Frugality In Practice: Needs Vs. Wants

June 8, 2009 · Filed Under · 2 Comments 

What do you consider to be necessities in your life these day? For me, Cable TV is a want. Flat screen TV is also a want. Ice cream maker? Tough call this summer. But what I found interesting is that according to the Pew Research Center, things that we use to view as a necessity three years ago is now changing. Here are some of the biggest changes:

garden

  • Cable or Satellite TV - 23% of Americans now consider this a necessity. Down big time from 55% in 2006.
  • Flat Screen TV - Now only 8% of folks think a cool TV in the living room is a necessity. Down 25% from 3 years ago.
  • Air Conditioning- 3 years ago 70% of people considered A/C a necessity. Now only 50% of Americans consider cool air in your home a necessity. This one depends on where you live. In my neck of the woods, I would consider A/C a necessity as a 110 degree day is a common occurrence in July and August.
  • Microwave Oven - Used to be 70% of people thought the nuker was a necessity, now only 44% think that. Not sure I understand this one. Microwave ovens are pretty darn cheap these days. Maybe it has to do with the fattening of our society as people have less leftovers to heat up the next day!

But what I found the most interesting had to do with services people are getting rid of. Americans are starting to do things for themselves and are shopping smarter. Here are a few of the biggest changes:

  • Discount Stores - No sense paying more for name brands if you don’t have to. Almost 66% of Americans are now shopping at discount stores. Up 20% from 3 years ago. Walmart, for example, is absolutely thriving during this recession.
  • Veggie Garden - Now 1 in 5 are growing a veggie garden. Up significantly from years past. The cool thing about this is you only need a few square feet in the backyard to grow some tomatoes or other veggies. Plus it is a lot of fun and a great activity to do with your kids.
  • Luxury Services - Americans are starting to mow their own lawns, take care of their own pools, and are changing the oil in their automobiles. Smart. Smart. Smart. Very easy ways to save money. Plus, you will get some exercise in the process.

How has the recession changed the way you spend money? Looking forward to your response.

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Summer Health Threats: Should You Be Concerned?

May 19, 2009 · Filed Under · 2 Comments 

Summer has really arrived like a punch in the gut here in Northern California. Temps hovering around triple digits for the last few days. So when I saw Ew! 6 Unhygienic Summer Health Threats, from ABC News, I just had to share. I know it has been a while since I posted as nothing really sparked my interest….until now. So with no further-ado here is the list of 6 summer threats followed by some critique from yours truly.

summereat

  1. Peeing In Pools, or Worse - The story says 17% of folks pee in the pool. Not sure if this means 17% pee in the pool every time they enter or in a lifetime. The story also does not clarify peeing while in the pool or standing outside of the pool and letting it rip.  Hmmmm…..  TIP: Stay away from in-pool bars, you know those guys drinking beer all day in the pool are not exiting when nature calls.
    The story goes on to say that fecal matter is the biggest health risk. Protect yourself by not swimming when you have diarrhea. And on a related note, don’t swallow pool water. Also, take your kids on bathroom breaks and check diapers often. Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside. Wash your children thoroughly with soap and water before they go swimming. Yeah, right.
  2.  Undercooked Meat - This one is a bit tricky for me. There is nothing worse than overcooked meat. But the key number here is 160, as in 160 degrees. This is the temperature that kills all bacteria.
  3. Sand, Soil and Germs Outdoors - This one is ridiculous as the story talks about ticks and salmonella from reptiles. These have nothing to do with sand and soil, but rather weeds, hiking, and plants. Common sense stuff that humans have been dealing with effectively for 1000’s of years. Just wash kids hands regularly. Moving right along…
  4. Freshwater Parasites - The key to this one is NOT to drink the water you play and swim in. Simple enough. The risks from drinking such water is E. coli and other bacteria.
  5. Outdoor Eating - Picnics have ants and flies, that is just reality. Yes, we all know where flies were before they landed on your potato salad. But at the same time, we have all ate at hundreds of picnics with flies landing on the food yet how many of us have ever gotten sick? None that I know of. I have something called white cells and an immune system. It is gross though, no doubt about that.
  6. Leaving Cold Food Out - Mayo has gotten a bad rap over time. By itself, it can sit out “because mayonnaise made with lemon juice or vinegar” is not a breeding ground for bacteria because it is such an acidic, low pH environment. Now there is some news we can use. Although, I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat coleslaw that has sat out during the entire family softball game….

