Many people have decided to suspend spending for one month - except for their essentials of rent, utilities, food and transportation for work. If you can’t do this for a month, try a week. Find activities that don’t involve buying coffee, clothing or stuff at the mall. Why? You’ll find ways to enjoy yourself that don’t cost anything: take a walk, finish a project around the house, read a book from the library, test out a recipe.
You might be surprised how much you’re left with at the end of the month if you’re not always using your credit cards or debit cards for non-essentials. I found that when I moved from the city to the country, I found I’d have the same amount of cash in my wallet at the end of the week. I wasn’t tempted by coffee chains and other instant gratification splurges.
Take a spending fast.
My brother and I were discussing how he manages to maximize the miles per gallon on his Cadillac.
“I’ve read a number of articles on hypermiling where, through various techniques in driving, these guys get amazing gas mileage out of their cars. I tried a lot of the methods and they really do work. Some of them, like putting the car in neutral when coasting I don’t like to do because I worry about the control aspect, but I’ve found quite a difference in my own gas mileage even without that one.
I drive a 2001 Cadillac DeVille, and can consistently get 30 mpg or better. This is mostly highway, with some city driving in the mix. I know I’m saving well over 10% on my fuel costs so this amounts to about $500 per year, or more, saved.”
Anybody can be a hypermiler says Wayne Gerdes, “America’s greatest hypermiler,” who averages 59 miles per gallon on his Honda Accord.
You can read the article here but the basic rules are:
■ Drive the speed limit. (For every 5 mph above 55 miles per hour, you can lose as much as 10 percent of your fuel economy. So slowing down can save you gas.)
■ Drive without brakes (e.g. avoiding stops when you can and coasting to the traffic light)
■ Turn off your car and coast (dangerous according to experts)
■ Optimize your route (avoiding big hills and stops and starts)
■ Watch your tire pressure (takes more gas to move a slightly flat tire)
■ Stay on top of oil changes and use thinner oil
Other tips:
■ Remove your roof rack and clean junk from the trunk
■ Minimize idling at gas fill-ups and stay away from drive-thrus
■ Choose smooth road surfaces
■ Avoid bad weather/peak traffic
■ Windows up
To avoid overheating your home, be sure that the thermostat that is connected to the furnace is on an inside wall in a main living area. This is preferable to a chilly mud room or a cold outside wall.
I read in a magazine article featuring Gail Vaz-Oxlade, Canada’s financial guru, where she says that people who are successful with their money are able to delay instant gratification.
Wish lists: if you want something and it’s not in your budget, put it on a wish list to save up for. Very often you’ll find that by the time you have saved up the cash for it, you probably don’t want it any more. And if you want it, now you can afford it with cash.
If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.
~ Henry Ford
My husband only needs glasses for reading. Rather than buy them from the optometrist or from the drug store, he buys them three-four pairs at a time from the dollar store. I keep them in a drawer in the kitchen. I have been told that if your eyes are checked by a good optometrist, there’s nothing wrong with dollar store eyeglasses because they’re only worn for magnification (reading).
Pet costs can be kept down by keeping Fido and Tigger in the best of health. This means proper care, exercise, and nourishing food. Make your own pet food (find out about the BARF diet), learn to do your own grooming, and above all, shop around for a vet.
Many people have a small book in their car or purse and they jot down smaller expenses to keep track of them. I applaud these folks but, for some, this is not workable.
A few days ago, I heard of another method - use your kitchen or office calendar to mark down expenses as they happen - coffee runs, clothing, movie rentals, take-out food. This way, not only can you see how much spending you are doing but you can also see when it is happening. You can get a good snapshot of the month and how much is going down the drain.
Oatmeal Raisin Nut Cookies
These were a great success. I’m going to experiment later this week and try to make them into a granola bar by adding ingredients and baking in a lined pan. I have heard that the cookies don’t have any calories when you eat them warm from the oven. Later, I heard that this is only true if you ate them standing up. [Wink]
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter or shortening, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups big flake rolled oats
1½ cups raisins (or dried cranberries)
½ cup nuts, optional (I used pecans but walnuts or even Rice Crispies would work)
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl.
With an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Add brown/white sugar and bea until fluffy - a few minutes. Beat in the eggs.
Stir the dry ingredients into the butter-sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins and nuts.
Scoop up about a heaping tablespoon worth of dough and form into a rough ball. Drop on baking sheet and press down slightly.
Bake for about 18-20 minutes. Cool for about a minute on baking sheet and transfer to a plate or cooling rack. I made about 48 cookies.
Yesterday, I bought 14 maple chairs. The fellow wanted $3 per chair. I got them for 75 cents a chair plus my gas cost. I will take these to the local tombstone-making store and have them sandblasted. Then I will stain and/or urethane them and they will have a new home in our camping cabins.
Here is a tip. When you see something you know is a deal on Craigslist or Kijiji and you really do have the money and can pick it up, email the person (or phone if they’ve left a number) and say, “I am interested in the (item). I live in ________ City and I can pick up tomorrow. My telephone number is 905-555-1212.” The phone number is crucial. The seller knows you are serious and they will choose you over 50 other emails because they can reach you.
By the way, I got all of the chairs for $10 because I bought every last one of them, even though a couple needed a nail or two. He was happy to have them all sold.
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