Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  Everyone exhale!  We've made it through the most expensive holiday of the year.  While it celebrates someone who was born in a manger, it's become a commercial nightmare.

 Enjoy January!  It's a cheap month!  In February, all the women will want diamonds!  But, something like this cubic zirconia ring from Kohl's may have to do . . .

Since it's all made in China . . .

. . . you really aren't too good for Kmart.

Seriously, if all the merchandise in every store is made in China, why pay more for it?  Just buy it where you can save the most money.  There's no snob appeal in goods from some far-flung land.  Labels and brands mean little when it's all made in the same sweatshop in some developing country.  There is no reason to pay too much.  Unless, you are buying something to feed your dog.  Then buy USA all the way . . .

Dealing with The Fiscal Cliff

This blog isn't about politics.  It's about stretching pay checks. However, this "Fiscal Cliff" has me worried.  Taxes could go up 17% on most pay checks.  That's a lot of money out of each paycheck.

Here are some strategies for saving money:

How You Can Cope with Fiscal Cliff Tax Hikes

Downsizing Your Christmas Decorations

The Christmas holiday hectivities are here again!  People are running around like crazy trying to buy stuff and decorate and dine and travel and finish end of year work projects.  It's nuts.  But, it doesn't have to be.  Much of what happens over the holidays is conventional.  It's what society expects people to do.  But, if you don't feel like dragging out a twelve foot mega tree, you can take a step back and downsize.  You'll save money and stress a lot less.

The Town Already Decorated So You Don't Have To!

 
Read my article to learn more about having a leaner Christmas . . .


Downsizing Your Decorations for a Hassle Free Christmas

Aldi Bacon Rocks!

We've been shopping at Aldi a lot lately.  It's been saving us money.  But, we've also been pleased to discover some great products.  They have excellent chocolate from Germany and Pasta from Italy.  But, lately, we've been impressed by their Grandessa-brand Centercut Bacon.  It microwaves up really well!

By User:Sysop www.trierwiki.eu [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

What to Buy on Black Friday when You are Flat Broke

If you are flat broke and have been really struggling this year, you may want some advice on what to buy during all the fantastic black friday sales today. You'll want to know the must have and what to buy things to get today right? Are you ready. Here is my official advice for Black Friday. If you are flat broke, here is what you should buy today:

NOTHING!

 

 

It kind of sucks, but it worked for me.  Just make sure you sleep in, enjoy a totally relaxing day, and catch any news stories about people rioting and pillaging at Walmarts. 

 

 

Great Deals on Household Cleaners!

 Does your toilet care what cleaner you use to scrub the bowl?  Do you drive around the neighborhood proudly advertising the product that you use to clean your kitchen counters?  Do you get any social capital from using a certain brand of window cleaner?  If the answer is no, you might as well get your household cleaners as cheaply as possible.  We've been finding that Dollar Tree is a great place to buy cleaning supplies.  To find out what deals we found, read my article -

The Best Place to Buy Household Cleaning Supplies:  Dollar Tree

By Xnatedawgx (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

How to Celebrate the Holidays When You Are Flat Broke

The holidays are almost upon us again.  Thanksgiving.  Christmas.  They should be a season of joy, excitement, and anticipation.  But, they can be tough when you are flat broke.  There are lots of gift giving, family gatherings, and social obligations that can leave you even more broke for the coming year.  Here are some tips on how to celebrate the holiday season when you are flat broke.  With a little luck, you can have a holiday that is more meaningful and more focused on the things that really matter despite financial woes.

How to Celebrate the Holidays When You Are Flat Broke

Free Powerpoint Training Friday!

If you are interested in learning Microsoft Powerpoint, there are lots of free resources online.  One that caught my interest were these Powerpoint Tutorial on Youtube from 10minutetrain.

Powerpoint 2007 Tutorial 1:  Intro to Powerpoint

Powerpoint 2007 Tutorial 2:  Create a Basic Powerpoint from a Template

Powepoint 2007 Tutorial 3:  Create a Basic Powerpoint

While these should get you started, 10minutetrain actually has a series of training videos  on Powerpoint 2007.  You can access them all here -

 14 short training videos on Powerpoint 2007. 

Now, if you can get access to a machine with MS Powerpoint, go out and make a slideshow!

Make Thursday Microsoft Office Training Day!

