Alaska Road Trip Food Less than $20/Day

Split lunch at Fast Eddy's in Tok, AK
$13.49 + $5 tip = $18.49

When planning our 2015 trip to Alaska, we budgeted $3,000 for food. We’d heard that prices were much higher there and knew we’d be gone at least three weeks, so figured $100/day for both of us for 30 days would be sufficient.

As we thought we’d likely eat in a restaurant once or twice each day and didn’t want to waste food or deal with leftovers, we decided we’d share one meal instead of ordering two. We also wanted to avoid the weight gain so common when traveling – and saving money would be like the icing on a cake! We didn't want to scrimp on tipping, however, so we figured we'd make the math easy and always tip $5. We arrived at this amount based on at least 20% of a maximum bill of $25 if we ordered separately (yes, we're both cheap dates!).

For our non-restaurant meals, we envisioned relaxing around camp in the evening, grilling steaks and slicing avocados and experimenting with the Jet Boil. Breakfast would sometimes be included with our lodging or be a simple affair in camp. Other than that, we’d have fresh fruit, string cheese and other nutritious snack foods handy. 

Frying steak for our first car-camping dinner

What really happened? Well, we did share restaurant meals and it was great! We usually had plenty of food, but not too much. And if we’d still been hungry, we reasoned we’d have us an excuse to order dessert – but that never happened. (Note: Dessert temptation overpowered us a couple of times, but not because we were still hungry.) With very few exceptions, our restaurant meals in Alaska were a good value, providing plenty of food for two with just one dish, and no more expensive than what we’d expect here in the lower 48.

In contrast to comparable pricing in restaurants, grocery store prices in Alaska and Canada were higher than at home, especially in smaller towns. Considering what it costs to transport goods clear up there, however, I was pleasantly surprised the prices weren’t higher. Not knowing what food prices and availability would be, we spent about $100 on non-perishables and fresh fruit before we boarded the ferry, which got us nicely through to our first grocery store stop in Whitehorse, YT.

As for how our visions meshed with reality, we did enjoy many simple breakfasts and wholesome snacks (peanut M&Ms are good for you, right?) just like we’d planned but never had one single relaxing evening meal around camp as we envisioned. We did prepare many evening meals, just the relaxing part was missing – but that’s another story.

All together, we spent $888 on food for and during our Alaska/Canada trip, starting with groceries and meals out en route to the ferry in Bellingham, WA and ending with afternoon snacks in the car before we crossed the Idaho border 24 days later. So our daily food cost averaged just $37 for two, which comes to less than $20/day each. Spending less than 40% of our food budget, I’d say we done good!

• Food budget = $3,000 
• Actual food cost = $888 
• Money left for another trip = $2,112! 

Free Online University Courses!

Did you know that you can take university courses online for FREE? Well, I didn't - at least not until I discovered Coursera, "...an education company that partners with the top universities and organizations in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free" and believes "...in connecting people to a great education so that anyone around the world can learn without limits." How totally too cool is this???

The first course that caught my eye was Diabetes: Diagnosis, Treatment and Opportunities through UCSF. As the granny of a lovely 12-year-old Type 1 diabetic, I'd like to know all I can about diabetes and am especially interested in Week 5: Frontiers/New Horizons, where I hope to learn about treatment options that may be available in the not-too-distant future. But this course doesn't start until October so I found two more to take in the meantime.

Right now, I'm taking The Social Context of Mental Health (University of Toronto) and will start Nutrition and Physical Activity for Health (University of Pittsburgh) mid-July. I wanted to get a feel for the learning platform and easily found many courses I'd love to take - and it was really hard, but I limited myself to just the two (so far...).

The site is pretty easy to figure out - if I can do it, so can you! I can either view the lectures online or download the videos for later viewing. One huge advantage to watching online is that the viewer allowed me to adjust the speed and I could race through the lectures. Beings I can listen faster than the normal video speed and can only watch online before 5am (bandwidth restriction), this was great! But downloading for future viewing is even better because I don't have to be up so early so often and can more easily pause and take notes.

There's also a forum for class discussions, which I will probably use minimally. After just a couple of days, there are already an overwhelming number of posts and I don't foresee myself taking the time to read through more than a handful. So I hope the other students use super-clear thread titles.

