People Do Strange Things When Money's Tight.

For the second time this year, I've had to get my MasterCard/Check Cards replaced. Apparently, the stores where I shop for clothes and groceries, employ some unscrupulous employees who have no problem tapping into customer records and selling the data. It took months before the stores alerted their customers and related banks. (Hint: if you shop at a store that requests your phone number for marketing purposes, kindly decline and shop elsewhere). I never gave my phone number so the thieves never knew where I lived. Lovely.

I've since stopped shopping at these 2 stores (T.J. Maxx & Hannaford's). If they care so little about their customers why should I reward them with my business? Since I keep only a few scant dollars in my accounts, I did notice these little $1 discrepancies. Apparently, that's how the thieves test the cards. Normally, my bank used to decline any over-the-limit charges. Now, for a $35 fee, they automatically 'loan' me the money if I go over my limit. More lovely. The only place now, that I will use my debit card is Wal Mart. Wal Mart's electronic computers are tougher than NASA. I usually get cash back (at no charge) and use the cash to shop at other stores.

People do strange things when money gets tight. You can't even trust your friends or your neighbors anymore. I just found out my next door neighbor was robbed a few weeks ago. It was by someone who knew them. They knew exactly where to go and what drawer to open to find their stash of household cash. This was done in broad daylight. The police came and fingerprinted everyone's windows. Eventually, the 2 men were arrested and sent to jail. But I can't keep my windows open any more. Triple lovely.

I called my broker (who I know for 4 years now) to ask her boyfriend to come to my house and give me an estimate on painting the exterior. He came. He looked. But he never called back with an estimate. Instead, she came over with listings of several houses for sale in my area. Her theory was that it would be better for me to buy another house than just paint what I already had. Oh, and yes, I'd have to sell the home I was currently living in. She'd be the broker for both. Bizarre. I called her back and just told her I was so broke, I was going to just paint the main front of my home myself. Our broker/friend relationship is over.

I'd advise you to think twice before you tell ANYONE things are going well. In this declining economy, as more and more people face financial stress, expect them to act very weird. I'm starting to be approached by strangers to give them my loose change whenever I shop (and pay for cash). I wish that I could help as many people as I could, but realistically, I can't. The other day a young woman cried to me at the gas station that she had run out of gas and could I just give her enough money to get home. I gave her a few dollars that I had reserved for getting my hair cut. Because I gave her this money, I had to cancel my hairdresser's appointment and reschedule for next week. Yes, that's how close I am myself! It really wouldn't take too much to really push my own self over the edge. I haven't worked an outside job in 7 years and our own business has seen a 30% drop in income. One day you may just find me at the condiment bar grubbing foil ketchup packets in the anticipation of making tomato soup out of them for the evening's meal. Gulp!

And so it goes.

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The Recession Diet. Is It Good For You?

High food costs have put most people on The Recession Diet. If Michelangelo had to sculpt his David today, that image you see on the left may not be to far from the truth.

As unfunny as that may seem, I found it quite amusing that the NY Times today would write a story reporting that most Americans are cutting back on what they are eating, driving and buying. Well, almost everything. Except for 2 things, which I will mention at the end of the next paragraph.

Women's apparel is down -4.9%, footwear is down -3.3%, furniture is down -3.1%, luxury items are down -1.3% and airline tickets are down -1.1%. What's not down? Electronics are up 2.8% and men's clothing is up 2.1%.

Apparently when interviewed, the men questioned responded that since they have to stay home more (in order to save money) they might as well make themselves comfortable. As in HDTV, flat panel screens, video games and leisure suits. (In a survey conducted this month by the NPD Group, a research firm, consumers suggested that they would sooner cut spending on clothing, furniture and eating out than on video games.) I guess fixing things around the house, making repairs, playing sports, taking the kids to a park or spending time with the Mrs. doesn't figure into men's cutback scheme of things? That statue of David is starting to look realistic now, isn't he?

Or could it be that men, unable to handle the cutbacks are starting to get even with their wives? Here's a quote:

Ms. Dunaway, a homemaker, used to splurge on the ingredients for homemade lasagna, her husband’s favorite, before food prices began to surge this year. “Now he’s lucky to get a 99-cent lasagna TV dinner, or maybe some Manwich out of a can,” she said. “I just can’t afford to be buying all that good meat and cheese like I used to.”

Ah.......Ms. Dunaway, isn't it cheaper to make a home made lasagna using store brand products than buying a frozen dinner? Hey, I'd tune out in front of the boob tube if someone slopped a TV dinner in front of me after a hard day at work?

Another quote:

Holly Levitsky, a 56-year-old supermarket cashier in Cleveland, buys a brand of steak sauce called Briargate for 85 cents and surreptitiously pours it into an A1 steak sauce bottle she keeps at home. “My husband can’t even tell the difference,” she said.

Ah.......Holly, if you work at the supermarket, don't you get a discount? Maybe you shouldn't be eating steak to begin with? Duh. Switch to chicken, turkey or dare I say it: vegetarian!

If it's more important to watch television and play video games than put a decent, healthy meal on the table, then so be it. Let the Recession Diet begin. People would rather clog up their arteries, eat crap, fast food junk than take care of themselves. They'll probably be the first ones screaming for National Universal Health Care as they're slowly diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, severe arthritis, cancer or what-have-you.

I'd like to know why FOOD is the first thing people cut back on whenever they have hard times? Don't they realize that FOOD is the number one priority in life? NOT VIDEO GAMES! You should be eating better in tough times because without your good health, you have NOTHING!