Despite the popularity of the iPad and Smart Phones, most business is conducted using Microsoft Office.  It's important to know some of the most common MS Office Programs - Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access.  Fortunately, there are a number of free training resources to help you master Microsoft Office.  While Office 2010 is now being sold, many businesses are still using Microsoft 2007.  So, that might be a good package to work with to get the basics.  Here are some free training pages:

Official Getting Up To Speed with Microsoft Office 2007

Up to Speed with the 2007 Office System

Official Microsoft Office Training Page

Training - Office.com

Wilkes University Microsoft 2007 Video Tutorials

 MS Office Video Tutorials

By Althepal (Original work) [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Soon, I'll publish some more focused training specific to one package.  First up, Microsoft Powerpoint!

Saving Money on Personal Computers & Software

Computers can really be a drain on the household budget.  It's tough to keep up with the latest and greatest.  Peripherals.  Software.  Security.  They all add up.  If you are flat broke, Apple products have been out of the picture for a long time. Now, Microsoft is offering new tablet computers and a new operating system called Windows 8.  These are all great.  But, if you are broke, there is a lower cost alternative.  The open source software movement offers completely free software developed by a worldwide community of programmers.  Their operating system is called Linux.  It is more secure than Windows and is growing easier to use with every new release.  If you'd like to learn more, check out my newest blog:

N00b2linux

Ubuntu Linux 12.04 LTS By FSOG (Screenshot) [GPL (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

How to Get that Job You Can't Do!

Leaving the world of real estate moguls behind, let's get back to reality and jobs.  When I look at job postings and see skills listed that I don't have or terms that I don't know, I write them down.  Then, I go out to the Internet with three questions:

1. What are these skills or terms?
2. What training do I need to get up to speed?
3. Can I find that training on the Internet or on Youtube for free?

You'd be surprised at the different kinds of training that is available for free on the Internet.  As an IT professional, I find that many software vendors conduct free training online to increase the pool of people who are qualified to use their products.  In many cases, you can even download the software for free.

The Problem with Self-Help Gurus

There is only one problem with self-help gurus.  They tend to be charismatic, outgoing, people with boundless energy, above average intellect, endless reserves of personal courage, the ability to network easily, and amazing communications skills.  It's actually no surprise when they succeed.  When you look around the world for people to emulate, try to find someone who succeeded using skills that you have or can develop.  If you are Oprah Winfrey, don't try to be Donald Trump.  If you aren't Steven Hawkings, perhaps you are J.K. Rowling.  Donald Trump's "Kicking Ass" is much different than Dale Carnegie's winning friends.  Read several gurus and then find your own path . . .

If companies want your business . . .

. . . they wouldn't put the job you used to do over in China.  They wouldn't hire and illegal with a wink and a nod and a handful of bogus ID documents.  They wouldn't replace your full-time position with a part-time position.  They wouldn't favor short-term contractors over permanent employees.  They wouldn't provide a raise that lagged behind inflation.  They wouldn't let your resume languish in a vast database while they wait for an M.B.A. to fill a basic office work function.  They wouldn't charge you 25% interest on a basic consumer credit card.  If the business community has let you down, why should you continue to buy from them? 

If you are flat broke and need to watch every dime, you might want to subject your purchases to some extra scrutiny.  Why not buy from Goodwill?  Why not try Salvation Army?  Why not buy from the desperate guy on eBay who needs the cash to stave off foreclosure?  Why not look for "Made in USA" on the label?  Why not think about every purchase once or twice before you get to the cash register?  Why not keep the money in your pocket?  "They" can earn your business.

Book Review: How Successful People Think

We may be flat broke now.  Many people are.  The United States faces major economic challenges and none of our leaders have figured out how to handle the challenges posed by globalism.  But, we are resilient and we will come back.  We will come back by learning more, doing more, becoming more capable, and pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.  But, to succeed, we'll have to think carefully and do the right things.



To learn more, it's important to seek out new ideas and learn from everyone especially thought leaders.  I recently bought a book called How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell.  The book proposes focused, intentional, thinking.  Basically, people should make the time to think systematically about things and ideas.  It's a powerfully simple concept.  But, Maxwell breaks down the ways to think about something very usefully and provides some ideas about the benefits you should expect from thinking in a certain way.  Maxwell addresses big picture thinking, focused thinking, creative thinking, realistic thinking, strategic thinking, possibility thinking, reflective thinking, popular thinking, shared thinking, unselfish thinking, and bottom-line thinking.  When you learn how to think in these different ways, you will be adding a powerful tool to your success arsenal.  This was an interesting book to pick up at my local grocery store, it will definitely nourish your brain.  Check out this and other books by John C. Maxwell:

Broke? Quit Buying Stuff

A wise old man once told me why North Carolinians were always broke.

"Sheds," he said.  "We build these sheds on our property and then we have to buy stuff to put in them."

