New Blog Location

I've updated my blog to Wordpress and it can now be found at my very own URL: www.notspendingmoney.com.  New posts will no longer show up at this Blogspot address; please update accordingly!

Thanks for reading!

New Blogroll item: The Simple Dollar

I've added a blog to the blogroll: The Simple Dollar.

The blog is written by a guy named Trent who describes his blog as such: "The Simple Dollar is an exploration of personal finance from the perspective of a late-twentysomething who just realized that he needs to get a grip on his money. I used to be a spending maniac. I’m doing better. Sometimes."

I don't know the guy, but he has a lot of money tips that are interesting. I try to stay more focused on a lifestyle of not spending money, rather than providing day-to-day savings tips, so I thought I'd link to his site in my blogroll.

The post that particularly caught my eye was one that talks about the exact thing that I like to focus on here: How to Feel Happier about Not Spending Money.

Enjoy.

Moving On: Getting over your bad self (and your mistakes)

We've all done it before-- no matter how much you're on a budget, no matter how frugal you're being, no matter how many Ramen noodles you eat instead of going out, there's that day when you sit back, go over your personal finances and say...

I spent HOW much??? On THAT????

Yes, yes you did.

First, learn from it.  What item could you simply not live without? Did you make the decision to buy it actually in the store, or before you even went in? Before you even left your house? Next time, is it easier to just not go into that store? Or go grocery shopping with less cash in your pocket, and no cards? Or is it easier to ask someone else to pick something up for you, so you spend less? 

Everyone's got their different trigger points.  For me, I learn to avoid bookstores if I don't want to buy books.  It's just a lot easier than listening to all my convincing arguments about why I need a particular book once I'm in the store.  

But everyone's got different buttons.  It might be easier to not go shopping if you're not reading ladies' magazines, or it might be easier to spend less on food if you're not watching the food network.

If you have kids, you might find that your kids ask for fewer toys if you don't visit the toy section, or if you mute the commercials while watching TV.

These might not work for you. Experiment.

Next, remediate it.  Can you re-sell the item on eBay? Can you return it at the store? Can you apologize? If so, consider it. If not, get over it.

Now, move on. Get over it.  Quit bemoaning the fact that you now have something off eBay that you didn't really need or want and was damaged in shipping, and go do something else.  Something that distracts you. 

Maybe even treat yourself, for learning an important lesson. Not at the coffee shop, not at the bookstore.  Find a pleasant place to walk. Find a nice hillside with grass where you can sit and feel the breeze.  Go to the library and find a new author. Read something interesting online. Take a hot bath. 

And just don't make the same mistake again. If you're treating yourself well in other ways, you won't need to. 

A Word about Personal Finances

A word about personal Finances:

What you make is YOUR business. It isn't anyone else's.  It doesn't matter if you make 100,000 a year, or 50,000 a year, or 18,000 a year.  

What you spend (or not spend) is also YOUR business. Times are tough right now, but they won't always be, and for some who have kept their jobs and their savings, the economic downturn has been sort of a rethinking time period.  People have asked themselves, "Do I really need a fourth car, or can I get up a few minutes early to drive the kids to school, the way I did the rest of their education?" They're asking themselves, "Do I need an expensive birthday party every year, or do I get what I need out of getting some friends together to eat some cake?" "Do I want a bigger house, or do I actually, in my heart-of-hearts, get tired of cleaning it?"  "Would the money I save by not eating out offer more reassurance if it were in a savings account?" "Is it still worth taking that vacation if it means that I have to get rid of my magazine subscriptions, club membership, and Internet connection? If it really is worth it, then what do I fill my time with when I get rid of those less important items?" It's a time when people are doing some self-assessment, regardless of income level. 

People are re-assessing their status quo, whether they've lost their job or kept it. People are examining what is important, whether they can "afford it" or not. What you feel you can afford or save or spend is up to YOU. 

That being said, it's ok to not spend money even if you make more than your friends.  And it's ok to spend money (assuming you have it to spend) even if you make less than your friends. Your money is YOUR money; you don't owe your neighbors an explanation.  

That's why its called PERSONAL finace.  Because it's personal.

The Closet Frugality Snob

I was reading in Psychology Today the other day that snobs are not people who have expensive tastes, but people who just think they're better than others for whatever reason.

This may seem obvious, but we all indulge in our own little brands of snobbery.  For example, some people who drive cars feel like they are somehow superior (maybe because they've made better economic choices and can afford a car and gas) to people who are forced to take a bus, while people who take the bus might feel that they are superior (maybe because they are making better economic choices to live frugally) to people who hog the road with their cars.  Numerous examples abound, in our choices of fashion, neighborhood, or even grocery stores or reading material.

For those of us who are on strict budgets, are making significant cutbacks, or are successful in engineering major lifestyle changes in efforts to not spend money, it's easy to fall into a sort of snobbery because of the challenges we've faced and the successes we've mastered.  As I mentioned in a previous post, being cheap is supposedly chic right now, and even movie stars are flaunting their frugality in conspicuous ways. After all, if I walk to work, it's because I'm more environmentally conscious, not because I'm cheap.  If I shop at a thrift store, I'm more frugal than someone who shops at Nieman Marcus, and I can take comfort in the fact.  If I forego dinner out with friends, then I can feel good about the fact that am more self-sacrificing, or have more self-control than those who went. I write a blog about not spending money; obviously I feel like I know more about than those who don't write blogs and buy candy instead.

Of course this type of thinking is ridiculous, and it's a dangerous pattern to fall into, no matter how good it makes you feel.  Of course we all need motivation, and if we are depriving ourselves to fit within our budgets, then seeing that path as superior is tempting, to say the least.  It's human nature.  But since it's human nature to be just a bit snobby about our choices, it's all the more important to realize when its happening and call ourselves out on the fact.

Spending money (or not spending money) is ultimately about choices. Everybody will find a slightly different balance between their spending choices and their saving choices.  If I choose to be miserly on bath accessories but indulge in second-hand electronics, does that mean I am being more frugal than someone who frequents happy hour but never buys books? Of course not, but when we make that choice and are subsequently left at home during the next night out, it's easy to make inaccurate comparisons. 

If you are a closet frugality snob, try seeking encouragement by talking with others and getting ideas by listening to their saving choices, rather than listening to their spending choices and letting yourself feel superior. 

Ok, I'm done preaching for now-- I'm off to laugh at all the people who don't save for retirement. 

The Wonders and Perils of Macaroni and Cheese

The Light Side of Mac n Cheese

There is nothing quite as comforting as sitting down to a nice, warm, cheesy, substantial bowl of macaroni and cheese (the kind from the blue box, not the goopy stuff that real cooks make) after a long day, especially when you know that your entire meal is costing you about 70 cents, instead of in the $3 range that other inexpensive meals can cost. 

MMMMMmmmmmm, mac n cheese.

We all ate it as kids. It's yummy. It's hot. It takes about zero brain cells to make when you're tired. It costs less than a dollar a meal. Cleanup is easy.  What's not to love?