If you'd like to learn from topnotch instructors from big name universities, check out Coursera courses. Most courses are in English (currently 363 spread across 25 subject areas!) but there are a few in other languages, as well. You can either fully participate (discussions, homework, etc.) or just audit the course - you're choice. If you do turn in assignments and complete the course, you'll get a certificate of completion.

What are you waiting for?

Homemade Christmas Cards & June Christmas Prep Report

Homemade Christmas cards & matching envelopes.

Unless you get them on sale after Christmas, buying Christmas cards can be unnecessarily costly. You can save money by making your own at home. Either opt for a simple letter-style greeting on colored paper or get more elaborate with stickers or iron-on fabric motifs.

More homemade Christmas cards.

I used heat-n-bond, a widely-available fusible web, to adhere fabric motifs to folded card stock that I had cut to fit envelopes I bought in bulk at a thrift store. Then I used a permanent marker to create a dashed outline around the shapes. Add a personal greeting inside and you're done - inexpensive, custom Christmas cards! And I decorated the envelopes, as well. How cute and clever (and simple!) is that?

As for the June Christmas Prep Report - besides getting a jump-start on cards, it's basically the same old, same old. I did have a few gift-giving occasions over the past month and it was so nice to be prepared!

Cheap Bifocal Computer Glasses

Aren't they pretty?

My computer bifocal glasses arrived a couple of weeks ago and I'm finally used to them so thought I'd share. They're non-prescription and (obviously) two different strengths - the bifocal part is for reading and the upper part has been adjusted for computer use. I'm a little confused about exactly what strength the upper part is because I've run into conflicting info. First I read that it was 1/2 the strength of the bifocal, which I think is the case. But then I read on another site that it is 1/2 diopter less, which would make the upper part of mine 2.5, which I don't believe that it is.

Anyway, if you're like me and all you need is two different strengths and you don't need stronger than +3 for reading, you can buy bifocals online for cheap. I bought two pairs for around $25 each and am happy with both. The reason I bought two pairs is that I wasn't positive which strength would work and you don't get free shipping unless your order totals at least $30. Also, I had two very different purposes for these glasses. Still yet, I basically guessed what I need and am happy to report that I seem to have guessed right.

Downside of non-prescription computer bifocals

I've found two downsides I'd like to caution about. First, they took some getting used to because I've never worn bifocals before. Secondly, they aren't the exact right strength for all lighting conditions - when I have bright natural light, they're a little strong. But they do allow me to use the computer and read small print, like when typing in ISBNs or paying bills where I need to refer to printed matter while online. So the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. And I'm used to them now so no biggie.

Why order two?

So why did I order two different strengths? Well, because I need one for computer use and the other for shopping. That's right - shopping. You see, store aisles are no longer wide enough for me to get far enough back from the shelves to clearly see what's there. And now that I need stronger glasses to read small print, the ones I carry in my purse have to be that strength. But perusing a shelf with the extra magnification is next to impossible. There I am, bent over peering closely as I move from left to right just to see the available choices of whatever it is I'm trying to buy. Not good.

With my new computer-turned-shopping glasses, I can look through the top to get the big picture and then through the bottom is I need details. And I can look over the tops to see distance (nothing wrong with that part of my vision!). So it's almost like trifocals, right?

Why go with non-prescription glasses?

There's two reasons I haven't gone the prescription glasses route. First, when I had my vision tested specifically so that I could finally get real glasses, the doctor told me if what I'm doing works, just keep doing it. I don't need any special correction - just magnification. There may come a time for real glasses but I'm not there yet.

Secondly, I like different strengths for different tasks and have several pairs at the ready in the strengths I need. For instance, hand sewing requires more magnification than machine sewing. If I settled for prescription glasses, I'd be limited to whatever strength I tested as needing, which I discovered is considerably less than what I want for some tasks.

So there you have it - my experience with non-prescription bifocal computer glasses. If you want to check them out for yourself, I get mine at ReadingGlassesShopper.com (no affiliation, just a satisfied customer). I've bought several pairs of glasses and sunglasses there and recommend the site - the selection is great, price is right, they're fast, and shipping is free on orders over $30. What more could you want?

