tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9397853270657289532024-03-13T06:46:26.751-07:00Live Cheap and Retire EarlyLynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-71871570273343443672014-11-11T11:34:00.001-08:002014-11-11T11:34:15.332-08:00Stay at AIRBNB<div class="tr_bq">
I don't think the purpose of retiring early is so one can sit around at home watching TV or reading. Travelling when you are a young retire is (in my opinion) the main reason to retire early. However, travel can be expensive. There are many ways to reduce your costs, and using airbnb is one of them.</div>
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AIRBNB (pronounced, air b & b) is a web-site which allows individuals to rent out a room in their house, or their entire house or apartment.</div>
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It is normally used by the younger set, but my brother and I used it during a recent road trip. We stayed at 4 places, and 3 of them were excellent. <br />
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Here is the wikipedia description<br />
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<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Airbnb is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_marketplace" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Online marketplace">online marketplace</a> for vacation rentals that connects users with property to rent with users looking to rent the space. Users are categorized as “Hosts” and “Guests;” both of which must register with Airbnb using a variety of means. A valid <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Email" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Email">email</a> address and valid telephone were initially the only requirements to build a unique <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_profile" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="User profile">user profile</a> on the website, however as of April 2013, a scan of a government issued ID is now required.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbnb#cite_note-57" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[57]</a></sup>Profiles include details such as user <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reviews" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Reviews">reviews</a> and shared <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_connectedness" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Social connectedness">social connections</a> to build a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reputation" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Reputation">reputation</a> and trust among users of the marketplace.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbnb#cite_note-58" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[58]</a></sup> Other elements of the Airbnb profile include user recommendations and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-process_communication" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Inter-process communication">private messaging</a> system.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbnb#cite_note-59" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[59]</a></sup>In addition to providing personal information, hosts display listing details including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Price">price</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenities" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Amenities">amenities</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_rule" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="House rule">house rules</a>, imagery, and detailed information about their neighborhood. Due to the nature of the business, a merit system is in place to allow guests and hosts to leave references and ratings which are displayed to the public in order to provide an evaluation method.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbnb#cite_note-60" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[60]</a></sup></blockquote>
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As with hotels, the price is often cheaper the closer to the date of stay.<br />
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Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-5130438332320496552014-11-10T11:30:00.003-08:002014-11-10T11:30:49.159-08:00Deprivation leads to later appreciationI have always noticed how much I appreciate something after not having it for a while. For example, when we had the blackout in the Northeast U.S., and I didn't have electricity for 2 days. What a delight when it came on.<br />
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Now the Wall Street Journal reinforces what I have long believed, in this article<br />
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"Can Money Buy Happiness"<br />