Some tips and tricks for mac n cheese:

•  Ignore the recipe on the box. If you want to add butter and milk like they suggest, add it to your own taste.
• Adding less butter and milk means it has fewer calories.
• You can forego the butter and milk entirely and it tastes about the same. This is a good option if you don't have any, if you don't want to buy any, if you didn't plan ahead, or if you don't have a fridge. 
• You don't have to refrigerate the blue boxes
• Important! When buying mac n cheese, make sure that the 5-pack doesn't actually cost more than buying 5 individual boxes.  Hint: If the 5-pack is over 5 dollars, you're spending too much. Go buy real food instead. 
• Having mac n cheese on hand means that you'll always have a meal at your fingertips.
• Mac n Cheese doesn't count as real food if you have guests. At all. Put it back in the cupboard. 
• Ignore the recipe instructions for amount of water and time cooking.  Just put in "some" water and cook it until it "tastes right".  You'll get used to the amounts after a few boxes. This way you can use a smaller pot and not need to take the extra effort to use a timer.  It makes cooking even more brainless.
• When you put your mac n cheese in a bowl, put water in the pot immediately or the cheesiness will be harder to clean off. You can let it soak while you're eating it, and then cleanup is super easy.  Or, you can eat it right out of the pot, but this seems a little brainless, even for me. 

The Dark Side of Mac n Cheese

According to dieticians everywhere, Mac n Cheese does not count as actual food. It should say this on the box somewhere, but I'm pretty sure it's FDA approved anyway. Even though pastas and grains are that giant base on the food pyramid, living on an all-carbs dinner plan is not good for you over time.  There are no other nutrients worth mentioning in Macaroni and Cheese (unless your personal recipe calls for a lot of brocolli and spinach) and you will be starving yourself over time even if your belly feels full. Eating it once in a while, like at the end of the month when your finances are low and you're eating food out of your cupboard, is a great way to make some extra dollars stretch, but be sure and read the Nutrition Facts on the box and know what it is that you're not getting. 

It's not the only cheapo food that people can eat in tough times (Ramen noodles get all the glory), but it's worth mentioning. 

And worth maybe stocking a few boxes, just in case. 

Use it Up

If you're like most people, you have several bottles of shampoo/conditioner/body wash/etc lining the wall of your shower.  If you share a bathroom with housemates, you might have a tidy little collection for each occupant. You might even have a drawer somewhere just chock full of little shampoolets "in case guests come by". 

If you are strapped for cash for the month, or are fitting more people into your house due to budget constraints, you might want to consider this REVOLUTIONARY new way to consume your shampoo:

Use it up. One bottle at a time.

Pick one. It doesn't matter; you bought them all, right? So pick a shampoo bottle and put the rest in the closet. Use the bottle of shampoo up. The whole thing. Then throw it out. Then go into your cabinet and get another one. Then use that up. You may be surprised at just how long you can last without buying new shampoo. Or, you may be surprised at how clean your bathroom feels without a bajillion bottles of shampoo. 

I know, I know, some hair types require special treatment, etc, and it is absolutely neccessary to have multiple bottles of stuff costing over $25 that you rarely use.  If you have this hair type, this does not apply to you. But for the rest of us, we can think of it not as foregoing a luxury but systematically using all the products that we've splurged on over the months.

You can also use this type of thinking for other consumables in your home:

• Sort your cupboard by expiration date and use up all the canned items before buying any new ones
• Put all your teas and coffee packets in a pretty basket or bowl (or corner of your cupboard) and use them all up before buying refills
• Take inventory of your gift wrapping and use up existing wrapping before buying new stuff
• Organize your bookshelves by what you have or haven't read yet and read all your existing books before buying new ones (ha, yeah right.)
• When you do a project, make alterations to the project to take advantage of the supplies you already have rather than buying new ones. For example, if your project requires glue, do you need to go out and buy glue sticks, or will the white glue work? Will the black thread work as well as the gray thread? It's up to you.
• If you are the sort who keeps several notecards on hand for occasions of any sort, select one from your existing collection rather than purchasing a special new one every time.

This idea may either seem super obvious (Of course I'd use up the ten Kleenex boxes in the house before buying another one!) or super impossible (Why on earth would I wear one pair of strappy black heels into the ground before buying another pair?) depending on who you are, what you like to keep in reserve, and what you enjoy buying. It's really all up to you.  

Luxury Camping and Other Games

If you have some spare time on a Saturday, head down to your friendly local outdoor store and take a look at their camping supplies.  Pretend for a minute that you're going to go camping, and you need a complete supply of everything, and you have all the money in the world to spend.  

Hmm, let's see. They've got sleeping bags and sleeping pads. They've got little camp stoves and bug spray.

Ok, now spend all the money you want, and pretend that you are camping for a month. Also, pretend that you dislike mosquitos.

Hmm. They've got three-room tents that look like mini apartments.  They've got camp cots and big squooshy cot pads to sleep on. They've got lanterns that you can safely hang from every room in your tent.  Not only that, but there's mosquito netting, rain vestibules, comfy folding chairs, comfy folding tables, awnings for shaded outdoor areas, awnings with hangings for buggy outdoor areas, rugs to go under awnings or in front of tents, and little mini generators so you can charge your iPod even when you're roughing it.  We could get a cooler for our camp kitchen and an entire set of little matching camp dishes, along with a collapsible dog bowl for Fido.  There's even a portable camp oven! And a whole rack of donkeys to carry all our gear. 

Now, since we have donkeys, we can even carry luxury items on our pretend camping trip, like that bath soap that you like so much, or your complete set of Harry Potter novels. If you have kids, they could bring a lot of their favorite toys.  Now, this is really living!

Now you've got a setup that you've spent thousands of dollars on that has ALMOST all the luxuries of home.

Now go home.  

Oh my goodness, now you've really got ALL the luxuries of home.  Scented shampoo? Deoderant? Electricity? This kitchen even has a dishwasher! It's amazing! Not only that, but I can stop reading IN THE MIDDLE OF A BOOK and start a NEW one, no matter how heavy either of them are! I don't even have to pick up after the donkeys.  

All of this luxury comes infinitely cheaper than the best camping trip you can afford.

Don't get me wrong, camping has its place, and usually the most avid campers can do without all the luxury items that are for sale in the big outdoor stores.  But if you are a fan of luxury, and are feeling a tad unluxurious in these times, pretend you are luxury camping and have all the luxury that money can buy. 

The Art of Lending

Wouldn't it be great to have all the gaming systems in the world in your living room, and you could use any one you wanted? You could have all your friends over for Rock Band concerts and also just to veg and play Mario Kart. 

Wouldn't it be great to have all the books in the world, and you could read them whenever you wanted and loan them out to friends, or they could come over and hang out on all the comfy chairs and giant cushions that you'd have as well.

Wouldn't it be great to have a world-class kitchen with all the latest gadgets, and people could come and hang out and cook for you just because your kitchen is so great?

Wouldn't it be great to be able to go into any craft store, like Michael's or JoAnn's, and be able to use whatever you wanted? You could try out new things just to see if you liked them, or to make presents for friends, or just because it looked cool. Or, you could get together with friends just to make stuff and hang out.

Wouldn't it be great to have access to all the clothes in the world for free? You'd never run out of things to wear, and you could always put together just the right outfit for that particular event. And friends would come to you and ask to help them pick out outfits. (Hat image courtesy of La Femme.)