Combining Projects for a Quadruple Win!



I'm upgrading my kitchen with new potholders, too.


Do you realize the year is almost one-tenth over? That’s right – one-tenth. Beings there’s 365 days this year and January had 31 of them, by the time noon rolls around on February 5^th, we will officially be one-tenth through the year. 

So, what have I accomplished? Am I making progress on any goals at all? YES!!! And I’ll tell you how…

Combining projects takes multi-tasking to a whole new level

Two of my three main goals for 2013 are decluttering/organizing throughout the year and being completely ready for Christmas by the end of October. Also, for February, I joined a challenge to commit to quilt 20 minutes each day.

Coincidentally, I had also just signed up for two free motion quilting classes through Craftsy so I decided to spend my quilting time practicing free motion. Well, it seemed a waste to stitch such pretty designs and then throw them away so... I started making potholders.

Beings I already had denim rounds (recycled from jeans) cut years ago in anticipation of a potholder project, all I had to do was layer those with batting (I have plenty of scrap pieces) and backing (again, plenty of scrap pieces) and quilt away! Then I realized they’d make great gifts, so I’m making progress on 2013 Christmas Prep, too! And to top it off, I already had several remnants of bias binding left over from past quilts so I’m really decluttering my sewing room!



Made completely from leftovers from other projects!



That’s what I call a quadruple win! With this one enjoyable activity, I am:

• Meeting my 20 minute per day quilting challenge (ok – I’m way exceeding 20 minutes but it sure is fun!)
•     Vastly improving my free-motion quilting skill (and thanks to Leah Day's Craftsy class, I may even become a free-motion rock star!)
• Decluttering my sewing room (we're talking leftover fabric, batting, thread and bindings!)
• Making nice gifts that are useful, too (seriously, who couldn’t use new potholders?)

I'm going to be on the lookout for more way to combine projects. Whether I'll hit upon any more quadruple wins remains to be seen but I think it'll be pretty easy to hit on some double and triple wins. And now that I think about it, this one might actually be a quintuple win beings it was also fun...

So, how can you combine projects to meet your 2013 goals?

January Christmas Prep Report

It's been a month since Christmas - have I done anything to get ready for the next one? I'm happy to say that I have. Exactly what I've done is a little harder to pinpoint. I'm still snowed in so haven't seen anything I ordered online. I could go back through my email and look at the order confirmations but that seems a waste of time beings I really need the stuff here so that I can sort and store it. You see, when I say Christmas prep, I'm also talking birthdays and any other gift-giving occasion during the year, as well.

So, from memory, here's my January report:

• made personalized throw pillow covers for 4 early-year birthdays
• ordered super cute crocheted hats for the 2 newest DGDs
• ordered a bunch of stocking stuffer type games (like probably a dozen)
• ordered several sets of kitchen towels

Personalized throw pillow covers

I tested a quilt pattern a while back and didn't realize I wasn't going to be happy with the color combo until I had all 16 blocks done - oops. I've been trying to figure out what to do with them and finally settled on personalized throw pillow covers for kidlet birthdays during the year. Won't need all 16 but it's nice to have extras. So I finished four and they're ready to go in the mail, plus I have another two quilted and ready to sew together. I plan to quilt them all now and then do the embroidery and finish them up as each birthday approaches.

Crocheted hats

Yes, I crochet...and I have lots of yarn...and I've even made a lot of hats. So why did I order some? Because they were just too darn cute AND on sale, of course! I'm talking less than $7 each and that included the shipping.

Stocking stuffer type games

The Best of Charades, LIFE Adventures card game, Disney Princess dominoes, etc, etc, etc - at under $3 each, how could I resist? With 11 grands, these will be great filler gifts to round out the holidays!

Kitchen towels

Seems everywhere I go, the kitchen towels are pretty ratty. So I decided that women on my list would receive new ones for their birthday. At $2-$5 for a set of two or three, how could I go wrong? And they'll be easy and relatively cheap to ship for the ones that need to be mailed.

Well, that's it for now!

What have you already done to prepare for Christmas 2013?

How to Save Money on Christmas Card Postage

It’s that time of year again and Christmas cards will soon be traveling across the country and around the globe! With ever-increasing postal rates, sending Christmas cards can be expensive. Follow these tips to save money on postage.