That observation doesn't just apply to people in North Carolina.  Many of us are broke because we buy too much stuff.  Maybe we collect stuff?  I've got two blogs dedicated to stuff that I collect: watches and die-cast cars.

Didn't need it.  Bought it anyway!

If we didn't buy so much stuff, we probably wouldn't be so broke.  If we could cut back on the amount of stuff we buy, stop buying stuff we don't need, and only buy stuff when it's on sale, we'd have a lot more money. 

7 More Reasons Not to Get an iPhone 5

 Someone posted 7 reasons not to get an iPhone 5 on my My Wristwatch Forums.  I'm pretty much anti-smart phone myself.  With the iPhone 5, I pretty much see lose-lose situations all around.  Here are my 7 reasons not to get an iPhone 5, plus a bonus!

1.  Couch Sleeping. If you go to a restaurant with your iPhone 5, you can check the ballgame at will.  Sure, you might learn the score, but there is a pretty good chance that you'll end up sleeping on the couch.

2.  Low Testosterone. The iPhone 5 causes low-T.  I'm sure that every time you ask an artificial woman named Siri for directions, your body will lose testosterone.  You know where the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River, Appalachians, and Rocky Mountains are.  Be a Man!  You are NOT lost.

3. Texting.  The iPhone 5 lets you conveniently send and receive text messages any place and any time.  'Nuff said.  Don't text me.  You are bugging me.  I'll pretty much figure that you are a Nigerian scam artist and ignore anything you send.

4. Crime.  The iPhone 5 makes you more vulnerable to crime.  The iPhone lets you listen to music, watch videos, and text when you should be looking for shifty looking maggots between the ages of 16 and 24.  Ever hear of the "knock-out game?"  If you can't hear due to earbuds and you are involved in something with a gadget, you'll never see what hits you.  Without the iPhone 5, you'll be able to look around and, like Grandpa Simpson, say, "I don't like the looks of those teenagers."

5. They Make You A Prospect.  Smartphones try to sell you stuff.  The iPhone 5 is just another attempt to bring you into an "ecosystem" and sell you stuff that you don't need.  Stuff like ring tones.

6. TV Works Fine.  You can watch a movie on TV.  You can get a 27-inch screen at Goodwill for less than $20.  Why would you watch a movie on your phone?

7. They make you look rich.  The iPhone 5 is the latest, greatest, gadget on the market.  If you get one, your boss will think he pays you more than enough.

Plus, the iPhone 6 will be much better!

Bringing a Product to Market: Florida's Forgotten Coast Calendar - 2013!

After reading The $100 Startup, I got motivated to bring a product of my own to market.  I've coupled my talent for photography with Lulu.com to create a calendar documenting my time on Florida's Forgotten Coast.  You can see a preview of the Florida's Forgotten Coast Calendar - 2013

Have a $100? Start a Business!

Even though many of us have been set back financially, even though many of us have lost jobs do to global competition, even though the deck can seem rigged, we still live in America.  It's a free country.  We can engage in commerce and start a business on a shoestring.  We can harness the same Internet that globalized the world economy and use it to provide for ourselves and our families.  It's really NOT that complicated.  It's simply a matter of finding the intersection of our passions and what customers are willing to buy.

If you'd like a manual, a how to guide, to help you think about starting a shoestring business as a side job or main source of income, you have to check out Chris Gillebeau's book, The $100 Startup.  It has great advice and success stories that will help get you started.  You can read a complete review of the book here:

Book Review:  the $100 Startup by Chris Gillebeau

The Best Things in Life Are Free: At Least, TV's are Free

There's no reason to spend a lot of money on a fancy television.  The world is literally awash in perfectly good TV sets.  You can pick them up for free by the curb, on craiglist, and by apartment complex trash compactors.  Here's how to the put a free TV to good use:

How to Make the Most of a Free TV

By John Atherton [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Saving on the Water Bill: Taking Shorter Showers!

Our water bill has just gone up!  We're putting in maintenance requests for anything that looks like a slow leak and we're trying to conserve water.  Here is a very useful article:

Eight Ways to Take A Short Shower

How to Flip Your Way to a Better Car

Every American wants a nicer car!  In a country of highways, bi-ways, and scenic routes, a decent car seems like a God-given right.  Unfortunately, having a decent car is hard when you are flat broke.  However, there are ways to work your way up to a cool car.  There are also ways to make extra money buying and selling used cars.

Check out this entry on car flipping on Side Hustle Nation:

 Side Hustle Nation: Car Flipping 

Eating Cheap!