In any economy, good or bad, none of us have enough money, time, or space to amass all the goodies associated with every hobby we have.  Whether it's power tools, office supplies, car mechanical accoutrements, there will always be somebody who has more and can do more stuff. And regardless of your own interests, specialty, or income level, there will always be something you can loan from your own personal library of accoutrements to other people who will want to share.

"But wait," you say. "I hate lending stuff because it comes back all icky and destroyed and I can never get it back."

That is because there is an Art of Lending.

Some basics to get started:

• Figure out what you enjoy sharing with other people.  Lending is a great way to start conversations with people on topics you both enjoy.  If you love books and love to discuss them, lend out your books to friends and future friends.  If you love doing art, loan your pastels to someone who dabbles i acrylics, and then hang out and talk about the results.  Recently, a friend had me over and we made jewelry with her copious supply of beads and findings.  She didn't charge me for supplies, and next time I'll have her over to paint or sew and I won't charge her for supplies. 

• Figure out what things are worth to you, and what they're not worth to you.  Lending out a movie to a sick friend means that the worst that could happen is that you spend $20 to replace it if it gets destroyed.  Lending out a handmade quilt for a friend's baby's picnic tablecloth means that the worst that could happen is that an irreplaceable heirloom gets destroyed with gras s stains and baby barf beyond belief. 

• Learn your personal lending style. Some people are the type to obsess over anything missing from their personal inventory.  They write their name in every book and never lend out their car.  This is really ok-- it is not worth loaning something out if it will stress you out so much, but be honest with yourself about where you stand on this.  Other people, on the other hand, could easily give away their posessions and never miss them.  Most of us fall somewhere in between. Knowing where you fall in this spectrum, and being realistic about what you're happy with can make the difference between feeling generous and feeling taken advantage of.  

• Know your friends.  Some people will return items in mint condition. You know if you loan them an outfit it will be returned dry cleaned with a bouquet of flowers and a thank-you note.  Other people will habitually trash items but be diligent about replacing them.  Still others will ask to borrow items but be perpetually late in returning them. Regardless of your personal lending style, take into account the person's borrowing style when you lend items.  If you continually lend to a person who is late in returning, and that just happens to be your pet peeve, it is your fault for not taking that into account when they ask you again and again. 

• Offer to lend stuff. If you recommend a book or a movie to a friend, offer to lend it.  If a friend asks you for fashion advice and you have the perfect accessory, offer to lend it.  If someone expresses interest in the type of leash you have for your dog, and you have an extra one, offer to lend them your extra leash so they can try it before they buy one.  Unless people are very close to you, they won't just ask, and it's a great way to build bridges.

• It's ok to say no. If you don't want to lend something, you don't have to. You don't need a reason. If your friend gives you a guilt trip, that's their problem.  And don't be an idiot-- if your friend returned something late the last ten times she borrowed something, don't rely on her returning it on time in order for you to do that big presentation at work.

• If it's important to you, there are a lot of home inventory software options available for free. Some of these, especially the home library software options, have modules written to keep track of the stuff you lend. Or you could just make yourself a spreadsheet. 

The wonderful thing about lending is that you don't need more stuff to share what you have with the people you care about. 

Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's!

It's Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's.

Need I say more?

Helping the Robot: Making little (free) changes that help everybody

Below is a video about a performance art project in which a happy, helpless robot makes its way across a park in NYC with the help of strangers. 

 

You can read all about the project at Tweenbots.com.

Part of the reason this made me smile was because it brings out the best in strangers-- a little nudge here and there and the world is a better place. 

If you saw a cardboard robot with a smiley face, would you help it out? Would you, as one man did, talk to it to warn it of the dangers of the road? Or would you ignore it?

There are so many ways to help people out that don't depend on money, or even a great deal of time. Sometimes it's as simple as helping a stranger on the bus carry their groceries.  Aside from the possibility of making a new friend, it helps create a world where people are more likely to ride the bus than to fire up their cars. Maybe it's providing directions to someone on the street, rather than being suspicious. Maybe it's taking an extra five minutes to shovel the sidewalk in front of the neighbor's house as well.  Or taking the time to recycle, or pick up a piece of litter. Or maybe it's taking the extra ten seconds to throw out the office coffee grinds rather than leaving them for the next person. 

Sometimes when we are on a budget we feel like we are not in a position to give (because we can't afford to bring cupcakes to the function, or pay for gas to get to the community meeting, or don't have the cash to contribute to the office gift pool), or we overcompensate by giving more of our time than we really can.  But this doesn't have to be the case-- we can "help the robot" along a nudge at a time, and sometimes the small, convenient changes add up to a lot of help for not much effort.  

Free Gifts: Baby Quilt

I'm at that point in life when some of my friends begin to procreate. I don't have the money to buy everyone all the presents I'd like (like these Baby Trogdor onesies), but I want them to know how exciting their new arrival is, and to provide something special and useful for this and possibly many babies to come.

Since these friends are good friends for whom I would happily spend several hours poking my fingers with a needle, I've decided to make them a special Baby Quilt.  

I've included step-by-step directions here. I am not a hard-core quilter -- you do not have to be a quilter to make one quilt for some special friends! Quilts make terrific hand-made gifts and are useful as cozy throw blankets, bedspreads, extra bedding, as wall-hangings or other decorations. I happened to have the materials needed, but perhaps you can use a friend's machine, or collect unwanted scrap fabrics from more sewing-oriented friends if you do not have available supplies.  

This will be a baby quilt. Standard baby quilts are 45" x 60", according to the Internet, but the size of this one will be limited by the amount of material I have. (Finished, mine ends up being 39" x 47".)

The Materials

I happen to have a few different types of fabric lying around, leftover from projects, worn-out clothes, or things I never finished. I have a small-print green floral pattern and a butter-yellow fabric. Both are thin and soft fabrics that I bought on sale years ago to make wimpy curtains for my college dormroom. This is oddly appropriate, since I shared that dormroom with the girl who will be getting the finished quilt. I wonder if she will recognize the material.

I also happen to have some batting that I bought years ago to make Christmas stockings for the very same couple when they were newleyweds, but never actually used. 

I also have a sewing machine, scissors, bobbins, needles, and various colors of thread. I switch off thread colors to avoid buying more, and if you don't have a sewing machine or bobbins, you can of course sew the entire quilt by hand, but it will take longer.

I decide to make a double Irish chain quilt, because it is a traditional two-fabric pattern that looks complicated but is actually quite simple and easy to cut, sew, and quilt together.  (Sometimes a double Irish chain uses three colors, but as I only have two, it will do nicely.)

Preparing the fabric

1. First, I snip all the stitches out of the floral fabric. It was used to make a gathered valance, and it is folded over and sewed with a channel for a curtain rod. I remove all the stitches, and what remains is a large rectangle of fabric. The butter-yellow fabric has no stitching, as it was just draped over the curtain rod and pulled back with ties. 

2. I wash both fabrics in the machine and then iron the heck out of them. Hopefully I'll have enough of the yellow to back the quilt as well. It looks like I will, but sometimes I am sloppy with my seam allowances and  cannot predict exactly how much I will use. Good quilters can do this and plan appropriately.