Modify Your List

The first step toward saving money on Christmas card postage is to reduce the number you send through the mail. Look over your Christmas card list and remove the names of people with whom you are no longer close. Of those remaining, which recipients MUST receive a card by mail and who can receive greetings in person or by email instead?

Send Postcards

Recycle old Christmas cards into postcards.

The cost of mailing a postcard is significantly less than that of mailing a regular greeting card. To qualify for the postcard rate, the postcard must be rectangular and at least 3½”x5” by 0.007 inch thick but no more than 4¼”x6” by 0.016 inch thick. Postcards outside these dimensions will require extra postage.

For added savings, recycle old Christmas cards into postcards. Just cut the fronts to the required dimensions and add your message, the address and required postage to the reverse side.

Consider E-cards

Although there are lots of online e-card sites available, many people (me included!) are wary of commercial e-cards. So opt for a more personal touch and make your own card or Christmas letter on your computer, convert it to PDF and send by email to friends and family. Remember to include photos!

Final Thoughts

Keep in mind that you can edit your computer-generated card or letter to postcard size/format and print on cardstock to send to those who will not be receiving it by email. And be sure to check with the post office for information on size restrictions and postage requirements for international mail.

Warning! Even if the grandparents on your list have email, they still want a real card with a handwritten message!

How to Save Money on Christmas Gifts

The gift of time.

With Christmas just around the corner, are you worried that you can’t afford to buy presents this year? Don’t despair! Nice gifts for family and friends don’t have to be expensive. Be creative! You can make presents yourself, find nice but inexpensive gifts, or give the gift of time. The following tips will help you keep Christmas affordable.

First, Get Some Perspective

Most everyone is in the same boat and need to limit expenditures. Your family and friends will appreciate your thoughtfulness much more than they would an expensive gift. So often gifts are chosen in haste and then quickly discarded by the recipient. While lavish Christmas celebrations may be fun, a simple Christmas is more in keeping with the true spirit of the holiday.

Then Make a Plan

Realistically assess your Christmas list. Decide what level of spending is feasible this year and allocate your resources accordingly. Consider giving gifts to children only – their parents will understand and be appreciative of your generosity. Couple or family gifts are often a more affordable option. For adults, consider a card with a personal, heartfelt message. Be sure to remove from your list anyone to whom you’re no longer close.

A Few Ideas

Delicious homemade fudge!

• Homemade Goodies - Baked goods and homemade candy are popular during the holidays and provide an inexpensive way to affordably share the holiday spirit. A plate of special holiday cookies complete with the recipe, festively wrapped miniature loaves of pumpkin and zucchini bread, a small box of delicious homemade fudge or gift-in-a-jar mixes are just a few simple and inexpensive gifts that are appreciated year after year.

• Homemade Gifts - Simple homemade gifts can be more meaningful than the most expensive item. A photo memory jar, for instance, filled with photos on which memories have been recorded is a personalized gift that will be treasured. Think of other homemade options based on your interests and hobbies. Are you a woodworker who can make picture frames or wooden toys? Can you knit or crochet winter hats or scarves? Do you sew or craft? By putting existing skills and materials to use, you can make a variety of unique and inexpensive gifts.

• Gift of Time - Giving of your time can be the best gift of all. Taking an elderly person shopping, babysitting so that parents can go out for an evening, inviting a child to the park – these gifts cost you nothing but are invaluable to the recipient. For added fun, make a coupon book so the recipient knows how many times and for which activities you are available.

• Family Gifts - Consider giving a single gift that the entire family can enjoy. Board games are inexpensive and will be used repeatedly. To get the most bang for your buck, stick to the classics like Clue, Monopoly or Life. Yahtzee and Rummikub are also a lot of fun and, with a little help, can even be played by preschoolers.

• Start an Inexpensive Tradition - Many families choose to draw names to reduce the expense of Christmas gift giving. If your family hasn’t done this already, consider it as an option, at least for the adults. Another inexpensive tradition that can take the place of regular gift giving is an ornament exchange. Ornaments can be purchased or homemade, either in bulk or specifically for each individual recipient.