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This could even mean depriving yourself of your possessions for a while, perhaps by lending them or sharing them with someone else. Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and co-author of the book “Happy Money,” recently conducted an experiment where she sent people home with a big bag of chocolate, telling some of them to eat as much of it as they could and others that they were forbidden to eat it. A third group could choose how much to eat.<br />The result? The people who had been forbidden from eating chocolate were able to enjoy their next chocolate bar much more than those who’d either eaten a lot or consumed their normal amount. “Giving something up temporarily can actually help to preserve our capacity to enjoy it,” Prof. Dunn says.</blockquote>
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<a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/can-money-buy-happiness-heres-what-science-has-to-say-1415569538?mod=trending_now_2">click here</a> for link to article<br />
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Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-10103014941191864002014-11-07T08:49:00.001-08:002014-11-07T08:49:22.227-08:00Do You REALLY Need to buy it...?<br />
The "shopping therapy" practiced by so many Americans can really cause a problem with finances.<br />
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There's a fairly good article in Psychology Today which details many reasons.<br />
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<a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/consumed/201309/seven-reasons-why-were-irrational-shoppers">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/consumed/201309/seven-reasons-why-were-irrational-shoppers</a><br />
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I think one of the biggest reasons is people want to keep up with, or impress, their friends and relatives.<br />
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A guy I use to work with bought a ring for his wife when we were out at the mall for lunch one day. It wasn't really expensive, but not some junk either. He bought it at a jewelry store. I asked him what was the occasion and he said "we are going to see my brother's, and my wife likes to have some new jewelry to show off to her sister-in-laws". Apparently a couple of the brothers had done extremely well, and there must be quite a bit of competition among the sister-in-laws. <br />
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So I am assuming that insecurity is one of the main reasons we feel compelled to buy things to impress other people. I don't know how one "learns" to be secure in your own skin. Maybe a bit of therapy, or just reading Psychology Today. When I discussed my problem with procrastination with a therapist, he told me to read an article in Psychology Today which addressed the problem, and it was great advice (and not<br />
so expensive). I learned why I procrastinate, but learning to change the behavior is not so easy. I am sure<br />
the same will be true of learning NOT to buy. <br />
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Maybe one of the best tools for learning to not buy things is to know what you need or want to buy. Even before you go to the thrift store. I did this last week, and walked out empty handed. I was a bit disappointed, because surely there was SOMETHING I needed (or wanted). But I kept reminded myself of all that "stuff" I already have, and need to get rid of, and make the wise decision to not drag more stuff home.<br />
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So, make a plan of what you want to buy. Then, set it aside for a few days, or a week, to review and see if you still think you need or want that item. I guess that would be the "cooling off period". Works for lots of things.<br />
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<br />Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-45598233797703267362014-11-06T11:51:00.000-08:002014-11-06T11:51:21.608-08:00Easy Apple -Banana-Raisin salad<br />
One of the easiest ways to save money is to learn how to cook...from scratch.<br />
<br />
Now that apples are quite cheap by the bag ($2.99 for a 3 lb bag), I have been making<br />
an easy salad my mother use to make. It is an apple and banana salad (add raisins if you<br />
want).<br />
<br />
Take 2 apples. Cut each in half (lengthwise through the core). Cut out the core. Chop<br />
the apples in bite size pieces (leave the skin on). Put the apple pieces in a bowl.<br />
Add approximately 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise and stir until apple pieces are coated.<br />
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Peel a banana. Cut into about 1/4 inch pieces, add to apple pieces and stir until all is<br />
coated. <br />
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You and add a handful of raisins at any time.<br />
<br />
This is how I like to prepare this salad, but any order will work. It might even<br />