The Design

3. The double-Irish chain quilt pattern is essentially a checkerboard design of two different squares.  One is a checkerboard (big square A) of five small squares on each side, with the plain squares in the corner. The other (big square B) is a plain square with small floral squares in each corner. Then, you alternate big squares A and B and all the little squares will line up to make diagonals across your quilt.  It doesn't matter what the scale is as long as all your "big" squares are the same size.  I drew this out on notebook paper and outlined the "big squares" so I knew what I was doing and what direction I needed to go. Here is my highly technical pattern:

Sewing it the Quilt Top together

4.  It is easier to sew together long strips of

 fabric than to sew together a million one-inch squares. Since I know that the pattern is just alternating square A and square B, I break down square A and square B into smaller steps, so I can easily make a lot of them.  

Square A is a checkerboard design, which means that it has five columns, and each column has five squares.  One type of column has more yellow squares than green squares, and the other is opposite.  In order to easily cut a lot of squares, I make a big long strip alternating green and yellow, and then cut this into smaller strips to make my big square out of.  When I am done, I have a checkerboard pattern. I have to be sure that the yellow squares are in all the corners in order to maintain the overall design.  

Square B has two types of columns; thin columns that have the green squares in the corner, and the wide column of yellow in the middle. Since the yellow is such a thin fabric, I opt to make this center column from three pieces to maintain the square-ness of the square. As in Square A, I decide that the easiest way to cut these pieces is to make a long strip and then cut off slices that become the columns for my square.  

If my explanations don't make any sense, look at the pictures to see how I cut my fabric to make the squares easily.

5. I sew all my big squares together. Voila! I have a quilt top!

Quilting the Layers Together

6. I have enough plain fabric left over to make a back to the quilt as well. I iron this fabric again (it's gotten a bit wrinkly with all the folding and unfolding and tearing, etc), lay the batting over it, and then lay my quilt top over it.

7. I sew it all together by hand with BIG LOOSE stitches. This is called basting.  It makes sure that when I quilt the three layers together, it will not come apart in the middle of the quilting process. These stitches are temporary and will come out later. It does not matter if the thread matches. You can baste your quilt together with dental floss,if you prefer. Although, then your quilt might smell minty. 

8.  At this point, you can decide to quilt by machine (easier, faster, etc) or by hand (takes longer, more "handmade").  I chose to quilt by hand because a) my squares don't line up perfectly, and they won't fit the straight lines produced by the machine. By hand, however, I can make my line fit any mismatched squares! b) My tension on my sewing machine is off, and if you see the stitches, it will look shoddy. c) It gives that extra-loved handmade feel.

9. Sometimes people use a sewing hoop to stretch the are of the quilt that you are working on to make it taught and easy to work with.  I don't have a sewing hoop, so I borrow one from a co-worker. It is too small for what I am doing, but it is easier to use it than to keep trying to sew straight lines on bunched-up fabric. Eventually I abandon the sewing hoop and just stitch while it is laid out flat on the floor.

10. I use the sewing hoop and a dark-colored thread (from a cheap-o "sewing kit" that they sell at grocery stores) to embroider a "Baby W" in the corner.  The couple doesn't know the gender of the child, and if they use the blanket, they will most likely use it for more than one kid, so i didn't want to include the date. Some people like to sign their creations with their initials and the year. It's up to you.   

11. I decided to quilt on the diagonal down the rows of floral squares.  I decided this because I felt like it emphasized the diagonal orientation, instead of just making it look like a bunch of checkerboards. I wanted to emphasize this because not all my square corners matched up perfectly.

12. Once the quilt is all quilted, I removed the baste stitches. Then I trim the batting so that it doesn't overhang the quilt top. Then, I trip the backing so that it overhangs by just a little. Then, I fold the backing up over the front and hand-stitch it into place. I pin it up all the way around so it stays in place while I am stitching.

The Finished Quilt

13. The finished quilt! I lost track of the hours it took-- this is not the sort of thing you make for people instead of picking up a $5 token gift at Walgreens. I mail it off to my friends-- hopefully they will like it :)

Tips and tricks:

• Quiltmaking is a great thing to do in front of movies, talking with friends, or other activities that don't require the use of hands.
  
• You can find spare material in a number of places. Do you have clothes that are ripped, too small or out of style?  Clothes in good condition can be donated to thrift stores, but if they are torn up or missing buttons, you can use the fabric in quilts.  Old T-shirts are soft and easy to work with.
  
• If you don't want to quilt by hand, many people like to tie their quilt layers together with little bits of yarn.  This can be a cute way of finishing the quilt and it generally takes less time. 
  

Have you recently made quilts for friends or from reused materials? Share!

How to Have a Get-Together for Less Money and Effort: Share With Friends

I like to have people over, but food is so expensive (I can't feed friends mac n cheese just because it's what I feed myself!) and arranging a full meal for multiple people can be a bit of a mental hurdle when I tend to avoid the grocery store. 

Then one of my friends asked if we could get some people together.  She would be more than happy to bring food for five people if I wanted to open my home.

This was a terrific idea!  I try to keep my place relatively trim and hospitable, and having people over is an excuse to tidy up, not an inconvenience.  Planning meals, for me, tends to be more stressful than running a feather duster over the TV and winding up the game console cords.  For her, cooking a meal for multiple people was more fun and less inconvenient than cleaning her home, organizing schedules, providing directions, etc.  It's really a win-win situation.

Another friend can bring DVDs or maybe a game to teach us. Last time this group came over, we got on the Internet and looked up lists of the 100 Best Books Ever Written and tallied up who had read the most. It was a lot of fun. 

Sometimes it's easy to avoid gatherings of friends because of the financial or emotional costs involved, so it's tempting to go out to help alleviate these costs. But going to a movie theatre costs money. Going shopping costs money. Going to bars and restaurants costs money. Feeding people costs money. Driving costs money.  If you can pinpoint exactly what you do like (cooking, maybe) versus don't like (cleaning, maybe) about getting together in one's home instead of going out, you can work with your friends to arrange something that is fun for everybody, costs little (both in money and in effort) and is something you can do on a regular basis.  After all, most of the reason that we spend money going out with friends is because we want to build those connections.  The connections that I value most over time are with people that I enjoy talking with in my living room.  

Maybe you have a nice lawn and a friend with a croquet set. Maybe you know of a nice park and a friend with a frisbee. Maybe you have a nice tea set and a friend who knows of some good teas.  Or maybe you have a new coffee table book and a friend who you'd like to sit next to and pour over it together.  Maybe you have some stoneware clay and a friend who has a good garage for projects.  Or maybe you have a bunch of fabric you've inherited and a friend with a sewing machine.

It's easy to let the overwhelming task of providing 100% for guests keep us from just showing up with half the story.  But sometimes, showing up with half the story can help build stronger friendships.  So what if you don't have any peanut butter for sandwiches? If you're willing to share the bread and the jelly, your friends might be more than delighted to share the rest.

Small Spaces: Articles from the Pros

Behold, as an Era of Frugality is upon us.

If you are coping with your budget by renting a smaller space, downsizing to a smaller home, renting out "spare" bedrooms, moving in with family, have family moving in with you, have friends moving in with you, have strangers moving in with you, or have roommates, then you might find yourself living in cramped quarters.  

You are not alone. And not just because there are other people in the room, but because people across the country have realized that buying a place to sleep at night is probably their most expensive purchase every month.  

