the refill kit too far into the cartridge and rupture the bladder, and some cartridges are refilled too many times, rupturing the bladder.
Ink-jet refill kits and toner recharging services are very popular
these days. The main problem that I see in my computer repair
business is that a quality job is not done. If you save a few
dollars refilling your cartridges or having your toner cartridge
recharged, but they do not hold up under use, the potential for a
large repair bill is most definitely there. If you are going to
try refills, use care. Also, cross your fingers.
--Laurie
A few years ago I read an interesting article in a popular women's magazine that I decided to test for myself. The article stated that if you saved $5 a day, at the end of a year you would have $1825 before interest. I was a software buyer and frequently vendors took me to lunch. I decided to open a "lunch account" at a local bank and wrote myself a check for $35 each week. After about 19 months of saving my lunch money, my husband took me to a motorcycle shop to "sell" me on the dirt bike he wanted. He didn't know about the "lunch account" and told the salesman that he would need to finance the motorcycle. Without my husband knowing, I pulled the salesman aside and asked how much more he would discount the bike if we paid cash. I then told my husband and the salesman I wanted to think about the bike overnight. We went back the next day and the salesman discounted it another $200, so in total we saved over $600! (Motorcycles don't have that much markup) I wrote a check on the spot and really surprised my husband! $5 a day doesn't seem like much, but it really does add up.
My husband is not a "frugalite" in any way, but he sure is glad I
am!
--Tammy B.
I have a tip for an Unfrugal Spouse. My husband hated the idea of
deprivation and penny-pinching. He is very fun loving. After
discussing it we realized more fun-loving goals could be attained
by being "careful" (such as travel, being able to change to a
lower paid but more satisfying job and a host of other
possibilities). We decided there are some non-essentials we spend
money on that are "quality of life" items that would be hard to
give up. These we identified and kept. We also identified and
eliminated expenses that made little difference when given up.
The last key to our success was making frugality a game with our
growing savings as the measure of our success. Playful people love
almost anything if it is a challenging game.
--Erin
My sister-in-law used to giver herself $1 per night for making it
to bed at a certain time. This achieved two purposes: 1) she
made sure she got to bed at a time that was good for her and 2) at
the end of the week she had some mad money or money to saved for
something SHE wanted.
--GS
As a small adult male, I've run into this problem a lot. But when I went to Hawaii, I found a solution that may be transferable to where you live or somewhere nearby. There are several large ethnic populations in Hawaii whose men are generally small: Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Filipino. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other second- hand stores will have a reasonable supply of men's clothing in small sizes. Also, the shoe stores in Hawaii had some great styles for adult males with small feet!
If you live in a city with these ethnic populations, check out the Yellow Pages in the appropriate category or ask someone with that ethnic background where they buy their clothes, shoes, etc. If you live near one or can go visit one, go to your local library's reference desk and ask to see the phone book for that city. It may not be the current edition, but most businesses listed in the Yellow Pages will be well-established. Write down business names, phone numbers, and addresses. Mark or rank-order them according to which are most likely to serve your needs, then write to them or call them on weekends at a cheaper phone rate.
BTW, we may be small, but we are NOT children. We are NOT boys. We are ADULT MEN.
Best regards, and Good Shopping!
--Charles A
All the Best!
Gary Foreman
"The Dollar Stretcher"
gary@stretcher.com
http://www.stretcher.com/dollar
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