As for me, I am proud to say that I have spent $500 this month on food for both myself and my husband. I've eliminated my cell phone, my cable TV, Netflix, all unnecessary driving, all restaurant meals, gotten higher deductibles on all insurance policies, stopped buying clothes, curtailed all major remodeling (till later) yada, yada, yada. I've cut my monthly budget by $1000. I've made some minor changes to our diet, such as using more store and generic brands, more chicken and fish and yes! a vegetarian meal thrown in a few times during the week. But I have NOT (my husband would never permit me) compromised our good health in any way.

Neither should you. Make sure your priorities are in order. Your health, and the health of your family comes first. Recession or no recession. If you don't eat right, you won't feel right. And if you don't feel right, you can't work right. And if you don't work right, you can't make enough money right, so you will be eating all the more worse. It can turn into a vicious cycle.
Most Americans are too fat to begin with. Use this recession time to make better choices with your food. Consume more inexpensive but healthy items such as beans, brown rice, turkey and chicken. Substitute soy milk in your morning coffee or tea. Stir fry some fresh vegetables (such as broccoli, carrots and onions) with a little tofu. Drink more water and 100% juices. Learn to bake bread, cakes and muffins. Limit your fats. You know the routine. And tell those at your dinner table the truth. DH and I had to cutback on some of our favorite organic products BUT as I explained to him, I will explain to you: America is the king when it comes to feeding the masses. No other country in the world can grow and produce enough food to feed it's citizens as America can. Our food products are good. Our fresh vegetables, meats and dairy products are safe. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Make the right choices and live and eat well.

And so it goes.

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Weekly Wrap-up Of Money Saving Events.

Here's a summary of what we did this week in our continuing quest to save money:

1. Changed our medical plan from with-prescription drugs to without-prescription drugs and saved $840 a year. Since DH and I have lost weight (he 33 pounds, me 20 pounds) we no longer need prescription drugs. Throw in another $20 per month co-pay and we eliminated another $240 a year. Total annual savings: $1080.

2. Installed a reverse osmosis water filtration system and we can finally drink our well water. Annual savings: $365 per year (bottled water costs us $1 a day).

3. Installed electricity into our barn for possible office space or future storage rental. Prospective income: $3600-$6000 per year.

4. Since downsizing to a smaller fuel efficient vehicle we went from paying $70 a week in gas to $25 a week in gas. Fluctuating monthly saving: $180-$200.

5. Conservation techniques have enabled us to save $100 cash per week. For the first time since November 2007, we have been able to put away $400 a month into our savings account.

I just want to mention that these money-saving ideas weren't easy. It took a lot of work, determination and of course, that word I hate the most in the English language: sacrifice.
I have what it takes but I don't like it when it takes what I have.

And so it goes.

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Bush's Best Joke Of The Year.

Remember just a few scant months ago, President Bush signed the Stimulus Package so that all of us Americans could go out and buy something, so as to stimulate the economy? Yeah! We were going to buy plasma screens, iPods, electronic gizmos, take vacations on a Caribbean beach or buy ourselves some fine threads or leather or whatever. Remember those dreams? Boy, the blogs were buzzing with a frenzy on how to spend or even invest those stimulus bucks.

Well, here we are today and President Bush announced that those stimulus checks are immediately being sent out this Monday, one week ahead of schedule. Why the hurry?

Because people are starving, going broke and can't put gas in their car, thanks to your f***ing policies, Mr. Bush! Here's his quote: "The rebate checks will help Americans cope with rising gasoline and food prices, as well as aid a slumping U.S. economy". Bush didn't even call the stimulus checks, stimulus checks. He's calling them rebate checks now. Yeah! Because all he is really doing is giving us an advance on our 2008 taxes.

Here's another quote from the article:

Bush's emphasis on fuel and food prices differed from other comments he's made since signing the economic stimulus legislation, intended to aid the economy by boosting overall consumer spending — which accounts for roughly two-thirds of the nation's economic activity.

Bush has suggested the rebates could trigger a spending spree. "When the money reaches the American people, we expect they will use it to boost consumer spending," he said last month.

By saying expressly that people could use these one-time checks to pay for such necessities as food and gas, Bush underscored the deepening challenges facing the economy.

There's no economy to stimulate, Mr. Bush. No one in their right mind would go out and use this money to buy a Plasma Screen! Most of us have discontinued cable, switched back to roof antenaes and applied for the $40 rebate broadcast box (when analog switches to digital). We're in survival mode. We can't make ends meet. You're driving us literally into the poorer house. Most everyone is going to use their check to buy gas for their cars. That means the oil companies are going to make even bigger profits. Do you think it is a coincidence that gasoline prices hit $3.74 in my hometown today and it isn't even May nor Memorial Day yet? Of course the price of gas is skyrocketing. Because we are all getting our Stimulus/Rebate checks. What a joke. What a laugh. If it wasn't so pathetic, I would cry.

I went food shopping today, and true to my prediction of yesterday, there wasn't any quality rice on the shelves. All the 10lb and 5 lb bags of Carolina (American made) rice were gone. I'm stockpiling my pantry with whatever I can today because I don't know if I can afford the same items tomorrow. How's that for a good laugh? Food for fuel? And people called me crazy.

Apparently, we are going to need another Clinton to clean up another Bush's mess. "It's the economy, asshole." (stupid is too kind a word) The more I watch Hillary Clinton and see her fierceness, determination and reserve, ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a winner here. Hillary Clinton is in strength training. Hillary's path to the presidency must be a difficult one because once she is elected, the mess she has to clean up is going to take all her might.