My wife recently found an interesting blog for foodies who are on a tight budget:  The 99 Cent Chef.  It provides lots of ideas for meals where the main ingredient is only 99 cents.  He even features foods from the 99 cent store.  Every once in awhile, we will buy food from a dollar store.  However, we aren't very trusting of food Made in China.  We'll buy American-made foods and brand-name foods that we recognize at the dollar store from time to time.  But, watch out!  Sometimes canned foods at the dollar store aren't a good deal simply because the same canned food might cost less than $1 at the grocery store.

Instead of resorting to fast food, next time you may be able to whip up something good like this Peruvian creole dish called Ají de gallina..

By Dtarazona (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Cleaning Products for $1

If you want to save serious money, you need to check out your local dollar stores.  You can save serious money on lots of basic products like household cleaners.  On a recent visit to Dollar Tree, we were pleased to get a wide variety of cleaning products for only $1 each.  At the grocery store, you'd easily pay 3 or 4 times as much.

Planning for Your Economic Survival

It's hard to even imagine planning for the future when you are flat broke. But, when things are at their worst, you really do need to be at your best. You have to have a good head on your shoulders and you have to try and make good decisions for yourself and your family. One thing that you have to do is try to make a good solid plan for surviving in a turbulent economy.  Unfortunately, there are worse things than having a budget that is a little tight.  Here is more information about surviving in a rough economy.

Building an Economic Survival Plan 

By Elena Chochkova (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Set Goals to Survive an Economic Downturn 

Attention! Attention! Your lifestyle is under attack. In an era of economic uncertainty, the living and lifestyle of many middle class Americans is being severely threatened. Even stable, profitable, enterprises are using the recession as an excuse to cut, outsource, and restructure their workforces. So, no matter how safe your job may appear, you must have a solid economic survival plan in place.
When you create your economic survival plan, you'll have to set forth your overall goals, objectives on the way to achieving your goals, specific work steps to take towards your objectives, timetables for reaching your objectives, and a budget for achieving your objectives. Some of the goals, objectives, and priorities you should consider when creating your economic survival plan might include:

1) Cash Reserves - The importance of a strong cash reserve cannot be underestimated. Ideally, you should have six months of living expenses in your savings account. As part of your plan, you should identify a fixed amount to deposit into savings each month.

2) Reduced Debt Levels - After building a cash reserve, it is important to reduce the overall amount of debt hanging over your family. Generally, it's best to eliminate the highest interest debt first. As part of your plan, you should list out your creditors, debts, and interest rates. Then, you can come up with a plan of attack to lower your interest rates and pay off some debt.

3) Alternate Revenue Streams - If you can generate extra income without alienating your friends and relatives, now is the time to start. If you can generate additional income from your hobbies or write, do it. You never know when you might need the extra money.

4) Lowered Expenses - Even as you bring in extra income, you have to lower your expenses. It's time to squeeze the waste out of your family budget. If you don't watch your movie channels, drop them. If you don't need four sodas a day at work, stop drinking them. If you can eat a few extra super cheap meals at home each week, the savings will add up.

5) A Paid Off Vehicle - The bank can't repossess a vehicle that you own outright. You can't get to a job interview without reliable transportation. It makes sense for a family to always own at least one vehicle outright.

6) An Interview Suit - If a layoff rocks your world, the last thing you'll want to do is shop for clothes using your dwindling severance pay. Gentlemen, get your interview suit, shirt, shoes, socks, and tie in order now.

7) An Updated Resume - This is a good time to quietly update your resume. Have some friends and relatives review it and check for misspellings and typos. There is nothing worse than sending out a flawed resume to dozens of employers.

8) An Backup Profession - If your job function was suddenly moved to a third world country where everyone apparently has five years of experience in your profession, what is your Plan B? It might be worthwhile to think of and lay the groundwork for alternative professions now rather than in the middle of a personal crisis.

9) A Training Plan - This economic downturn is a great time to skill up for the challenges ahead. When you take on new training, be wary of scams and look for something that will provide a verifiable return on your investment.

10) A Political Strategy - If your livelihood is being threatened by foreign competition, mass immigration, or Wall Street greed, you must make your views known to your political representatives. Instead of going quietly, go to Congress.org and lobby your elected officials. Take on the banks, corporate leaders, and outsourcing firms.

11) Get into shape - A job layoff is extremely stressful. The uncertainty will spike your blood pressure and keep you up late into the night. Make sure you have the stamina to withstand the experience. If you've been putting off visits to the doctor, make sure you take care of things now while you still have health insurance.