Parting Thought

When planning your holiday this year, keep in mind that it is not the specific gifts but rather the time spent together and the Christmas traditions that will be remembered.

Cheap and Easy Powdered Cleanser

I wrote recently about my new favorite safe, simple, effective and cheap homemade spray-on cleaner and decided to share my new favorite powdered cleanser, too. And guess what? The powdered cleanser is even easier than the spray-on beings there's nothing to mix. Before I say what exactly it is, let me share before and after photos of my Swanstone sink. The staining in the first picture is from pitting 10 gallons of pie cherries.



Sink before cleaning.



Sink after cleaning.


So what is this safe, simple, effective, cheap and easy powdered cleanser? Baking soda. Yep. Plain old baking soda. I just sprinkled it on and scrubbed a little with one of those scratchy sponges (wet, of course) and the stains disappeared.

We also use our chest freezer as extra counter space and I've been really pleased with how well plain old baking soda cleans that surface. And if I don't get it all rinsed off, so what? It certainly won't hurt us to have a little stray baking soda where we're making sandwiches. Might taste funny but won't hurt us.

Simple, Safe, Effective and CHEAP Homemade Spray-on Cleaner

I know I may be late to the cleaning party on this one but I've just made the most amazing discovery! Did you know that plain old vinegar mixed with water is a great household cleaner? How simple and cheap is that?

Ok - so "discovery" really isn't accurate. After all, there are probably thousands of websites that promote cleaning with vinegar. But it's a discovery to me because I hadn't actually tried it myself and so had yet to discover how absolutely great it really is.

Here's what I did:

Mix plain white vinegar 50/50 with plain water in a spray bottle.

(Not too difficult, I know - but I set it apart in this post so it wouldn't get lost.)

Now here's the cool part. For years, I've battled a slight mineral buildup on the outside rim of the plastic base to my shower. I don't know when exactly this build up happens - it seems I'll just look down one day and there it is. Of course, it also attracts dust and becomes a grimy looking line just below the shower doors. I've used several cleaning products and had finally taken to just scraping it off with a knife now and again.

Well, scrape no more! I sprayed my 50/50 vinegar/water combo on there and presto! It wiped right off! (Ok - it wiped off with a little back and forth pressure after sitting for a minute. But it sure beats scraping it with a knife.) And the best part is no nasty fumes. In fact, it just reminds me what fun it is to color Easter eggs.

Vinegar will supposedly kill mold, as well, but mine didn't take all the discoloration out of the caulking around the bottom inside of the shower, although it did fade it somewhat. For that job, I guess I'll still have to use bleach until we can re-caulk the shower.

Anyway, if you haven't tried vinegar mixed with water as a general cleaning product, go buy yourself a spray bottle and give it a go! It's super cheap, completely safe for kids and pets, works way better than I would have thought and makes your house smell like Easter fun. What's the down side?

Get FREE Kindle Books Every Day!

I have a new favorite site, Ereader News Today (Tips, Tricks, And Free Ebooks For Your Kindle). In addition to having Kindle info, the site features a bunch of FREE ebooks every day! I'm talking 20-30 - and not the out-of-copyright classics either, but contemporary fiction and non-fiction. In the past 10 days, I've downloaded over three dozen books. Hmm. If I thought I didn't have enough reading time before...

Anyway, like I said, I've downloaded over three dozen books. Of course, I haven't read them all yet. And (fortunately) I'm becoming more selective now that the novelty of the site has dimmed a bit. So what have I gotten so far? Well, I won't bore you with a complete list but here's a sampling:

• The Accidental Hero and The Accidental Existentialist (both by Joshua Graham)
• Whiskey Rebellion
• Death On A High Floor: A Legal Thriller
• The Chronicles of Marr-nia (Short Stories Starring Barbara Marr)
• The Secret to Happiness (Hugo the Happy Starfish) (illustrated kids' book to read to my little man)
• Circles
• Grandma's Best Muffin Recipes (and three other cookbooks)

And I could go on and on...

A few years ago, I decided that I would no longer finish books that didn't grab me by the end of the first chapter beings there's no possible way to read everything there is to read so why waste any of my precious reading time? Well, I temporarily fell off the wagon on the first few downloads but am now re-committed. So, although I'm downloading whatever looks good, I'm being selective about what I actually finish reading.