And so it goes.

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Food & Gas? Is There Any Help On The Horizon?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is NO!
There isn't a single politician or presidential candidate discussing or even trying to address and/or solve this problem. What are they waiting for? Anarchy? Riots?

The main thought on everyone's mind right now is food and gas. How to buy both and survive? Or better yet, just plain survive? Does anyone realize how dire this is?

Even though we don't have any food shortages in America right now, the media is NOT helping the situation. One Wal Mart and Costco store in southern California yesterday noticed that their rice supply was dwindling. That was because many foreigners were buying rice and shipping it to their families in other countries that were experiencing the rice shortages. The store owner, and rightly so, issued a 200 pound limit on daily rice sales. Within seconds of this announcement, newscasters across America were screaming that there were food shortages all over America! This is an out and out lie! and you can be assured that people all across America have now gone out and purchased rice (even if they didn't ever consume it before). Expect America to experience a rice shortage within the week.

We are our own worst enemies. Have you noticed the news is no longer talking about the housing mess? Is that because housing has finally been solved? No, it's because if they scare us into thinking we now have a food shortage crisis, we'll tune in more and watch and listen to their moronic TV shows.

I don't know about you but I am disgusted with everything.

Listen, people, gas is going to be and stay expensive. You can make your own solutions by switching to a more fuel efficient vehicle or seeking out different modes of transportation. Where are the car pools we had back in the 1970's? Has anyone mentioned this? I haven't heard a peep out of anyone regarding pooling the drive to work? If you want to know what your future is going to be start studying the lifestyles of our fellow Europeans. They've been paying high fuel costs for decades. Since 1987 our American car manufacturers have done NOTHING! to lower our dependence on foreign fuel nor build more fuel efficient vehicles. Bush recently signed into law that all new cars must get 35 miles to the gallon. Know when that law goes into effect? 2021!!!!!!!! Forget about the government helping Lunch Bucket Joe (you and me). The gov't isn't bailing out Joe Homeowner and they most certainly aren't going to be helping out Joe Driver. You better start helping yourself. Quickly.

As for the matter of paying the high rising daily costs of food: this one is going to be a lot tougher. If you live in an inner city, you are going to pay and pay and pay for that daily bread. All your foods have to be trucked into the city. If you live in a more rural area or if you just have a small backyard, be prepared to grow your own food this summer and learn how to can your produce to get you through the winter. Support your local farmer because people, that person is going to be your lifeline to survival. The media will take care of that!

Don't expect any help from Big Brother. Next month we all start getting our Stimulus Check. To show you how much my own world is changing, here is the scenario of what I had planned to do with my check: First, it was going into saving. Then it was going to buy an airline ticket to get me back to Italy to see my family. Scratch that. Next, it was going to offset the costs of my boat mooring. Now? I'm going to use it to set up my Victory Garden and stockpile food for the winter. I'm even contemplating putting in a wood burning stove.

Great, fellas. This is what I call progress.

And so it goes.
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How Mother Earth Is Solving The Economy.

Sometimes the best way to get a person's attention is through their wallet. It is no coincidence since the first Earth Day in 1970, thirty eight years ago, that Mother Nature has finally gotten our awareness. The current economic, worldwide crisis has made all of us sit up and take notice of the earth. Food shortages, housing declines, high gas costs and inflationary prices on just about anything we touch nowadays has made each and every one of us stop and think: "How do we solve this?"

Basic human responses to our economic dilemma are forcing all of us to consume less, cut back more and be prudent. Gas prices are high so we drive less and/or trade in our gas-guzzling clunkers for fuel efficient models (or seek alternate transportation). Food prices are expensive so we shop smarter, prepare more meals efficiently and change our eating habits. I don't think there is a human alive in America right now who is tossing his/her leftovers in the trash. Food has become a precious commodity. And from the looks of many obese Americans, they can use a push away from the dinner table. Higher food prices may just be the ticket to the slimming of America. Anyone stuck in a housing crisis has learned a valuable lesson no financial adviser could have taught them more: buy what you need, invest in what you want and make it all add up to affordability. Soaring energy costs have forced consumers to use less, lower the thermostat, seek better electrical returns, advance development in alternative heating and cooling systems and build energy efficient dwellings.

What is on everyone's mind right now? "How do I lower my costs, save money, save gas, save food, save my life and save the earth?" Mother Nature couldn't have said it any better. Mother Nature couldn't have asked for anything more.

It will take a few years for the mess we are in to straighten out. It is going to be extremely painful. Change always hurts. Mother Nature is screaming and the only way she could reach us was through our money supply. Already the giant airline companies have made provisions to cut back, regroup, retool and build more fuel efficient airplanes. Governments have realized the folly of their food-for-fuel program as more and more countries face food shortages. Local farmland must be turned back into farms producing food for people NOT a gas tank. High diesel and trucking costs have made local farming more valuable to their communities. 'Eating Local' has taken on a new, revised and revamped meaning. America again will be known for it's regional favorites, such as the cheeses of Wisconsin, Vermont and California. Olive oil and wines from our Nappa Valley have already surpassed any import from Europe. Local dairies will provide us with milk and dairy products. Our local farms will supply us with produce, fruit and vegetables. Support them. They are our salvation.