12) Network - It takes time to build a professional network through linkedin.com, professional associations, and civic groups. You need to start the process well before you become unemployed.
There are alot of things to do to get a solid footing in this economy. Your economic survival plan will prioritize your goals and set specific timetables for achieving them.

Dollar Store Dude Lit: Big Sid's Vincati

Book Review: Big Sid's Vincati - the Story of a Father, a Son, and the Motorcycle of a Lifetime

Even if you are broke, you can still find something good to read.  If you shop at Dollar Tree, you may have noticed that they have a great selection of hardback books.  Perhaps the books have improved because they have close out merchandise from the Borders bankruptcy?  Who knows!  However, I recently found and read a great book about a English professor who builds motorcycles with his elderly father.  The title says it all:  Big Sid's Vincati - the Story of a Father, a Son, and the Motorcycle of a Lifetime.  You can read my complete review here:

Big Sid's Vincati tells the story of a father and son quest to build a legendary motorcycle that combines the powerful engine of a British Vincent and the sleek chassis of an Italian Ducati. But, this is much more than a biker book.

Book Review: Big Sid's Vincati by Matthew Biberman
Hudson Street Press, New York, 2009


140 miles per hour! Before I read this book, I didn't even know that vintage motorcycles could aspire to such speeds. Matthew Biberman is a college professor. His father, Sid, is a famous motorcycle mechanic and tuner. In simple terms, Big Sid's Vincati tells the story of how the two went on a quest to build a legendary vintage motorcycle that combines the powerful engine of a British Vincent and the sleek chassis of an Italian Ducati. If the book was simply filled with memorable motorcycling adventures, mechanical challenges, and moments of genius, it would be a good read. But, just as the Vincati is much more than a motorcycle, Big Sid's Vincati is more than a biker book. You don't even have to be a motorcyclist to enjoy this book.

Vincent Black Lightning [By private, with permission of the author (private) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons]

As a narrative, Big Sid's Vincati addresses many themes. At it's heart, this is the story of how an adult son connected with his aging father by building motorcycles and particularly the Vincati. The reader learns how both men came of age as motorcyclists. It shows Sid and his son dealing with the issue of mortality. It offers a glimpse at how men struggle to keep dreams alive amid the challenges of daily life, family life, and medical issues. It shows how Matthew and his father struggled with the rivalry between a stubborn father and an independent son or vice versa. Every man with a consuming hobby can relate to the struggle to carve out hobby time while maintaining quality time with one's wife.

The themes addressed in this book are deep and many men lack the self-awareness to even articulate the existence of these issues. But, Matthew Biberman's prose is always warm and readable. As the book motors along, Big Sid's Vincati never becomes too wordy, maudlin, or sentimental. While the personal themes play out and Matthew and his family members grow and evolve, there are plenty of exciting blasts down country roads on powerful motorcycles to keep it all an adventure.

Black Shadow Engine [By Mark Robinson (originally posted to Flickr as Power) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons]

Matthew Biberman wrote that he had once dreamed of writing the great American novel. Instead, by writing what he knows and writing from his heart, Biberman has written a great American story. You learn a little about motorcycles and a lot about people as you read Big Sid's Vincati. I highly recommend this book. Besides, whenever an English professor writes about something other than deconstructionist, feminist, paramarxist perspectives on gender roles in The Canterbury Tales, that effort should be praised and rewarded. Maybe we'll get more Dude Lit for real guys?

For the record, an expensive hobby like vintage motorcycle restoration is an excellent way to end up flat broke.  Vicarious biking adventures from Dollar Tree are much less expensive!  While I'm sure this title is cleared out from Dollar Tree, it is still available on Amazon.

How to Save Even More Money on Fast Food

It seems like we've been on a pretty tight budget for a long time.  We've even got the whole McDonald's "Dollar Menu-Aire" thing down to a science.  When we're tight on cash, we can get in and out for almost nothing.
 

Four Amazingly Simple Ways to Save Money at the Fast Food Drive Through Window

When McDonald's introduced their dollar menu, it was a cool way to save a little money. Everyone loved their commercials introducing a new class of citizens: The Dollar Menu-aires. Now more fast food restaurants have value menus and more people than ever are ordering off of dollar menus. However, there are a few little tricks that can help you save even more money when you order off of the dollar menu.

1. Bring A Limited Amount of Cash. If you know that you will be ordering a McDouble, a side salad, and any size tea for $1 at McDonalds, don't show up with a $20 bill. You'll be driving past pictures of Big Macs, Super-Sized Fries, and Delicious Coffee drinks. But, if you only bring $3.50, you won't be ordering any of the expensive stuff. You'll be ordering the meal you originally planned to buy.