And how do I read these books beings I don't have a Kindle? First off, I downloaded the Kindle for PC to my computer. That worked fine but not for reading in bed so I also installed the free Kindle app on my Cruz Reader. So grab yourself a reading app for your PC, smart phone or whatever (and I even figured out how to put a banner link for your convenience!) and start enjoying some FREE Kindle books.

A Couple of Ways to Manage with Half



Cut your dryer sheets in half.

Gip over at So Much More Life recently posed the question, "Could you manage with half?" This got me to thinking, so I decided to share a couple of ways I've been managing with half for years.

Use Half the Recommended Amount

Over 25 years ago I started cutting dryer sheets in half as soon as I opened the box. Just grab out little stacks of a dozen sheets or so and cut them across the middle to get twice as many loads for the same price. And if you have a load you fear will still have static, splurge and throw in two halves!

Using half the recommended amount of many common products often produces satisfactory results. So why don't you give it a try for a week or two and see where you can manage with half?

Make Items Do Dual Duty

We use pint canning jars as drinking glasses. They're sturdy, stable, work equally well for hot or cold beverages - what's the downside? And we have a ready supply! Well, we do sometimes run a little low if we have company during canning season, but  . . .

So look around. What do you have that can serve a dual purpose?

Save Big Money on Christmas Gifts at Department Stores

Christmas is coming!
Are you ready?

With the exception of gifts for her child, my daughter is done with her Christmas shopping. Yes, that’s right, DONE. And it’s only August. And she saved a ton of money. It doesn’t get much better than that! Here are a few examples of how she did it.

Upscale Department Store Sales

Most department stores have sales year-round. If you check the weekly ads, you can get good ideas and good prices, even at upscale department stores. For instance, my daughter found a small kitchen appliance needed by a key person on her list at Macy’s for 60% off. So she was able to stay within her budget and get a nicer model of this particular item for $20 (instead of $50).

Combine Discounts and/or Partner Up!

Moving on to another store, she got a great gift on sale at Kohl’s. The price was so good, I don’t know how that store even stays in business! Anyway, without giving away the secret, she found an 11-piece set that is regularly $299 for $135. Yes, that’s right, $135.  (Hint: shop early for additional discounts – the sale price was actually $180 but was even further reduced the first few hours.) As she doesn’t buy gifts that expensive for anyone on her list, she partnered with me. She also had 20% off that day and $10 Kohl's Cash, so the total price was less than $100. My budget for this particular recipient is $70 so that’s what I chipped in, which brought her share down within her budgeted amount. How cool is that?

Don’t Waste Those Coupons

Then she had a $10 off any purchase coupon for JCPenney’s and found a really cute gift (regularly $40 on sale for $15) for one niece, spending just $5. A couple of days later she got a $10 off a $25 purchase coupon so went back and got a nice gift for another niece.

What Are You Waiting For?

So check the sale ads. If you don’t get sale ads in the paper or by mail, not to worry! Most of these same ads can be viewed online. Just go to the store’s website (usually StoreName.com) and look for a link to the current local ad.

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? If not, why not? Bottom line is you can save big if you shop early, shop the sales, and take advantage of coupons. So do yourself a favor and beat the Christmas rush. Don’t wait until Black Friday or later sales - take advantage of the slower pace and shop now.

Save BIG on College Costs

Have you seen the recent article on Yahoo News? Apparently nearly half of college students “show no significant improvement in the key measures of critical thinking, complex reasoning and writing by the end of their sophomore years.” WHAT?!?

Want to know another troubling finding? How about this one? “Half did not take a single course requiring 20 pages of writing during their prior semester, and one-third did not take a single course requiring even 40 pages of reading per week.” Are you kidding me?

Ok, we’ve all been told that a college education is the key to higher earnings and general success in life. Parents so firmly believe this that some seriously jeopardize their own financial well-being to pay for their kids to go to college. I have a money saving idea - DON’T! Unless your present and future (think retirement years) finances are in excellent shape (think no debt and plenty of savings) AND your kid is a super-serious, motivated student with a definite plan, let the kids pay their own way. How’s that for saving big on college costs? Are you being remiss in your duties as a parent? NO! They may defer higher education for several years but they will go when and if it actually becomes important to them.