The resurgence of Flea Markets (remember those?), swap meets and bartering are making a comeback. Not since the 1970's have people come to realize that we've been victims of over-buying, over-using and over-indulgence. Our tight credit and money woes are forcing all of us to re-use, re-think, re-cycle and re-buy perfectly good products, clothes and appliances that in the before-time we would have all tossed into our over flowing dumps!

People, in praise of Earth Day, I say we should all rejoice! Mother Nature, in her most infamous wisdom has finally gotten our foolish attention spans. She has reached us! We hear you, Mother Nature and we are slowly changing our wasteful ways. Please be patient with us. We have a long and painful process to go through.

This time, Mother Nature, we are going to get it right.

And so it goes.
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Who Is Living Well Right Now?

CNBC and Money Magazine is running an online account of how Americans are faring through these tough economic hard times. You can read over 62 stories by clicking on this link here. I've read all the stories, which are added onto and updated frequently and the people who are the most successful right now, all have the same theme: they don't have any debt.

Most either own their own, small home outright or have put substantial down payments on their homes and have reasonable mortgages. All of them, however, do not have any credit cards, car loans or debt of any kind. One family has been fixing up their home since 1999 without remortgaging or refinancing. All construction costs are out-of-pocket. All live within their means. All have emergency funds and when there is a job loss or downturn in the economy, they are prepared.

There's a bunch of lessons to be learned by all of us just by reading these small short stories on how our fellow Americans are surviving today and making ends meet. Learn.

The only reason why DH and I are making it today is because we do not have any mortgage debt, car loans, credit cards or any lines of credit. As I have always stated in my almost year-old blog: "I would rather stick needles through my eyes than ever take on debt ever again." A very strong statement, indeed. I don't care what anyone says or how many rewards or points they earn using a credit card, when the economy takes a dump, it pulls you down with it if you are carrying debt. Period.

Just read the stories. You'll figure it out.

And so it goes.


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Greetings From The Beach House.

DH and I are up at the beach house this week. It's our 2nd. weekend up and again, we've gotten nothing done. I have lists and charts and memos on what needs to be done before Memorial Day. Other than spring cleaning, we've done zilch. Why? First off, a lot of the projects we had planned now need to be scrapped due to rising costs. The first item to go was installing the dishwasher. We looked over the price of a basic dishwasher and settled on a basic model that costs $199 (or $200 to be exact). The thought of ripping out the bottom half of the freshly painted cabinets (last year's project) plus the installation of an updated electric panel ($100) and a larger hot water tank ($150) along with the additional wiring($75) wasn't worth the luxury of not washing dishes anymore. We already have a double stainless steel sink. What we really need is just a higher faucet to accommodate the large lobster pots. But after checking out the $100+ price tags for those we figured hey! we've been washing and scrubbing for these past 3 years, why stop now? So, no kitchen update.

Next came the new screen door. Water infiltration destroyed the center part of the lower panel. After pricing new doors at $200, DH came up with a scheme to just lay a $7 sheet of aluminum over the warped panel, reinforce the attachment with bolts, reconnect the spring latch and voila' door fixed and good as new!

Last year we had some shingles replaced. The new shingles were bare and not painted yet. We thought last year we would be painting the whole house this year. Wrong! After just getting a $2500 estimate to paint the whole house, DH came up with the brainstorm to just paint the front of the house, the same color as before and to do it ourselves. Well, really DH is going to do it. I'll just watch. Price for the paint/stain went from $18 a gallon last year to $40 this year. We only need a gallon and a half. We'll probably do it two weeks from now.

Our favorite fish monger that we've been going to since we've been here went out of business over the winter. We have to travel further to get to another fish store. The result? Higher, higher prices. It used to cost $7-$9 for a pound of flounder last year. This year, because of the higher fuel charges the fishermen are paying, that pound of flounder is almost $14. Same goes for cod, halibut and some other local fish. DH and I realize when our friends come up this season, those lobster parties may be a thing of the past. (our annual family clambake is still scheduled for mid-August and I already opened a savings account to prepare). I bought 10 pounds of linguine (on sale 10 boxes for $10) and we can pick up a pint of clams (already schucked and in their own juice) for just $3.25. I brought up a case of fine, white Mediterranean wine ($3.99 a bottle) and for under $5 we can feed an army of 6. Throw in a green salad and some generic gelato and we're having a party. (The week before Memorial Day we are putting in a vegetable garden, so hopefully some of the veggies will be ready by August)

When we left NY on Thursday, we paid $3.70 for a gallon of gas. When we got up here, gas prices change daily. Saturday the price went up two times in just one day. You had to pay more in the afternoon than what you would have paid in the morning. This is just pure insanity. Right now, the prices have been holding steady for the last 6 hours at $3.52.

I'm not getting internet access at the beach house nor am I getting cable TV this season. Rabbit ears bring in ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS just fine. I've already requested the free digital box when all TV broadcasting goes digital this September. Paying for television is not going to be an option. Our boat marina offers free Wi Fi to it's members and this year we are going to take them up on it. Right now I am at the town library using their free computers. The good news is that this library has a magnificent collection of up -to-date DVD movies as well as many foreign, independent movies. It is also chock full of every single groovy-summer-reading book and magazine possible. AND as members of this great library we get FREE passes to all the art galleries, museums and attractions as far away as Boston and Mystic, Connecticut. We can get reduced family rates to the aquarium and Mystic Seaport. So, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

As always, the local towns will offer free concerts. Ours has one every single Sunday afternoon in July and August, right before the sun sets. There will also be free fireworks this Forth Of July, parades and town celebrations. These events will become more near and dear to us as the economy keeps faltering. The unemployment rate in this state just raised to 6.2% on Friday along with an announcement that 3000 more state residents will be laid off. How long the town can hold on will be dependent soon on personal and private donations.