be easier to put the mayonnaise in the bowl first, with raisins, and the add the<br />
other. The trick is to get apples and bananas coated with mayonnaise so they<br />
don't turn brown.<br />
<br />
This needs to be eaten within a day or so for best flavor.<br />
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<br />Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-82351119896809049692013-06-17T12:48:00.001-07:002013-06-17T12:48:25.129-07:00Wow - can't believe I was right!Well, actually I can.<br />
<br />
I haven't bothered with this blog since 2009 because my Mom died, by boyfriend had a stroke..<br />
my brother died. Life got in the way.<br />
<br />
But looking back on my blogs posts, I am rather proud to say I certainly hit it on the mark regarding<br />
buying a house.<br />
<br />
Buy a house you can live in for 10 years. Don't expect to be able to sell it in 3 and recoup your<br />
investment..<br />
<br />
I have not been working (outside of the home) for 10 years now. And, I still have money, which<br />
continues to amaze me. I guess I still have money because I was always worried about running out,<br />
so was careful about my spending habits.<br />
<br />
Having said this, we did manage to spend a month in New York City (Manhattan, Columbus Circle)<br />
last November. We rented a furnished apartment. We drove, and I managed to get a cheap<br />
monthly rate at the parking garage in the building. I had to phone directly and speak with the manager,<br />
but he let me have the special internet rate, and they were so nice. We were close to Hell's Kitchen,<br />
where there are lots of inexpensive interesting restaurants, and because we had a full kitchen, were<br />
able to cook as many meals as we wanted.<br />
<br />
If you have the time, it's always cheaper to stay somewhere for a month. And if you are someplace<br />
for a month, you get a real sense of the neighborhood, and can leisurely see the tourists sites, as<br />
well as living like a local.<br />
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<br />Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-60348693042966468012009-08-26T23:55:00.001-07:002009-08-27T00:08:06.790-07:00A bounty crop from a home gardenI recently had a large crop from my backyard okra plants and looked for something to do with them.<br /><br />I found three different recipes for various okra soups that were tasty, easy to put together, and freezable. And they cover a wide variation in tastes.<br /><a href="http://www.wish.ca/food/recipe/182/"><br />Curried Turkey Okra Soup</a> (I used chicken).<br /><a href="http://latinfood.about.com/od/maindishes/r/okra_stew.htm">Okra soup</a> (added canned corn and went heavy on the black pepper)<br /><a href="http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1639,155180-228193,00.html">Chicken and shrimp gumbo</a> (I added a roux as a base)Gary Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08353561351308596608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-6706615274744146292009-06-10T12:12:00.000-07:002009-06-10T12:12:00.758-07:00Buy a house in foreclosureI bought a house 2 years ago which was in foreclosure. <br /><br />This was before the "buying a foreclosed home" became commonplace.<br /><br />I didn't set out to buy a foreclosed home, what I wanted was something cheap which needed a rehab.<br /><br />When you are looking for a home, these are the things to think about. <br /><br />1) Buy something you can live in for 10 years. <br /><br />Don't count on being able to sell it in 3-5 years if you want to move. You may not be able to recoup your investment if there is a downturn (like we just experienced).<br />I bought a house in New Jersey in 1991. It did not increase in value for the first 5 years I owned it. Then in the late 90's it started increasing, and by the time I sold it, the value had almost doubled. <br /><br /><br />2) Know the traffic. <br /><br />When I bought in New Jersey, I looked for one year before I bought, going out every Sunday, looking at various towns which were within a good commuting distance. I concentrated looking in one particular town because I knew the traffic backed up on the highway, and I if I lived in Hasbrouck Heights, I could exit before I got stuck in traffic.<br /><br />I knew someone who bought a house because it was on the front cover of a realtor magazine. It was a beautiful house, but only after they moved in did they realize the road it was on was a short cut to avoid the main road. Therefore they had much more, and noisy, traffic than they expected.<br /><br />3) Think about flooding.<br /><br />When I bought my house in New Jersey I didn't really think about this, but my house was on a hill so I did not have a problem.<br /><br />I was lucky. One year there was a lot of rain, with a town a few miles away flooding quite badly. Looking at that town one would never have suspected could flood as it did. I think it was one of those 100 year floods - but, they do occur.