Now before anyone gets too upset about my stance, let me give a little backstory here. I went to college in my 30s and maintained a 4.0 (with the exception of one class toward the very end) while earning a BA in Business Management. I was also a single parent and worked at least half time (usually more). What I noticed was that for many of my younger classmates, college was simply an acceptable way to extend the fun of the teen years (think supported by parents) and delay taking on adult responsibilities (think get a job and pay your own bills). This was not the case with every student, of course, but seemed a common theme.

So do yourself and your kids a huge favor. Take care of your finances so that you are comfortable during your later years and train them throughout their childhood and teen years to become self-sufficient adults. You see, it’s a win/win - if something should go wrong on either side, the other will most likely be in a position to step in and help.

How to Transform Your Relationship with Money

I was cleaning today and ran across some old files from a decade or so ago. In the mix was a bunch of worksheets detailing my finances at the time - to the penny - for over a year. I also found graphs and other cool stuff I’d forgotten that I’d done. Fortunately I found a reference to creating a new road map and did a quick Internet search, which revealed that I had undertaken a very cool process presented in “Your Money or Your Life” by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez.

My Life HAS Changed
Although it was a time commitment, reading the book and actually completing the exercises did transform my relationship with money. At the time, I was working in an office and in debt - nothing too serious - mortgage, car payment, some low credit card balances, and maybe some student loan payments. Now I owe no money and can work at home when and if I choose. Life has certainly improved since I took the advice in the book to heart and started valuing my life energy.

Looking back on the facts and figures, I am blown away by how different things are now. And also by how easy it is to forget previous details. But my handwritten income and expense sheets don’t lie. I think I’ll see if I still have a copy of that book around here somewhere. And if not, maybe I’ll check one of my book swap sites. I don’t think I really need it much now but it might be fun to read again anyway. And if I decide to do the exercises with the detailed accounts and graphs, it will be so much easier this time!

Get the Book!
Anyway, get a copy of this book. And I suggest you actually buy one (fyi - book image is an Amazon affiliate link). Anyone who has read this blog at all knows that I usually recommend borrowing from the library or a friend to save money, but this book is an exception. You just can’t digest it in one or two readings.

Now get busy and change the way you look at, think about, and act toward money!

Would You Rather Look Rich or Be Rich?

I just ordered a book by Stacy Johnson titled “Life or Debt 2010: A New Path to Financial Freedom,” which I discovered in “My 10 Dumbest Money Moves - And How You Can Avoid Them.” I raced to Amazon and ordered the book due to a quote under mistake number 3: Attempting to derive self-esteem from possessions, “You can either look rich or be rich, but you probably won’t live long enough to accomplish both.”

Think about that for just a minute. How much money have you squandered on appearance? What could you have done with that money instead? Are you sacrificing your future security to buy trendy clothes, a fancy car or more house than you can afford? Owning nice things is wonderful - IF you can afford them. But if owning nice things means payments over time, then you don’t really own them - they own you.

Now, I’m not saying that all debt is bad. I know that a mortgage is the only way most people will ever own a home; I’ve had a few mortgages myself. An education is also an investment in the future that may be worth financing. Just be realistic about what you can afford and err on the side of caution. Buying a modest house or attending a local college will usually accomplish the same goal at a much lower cost.

Back to the book. No, I don't really need it as we've been completely debt free for nearly a decade - but I love reading and passing along this kind of book. Yes, I’ve included an Amazon affiliate link for your convenience. However, when you get to Amazon, check out the available used copies. I just ordered mine for $5.76 including shipping, which is well below the price of a new copy. Better yet, although it wasn’t an option for me, check your local library and borrow the book for free. Happy reading!

Save Money with Homemade Cards

Saving money during retirement is always a good idea and one of my goals this year is to NOT buy a single card. Not for birthdays, Mother’s Day, thank you or anything else that comes along. Not even the 2/$1 cards at the dollar store. I still want to give cards, however, so will have to get creative and make my own.

Without further adieu, my first opportunity has arrived! With two grandsons having January birthdays, I obviously need two cards, right? So I made them today.