Our own private marina was almost taken over by a big conglomerate last year. Thanks to our young and savvy boat yard owner (a woman) and to all our members, we flooded the town board with letters and pleas to keep our marina privately owned. The town eyed the tax revenues. We fought for our independence and won. But again, for how long? If a large corporation steps in, all us little people will be priced out with no where to go. Already, there is a 10 year wait for a town resident mooring.

I don't know what the future will be. I don't know if my little slice of heaven will always be available. I try not to think about it. I do know that this season is secured and that is about all I want to contemplate. You have to take one day at a time. Think only of today. Not the past and most certainly not of the future. "Give us this day, our daily bread" is about as far as I can see.

I do know this, however: that every day the sun will rise and every evening the sun will set. The beaches are still free and all are within walking distance. The air is filled with a fine ocean mist and I can hear the buoy chimes if I listen softly from my bed late at night. Until that changes, all is good and fine with me.

And so it goes.

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From Capitalism to Socialism: 101

If you were able to watch the 21st debate between Hillary and Obama last night, I think you may have witnessed the new direction America will be taking after the election. I am very doubtful that McCain is going to be our next president after all the 'supposed' damage George W. has done to this nation. I think Americans will be voting in a Democrat come the next election.

With that being said, I have come to notice that capitalism is getting a bad rap lately and it's abolishment is on almost everyone's mind. The losses on Wall Street, the housing mess, inflation, job losses, healthcare quandaries and problems ad-infinitem makes a voter (me) wonder. This new projection of taxing the rich and giving to the poorer classes is just not going to sit well with the higher-ups. To actually think that the rich will stand still and be stripped of their wealth is on par with the corrupted inflation numbers our government fudges and gives to us today. The rich will flee the United States and all that will be left is the middle class (if you can still find any) and the lower, poorer classes.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty well tapped out most of the time. Trying to keep up with food prices, medical expenses, insurance premiums, property taxes, the house heated and cooled and gas in my car has me heading closer to the poor house. Literally. I haven't put any money into my savings, let alone my retirement fund since November 2007. I had thought five years ago that I would be driving a BMW or Mercedes by now. Instead, I've had to downsize (yet again) to a smaller vehicle that even the salesman who sold it to me, mumbled under his breath, that it's the car of the lower classes. Well, thank you very much!

We're headed for socialism. Yes, indeedy. The 'powers that be' want Americas to be more like the Europeans. My family is from Italy and although we think that sunny Italians live La Dolce Vita, truth is my cousins pay 55% in taxes with the remaining 45% left to sustain them. I've seen pictures of my family taken in 2004 and when I see them today in 2008, they are still wearing the same clothes and shoes from '04. They all have cars BUT can't drive anywhere because gas is $14 a gallon ($8 of which goes towards taxes). Luckily, Europe has a great, inexpensive rail system. Has anyone hopped on Amtrak lately? (Amtrak stops in my town but a ride to NYC cost me $70 round trip vs me driving a few towns over, catching the Metro NYC line for $24 round trip, of which BTW has just risen to $31). Without a car in America, you're stuck.

It doesn't pay to make money anymore. It doesn't pay to work hard, invest or strive for a better life. As soon as you do, there's someone waiting for you up at the top to take it all away. 'Wealth Redistribution', that's the new name Obama has come up with. I caught onto this new reality in 2001. The dot com disaster was the second financial downturn I suffered in my lifetime. Wall Street was corrupt then as it is now. I had come to the conclusion that the cards were always going to be stacked against me. In order for someone to make money in Wall Street, somebody else has to lose it. I drew a line in the sand: next time the loser was not going to be me. (and there will always be a next time)

Credit, debt, loans and living above your means is the real culprit. Once I downsized and eliminated all debt from my life, including mortgages, car loans, credit cards and what-have-you from my life (it took a few years) my life balanced out. I buy what I need and I need what I buy. All with cash. Not owning and wanting more stuff meant I didn't have to work as hard or longer hours or for more money. Earning less money means paying less in taxes. Paying less in taxes means I can keep what I earn. Provided I don't earn that much. Ah, socialism! I can smell you now.

Universal Health Care? Yeah, bring it on. Higher taxes on people who earn $250,000? Oh Yeah! Let's get those bastards. Doesn't mean a thing to me. Ahhhh, it's good to be poor in America today. I can get food stamps and a mortgage bail out (if I had a mortgage) not pay my debts (if I had any). My grandkids can get lower rates on student loans, so we grandparents don't even have to save for them anymore. Less future obligations mean less work for me today. When I finally get to retire I can collect the same Social Security and Medicare benefits Warren Buffets does. And I never had to invest a dime.

I've opted out of this crazy world years ago. Maybe you should too. Look at your bills and eliminate all the debts and loans and see what remains. That's your bottom line. That's all you really need to earn in life (plus 14% for the real inflation number). The less you earn the less taxes you have to pay and the more money you get to keep. Perhaps this may be the only way we can send a message to our government.

"You hoos! I'm exhausted."

And so it goes.

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Annual Checkups.

Every year DH and I get our annual medical exams, dental checkups and teeth cleaning. I get my annual pap smear and meet with my gynecologist. Today I had my annual mammogram. It takes around 5 days before I get the results on that. Last year there was a problem and I had to be retested. Thankfully, nothing was wrong. But hey, it's now a year later and while I wait for the results, I've got the usual thoughts going through my head.