From NY Times, Move up? Move Out? Families Squeeze In talks about how many middle-class families opt to live in smaller (one-bedroom) apartments that are in the location and price range they like, rather than moving out of the city for more space.

From CNN's IReport, Family of 5 weathers economy with 7 housemates shows how people working together can make an economically easier time for all involved.

And, of course, from Backwoods Home magazine, tips on how to live in a teensy, tiny cabin: The Art of Living in Small Spaces. More information on tiny houses can be found at the Tumbleweed House Company, Lowe's Katrina Cottage, and at Tiny House Design.

Tips on How To Spend Money from your favorite Ladies' Magazine

So someone, somewhere, signed me up for a subscription to a popular Ladies' Magazine. I did not spend money on this. That is a vitally important point.

I won't mention the magazine by name because I don't want to get in trouble for plagiarizing their money-spending tips below.

So, I bring to you How To Spend Money, according to this Ladies' Magazine:

• Get healthy skin by buying more/better moisturizers and creams
• Fix your natural shortcomings by buying exfoliants, makeup, and more creams.
• Get your guy to clean up his act by buying manly shampoos, washes, and more creams.
• Do better in interviews by buying new clothes to make trendy, eye-catching outfits.
• Look good in the morning by buying better makeup.
• Stay younger longer by buying... you guessed it, better makeup and more creams.
• Take better care of your hair (which has been stripped, broken, and burned by buying perms, dyes, heat, and chemicals) by buying more/better hair products.
• Change your life by buying cutting-edge treatments for hair removal, hair addition, step cells, lasers, complexions, etc.
• Weather out the cold by buying coordinated raingear in matching colors and fancy waterproof watches
• Live "green" by buying new backpacks made from recylced fabric, organic sachets, biodegradable mats.
• Enjoy bicycling by buying a new bike and a new biking wardrobe.

Not only that, but you can lose weight by joining a gym class (instead of working out with friends), running on a treadmill (instead of through the park) and buying a food journal (instead of a simple 10 cent notebook)

Uh, what have we learned, Dorothy?

Incidentally, a great way to not spend money is to not buy magazines written for women with disposable income.

Create Instant Value: Clean Your House

I have recently been touring homes for sale with friends. 

It is incredible to me how many of these homes are simply disgusting in their approach to cleanliness. Granted, many of them are filled with renters that have no interest in the sale of the property, but never has the difference between well-cared for and neglected been so clear to me when it comes to property and property value. Basically, clean houses just cost more. Interesting thought, especially when I have a messy home and a closet full of cleaning products.

However much your home is worth, it is worth more when it is clean.

However much you are paying in rent, you are receiving more for your money if it is clean.

However often you have friends over, you and your friends will be healthier and more comfortable if your place is clean.

Don't get me wrong. It is far more important to enjoy life without stressing over the neccessity of having a spotless or magazine-quality home. We are, after all, real people, not home decorators or professional organizers. But so many times we will pay top dollar for a larger house, fancier apartment, or newer carpet simply because we are sold on the cleanliness. And cleanliness, while not next to godliness, is something we pay mightily for but actually can come pretty cheap.

Try it. Right now. Take five minutes and go clean a bathroom counter or take out one trash can. 

*   *   *

For those of us who are naturally disorganized, maintaining a clean environment seems like an uphill battle.  Over the years, I've interviewed quite a few friends who are natual neatnicks, and they have always offered me the same basic advice:

• Picture your house how you like it. Then remove anything that interferes with that plan.
• Anything that belongs in your house has a place where it belongs. If it is out of this spot, make a habit of returning it to that spot. Items that have no spot do not belong. (this is harder than it sounds! and sooooo helpful)
• When things come into your home (such as junk mail), get them sorted out, either to the trash or their place-of-belonging as soon as possible.

I've noticed that people who are not accumulators have a natural tendency to maintain the stuff-where-it-belongs rule, whereas people who are natural accumulators have difficulty because items accumulate at a rate faster than available space, and stuff gets jumbled up quickly.

Cleanliness and organization are related, of course. And organizing and uncluttering are related as well. Here are some basic definitions:

• Cleaning: the actual removal of dirt and grime from surfaces.
• Straightening: the placement of items where they belong.
• Organizing: the creation or adherence to systems in which items have places where they belong
• Uncluttering: the removal of stuff in your home. In some ways, this is the most difficult as well as the most important.

I've needed help, and I've enjoyed the tips in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing Your Life (flattering title, no?) as well as other books and tips on the Internet.  

You can always ask your friends to help.  A lot of times it is a great deal easier to tidy another's mess because one is not personally attached to it.  And you can offer to help clean their home in return.

Share any tips you'd like in the comments.

Highlighting the Blogroll

I'd like to highlight for a moment the blogs I've chosen for my blogroll at the side of the page, and how these blogs support and expand my central message.  These are blogs that discuss similar topics, but from a different angle, and they do a terrific job.  

• Zen Habits is written by a father who writes, runs, and practices simple living. I chose this blog to share because it talks about many ways to live more with less-- more energy, more fun, more sharing, with less money, less clutter, less stress. It's a theme that is prevalent in my blog and he's got lots of content that focuses on good habits that enable you to live richly. 
• Get Rich Slowly, the "most inspiring money blog (as named by Money magazine)" is a personal finance blog that focuses on the concept that getting rich is a gradual process, not an instant one.  This blog focuses on a lot of good money habits that I avoid writing about simply because there are other excellent sources of this information.  This is one of them.  It has a wealth of information (no pun intended) on everything from investment strategies to home energy tips.  I like this because money is scalable-- both big decisions and little decisions affect your financial quality of life. 
• Unclutterer is about ridding your life of the unneccessary junk that accumulates.  They have tips for living in small spaces, getting rid of stuff you don't need, interacting with loved ones that are clutterers, etc.  A recurring theme of not spending money is often about recognizing what you do and don't need in your life, and getting rid of the latter.  This blog talks about how to organize, assess, and restructure the belongings in your life.

It's a cycle, really.  Not Spending Money is about good money sense. Part of good money sense is not spending on items  you don't need, or clearing out items you don't want to make room for people in your life or enabling a more thrifty lifestyle. This can open the door to living simply and encouraging habits that mean you don't spend as much money.  It's a positive cycle that builds you up to the place you want to be, not a negative one of endless budgeting and self-denial. Enjoy :)

If you know of a blog that would fit with my blogroll that I can share, let me know, or share it in the comments section!

Adding cost vs. Adding value: Why Life isn't like Monopoly

Have you ever played Monopoly? You know, the game where you go around the board, and if you land on a square that belongs to someone else you must pay them rent? And you get your money mostly from other people paying rent?

The thing about this game is that money only really enters the game at one point: when players finish the circle they collect money from "the bank".  (and a few rare cards you can draw that tell you that you win the lottery or somesuch.) Every other way to get money takes it from the other players. 

Real-world economy is like this too. Think of the ways you can make money-- most of them involve taking it from other players. We work for a paycheck, which is money we take from our company, which is money it takes from its customers, which is money they take from their paychecks, which is money taken from... you get the idea.

Unfortunately, in this model there is no "going around Go". 

When the economy is suffering, as it has been recently, everyone starts moving around the board a little slower, so they have to pay less, which means fewer people are landing on your squares and giving you money, which means you move around the board a little slower... etc.

