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Week of 5/21/2008
A Big Weekend
Ahead
The harbinger of summer is
finally upon us -- Memorial Day Weekend. The kids, if not
already, will soon be out of school. Dreams of travel fill the
mind or maybe it's just two or three weeks of lazing around
that tickles the fancy. This year, however, the
family budget will be stretched far thinner than in other years
if you plan to go farther than your front doorstep.
In many places across the country, gas has hit
and passed that onerous $4.00/gallon. In other places, it's
hovering at $3.99/gallon as if a penny will make a
difference. This means that if your car gets 20 miles to the
gallon (SUV owners eat your heart out), it will cost you $20 to
go 100 miles, $100 to go 500 miles, $200 to go 1000 miles, and
the cost just keeps going up the farther you go -- and that's
just for gas! And forget airlines. Some are now charging for a
pillow and a window seat trying to make up for the additional
cost of jet fuel without having to raise prices too high.
So what's a person to do. Lazing around the
house for a couple of weeks sounds better and better. Here's
how to take a vacation at home.
-
Start with a clean house and then just let it go
for the duration of your vacation. (OK, clean up
the dishes.)
-
Don't start any projects. No cleaning closets, no
fix-its, no lawn mowing. (You wouldn't be doing
these things if you went away, would you?)
-
Stock up on goodies and easy meals like frozen
pizzas, cassroles made in advance, picnic fare.
Take-out is good. (You're trying to avoid cooking.)
-
Plan time to do those things that you love to do
but just never seem to find the time for. Maybe
it's a picnic in the park or a stroll through your
local bookstore.
-
Visit all the places you tell visitors to your area
to go and see -- the zoo, museums, wildlife
sanctuaries.
-
Whatever you do, have fun. Take the kids to an
amusement park and jump on some rides yourself.
Take in a movie or try a new restaurant.
-
Arrange for "me" time -- time that is for only you
-- no kids, no spouse, no relative, no neighbors,
no one. Do whatever you darn well please.
Guaranteed, you will feel far more rested and
stress-free after a few weeks of this treatment than if you
spend your summer vacation on the road and it won't cost you
any more.
Weekof 5/12/2008
Look
Good For Pennies
Cold creams, skin cleansers
and all the other concoctions we buy to make us beautiful can
cut a big swath in the budget. There are, however, more
than a dozen ways to keep these costs under control with
ingredients you normally have around the house. Here are a
few:
-
Instead of cold cream, use mayonnaise. It's a great
skin conditioner -- much better than lotion. It has
eggs to help firm the skin, vinegar to balance the
pH level, and oil to add moisture. Another
alternative, although a bit greasy, is lard which
has been used to soften the skin since ancient
times. Some top models swear by it.
-
For sloughing off old skin, mix up your own
cleanser. Take a tablespoon of cornmeal, dampen it
with enough water to make a paste, add a few drops
of liquid hand soap, and voila! Or, buy a
cheap pair of exfoliating bath gloves. Made of
mesh, these gloves will help to remove old skin and
create a smooth complexion.
-
Battle dandruff without specialized shampoos. Steep
1 heaping tablespoon of fennel seeds in boiling
water and let sit until the water is at room
temperature. Strain the seeds and pour the water
over your hair. No need to rinse.
-
Are you plagued with hair over your upper lip? You
could go to the expense of having it permanently
removed, or you could minimize the look with a
homemade solution. Mix 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
(6% solution) with 1 tsp. amonia. Dab it on the
hair and let sit for 30 minutes before washing it
off. It will lighten the hair without damaging the
skin.
Week of 5/28/2008
Primers
For A Life Of Savings
Saving doesn't
mean a life
of deprivation. On
the contrary, saving and
a frugal lifestyle bring
with it freedom
to live an
infinitely happier life.
Take a clue
from others with
these great reads.
America's Cheapest
Family - How a family of 7 living on
about $35K/year beat th high cost of living. Listen to an interview with the
authors.
Life or
Debt - Shows you how to win your
financial freedom in just 7 days.
The Ultimate Cheapskate's
Road To Riches - Puts FUN into frugality
and saving.
Living Rich By Spending
Smart - Offers up a simple roadmap to
living well by spending less.
For whatever you want in life,
knowledge and wisdom are the stepping stones to get you
there.
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