When you start to think about 'what could go wrong' you begin to look at your current situation a whole lot differently. Right now, I really don't care about the price of gas or how much money I am spending on food. I just want these five days to pass quickly. I just want to hear nothing but good news from my doctor. I want to get on with living the rest of my life.

If everything would stop today, I can honestly say that I don't regret a thing. I can also state that I accomplished and achieved every single thing I set my little heart out to do. But now comes the good part. This is the part when I can see my daughters get married. I can finally one day hold a little baby and see my legacy being passed on. And oh! Those wonderful, more-to-go trips to Italy. I don't want to miss any of those.

Is it Friday yet? My life is still calling.

And so it goes.

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Ask And Thou Shalt Save Money.

I got hit with some bill increases this week. Determined NOT to pay the increases, I did the extraordinary: I called and asked for price reductions. In each and every instance, I got my wish. In these financially shaky times, I would presume that most vendors have come to the same conclusion: "It is better to make a little money than no money."

Here's a rundown of my week:
I called my financial institute to transfer some money over to one of my accounts. When I got to the store to do some shopping I inadvertently used the wrong account. When I found out my mistake I immediately called my institute, told them of my mistake and asked that the $35 fee be waived (since I overdrew the wrong account). I casually reminded the institute that I had just opened up a large CD with them and voila, the $35 was credited back to my account.

I received my electric bill budget plan for 2008-2009 and saw that my monthly bill was being raised from $86 a month to $182. Amazingly high. Granted yes, kWh have gone form $6 to $10 but the increase was just too high. I called the company and told them so. "What would you like to pay?" was their response. I told them $135 was fair. Done.

My newspaper subscription is starting to look like a luxury item. I called Customer Service to tell them I was cancelling my account. "Why?", they asked. "Because it's just too expensive"' I replied. I was placed on hold while the clerk spoke with her supervisor. "M'ame", she reported back, "would 16 weeks at half-price sound doable to you?" Yes indeed, was my response.

My new car insurance was originally quoted at $711 for the year but when I got my bill in the mail, it was $1009 for the year. I called my agent, discussed the difference and she got back to me the next day with an almost matched quote to the original. My new annual car insurance was set at $753. (the first quote was from her inexperienced employee).

Lastly, I end with my Saturday run to the local ice cream shop. The gentlemen waiting on line before me had ordered a chocolate hot fudge sundae for his daughter. The counterperson brought him a vanilla one instead. Since his order was incorrectly filled, the sales person was going to throw out the vanilla mistake. I immediately spoke up and requested the 'error'. I got the vanilla hot fudge sundae free of charge, brought it home, stuck it in my freezer and saved it for a rainy day.

Are your bills too high? Ask for a reduction and thou shalt be pleasantly surprised.

And so it goes.

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What To Do With An Extra $100?

I just came into an extra $100 this weekend and with much thought, I have decided what I want to do with it. Let me tell you first what I am NOT going to do with the money:

1. I am NOT going to save it. I'm exhausted saving money.
2. I am NOT going to invest it. I'm tired of investing my money.
3. I am NOT going to buy clothes, or fix up the house or buy vitamins or anything that makes sense.

What am I going to do with this extra $100?

I am going to eat!!!!!!!!!

I haven't been out to a restaurant in over a year. I want food! I want to sit down and have someone serve me. I'm exhausted cooking and cleaning and shopping and clipping coupons and going without. I want food!

So, so far DH and I went out 8AM this morning and had big giant breakfasts. (If you order breakfast before 10AM, each meal is only $4-I may be hungry but I am still a frugal gal!) I had scrambled eggs, pancakes, link sausage and an unlimited cup of bottomless coffee. For lunch, I ordered the take-out specials from my favorite Chinese restaurant (lunch specials are only $3.75 with .75 additional for a soup). I had General Zao's chicken with fried rice. DH had steamed chicken and broccoli over brown rice (He ALWAYS sticks to his diet. I hate him!). We both got the side wonton soups and I ordered a small order of spare ribs. We devoured the ribs and ate half our lunches and will eat the 2nd. half, plus the soups for dinner.

Next up, I drove to our favorite ice cream shop and bought a six-pack of home made ice cream sandwiches. They are only .75 cents each. The sandwiches are for the freezer for later when we watch our Blockbuster movie (American Gangster) which is what we do every Saturday night. I know. I know. We're boring.

Lastly, I went to our favorite wine shop that carries the unsold, non-special wines (but special to us) wines for only $3.99 a bottle. I usually get 8 but this month I had a $2.50 coupon which got me one almost-free bottle.

I do have some money left over, but hey! it's still Saturday.
After all, tomorrow is another day.

Right now, DH and I are taking our dog (and ourselves) for a very long walk.
Our dog is probably wondering what the heck is going on.


And so it goes.
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Comments that are really Advertisements

I've noticed a trend of 'people' who appear to be making comments on some of my posts with links as part of their message. When you click on their links they are actually advertisements. You, as my reader, haven't noticed them because I always check out the links commentors leave before I post them. I started finding it odd that many different named commentors all had their links go to the same web site.

Sneaky. Very sneaky. And stupid.

If you want to post an advertisement, you have to pay.