2. Bring a Cooler and Water. When money is tight, I'll throw a few bottles of water into a small cooler and bring those with me to the fast food drive through. It's an easy way to save a few calories and a couple of bucks at the fast food window. Even if you bring a soda from home, you'll be paying just a fraction of the price of soda at the fast food window.

3. Do Dinner or Dessert - Not Both. There's no reason to take in all the calories of fast food for both dinner and dessert. You've got to pace yourself a bit. We enjoy the new Oreo Ice Cream sandwiches at our local Steak-n-Shake. They are sinfully, delicious, and only $1. For just over $2, we get a little bit of heaven and we don't break the bank. We also impose a little bit of portion control by just getting one apiece.

4. Count the Carbs. If you are a guy, 60 to 65 grams of carbohydrates should suffice for a meal. For breakfast, that equates to roughly two Egg McMuffins at McDonalds and a bottle of water. At McDonalds for lunch, that pretty much provides for one premium burger or two smaller burgers up to a McDouble off of the Dollar Menu. You can forget the fries and you can forget the soda. You did bring the cooler right?

While it can feel a little strange not to order a super-sized value meal and it can be a little embarrassing to hand the crew member a crumpled dollar bill and 6 quarters to pay for your whole fast food order, your body and your budget will thank you for exercising a little restraint and a little self-control when you order fast food.

Beat the Heat with a Box Fan

The summer heat can be relentless.  But, when money is tight, you need to turn the thermostat up a bit.  However, you don't have to collapse in a puddle of sweat.  You can use a fan to circulate the air, help your sweat evaporate more quickly, and feel a lot cooler.  We rely on a pretty cheap box fan.  It's a Lasko Model 3733 20-inch Box Fan.  It doesn't look like much, it's a little noisy, but it runs like a champ.

Things to Do When You're Broke

Broke?  No money except for some very basic essentials?  Eating Ramen Noodles and waiting until your next paycheck rolls in?  Gotcha!  Been there.  Done that.  It's kind of boring, too.  Here are a some things to do when you're broke:

Eight Things to Do When You're Broke

If only we'd saved all our extra coins . . .

Simplicity is free - Simple Recreation!

In our modern world, it seems like every recreation and every pastime and every outing has an associated price tag.  There is pressure to go out and do cool stuff.  However, sometimes simple things are less expensive, less demanding, and more relaxing.  If you are feeling financial pressure, relax with simple pastimes like chess, checkers, cards, and old board game favorites.  While there may be an initial cost to purchase a board game, you can play each game many, many, times.

When you get recreational value through essentially free activities like walking, hiking, playing basic board games, or attending a free concert, you win.  There's an old Southpark episode where Cartman says everything fun costs at least $8.  That's not true.  There are plenty of free things to do.  You just need to find them!

How to Go Sailing for Free

The wind is free, but sailboats and boat maintenance can be expensive. Fortunately, there are some free ways to go sailing without incurring the expense of a boat.

Photo by Ankalole [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

The wind is free, but sailboats and boat maintenance can be expensive. However, there is an inescapable reality that makes it easy to go sailing for free. It takes people to safely run a sailboat. Typically, a sailboat needs at least one crew member to handle the front sails on the boat (jib and spinnaker), and to help during docking. If you know how to sail and are willing to volunteer as a crew member, all you have to do is find a boat and skipper in need. 

Of course, before you can sail for free, you need to acquire at least some basic sailing and seamanship skills. Sailing classes are offered by a variety of organizations. A couple of weekend classes from a local recreation department or sailing club should be sufficient for sailing in confined waters of a lake, river, or bay. For open-ocean sailing, more advanced coursework and experience should be acquired. You'll also want to take a basic seamanship class from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadron to understand the basics of safety, seamanship, marlinspike skills, navigation, and communications. These classes will equip you to contribute aboard a boat and can also be valuable places to make connections with boat owners.


Once you have the rudimentary skills, you'll need some basic sailing gear and attire. First, you'll want to have some boat shoes from a reputable company. While some department store shoes may look like boat shoes, you'll want the grip of genuine boat shoes like Sperry Topsiders. Conventional sneakers can leave marks on boat decks and will also mark you as a beginner. You'll also want suntan lotion, a good hat, a water bottle, and sunglasses. If you always bring your own bottle of water, you'll be prepared if your skipper offers drinks that you don't like. You should also get foul weather gear and some safety equipment as your sailing career progresses.