Unlike Monopoly, the object of the game is not to earn money.

Money, like in Monopoly, is just little bits of papers or maybe some numbers kept track of electronically.  Unlike in Monopoly, our real-world bits of paper can buy us real-world pleasures and neccessities. These pleasures and neccessities are the reason we chase down the bits of paper in the first place.

Unlike Monopoly, you can sometimes skip the bits of paper and go straight for the pleasures and neccessities.

In Monopoly, everything has a cost, but nothing has any real value.  The cost is the dollar amount that you must pay to acquire the property, railroad, etc. But the value is the amount of pleasures and neccessities that that property brings to you.

Let's talk for a minute about cost vs. value.

Example 1:

A movie you enjoy a great deal, watch several times, and loan out can cost $20 but offer you hours and hours of relaxation, bonding with friends, common experiences, ability to provide for sick friends when you loan it out, etc.  In this scenario, the cost is $20 but the value is high. Or, you could buy the same movie used for $7, and the cost would be less, but the value would be the same high amount.

Contrast that to a movie that you buy for $20 but watch once and dislike to the point that you don't even finish it. You never watch it again, you never loan it out, and it takes up space on your shelf. The cost is $20, but the value is less than nothing, because not only do you not gain any pleasure or fill any need, but it requires space in your living room to exist.  

And yet the two movies cost the same.

Example 2:

Consider another example: A junkyard is full of broken cars. They are worth nothing-- they are only there because people have needed a place to abandon them.  However, the junkyard owner's daughter is quite good with engines-- she takes the working pieces from all the cars and manages to make a car that works.  She then uses this car to get a job and attend classes to further her education. The cost of the car is very low, but the value that she creates from a junkyard full of broken cars is priceless. 

Too often we focus on the costs of items, and not their value. Sometimes we recognize value (but if I bought this expensive exercise machine, think of how in-shape I would be! I would feel better about myself, be more outgoing, live longer and happier!) but only as a way to justify the cost.

What ways can you create high value with low cost?  This is where dollars truly enter the system-- when pleasures and neccessities are amplified and multiplied for little or nothing.  

• Do you have clothes in your closet that don't fit (value = zero) that you can give to people who need them (value = high)?
• Do you have food that will soon go bad that you can't finish (value = zero) that you can make a big dinner with and have all your friends over (value = high)?
• Do you have free time (value = open) that you can donate to an organization you support in the form of volunteering (value = high)? 
• Do you have a spare room that you aren't using (value = low) that you can rent out to create housing for someone and additional income for you (value = high)?
• Do you have a task such as cleaning or yard work that you abhor (value = low) and enough money to hire someone else to do it, creating more jobs in a low-job market and freeing up sometime for yourself to get another job, further your education, volunteer elsewhere, or just relax (value = high)? 
• Do you have a special skill (value = open), such as an ability to fix home computers, write insightful commentary, tend neighborhood children, or fix good meals from inexpensive ingredients, that you could share with others, possibly in exchange for their special skills (value = high)? 
• Do you have a messy house, a junk pile, unfinished projects, unused space, or wasted material (value = open) that you can clean up, move out, finish up, or give to someone who can use it (value = high)? 
• Do you know a group of people who don't know each other (value = low) with the skills to start a major project that will revoluntionize the way people think (value = high)? 

There are only so many pieces of green paper in the world, and right now everybody is protective of theirs.  Forget about the cost -- What kind of value do you want? What kind of value do you offer? What are you going to do about it?

How to Share a Bathroom

A major way to save money or to make money in a down economy is by renting out a room or sharing your space with roommates.

But when it gets right down to it, we just don't want to. 

Today's lifestyles are not really in sync with living in close quarters.  Sometimes it is not really about the extra bedroom (after all, there is a door on it) but about the unwillingness to share a communal space, such as a bathroom. Perhaps a person in that extra bedroom would have to share a bathroom with you. Perhaps you have an older home with several rentable bedrooms but not a lot of bathrooms. Perhaps you'd like to rent a room in someone else's house, but are concerned about losing your personal bath space. Or maybe you have a large family and realize you could save a lot on rent if you chose a place with fewer bathrooms. At any rate, our reasons for not doing so are not so much financial as practical. But what is practical but an adjustment of expectations? 

In college, I rented an apartment with three other girls. We insisted upon having at least two bathrooms. (Person/Bathroom ration: 2:1)But when I was a kid, I shared a bathroom with the rest of my family easily. (Person/Bathroom ration: 4:1) And as a college freshman, I put up with even more crowding. (Person/Bathroom ratio: 13:1)   

What is your person/bathroom ratio? And is your fear of raising it preventing you from saving or earning a lot of money in rent? 

Remember, when you spend money, it is mostly on intangibles. When you need your own bathroom, you are buying privacy, ownership, organization, hygiene, and peace of mind. The appliances are the same regardless of the number of people using them.

Here are a few tips for regaining these intangibles even if you are sharing a bathroom with more people than you'd like:

1. Separate tasks.

Any standard three-piece bath exists to serve two distinct functions: washing and waste removal. As these are rituals that we prefer to perform in private, a third function, that of providing privacy, might be added to the list.

However, the room is used for many other things, namely: 

• Changing
  
• Preparation
  
• Storage
  
• Laundry
  
• Self- Adoration
  
• Science Experiments
  

Most of these functions can be relegated to another room. Removing unneccessary tasks from the bathroom frees up a lot of available bathing time.

2. Pack it Up: Use a Shower Caddy

One of the things that makes bathrooms seem exceptionally small (and crowded!) is the endless plethora of small bottles that overtakes every bathroom infested with females.  There are two solutions to this problem. 1) Rid the bathroom of females (this is usually impractical and causes other problems) or 2) Rid the bathroom of plastic bottles.  Suppose there are four females using one bathroom. If every girl were to have the full complement of products, there would be no room for more important items, such as bathers, bathmats, or bathroom appliances. You can keep your busy bathroom functional by encouraging bathers to consolidate their own supplies in a shower caddy, reminiscent of college days.  This keeps all pertinent necessities convenient and allows everyone to be responsible for their own stuff; a must in a crowded household in any economy. 

3. Hang it up: Use Towel Hooks

One of the drawbacks of shared bathrooms is that there are often not enough towel rods to go around.  However, towels can also look nice on hooks, and you can hang several removable hooks on the back of the door or encourage each resident to hang their own towel in their room. A double-hook can hold both a towel and a wash cloth. Removing towels from the bathroom can hang up space, or you could all agree on certain towel ettiquette. (towel image courtesy of http://ckinteriors.blogspot.com/)

4. Wrap it up: Use Bathrobes

If you don't like the idea of tromping from the bathroom to your room in a towel, wear a bathrobe, which offers more privacy. 

5. Smell it up: Invest in a fan and some nice-smelling room spray

I've known people who are big fans of the lit match for counteracting the smell of methane in an oft-used bathroom.  According to MythBusters, matches do actually counteract methane effectively, but unfortunately they have their own unpleasant smell.  If lit matches aren't your thing (or if you'd prefer that your children or roommates not get too near them), it would make everyone's life easier if there is a discreet room spray available, as well as nice fan.  Your bathroom may have a room fan installed already; if not, you can install one yourself. Otherwise, the room spray will have to suffice.  The added benefit of a fan is that it can offer sound privacy as well, especially if your living quarters are espec

ially tight or if you and your roommates are particularly noisy on the commode.