<br /><br />4) Think about your neighbors<br /><br />Good neighbors are the best thing to have. Sometimes I am not always the best neighbor. I don't have the perfect lawn, and I even got a complaint from my neighbor in New Jersey because I had an old beat up trash can that she had to look at outside her kitchen window.<br /><br />That is probably one reason I bought my next house in more of a "bohemian" area.<br />The only problem is once in a while there is loud music, and some loud cars, but not so much. <br /><br />5) Buy a house you don't have the urge to knock down walls<br /><br />This became my motto when I was house hunting. I have been through some remodelling, and I really enjoy many aspects.<br /><br />However, I have learned, once you start knocking down walls, the remodelling never ends. It's always "well as long as we are doing this.... let's do that".<br /><br />I am trying to keep my cost in my new "bungalow" as low as possible. I am learning to live with things I might prefer to have changed. It's possible.<br /><br />I absolutely hated the upstairs bath in my New Jersey house. But, after a few years, it grew on me, and I kind of started liking it - at least a little bit.<br />Well, let's just say I didn't hate it.Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-51652908684065673442009-06-09T12:05:00.000-07:002009-06-09T12:12:21.634-07:00Shopping at "Mom's"My Mother is bedridden. She is still at home, and I am her caregiver.<br /><br />One of these days we will have to clean out this house and get rid of everything.<br /><br />Even though my mother downsized from a much larger house 7 years ago, it's amazing how much "stuff" she kept.<br /><br />So, we all kind of go "shopping" at Mom's.<br /><br />In the beginning I felt bad about taking her things, but once she was bedridden and could no longer see the rest of the house, I don't worry about it so much.<br /><br />Not only am I shopping, I am giving away things. Like a typewriter, which someone said they could use.<br /><br />Get rid of it now, because it probably won't sell at the estate sale, and then you just have to haul it off to Goodwill.<br /><br />I have learned how to "release" my stuff to other people, knowing it will give them enjoyment. There is no point in something sitting in a closet gathering dust, when someone can be using it.<br /><br />So, in case any of my siblings are reading this, I took the saw horses to my "bungalow", along with a few shovels. If anyone else wants them, just let me know.<br /><br />Love<br />LyndaLynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-21360521687212741822009-03-06T16:57:00.000-08:002009-03-06T17:05:02.821-08:00Recipe - Easiest Barbecue BrisketThis is an e-mail from my sister. Seriously, if you are hungry for bar-b-que, but don't want to spend money to eat out, fix this. <br /><br />The instructions assume you know how to cook - and how long you cook it will depend on the piece of meat.<br /><br />Brisket has gotten a bit expensive in the store, so I am thinking about trying this recipe on a cheap piece of roast. However, since I just bought 1/2 a beef (at 2.25 per pound, thank you very much) I won't be buying meat at a store for quite some time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Recipe – Barbecue Brisket<br /><br /><br />On beef brisket, sprinkle garlic powder, onion salt, celery salt and 3 Tablespoons liquid smoke. Wrap in foil and refrigerate overnight. Next morning, sprinkle with black pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Wrap in the same foil and bake at 250°F to 275°F for several hours until tender. Let it cool, then slice and arrange in baking dish. Cover with barbecue sauce. Cover and bake so the sauce will cook into the brisket. <br /><br /><br />I see that there isn’t any temperature or time listed for the last step and I can’t remember what I did last time. It probably depends on how long it needs to be “held” while getting the rest of the meal ready.<br /><br /><br />Brenda</blockquote>Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-78084481353549078812008-12-18T01:53:00.000-08:002008-12-18T01:53:05.691-08:00Beware what you readI can't find it now, but something popped up when I had a Forbes page open, giving 15 (I think) ways to save money to retire early. They were the usual, take your lunch to work, don't smoke or drink, but then there was one "die early". I couldn't believe my eyes. <br /><br />I don't know if this was some sort of weird spam that loaded - I can't find it now.<br /><br />There is some logic to it - there was a picture of a guy on a motorcycle, so I guess the idea is, live dangerously and you won't live as long. Therefore, you won't need to worry about having money to retire.<br /><br />I don't really think this could be considered sound advice.<br /><br />There was another site which I found with an article <a href="http://www.moneyandminds.com/dont-live-cheap-live-smart/">Don't Live Cheap Live Smart.