I have to admit that I used blank cards I got on sale for $4.99 just after Thanksgiving. In preparation for my 2010 card-making extravaganza, I actually bought a couple of boxes that contain 70 cards and envelopes each. I also have to admit that I already had a couple of boxes in a different set of colors that I bought last year, also on sale. So yes – do the math – I have about 280 cards on hand to embellish. This should get me by don’t you think?

I’ve also been saving all types of already-used cards over the past several years, planning to recycle them – and now I am! Finally! And I’m going to use fabric and ribbons and buttons and whatever else I can find. But for these first two, I played it safe.

The one with the deer combines a fabric square (the deer) with the front of a recycled note card. The other uses cute cutouts from an old birthday card (cheating, I know). As they’re both for boys, I used a sharpie to change the hot pink on the word Celebrate, one balloon and the party hat to red. So that’s two down and many, many more to go. Hopefully I’ll get braver and more imaginative as time goes by!

Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas seriously sneaked up on me this year. I guess I could blame it on a late Thanksgiving, which is usually the trigger to get on the ball. Maybe my new freelance writing career is keeping me busy. Maybe I’ve just had a series of life events that have demanded my attention. Maybe it’s age. Whatever the reason, the result is the same. It’s only eight days until Christmas and I’m NOT READY!!!

After some deep breathing, I’ve come up with a plan. Rather than detailing specifics, I’d like to share some general ideas that can be used by most anyone. No rocket science here, just practical tips for avoiding the consequences of too much procrastination.

Gift Cards

Always popular and appropriate for most anyone, the easiest last minute present is a gift card. Available from local merchants, chain stores and online retailers, a suitable gift card can be found for anyone, anywhere. For increased versatility, opt for a VISA gift card.

Admittedly, the drawback of giving gift cards is the expense. While cards can be purchased for a small amount, the value of the card is what the recipient will have to spend. Consider giving a family card to increase the spending power. For instance, for a family of five, $10 each may not buy much. With a $50 gift card, however, the family can choose something nice to be used by all members.

Homemade Candy and Baked Goods

If both money and time are short, consider making some holiday goodies. Many of the ingredients needed are probably already on hand. Think cookies and popcorn balls. Homemade fudge is my personal favorite and seems to be eagerly anticipated by those on my list.

Gift Baskets

Customized baskets or gift packs are appropriate for both young and old. No, I’m not talking about the ones you can buy in most every store this time of year. Consider putting together your own. It’s relatively easy and inexpensive to find an appropriate container and fill it with a variety of small items. Think crayons and coloring pads for small children, specialty tea in a nice cup for a friend or several types of nuts with a nutcracker for an uncle.

Time

Give the gift of time. It doesn’t have to cost anything and the actual event can be scheduled for after the holidays. For instance, for a family with children, give parents a gift of babysitting and the kids a game or craft night. Take an elderly neighbor shopping or a small child to the park. The memories created through the gift of time are free but priceless!

Another Cool Way to Save Some Cash

Dropped a box of books off yesterday at Budman's Book Mine, our local new and used bookstore. Credit received for these 10 destined-for-donation books (couldn’t sell any of them online - no bites when checking them on BookScouter – or trade any away through TitleTrader) came to almost $25.

One of the paperbacks I was letting go included the first two books in a three book series and I wanted to read the third. The credit received from the Book Mine is used toward books purchased there. The discount for used books is 60% so I got the third paperback in the series for $1.45 including tax. WOW! When I swap books on TitleTrader, the postage costs more than that. So lesson learned. Looks like the local option may be the best in many cases.

The Book Mine also allows credit to be used toward new books but at a lesser percentage discount so I will be keeping that in mind as they can order anything that isn’t in stock. How this will help me in my 100 Things Challenge I not sure but if I’m buying books anyway, at least I will save some money. Right? So remember to check your local used book dealer when letting go of good condition used books that are not finding a home elsewhere. You may be as pleasantly surprised as I was!

Getting Ready for Christmas

Already? It’s only October! True, but early preparations save stress later on. I must be already feeling it beings I had a dream that I was in a store frantically shopping right before closing time on Christmas Eve. In my dream I wondered how I was going to get the presents wrapped and delivered, especially those that had to be sent out of state, so I was much relieved when I awoke and realized I still have plenty of time.