After you've learned to sail and gotten a minimum of appropriate gear, you'll need to scout out sailing opportunities. You can use the internet to find sailing clubs and sailing marinas in your area. You can also find many websites dedicated to matching skippers with crew. A simple search on "sailing + skippers + crew" will yeild a treasure trove of crew matching opportunities.

To pursue the sailing club option, if you find a sailing club, find out what kinds of activities they sponsor. Many clubs sponsor sail boat races in the evenings or on weekends. You may be able to join one of these racing-oriented sailing clubs as a crew member. They'll make your name and number available to skippers needing crew. Alternatively, you may also be able to help the club out on a race committee boat. These opportunities will help you make the connections needed to secure a crew position. More casual recreational sailing clubs may sponsor group sails, cookouts, and even own boats that they will loan out to qualified members.

If you find a marina with sail boats, but without clubs, you may still be able to secure a crew position by visiting the marina and looking for bulletin boards. Many marinas and boating supply stores maintain bulletin boards where people can look for crew or offer to be crew. You could post some contact information and see if you can find a skipper through a bulletin board. If you are visiting the marina, you can strike up conversations with various boat owners that you meet and scope out the sailing community in the area. They may be able to point you towards clubs that are poorly publicized or towards skippers who need some help. Sailing is a community. To go sailing, you simply need to become a part of it.

It takes a little time, but once you have the skills and the connections, it is easy to go sailing for free.

(This article is a republication of an article that I originally posted on Yahoo Contributors Network.)

Earning Extra Money - Leverage Your Hobbies

In a world where layoffs are common, it's important to bring extra money into your household whenever you can.  Of course, it's hard to commit to an extra job when you've already got one.  One thing that can make it easier is to earn extra money in ways that are related to your hobbies.  It's an old adage:  If you can do work related to your greatest passions, it will hardly seem like work at all.  Here are some ways to make extra money from your favorite pastimes:

How to Make Extra Money from Hobbies

Of course, my main source of extra money right now is earned through writing.

Be a Late Adopter!

You don't actually need the latest, greatest, version of a computer game or video game console.  The art of video game design is to make a game that is wonderfully playable and compelling on the platform where it is played.  For instance, I loved Chuck Yeager's Air Combat when I had a 486 computer in the early 90s.  Unfortunately, I haven't found a combat flight sim that I've liked as much since then.  The game had a wonderful balance of realism and playability that worked.

It's the same with console games.  If you find a video game console that you like and games, then you should be happy.  I enjoy retro gaming.  That is video gaming on absolete consoles like the Playstation, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, and Atari.  It's just plain fun.  If you agree, check out Retro Gaming Revolution Forum.  You'll find it full of interesting discussions of vintage video game and computing platforms.

If you adapt yesterdays technology, you can save a lot of money over the prices of modern game systems.

Living the Retro Lifestyle

When you are stuck in an economy that doesn't seem to be moving forward, sometimes the thing to do is embrace the decline.  If you can't go forward, go backwards and adopt the retro lifestyle!  You'll find the coolest things in thrift stores, online on ebay, and by the curb on Craiglist.  Plus, if you shop thrift stores, you'll be helping charity.  If you find new uses for old items, you'll be recycling.  It's all good!

Saving Money by Living a Retro Lifestyle

Saving Energy in an Apartment

Your chance to own a big McMansion seems millions of miles away.  Perhaps, you've even lost your home.  It's tough.  But, even when you've crammed everything into an apartment, there is still money to be saved.  Here are some tips for saving energy:


Six Energy Saving Tips for Apartment Dwellers

A Man's Guide to Thrift Store Shopping

If you do scrape together a few pennies to go shopping, there's no place more fun than your local thrift store.  A lot of people think that thrift stores are just for women, but that couldn't be further from the truth.  There's a lot of cool stuff for dude's in thrift stores.  You just need to know where to look!  Here's a guide to thrift store shopping for men:

A Man's Survival Guide to Thriftstore Shopping

Park Avenue Thrift Store in Marietta, Georgia

Ten Practical Survival Tips

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are hunkered down and prepared for the collapse of civilization.  That might happen one day.  It sure feels like it when you're laid off or underemployed.  However, there are many more threats to your survival in day-to-day life.  Here are some survival tips that will help you survive the real world:

Ten Practical Survival Tips

Stressed? Walk Your Dog

If you are flat broke and stressed, someone still loves you!  That someone is your dog!  Take him outside, go around the block, take a deep breath and get some exercise:

Five Ways to Get More Exercise from Walking Your Dog

An Affordable Razor at Last - The Wilkinson Sword Tech 3

I've wandered the land in search of an affordable razor.  I hate having to pay $15 or more for refill cartridges.  I finally found what I was looking for at Walmart - The Wilkinson Sword Tech 3 Razor.  The Razor and two cartridges sold for only $5 and a five-pack of refills only cost $5.

