“See, the sad thing about a guy like you is in 50 years you’re gonna staht doin some thinkin on your own and you’re gonna come up with the fact that there are two certaintees in life. One, don’t do that. And Two, you dropped a hundred and fifty grand on a f***** education you coulda got for a dollah fifty in late chahges at the public library”—Will (Matt Damon), Good Will Hunting
I have always been a bookworm. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a pile of books on my nightstand or on a bookshelf, waiting to be read. Oftentimes, I’m in the middle of two or three books at once (simply because I can’t make up my mind as to which one I want to read. So I read a few simultaneously). But there is something about books that makes me feel a little bit richer.
Books do so much for us. They enrich our lives, expand our imaginations (and vocabularies), expose us to information and ideas that we might not ordinarily be exposed to, teach us, entertain us and provide hours of free entertainment.
When I was deep in debt, I spent even more hours reading books than normal. The library was our Friday night activity of choice. And sometimes, on a Saturday, we would go to the local Barnes and Noble armed with a few dollars for drinks, snacks for our daughter, and a notebook to take notes on ideas we read in books (for the record, we did buy a book or magazine every once in a while). It was nice to have the ability to read, learn, and get out of the house for minimal cost.
But what if you don’t have the luxury of a good public library or a bookstore nearby? How do you make books a part of your life at a reasonable cost? Here are a few ideas:
• eBay – If you’re a big purchaser of books, and you particularly like classics or hard to find books (like the Sweet Pickles series. I am on a desperate hunt for the entire collection), eBay is a good place to start. My sister got her ex-boyfriend a first edition copy of Atlas Shrugged for a very reasonable price by purchasing it on eBay. eBay is also a great place to pick up inexpensive copies of kids’ books. Be careful though; since it’s an auction site, there might be people bidding to help jack up the price for the seller.
• Websites like paperbackswap.com – I don’t currently use this service but I know a lot of people who do. Essentially, you join (for free!), list books you’d like to swap, and then pick from others’ lists. There are also hardbacks, audio books, and others as well. It’s a great way to give those old books of yours a new life as well as picking up books you might otherwise not be able to find. Beware that books are shipped at your expense so if you’re really tight on money, this might not be the best option.
• Yard sales, thrift stores – Always a great resource for cheap books. My only gripes about these are 1) it is difficult to sift through the disorganized bins of books and 2) sometimes the books are so old, the information is completely outdated. Other than that, there are many books that are timeless, so if you’re willing to take your time, you can find some literary gems.
• Trade with friends – I have a very eclectic taste when it comes to books. Because of that, it’s difficult for me to decide what to read. I often rely on friends and family to make suggestions. I will also ask those friends and family if I can borrow books. To be fair, I also lend mine to those who ask. But be prepared not to get the books back. I lent my copy of “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” to a family member last year and I’m not sure where it is now.
Dave Ramsey likes to say “Ten years from now, you’ll be the same person you are except for the people you meet and the books you read”. I totally agree with that statement. Books are essential, and a great way to stay entertained and informed at a reasonable price.
How do you afford books without breaking the bank?
When a woman announces that she’s attempting to get out of debt and she itemizes her expenses for others to examine, one of the first lines that is scoffed at is that of the weekly or bi-monthly manicure/pedicure. I understand this. Manicures and pedicures can be expensive. While this is dependent on things like their frequency, where they’re obtained (high end salon versus strip mail nail joint), what services are performed (acrylics or gel nails, airbrushed designs), those little things add up and can make a big difference in a monthly budget. But telling a woman who’s used to getting her nails done to give it up cold turkey is like telling a smoker to just stop smoking. It’s typically not possible.
Compounded with that, women like to feel pampered. Getting manicures and pedicures is one of the cheaper ways to accomplish that feeling. So what’s a woman who’s trying to be frugal to do? There are a few ways to answer that question:
- Learn how to do an at-home manicure. This is something that took me years to do and quite frankly, I’m still not perfect. But I’m a lot better. I’ve even tricked people into thinking I had them done! What helped was going to a beauty supply store and asking for advice. While the products are a bit more expensive than what you’d find in the drug store, in the long run, it’s less expensive than trying 18 different products that don’t work. I suggest investing in a good quality base coat, top coat and 3-4 colors (I recommend OPI or Essie brands) as well as an orange stick, a good nail file and buffer, toe separators, and polish remover and cotton balls. You can Google directions on how to do an at-home mani/pedi or visit Frugal Beautiful for her step-by-step instructions.