<br /></a><br /><br />It starts out OK, not great, but no real red flags, until I get to this part;<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Why live cheap is not a good idea</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Living cheap might hurt your ego and drown you in negativity even more. People do need a form of achievement in their life, and these days, maintaining their lifestyle is arguably the best achievement of all.<br /><br />Living cheap might also worsen your state of personal finance. For example, if you ’skimp’ on your daily meal, you might get sick - you and I know that getting sick these days is the least thing you want to have.<br /><br />Ultimately, you have to stay healthy and pumped up to face the current money problems and issues.<br /><br /></blockquote><br /><br />OK, if you are homeless it might be a problem to eat, but anyone with a little bit of imagination can eat fairly cheaply. This is something I will blog about later.<br /><br />I think this site might be promoting credit cards, as along the top it had Home, About, Contact, Advertise, Credit Cards.<br /><br />That, to me, sent up a red flag.<br /><br /><br /><br />I didn't click on anything.Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-49147867761718334382008-12-17T01:15:00.000-08:002008-12-17T01:15:01.354-08:00Cheap International Vacation TravelI like to travel. I especially like international travel.<br /><br />One of the best sites I have found for international travel deals is <a href="http://www.go-today.com/site_gtweb/index.asp">go-today.com</a>. <br /><br />I have taken 2 trips using this company. One to Portugal and one to Italy.<br />Both were great trips and a wonderful value.<br /><br />Now, this is not a guided tour, so if you are an inexperienced traveler, or afraid of adventure, it might not be for you. Their packages include air fare, hotel, and if it is more than 1 city, transportation between the cities. You have to get yourself to/from the airport or train station, although sometimes now they have additional add-ons (they didn't the first time I used them).<br /><br />If you don't live in one of the normal "gateway" cities, be sure and check out their add-ons from where you live. Quite often it will be cheaper than what you could book yourself. This is where the real cost savings can come in. That, and the hotels they use are quite inexpensive and include breakfast. The hotels are local, and not something you would likely find on your own.<br /><br />I always choose the cheapest hotel, as I don't need more than a bed, heat (or a/c), and a decent private bathroom (I refuse to share).<br /><br />The prices today are a little higher than I would expect. Keep watching the site if you are interesting in traveling, and have time off. The key is to go in the off season, when prices are lower. This also means the crowds are smaller, which in Europe can be a really big deal.<br /><br />If you want any more tips on traveling, feel free to post a comment and I will try to help you out.Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-60837633415949335962008-12-16T03:26:00.000-08:002008-12-16T03:28:12.283-08:00No Gift, is sometimes the Best GiftSince I got <a href="http://livecheapandretireearly.blogspot.com/2008/12/learning-to-live-cheaply.html">rid of all of my stuff</a>, I am trying hard to not accumulate "things".<br /><br />My friends and family know this, and as much as I love them, I really do not want to receive presents. It has taken some time, and sometimes I still get stuff, but slowly they are adapting.<br /><br />If I go to a party where everyone is in the habit of exchanging gifts, I now bring boxes of chocolate. I assume they can pass it on to someone else, or at least open it up around Christmas so their friends and family can enjoy.<br /><br />One year I got the exact same box of chocolates I gave someone else. I started wondering how old these chocolates might be.<br /><br />This article kinda confirms my suspicion. <br /><br /><a href="http://wichita.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2008/12/15/daily9.html?ana=e_du_pap">Unwanted gifts sold on-line or re-gifted</a><br /><br /><blockquote>A growing number of consumers are turning to the Internet to dispose of gifts they don't want, according to a survey sponsored by eBay Inc.<br /><br />The San Jose, Calif.-based online auction company (NASDAQ: EBAY) said more than four in five (83 percent) of those it asked said they receive unwanted items and almost half (46 percent) of those adults resell or give the unwanted gift to someone else as a gift.<br /><br />Of those who have sold their gifts online in the past, more than half (54 percent) of U.S. adults plan to do so again this year, compared to 45 percent last year.<br /><br />EBay found differences in what people said they would resell and what they would re-gift.