The other thing I've noticed, and is also starting to irk me, is all the emails I get from Nigeria, Africa and whatever. "Greetings kind person, I beg your humble respect and opinion," they usually begin "I've got one gazillion billion in euros sitting in an undisclosed bank account and if you send me one thousand of your fine american bucks, I can get my funds released and send you a half a zillion euros as a thank you. Just send me your name, age, occupation, date of birth, social security number and bank routing numbers and you, dear one of the most highest of all acclaimed princesses shall be the richest woman in all of the land."

Not to be facetious, but there are people who actually fall for that. Oh! And also my email won the UK lottery or made me a millionaire or a BMW is waiting for me or whatever. I just have to call this number: 022 073-55-1234-765-9817 (please don't call it....I just made it up BUT you get the idea) and leave the above requested information. Yeah, right. Duh!

Please folks, cut the crap. Whatever made you think we Americans or savvy bloggers were stupid in the first place?

And so it goes. ____________________________________________________________________
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"I Ain't Beat Yet!"

I have a new motto.

I say it each time I find a solution or solve one of my problems.

I'll give you a few examples.

Like when I fill up my gas tank with my last remaining $20 bucks and it's enough to last me for the week, get me to work and to the grocery store: "I ain't beat yet".

Like when I go food shopping and I only have $100 to buy food to last for the next week and a half and I pull it off: "I ain't beat yet".

Like when I run out of bottled water and I magically find some change and a few loose bills and I am able to buy enough water to hold me over: "I ain't beat yet".

Like when I run out of soap, or shampoo or toothpaste and somehow find a hidden tube, a forgotten bar or bottle, I mutter to myself: "I ain't beat yet".

Like getting an invitation to a party and thinking I have nothing to wear, no money to buy anything new and then look in my closet and find an almost new pair of party shoes and a sexy pair of sleek black pants: "I ain't beat yet".

Like calling a vendor or utility company and asking for and getting a discount or a reduction in some unnecessary invoice: "I ain't beat yet".

Like finding out my precious digital computer equipment that I thought was broken and needed to be replaced is really covered under a world wide recall and will be fixed at no charge: "I ain't beat yet".

Like finding out my favorite items are on sale AND I have dollar-off coupons to boot: "I ain't beat yet".

Life is a challenge today. It takes a bit of smarts to make your way through the maze. Every single time I make it to the other side, I reward myself by saying my favorite motto: "I ain't beat yet". I know that each time I say those words, I rose up to the challenge, changed my perspective and sought another path to bring me along in my journey.

Try it. Ring up your successes. Don't let anyone or anything get you down.

And so it goes.


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It's Spring. Time To Buy Your Teen A POS Car.

This is a true story.
My grandfather's bookkeeper, Fannie, had a one and only son. His name was Marc.
When he graduated from high school, he begged his parents for his own car. His cheap parents told him to ride with his friends. On Prom night, he did. Marc was killed that night, along with all his friends. Fannie never recovered from the loss of her only son. Fannie eventually had a breakdown and she never returned to work for my grandfather. The last I heard of Fannie she was still under psychotic care and used to paint flowers on canvas. I have one of her paintings that I keep to remind me: never, never have your children ride in any one else's car. Get them their own car.

Not a POS (piece of shit) car either. It has to be a decent car, safe, with a good engine and sound tires. I learned this latter piece of advice the hard way. I raised my own children on the story of Fannie's son. My daughters were forbidden to ever ride in any of their friends cars. Only their own. One day I asked my daughter to go to the store for me. Her friend was over and the store was only 15 minutes away. My daughter wanted to go in her friend's car. I said OK. A half hour later, I got the phone call that all parents dread: my daughter and her friend had been in a head-on collision. Apparently, the parent of my daughters' friend bought her a POS car. The tires were bald (because they didn't want to spend the money). It had started to rain/drizzle on their way back from the store and the car slid onto the other side of the road into oncoming traffic. They hit a Range Rover, head-on, at 45 miles an hour. Thank the Lord Jesus that both girls were wearing their seat belts. The POS car didn't even have airbags. I found my daughter sitting on the side of the road, in shock (she didn't know who I was), crying hysterically. Her girlfriend had broken her ankle but had managed to drag my daughter out of the car and use a cell phone to call me.

Later on at the hospital, the girlfriends mother met me in the waiting room. All she talked about was the huge medical bill her daughter was now going to cost her. I stopped the woman cold stone and said the following (in my most nastiest tone):
"Have you seen your daughter yet? Do you know that she broke her ankle and crushed her face? Do you realize your daughter could be dead right now? Or worse, she could be crippled or deformed for the rest of her life? Do you know that your daughters tires were bald? I think you should go see your daughter now and never mind about the medical bills!"

I never spoke to that woman again. And my daughters, never, never ever sat in another person's car again.

What kind of a parent are you going to be to your teenager when it comes time for them to drive? I never really had a lot of money but my husband and I always strove to provide the best we could for our children. My daughters first cars, yes, were older models, but they were safe. DH always made sure the engines were in tip top form, the vehicles had airbags and good tires. DH taught each kid how to change a flat tire, check the oil and tire pressure. Both kids attended driver's ed. And both kids worked summer jobs and saved their money to help pay for the purchase of the vehicles plus contribute to their insurance costs. My daughters were very mindful and careful when it came to the purchase, care and upkeep of their cars.