6. Dress it up: Set up an in-room vanity area

You might currently use your bathroom space as a staging area for makeup, hair-drying, and other personal preparation. You can move these functions into your own room and gain privacy and time when you live in a busy house. If your bedroom can accommodate it, there are pretty vanities available to organize all your makeup and preparation needs, but a simple wall mirror, decent lighting, a shelf or caddy for accessories, and electricity for any hair dryers will do.  

7. Clean it up: Organize what's left

The remaining functions in the bathroom can be organized to make it easier for multiple users. Everyone can agree on a few simple rules, such as deciding whose job or turn it is to take out the bathroom trash, insistance that everyone clean their own hair out of the tub, and possibly arranging a cleaning schedule.  Even small measures, such as wiping down the seat when finished, can really make the communal bathroom a more hygenic and relaxing room.

Are there more tips to share that haven't been mentioned here? Stories about sharing with roommates? The comments section is open!

Why do you spend money? Identifying the Emotional Benefits

There are a lot of reasons to spend money. Sometimes it is because there is some item we want. Usually (aside from non-negotiable bills such as water and trash) it is because spending money on the item gives us an emotional benefit.  If we identify what that emotional benefit is, we can often fill that in a less expensive way.

Let me elaborate.

Money Guru David Bach, author of Smart Women Finish Rich, uses the example of a daily latte to show how we can all squeeze a little extra from our daily budget whether we know it or not.  You may have heard of this example.  For some, the idea of having the extra cash to spend on a latte would be a dream come true. For others, the idea of cutting back on something so integral to their well-being is a nightmare.  His point, of course, isn't that we shouldn't drink coffee, but that we are often spending more money on the little things than we realize.

But we need our lattes.

Lattes are warm and comfortable. They reassure us on those days when it is cold walking from the parking lot to and from work, or they can encourage us down on the hectic mornings when we have an early-morning deadline, or they can reward us when we have a difficult time getting everyone out of the house with everything they need for the day.  A latte can mean a leisurely few hours with a book, or some time reconnecting with a friend at a coffee shop.

Warmth. Reassurance. Encouragement. Reward. Leisure. Friendship.  

This is what we buy with that small amount of money. The purchase of a latte means that we exchange a few dollars for all that, not just a hot cup of bean juice mixed with cow milk.  And this is why "budgeting" alone is so difficult-- we can do without our lattes, but we avoid asking friends out for coffee, we arrive cold at work, or we return after dropping the kids off feeling deflated.  We spend our money on emotional needs, and when we budget, we don't often know how those emotional needs can be filled.

I'm using the latte as an example because many money

 people do.  It's not just about the latte, however.  Today I was in a waiting room for a couple hours and read their entire collection of ladies' magazines, looking for money-saving ideas and reading articles about the wonders of modern science as pertaining to reproductive facilitation. It surprised me that many of their articles on money saving usually started with buying something -- you could save money on a birthday party by buying a cheaper cake, you could save money on fashion by buying this innexpensive blouse, or save money on home decor by buying the materials and making the placemats and tea lights yourself. 

But at the end of the day, the cake gets eaten, the blouse gets thrown out with pit stains, and the decor gets stored and replaced with something fresher. 

But think about why you're buying it to begin with.  We buy cake to celebrate. We buy fashionable clothes for any number of reasons, such as impressing others or expressing ourselves. We buy additional home decor because we want to provide a home that feels comfortable to us and that others will want to live in or visit. 

Celebration. Expression. Provision.

Those last a lot longer than the cake or blouse or tea lights. And that's why we keep coming back with our pocketbooks open, smiles on our faces, whether we are on a budget or not.

I like to read materials from the library, but I also like to buy books because I like to keep them forever and loan them out to my friends. Ownership, provision, knowledge. I could get a cheaper home, but I like the space, location, and features of this one.  I like to be here, to have my friends over, and to have them be comfortable.  Destination, provision, friendship, comfort. Sometimes I enjoy going out with my friends for lunch even if it's cheaper to eat what I've brought from home. I like to take a break from the workday to connect. Friendship. Relaxation. Connectivity. Sharing. 

We all have our different needs. 

Of course, once you realize what you are really spending money on, you can come up with other ways to fill them. Would my need to connect with friends be satisfied if I were to forego lunches but meet with friends to walk together after work? Would my need to provide be fulfilled if I volunteered at a homeless shelter? Would I get the same emotional pick-me-up from the office coffee as from Starbucks? Would I feel just as connected to my friends if we went on a drive to the mountains instead of the mall?

Only you can identify the emotional needs that are filled with items on which, right now, really are neccessities for you. And maybe you'll find that when you identify them, you'll be able to address them directly.

How to Live Without a Hairstylist

Maybe you have heard of the money-saving tip "You can save on haircuts by stretching out the time between your haircuts. Go an extra week or two with your current haircut. You could save much over the course of the year."

Really? How often do people get their hair cut anyway? Well, according to Hairfinder.com, "A short haircut will stay in style for a maximum of 4 weeks. When your hair is medium length you should go to the hairdresser about every 5 weeks. If you have long hair you'll need a trim every 6 weeks to avoid split ends." 

I think I get my hair cut once every six months. If I'm on top of things.

Even a cheap haircut can be 25$ or so, and if you get a haircut every month, it adds up to about $300 every year. If you have the money and enjoy freshly-cut hair, go for it.  But if you don't have the money or just can't afford it, don't let that keep you from having a neat coiffure.

Alternative #1: Have long hair

In days gone by, women would let their hair grow unfettered. 

This is why there are many long lucious locks at renaissance festivals and in movies about people riding around on horseback through the woods.

But long hair isn't limited to fairy tales. In more recent (and realistic) eras of history, women got along just fine without annual haircuts at stylists. For example, Victorian women could have long hair and wore them in beautiful up-dos, while pioneering women could work hard at all tasks without their tresses getting in the way. 

One difficulty is that in today's workplaces, women need to maintain a "professional image" or a "modern look". Part of the hurdle here 

is expectation. Just as we all fruitlessly tried to look like Barbi

e, we are now living in an age where we expect layered and difficult- to-trim hairstyles.  Short hair says "active" "fun-loving", or "approachable."Supermodels and celebrities may have long hair, but it might be elaborately layered around the face or at the tips. These types of styles, while attractive, are not easy to maintain with one's own pair of scissors. But there are several easy styles that can keep long hair professional and out-of-the-way for  daily activities.

A few tips for long hair:

• Hair that is kept up most of the time is less likely to be damaged. If you wear an up-do every day, it will keep your hair looking nicer on those days when you decide to wear it down. 
• If you have a good friend with a steady hand, you can ask them to trim split ends for you.  Again, if your hair is long enough to wear up, keeping your hair healthy by trimming split ends will not affect the overall look of your do. 
• If your hair is long enough, you can get it cut for free by going to a place that will donate to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a charity that provides hair for children who are victims of hair loss. They require at least ten inches cut off in a solid chunk in order to donate. This is an option if you have long hair and want to go for something shorter at no charge.  Call ahead to make sure your hair place donates and offers the resulting hair cut for free.