<br /><br />The most popular items adults who took the survey said they would re-gift include wine, champagne or spirits (21 percent); trinkets or collectibles (21 percent); beauty or bath products (21 percent); DVDs, CDs or books (16 percent); electronics/appliances (14 percent); and fruitcake (14 percent).<br /><br />The most popular items adults resell online include personal electronics (12 percent); DVDs, CDs or books (11 percent); home technology (10 percent); event tickets (10 percent); trinkets or collectibles (8 percent); and sporting or fitness equipment (6 percent).<br /><br />EBay said the survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive between Nov. 11 and Nov. 13 among 2,033 U.S. adults age 18 and older, of whom 1,013 have re-gifted and 210 have resold gifts online.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />In these lean times, I think more people should adopt the idea that less is more.<br /><br />I'll be posting ideas for cheap gifts in the next few days, for those of you who have not yet learned to "just say no", as in "no gifts please".Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-44626267927097796772008-12-15T01:14:00.000-08:002008-12-15T01:14:00.403-08:00Getting Rid of StuffIn my <a href="http://livecheapandretireearly.blogspot.com/2008/12/learning-to-live-cheaply.html">first blog post</a> I talked about the need to get rid of stuff.<br /><br /><blockquote>Once I decided to get rid of my furniture, I started thinking about all the other stuff I had to move and store.<br /><br />That was when I decided the smartest thing to do would be get rid of everything, down to what I could fit in my car. It was hard. Really hard. But, really liberating.</blockquote><br /><br />This article, <a href="http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-life/just-dreaming/articlecosmo.aspx?cp-documentid=8318389">7 Secret to Happiness</a>, has getting rid of stuff as number 3. Be sure to read the part in bold in the 2nd paragraph.<br /><br /><blockquote>3. It’s Time to Toss Excess Stuff<br /><br />If you can barely scrape together enough change to spring for that $4 latte, you’ll love this: Money (and all the crap that you can buy with it) won’t bring you happiness. In fact, when wealthy Americans were surveyed, they reported being only marginally happier than the general public. “When you have limitless funds, you tend to be hellbent on accumulating more,” says New York clinical psychiatrist Janet Taylor. “In the process, you lose the ability to appreciate what you do own and have difficulty feeling fulfilled.”<br /><br /><br />And you don’t need to be a gazillionaire to get caught in this trap. The problem might be that you just can’t seem to throw anything out. Like your favorite sweater from your high school days, that (hello!) is from the damn Gap, not specially knit by Grandma. “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Extra belongings weigh us down and crowd our space, making us feel overwhelmed and disorganized,” says Dr. Taylor. “Lightening up will help you regain control and, therefore, happiness.”<br /></span><br /><br />On that lighter note, now is the perfect moment to purge. You don’t have to clean house completely, but you should hold on only to stuff you Love (with a capital L). “If you haven’t used or admired something in six months, part with it. No guilt allowed,” she insists. To be clear: That doesn’t mean stacking things in a giveaway pile in the corner of your room. It entails bagging up the items and disposing of them ASAP — whether you donate them to Goodwill or swap ’em on eBay.<br /><br /></blockquote>Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-78281122243457210992008-12-14T01:10:00.000-08:002008-12-14T01:10:00.939-08:00101 Ways to Save MoneyI started looking around on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogspace">blogosphere</a> to see what is already out there on saving money.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.saveyoufool.com/">Save, You Fool</a> has an interesting posting - he is a Canadian, so some things won't apply as much to Americans.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.saveyoufool.com/101-ways-i-saved-money-this-year/">101 Ways I Saved Money This year</a><br /><br />Everything on this list is, in my opinion, common sense. But, people who are busy, and if you have a nice income, quite often never get around to doing these things.<br /><br />With everyone concerned about their jobs and income, it's high time to read this list and seriously think if you can implement any of these suggested changes.<br /><br />Once you have done his list, you can start on my suggestions.Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-59108993624636755792008-12-13T02:27:00.000-08:002008-12-13T02:27:01.023-08:00Know your pricesJust because you are in a Wal-Mart, don't assume they will have the cheapest price on everything.<br /><br />They will often have "<a href="http://marketing.about.com/od/marketingglossary/g/lossleaderdef.htm">loss leaders</a>", advertised items which they sell at a loss to get people in the store. If you are in the store (hopefully for something else), see a cheap item, which you <span style="font-style:italic;">need</span>, or expect to need, then buy it.