When the girls were ready to attend college, I watched their peers struggle with their own POS vehicles. Because their cars were older and run down, the friends (and parents) were always spending thousands of dollars to fix the cars. Both of my daughters attended colleges several hours away from home. The visions of them breaking down on the side of the road, or worse yet, driving unsafe vehicles wasn't appealing to me. Since both of my daughters continued to work during their college years, we thought it would be more advantageous to purchase new vehicles for each of them and take out a small car loan. Their payments were only $105 a month which the girls easily could afford (along with their own car insurance and fees). The vehicles we got for them were the Ford Escort (precursor to the Focus). One daughter had the station wagon. The other wanted a hatchback. Because they were both students buying their first car, Ford had a generous cash-back rebate which was applied to the down payment. Once the girls graduated college their vehicles were sold and the girls kept the profits. They don't need vehicles anymore because they live and work in New York City and use mass transit.

I don't want the death of Fannie's son to have been in vain. I often tell Marc's story to many of my friends and now, I have told it to you. Don't allow your children to ride in someone else's vehicle. When you do that, you are putting your child's life into someone else's hands. Many parents either don't or won't provide their children with safe vehicles. They put their children, their most valuable possessions into POS (piece of shit) vehicles and then cry about it for the rest of their lives when their kids are either killed or maimed. Don't do it.

And so it goes.

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Festival Of Frugality #120 and the Bloggin Boomers #64

Here are this week's links to The Festival Of Frugality (hint: I didn't make the lineup) and the Blogging Bloomers (hint: I didn't make the cut on this one either.)

Sometimes I just don't want to get up in the morning. But I do.

And so it goes.

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I'm Enchanted!

As an adult, I've forgotten how to dream and play 'pretend'. Thanks to Disney's 'Enchanted" movie, it's all coming back to me. Half automated and half real life, half in Fantasyland and half in New York City, the movie 'Enchanted' has taken me back to my childhood while retaining my adult-like dreams. Enjoy!
And have a great weekend.
(to see the video clip of the movie of one of the most spectacular scenes, log onto my website)
And so it goes.

Want To Hear The Truth About The Economy? Tune In To Glenn Beck.

There's a tiny little secret going on over at CNN Headline News. A few weeks ago, Glenn Beck, star of The Glenn Beck Show made an announcement that he met with his producers and decided to change the format of his television show. Glenn stated he wants to have more segments on his show dedicated to telling the people The Real Story about what is going on in America's economy. And tell the truth, Glenn does. Glenn cuts through all the bulls*** and lays it all out on the line for everyone to see. And hear.
For a listing of air times and some of the topics Glenn covers on his show, click on this link.

I've found Glenn to be a refreshing change from the monotonous news media who seem intent on scaring us to death. Glenn breaks through all the crap and gives you the real deal. All with a touch of his biting, sarcastic and amazingly funny good humor. (If that's possible, to even find a hint of humor in today's economic news events.)

Glenn Beck is a self-proclaimed recovering alcoholic and drug addict. When you find out about his background, the addictions appear explainable. Both Glenn's mother and brother committed suicide. Another brother died of a heart attack. One of Glenn's daughters has cerebral palsy and another child, from his second marriage is adopted. Glenn started his career in radio and still anchors a daily radio show in addition to his one hour show on CNN Headline News. You can read all about his background by following this link to Wikipedia. Glenn's successful grapple with his past has made him into the truthful commentator he is today.

You don't want to miss a single thing he has to say. You can start by watching this video recap of how our economy is truly in crisis and what the Fed's are doing to keep the truth away from us. Glenn Back style.

And so it goes.
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Is The Economy Making You Fat?

Research has emerged that the human brain can't do two restraining events at once. It can't stop spending and eating at the same time. It's one or the other. So, as people use their brain power to tighten their economic belts, their waistline belts are being let out. In this New York Times article: Tighten Your Belt, Strengthen Your Mind, written by Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang, they write:

"DECLINING house prices, rising job layoffs, skyrocketing oil costs and a major credit crunch have brought consumer confidence to its lowest point in five years. With a relatively long recession looking increasingly likely, many American families may be planning to tighten their belts.
Interestingly, restraining our consumer spending, in the short term, may cause us to actually loosen the belts around our waists. What’s the connection? The brain has a limited capacity for self-regulation, so exerting willpower in one area often leads to backsliding in others. The good news, however, is that practice increases willpower capacity, so that in the long run, buying less now may improve our ability to achieve future goals — like losing those 10 pounds we gained when we weren’t out shopping."

So now, as I weighed myself two weeks ago and realized I gained 7 pounds, I can blame it on the economy instead of the winter bloat or my lazy-ass-self excuses I used to console myself with. It's true. Because the more I adjusted my budget or constrained my spending, the more chocolate chip cookies I baked myself in order to deal with the housing mess, energy prices or skyrocketing food costs. Makes sense, doesn't it? It seems I wasn't alone in my consumption of chocolate chip cookies. The scientists used chocolate chip cookies in order to perform their experiments. Here's another quip:

"In one pioneering study, some people were asked to eat radishes while others received freshly baked chocolate chip cookies before trying to solve an impossible puzzle. The radish-eaters abandoned the puzzle in eight minutes on average, working less than half as long as people who got cookies or those who were excused from eating radishes. Similarly, people who were asked to circle every “e” on a page of text then showed less persistence in watching a video of an unchanging table and wall."

So, apparently, I actually needed those chocolate chip cookies in order to make those cutbacks to my budget and get everything to balance. Ah! Life can be good sometimes. Now, that my budget is in order, I have resumed going for my daily walks and have magically eliminated those 7 pounds off my body. Focus. Focus. Focus. Apparently, I couldn't have done both things at once.

Now, I wonder if my stock market choices will start making me money if I stop eating those daily vanilla soft-serve ice cream cones. Hmmmm?

And so it goes.

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