Alternative #2: Cut your own hair (or your friends' hair!)

When I was growing up, my mom cut everyone's hair in the family. We didn't go out and win awards for Best Haircut on the runway model circuit, but it was functional and I'm sure I looked terrific. And how often do you stop someone in the hall at the office and say, "Gee, Sally, did you get a haircut?" "Why, yes I did, Verne. Summertime and all, you know." "well, it looks like you cut it yourself. You must be on a budget" Nope, people just don't go there. If anything they compliment you on how cute it looks.

Since custom sometimes dictates that men cannot wear their hair long, home haircuts may be the best possible alternative to foregoing trips to the barber.

Any Google Search for cutting one's own hair yields a number of helpful results, including the following article: How to Cut Your Own Hair.

Alternative #3: Shave your head

This may be a more viable option for the male readers. 

Cheap is Chic

You always knew it, but now CNN can back it up-- Cheap is the new chic.

The article basically makes you feel better about bargain shopping. Apparently we're cool now. 

Free Education: The Library

The Library is possibly one of my most favoritest places in the Universe. The ENTIRE universe. Even compared with all those cool-looking nebulae. 

This is why: The Library is full of Knowledge. 

And it's full of Free Stuff.

I don't know about you, but for me it is very difficult to walk through a Barnes & Noble and not be immediately attacked by books flying through the air and fighting with each other to jump into the basket.  All of a sudden, I have intense and undeniable interest in Medieval medicine, engineering in the 1800s, and the fate of the Neanderthals that I wasn't aware of prior to walking into the bookstore.  Suddenly, kilt-making and space elevators are the most fascinating topics, and I find myself wading through piles of books on knitting, remodeling, and political cartoons by Dr. Seuss just to remember what I came in for. I absolutely love this.

I feel much the same at The Library, but unlike a bookstore, I can actually get OUT of The Library without spending money. 

In case you are not a reader, you need to know that The Library (yes, it deserves to be

 capitalized) also has:

• Magazines

These have pictures. Also, they are usually arrayed near a comfy sitting area where you can relax and enjoy yourself. If your Library has a good magazine collection, you can cancel all those subscriptions you have and spend time reading your favorites at The Library.  Also, The Library usually has an extensive collection of back-issues, so you don't have to worry about storing your own archival collection at home. This can free up a lot of space and clutter at home, giving you more elbow room and helping you feel at ease. 

• Movies
  

This is kind of like renting a movie, except without the price.  It seems like a lot of libraries have really grown their movie collection recently; this may be because people will donate older videos as they make the transition to DVDs. Or, it may be because library funds are recognizing the demand for excellent video collections. Or perhaps your library is still struggling in this area.  They might still have a few that you haven't seen yet! Many libraries have separate sections for children, so you might look in a couple different areas or check the catalogue if there is a particular title you want. 

• Non-Fiction Videos and DVDs
  

For some reason, libraries often have excellent collections of educational materials.  NOVA makes excellent documentaries, usually narrated in a big, booming voice that oozes authority in all wonders of Nature.  BBC produces a vast array of materials, such as multi- part series basd on books you don't have the time to read.  Some of these are quite good. Try looking for exercise videos (if you check out a video and never watch it, you certainly don't need to buy it), painting videos (it's like a free art class), or award-winning documentaries. Some libraries even have terrific collections of TV shows-- you can put on Trading Spaces or Scrubs while doing ironing, or whenever else you like to watch TV. They don't even have commercials :)

 

• Audio Books
  

These are available at most libraries, and if you feel like you don't have time to read or just get bored looking at words on the page, it's a great way to consume media while doing other things.  If you commute, you can listen to the books while driving or while riding the bus. On the bus, it's a great way to create a little mental space for yourself while crowded by strangers. You can listen to them while doing housework or other chores, and it helps make time for you to get all those books read that you've been telling  yourself you should read, but just don't have the time to read them. 

•  Computer Use
  

Most libraries have a computer section available where you can sign up for their computers for a set period of time.  This may be how you currently access the Internet to read this blog. Or you may be thinking of foregoing your home Internet access due to bills; the Library is a great place to use the Internet for small periods of time for free.  In addition to the Internet, libraries often have software available for your use.  The children's section often has educational programs or interactive books; spending time on these can increase computer literacy in your kids. Or, if they have the software available, you could use the library as a means to increase your own computer literacy. Check your local library to see what their Internet policy is.  

• The Kids' Section

Whether you like to read or not, your kids can go crazy in the kids' section and look at whatever interests them.  They might not be of reading age, but enjoy the pictures. Or, they might be learning to read, and needing new material. Or they might not be interested in the books, but use the library to find a lot of information about their favorite sports, comic books, or crafts. Or they might be avid bookworms and need something to keep them occupied.  Even if you are not hugely familiar with the kids' section at your library, the librarians in the children's section tend to be very knowledgeable and can help your kid find something to interest them, whether they are avid readers or not. 

• Community Events
  

Many libraries have a Community Events calendar, with childrens' holiday parties, book signings, free lectures, fairs, travelling exhibitions, etc. The list is pretty much endless. What your particular library offers probably changes frequently and a schedule should be available at the front desk or Information desk.

• Study Sessions and Free Classes
  

Some libraries have tutors available or a series of free classes on basic topics such as computer literacy, tax preparation, etc.  There are often book clubs or writers' groups that meet at libraries. This is pretty much free education, which is most excellent and should be taken advantage of whenever the interest arises. 

• Community Board
  

Near the entrace to the library there is usually a big community bulletin board. It's often a great way to take advantage of the free advertising that a flyer can provide, or a way to find out what is going on in the community.  You can advertise your own services (as a tutor, a house cleaner, a childcare provider, a bicycle repairer, a mural artist, a website designer) to pick up some extra cash, or you can join in community events and get more plugged in. 

• Volunteering Opportunities
  

Many people who have enjoyed donating to charities have found that their decreased circumstances have made it more difficult to participate in the philanthropy they once enjoyed. Most libraries thrive on an active volunteer participation, and have a lot of different options so you can easily find something you enjoy. If you like to give but don't have the cash, or if you like to participate in bettering the community, stop by the volunteer office at the library and talk with them about what your interests and talents are, and they can get you plugged in.

• Solitude
  

If you have a hectic worktime, a messy home, a busy schedule, roommates, a small house, a shared bathroom, carpoolers, or an energetic family, you might have a hard time finding those few minutes of solitude.  The Library is full of corners where you can feel like you can get away from it all.  The prevailing hush can offer a mini-vacation from the daily grind. Find a corner you like and enjoy visiting. 

And now, some parting tips:

• Encourage your kids' excitement in the library, even if it's in seemingly mundane topics. Life is better when you're learning something.
• Combine trips to the library with other excursions to cut down on gas. Or locate a library close to you and make a practice of walking there. A little bit of exercise can be enjoyable.
• Avoid overdue fees. You can designate a place in your house near the door for library books when they are not in use.  Try to check out only what  you think you can consume in a week. Frequent trips will cut down on the likelihood that you will forget to return materials. Also, more expensive items such as videos probably have steeper fees. 

Any other unexplored and cost-free uses of your local library? Any more tips on how to share it with your friends? Get plugged into the community? Create valuable family time? Share your stories!