Now go enjoy your summer and stay healthy!

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What Would You Do If You Saw a Shoplifter?

May 5, 2009 · Filed Under · 3 Comments 

I watched a story on the news the other day that due to the current state of the economy, shoplifting is becoming a bigger problem in stores across the U.S.  Perhaps people are feeling a sense of entitlement when it comes to stealing because they feel betrayed. That obviously does not make it OK, but I find this phenomenon interesting. Some people are stealing things to eat. Others are trying to turn stolen goods into cash [...] Continue Reading…

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Frugal Recipes That Can Save You Money!

April 24, 2009 · Filed Under , · 1 Comment 

My friend Jennifer Melnick Carota has done it again! She has created a very useful and fun website called Just Keep The Dish.com which specializes in tasty and easy recipes that will not break the bank and make great gift ideas. Jennifer says her website is “dedicated to giving the gift of food…affordable, practical, and absolutely fun.” 

Best news is that you can share your favorite frugal recipe and it will get posted on her site! [...] Continue Reading…

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Where To Find Real Deals In A Bad Economy

March 31, 2009 · Filed Under , , · 2 Comments 

~Travel Deals - Airlines are really hurting. Hotels are really hurting. If you are looking to book a summer family vacation this may a great time to do it. Here is a list of resources you may find helpful.

Cruise Deals - Cruises are at record low prices. They aren’t for every one, but if you were always curious this may be a good time to try one.
Las Vegas - Sin City always has great deals, but never [...] Continue Reading…

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American Idol: A Guilty Pleasure!

March 25, 2009 · Filed Under · Comment 

OK, I will officially come out of the closet, I actually look forward to American Idol every week. Please don’t hold it against me! I am a huge music fan and it often gets me through my day here in the boring office. Some of the performers are really talented, some are just plain awful (but entertaining), and the judges are quite cruel at times. Add in the producer’s manipulation of the show and you have a [...] Continue Reading…

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Deals on Electronics and Shiny Gadgets

March 17, 2009 · Filed Under , · 3 Comments 

Due to the struggling economy and horrible retail sales, I knew that good bargains abound on electronics, gadgets, and other shiny things that I just can’t resist. I just really didn’t know what specifically was such a great bargain. So when I found an article from Business Week that broke down the best current deals on electronics, plus all the products came with high praise from Consumer Reports, I thought I would share it on my [...] Continue Reading…

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3 New Stores, All With % Off Coupons!

March 13, 2009 · Filed Under · 1 Comment 

3 new stores added in the last week that I am excited about. From clothes to birthday party supplies these guys have you covered. Plus they all have money saving coupons. Here they are, in no particular order:

Martin + OSA.com - Owned by American Eagle Outfitters. If you are not familiar with these guys, they specialize in casual clothing and accessories. Their most popular products include cashmere, best-fitting jeans, and the softest T shirts in [...] Continue Reading…

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Zappos.com Will One Day Rule The World!

March 9, 2009 · Filed Under · 4 Comments 

I was channel surfing last night, much to my wife’s annoyance, and felt like Zappos Shoes was taking over the world.  First, they were featured on Celebrity Apprentice as the client that all the B-grade stars had to impress with a comic strip. At least I think that was the plot. I only watched for a few minutes. But their logo was all over the show. Then, I went to check out my Alma Mater, Saint Mary’s College, [...] Continue Reading…

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Milton Friedman is My Hero

March 5, 2009 · Filed Under · Comment 

I can remember being a wet behind the ears college freshmen, sitting in my Economics class, glancing at my watch every 10 minutes, while my professor was going on and on about the brilliance of an old white guy named Milton Friedman, who won some prize called Nobel. Yawn. I was too young, dumb, and naive, to really grasp the concepts of Friedman. But now as an entrepreneur, small business owner, taxpayer, and father of 3 young [...] Continue Reading…

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