<br /><br />This is the key. <span style="font-style:italic;">That you will really need.</span> <br /><br />It's so easy to buy something just because it's, cheap, it's a good deal, and surely you, or someone in your family, or a friend, can find a use for it.<br /><br />I bought a couple of things at Wal-Mart this year because they were loss leaders.<br />They had spiral notebooks on sale for 5 cents during the "back to school" promotion.<br />That's right, a nickel. I bought about 8 of them. I considered buying a lot more, but I thought I really couldn't use more than about 8 of them in the next year or so.<br /><br />Last week I bought pillows. They had them on sale for $5.00 each which I was pretty sure was a good price, and I could use new pillows.<br /><br />The thing is, you really need to know your prices. <br /><br />I was shopping for spices, but Wal-Mart wanted almost $2.00 for garlic powder, and I knew I could get it for $ .50 (50 cents) at Dollar General.<br /><br />I know it doesn't seem like a lot of money. It's not so much the money, as the mentality of knowing your prices. It can add up over the long run.Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-38686320530020494272008-12-12T12:03:00.000-08:002008-12-12T12:03:00.741-08:00Shopping at the 99 Cent storeWe don't have 99 Cent stores where I live. They have them in New York, and I always enjoyed shopping (or at least, browsing) in them when I worked there.<br /><br />Jay Leno had a segment <a href="http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/video/clips/99-cent-christmas-1210/879843/">on his show</a>, highlighting things you can buy at the 99 Cent store.<br /><br />I live in Wichita, Kansas. Here there are a few <a href="http://www.dollartree.com/about_us/overview.cfm">Dollar Tree</a> stores, where everything is $1.00, so that's pretty much the equivalent to the 99 Cent store.<br /><br />My favorite cheap store is <a href="http://www.dollargeneral.com/OurStores/Pages/StoreLocationsMap.aspx">Dollar General</a>. There is another cheap store called <a href="http://www.familydollar.com/home.aspx">Family Dollar</a>.Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939785327065728953.post-73559999203598807932008-12-11T15:07:00.000-08:002008-12-11T15:30:41.095-08:00Learning to live cheaplyI retired at 45. I didn't really plan to retire, I just thought I would take some time off between jobs.<br /><br />Well, it's been 6 years, and I have learned to relax and enjoy life. <br /><br />But to be fair, for the last 1 1/2 years I have taken care of my elderly mother, and that really is a job, although not a paid one.<br /><br />How did I do it? Well for starters I got rid of all of my "stuff". I owned a 3 bedroom house with a walk-up attic and a basement, and it was full.<br /><br />I decided to sell my house in New Jersey and move to North Carolina, but to rent before buying. <br /><br />Doing so would involve the expenses of moving furniture a couple of time, or at least the cost of storage. <br /><br />After some hard thinking, and advice from some smart friends, I realized the smartest thing to do would be to get rid of all of my furniture. I could buy all new whenever I bought a new house. Until then, I could rent furnished apartments, or rent furniture. <br /><br />Once I decided to get rid of my furniture, I started thinking about all the other <span style="font-style:italic;">stuff</span> I had to move and store. <br /><br />That was when I decided the smartest thing to do would be get rid of everything, down to what I could fit in my car. It was hard. Really hard. But, really liberating.<br /><br />And now, I get to buy all new stuff!<br /><br />This blog will be a bit about my adventures over the past 6 years, and things I do today to continue <span style="font-style:italic;">not</span> working.<br /><br />With the economy in bad shape, I think many will join me, at least for the "live cheap" part.<br /><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081211/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/economy_consumer_debt;_ylt=As2TyhWMKrVstfc68NQ0fE.yBhIF">From AP, Dec. 11, 2008</a><br /><br /><blockquote>WASHINGTON – U.S. households, hit by declining home values and stock market losses, have cut back on their debt levels for the first time on record as loans remain scarce amid what appears to be a deepening recession. </blockquote><br /><br />And so we begin.<br /><br />For those readers who English is your 2nd language, the "stuff" I refer to <br />From the <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/stuff">Free Dictionary </a><br /><br />b. Household or personal articles considered as a group.<br />c. Worthless objects.<br /><br />My "stuff" is both b and c.Lynda Applegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16908522737974915594noreply@blogger.com0