- Look for coupons. In our local Clipper magazine, there are always coupons for money off mani/pedi services at salons in the area. Are they the best salons? No. But if you’re looking for the experience or the feeling of being pampered and you’re not particular about where you go, then this is the route for you. I’ve found that the coupons are typically for $20-$25 for a mani/pedi, which is a pretty good price. I’ve taken to bringing my own nail polish so when the polish eventually chips, I can fix it myself and the colors match.
- Gift certificates. My mother is an extremely difficult person to shop for. As a default for Mother’s Day (and sometimes her birthday), my sisters and I will purchase gift certificates for her to her favorite salon. If you know that you can’t live without your mani/pedi, why not suggest to people that give you gifts that you would appreciate a gift certificate to a local salon? If you get 4 gift certificates at $25 each, that’s $100 or about 7 manicures. Don’t forget, if you’re using a gift certificate, you still need to provide the tip (this goes for coupons as well)!
- Use a beauty school. I’ve never done this myself, but I’ve heard that beauty schools will offer full services for a deeply discounted price because the students are performing the services. For instance, a manicure at a beauty school near my house is $6 and a pedicure is $12. For $18, you can have a mani/pedi for about $10-$15 less than you would at a strip mall nail salon and the discount is even greater compared to a higher end salon.
I appreciate wanting to have nice hands and feet. As a writer, I spend most of my day typing, which means staring at my hands. I want something nice to look at! However, as a frugal person, I don’t want to break the bank to accomplish that.
What are some inexpensive ways you’ve discovered to keep your nails looking nice?
One of the things I love most about this site is the name—Richly Reasonable. To me that name evokes a certain kind of image and represents a level of maturity it’s taken me a long time to achieve. To me, that name means that we can all have a rich life as long as it’s done in a reasonable manner.
In my completely unscientific research, I’ve learned that frugal fatigue is one of the primary reasons that people get derailed in either their debt repayment strategy or their newfound frugal lifestyle. It’s difficult to always pick water over soda. It’s exhausting to never go out to eat or pack your lunch every single day. It’s sometimes embarrassing to drive a 16 year old car. It’s boring to stay home with a movie borrowed from the library every Saturday night. When all of these activities are compounded with each other for weeks and months on end, a person can get frustrated. A person might give in to temptation of a $100 sushi dinner because she just can’t take it anymore. And then feel remorseful because that $100 could have put her family closer to their debt free goal.
It’s the polar opposite of what we see glorified on TV. From MTV Cribs and My Super Sweet 16 to The Real Housewives of Wherever and the Kardashians, excess is glorified. We love to watch how these spoiled rich people live in a world where $900 on a pillowcase makes sense. And while we can sit back and watch them like exhibit animals, this is not the life most of us lead (and I’m pretty sure it’s not the life most of us want to leave). We laugh at their inane ideas and poor financial choices while at the same time wish we had money we could throw away like a bad sandwich (or is that just me?). Which is why a site with the name Richly Reasonable is so important.
A site like this should discuss ways to have a life that is not deprived of luxuries. Believe me, after 5 years of paying off debt, I understand that life is not about the material things but more about the people and experiences. Five years of paying off debt has taught me to appreciate even the smallest little indulgence or free activity. But sometimes, it’s OK not only to indulge a little but to admit that you want to indulge. Or at least admit that you want the ability to indulge. So I’m going to help you out.
In 2012, I’m going to provide a list of 52 (one per week) ways that you can indulge at a reasonable price (and sometimes for free). The list is certainly not meant to be exhaustive as I’m sure there are hundreds of richly reasonable activities. Some of the activities are for women, some are for men, some are for families, couples—everyone will be covered. There will be ideas for your home, your hobbies, and your interests. If you have an interest or an idea for this series, please leave it in the comments below. I’ll do my best to incorporate it!
Here’s to a Richly Reasonable 2012!
This is a guest about plumbers insurance, a required part of the plumbing business.
Each business demands its own specialised insurance package tailored to meet specific needs, none more so than the plumbing business. A plumber is a saviour in times of crisis due to the extent of the damage that can be caused by faulty plumbing. Conversely, this also represents a major risk to the plumber in the sense that they must not be found negligent through faulty work and thus held responsible for huge costs.
The insurance that covers the plumber in this scenario is best described as Public Liability Insurance and this should be an integral part of any Plumbers Insurance policy.
Public Liability Insurance covers the business owner against the damages they might incur from faulty practice and any personal injury that may arise from the businesses day-to-day activities. Because plumbers are working inside people’s property, they have a duty to maintain a standard of practice which doesn’t damage the premises on which they are working. Professional Indemnity Insurance is closely related to this aspect of Plumbers Insurance but is generally more keenly associated with the world of professional advice.
A good Plumbers Insurance policy will take all these technicalities into account and offer you the best of all covers in order to prevent costly liability charges that could be ruinous to your business. Faulty or substandard work could result in water damage or injury where costs can be frightening.
A tailored Plumbers Insurance policy can also cover you from a lot more than just public liability. It can cover tools, hired equipment and personal accident cover. If your plumbing or heating business employs workers, it can include employer liability cover which is a legal requirement.
Plumbing is a speciality trade that requires a speciality insurance policy and well tailored Plumbers Insurance is a necessity. Business insurance is a broad title and one business’ needs differ drastically from the next ones.
I can’t believe it but we are less than a week away from Christmas and Hanukkah starts tomorrow. If you’re like me, your gifts are bought but sitting in a stack because you’re too lazy to wrap them. If you’re like my husband, you’re probably not done shopping yet. While my husband doesn’t mind the stress, it’s something that drives me crazy. I can’t stand crowds, never mind crowds of pushy last minute holiday shoppers.Since I refuse to be stressed, I do my shopping early or online. My husband enjoys the frantic pace of the mall and other assorted stores and I think he actually likes the stress . However, if you’re a combination of the two of us, a last minute shopper who hates crowds and stress, here are some options for you:
- Utilize websites like Amazon that allow you to pay extra money to ensure that your gifts arrive on time (thanks, Amazon!). This allows you to get what’s on your list without the stress of the mall or big box stores. This extra money is worth it to me.
- Purchase gift cards that can be delivered electronically. We do this every year anyway, mainly to save on paper. Plus, it’s nice to open up my inbox and find a gift.
- Purchase online subscriptions. I’ve done this for several people. Sites like Netflix, Gamefly and Instructables all offer subscription services and are often services people do not want to pay for themselves. This is a great way to give that person a chance to try out those services on someone else’s dollar.
- Make a charitable donation in honor of someone. You can do this from the comfort of your home, via PayPal. My in-laws do this every year for my daughter. They pick a charity and will make a donation in her name. I love this gift because it serves two purposes: it teaches my daughter about the importance of giving and it benefits a charity.
- Give cash. Even though it may seem impersonal, I love receiving cash. It gives me the freedom to spend it how I want, free from the constraints of a gift card. I actually give my husband cash every year which he uses to feed his golf habit.
- Offer a service. OK. I admit this sounds weird. But hear me out. Let’s say you have a friend who you know is stressed out and could desperately use an afternoon for herself only you know she can’t afford a babysitter. As a gift, you can give her an afternoon or two of free babysitting. This can go for cooking, housecleaning, helping with laundry…anything where you can help fill a need and help someone out.
- Create a photo collage. This works really well for grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends. Print out some pictures, purchase some stock paper and scrapbooking supplies and you can assemble a really nice, personal gift. Homemade gifts. I am terrible at crafts. I wish I were better at them. I can’t knit, paint, crochet or come up with any cool idea that someone would actually want to have in her home. Fortunately, there are lots of bloggers who are crafty. Check out these ideas:
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- Amanda at Frugal Confessions has lots of ideas from wine charmers to gourmet popcorn to homemade chocolate truffles
- Lindy from Minting Nickels gives ideas for gifts in a jar
- Niki at Debt Free By 30 provides instructions for making a Hogwarts Acceptance Letter and cookies
What last minute ideas do you have?
Take a look at a few of the reasons that the United States government has to deal with its debt issues now.
Debt Challenges For Government
If any organization could use better debt management practices, it is the federal government. The government has run up trillions in debt over the last fifty years and is now facing a crisis in several different areas. The country has to tighten its budget just like regular citizens. That means increasing the amount of money coming in and reducing many of the contributors to the debt.
Social Security
There have been lots of discussions over making changes to the Social Security program. One of the methods discussed to save Social Security is to reduce the amount of benefits that each person receives. This would involve cutting back on the amount of money paid out every month. Another method being discussed is to increase the age of eligibility. Future recipients would have to wait additional years before being able to receive Social Security benefits.
Medicare
Medicare is one of the biggest areas of spending for the government. It is only a matter of time before the government runs out of cash to handle the medical issues of an aging population. Some individuals refer to Medicare as some sort of government debt scheme. Government debt is seen almost like a Ponzi scheme with the money about to run out soon. While it may not be that bad, the program does have to be addressed if it is going to be solvent going forward.
Income
One of the contributing factors to the debt problems of the government is the low amount of income that comes in. It is hard to address an exploding debt problem with insufficient resources. There simply is not enough extra money to make any kind of real impact on the country’s long term debt. The government needs to increase its revenue and use the extra money to aggressively pay down the deficit. The method that the government uses to raise revenue can be saved for a different day.