Men's Razor Review: Wilkinson Sword Tech 3 Razor 

 

The inexpensive Wilkinson Sword Tech 3 provides a substantial looking razor with a flexible head, two safe 3-bladed cartridges that incorporate a lubricating strip of all natural aloe, and a holder. At $5, it really cuts the cost of shaving!

The rebellion started as I approached the cash registers at my local Walmart. I thought I'd throw a package of Razor blades into our cart. I saw that Gillette Mach 3 razor blades were well over $13 a box for 5 cartridges. Other razor blades were selling for nearly $20 a box. Shockingly razor blades were priced high enough to actually impact my budget. Then, I saw a new Wilkinson Sword Tech 3 razor with two cartridges for $5 and noted that 5 replacement blades were only $5. That fit my budget perfectly. Plus, I recognized Wilkinson Sword as an longstanding brand of razors and their crossed sword logo looked cool. The deal was closed when I saw that the blades were actually made here in the United States. I threw a new Wilkinson Sword razor into my cart.

For the money, the inexpensive Wilkinson Sword Tech 3 provides a substantial looking razor with a flexible head, two safe 3-bladed cartridges that incorporate a lubricating strip of all natural aloe, and a holder. I waited for the weekend to use my new razor because I wanted to take my time and put it to the test on a little stubble. In the meantime, I did a little research on the company. They were actually founded in 1772 when Henry Nock set up a workshop to make guns in London. In 1804, Nock passed away and his son-in-law James Wilkinson took over the business. They primarily made guns, swords, and bayonets. In 1889, the company formally incorporated as Wilkinson Sword. The venerable British company has changed hands many times since then, merged with Shick, and is now wholly owned by Energizer Holdings. Wilkinson Sword has been making razors and blades since 1890.

Of course, my real question was can all that history make my whiskers and stubble history? I put my new razor to the test at the bathroom sink on a two-day layer of stubble. I didn't do anything special for my test and simply used hot water and a thin layer of Edge Shaving Gel for Sensitive Skin. First, I drew my Wilkinson Sword Tech 3 from it's plastic and cardboard package and took a good look at it. The razor has a wide head and balances towards the front. The Tech 3 is a little larger and a tad heavier than my Gillette Mach 3 Turbo which balances more towards the rear of the handle. The Wilkinson Sword Tech 3 razor has a solid feel with a shiny metal top and a grippy rubber bottom.

The good news is that it was a perfectly fine razor. Using the Tech 3, it was very easy to to cut through my stubble without nicking myself or missing any trouble spots. The razor also cleaned up easily.



The Wilkinson Sword Tech 3 proved to be an economical way to get a close shave. With replacement blades priced at only $5, it will also be easy to pick up new blades any time. I'm very glad to finally be leaving $14 replacement blade packages behind. My new Wilkinson Sword promises to slash the cost of shaving. Viva la revolution!

A 99-cent Splurge!

Tight economic times may be with us, but you can still get something cool for 99-cents!  You can get a small Frosty at Wendy's or an Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich at Steak & Shake!  Those places rock!

Saving money on exercise equipment

This economy is stressful.  Being laid off is stressful.  One of the best ways to handle stress is to exercise and get in shape.  Of course, you can't buy a lot of high dollar exercise equipment when you are flat broke.  Here are some ways to improvise and save money on exercise equipment:

Four Ways to Improvise and Save Money on Exercise Equipment

A Quick Tip to Save Money on Fast Food

If you find yourself tight on funds and still pressed for time and on the go, here is a way to save a few dollars.  Instead of ordering a Coke, tea, or a bottle of water with your meal, get it to go and bring your own water or bottled water from home.  It saves a $1 or $2 each time you order fast food.

By Amraepowell (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Money Saving Gadgets in the Kitchen

There are a zillion gadgets in American kitchens.  Many Americans have so many small kitchen appliances that they have to build an island with counters and cupboards just to store them all.  However, when gadgets actually encourage you to cook and prepare food at home, they can actually save you money!  For example, if an iced tea machine helps you avoid buying soda, it's a winner!

Dirt Cheap Hobbies

You may not have any money, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun.  You've just got to cultivate some cheap hobbies.  It's cheap to roll dice, play cards, watch birds, watch the stars, play Dungeons & Dragons, or just go hiking.

Photo By:  Javier Mediavilla Ezquibela (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), 

CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or 

CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Super Cheap Dining Room from Ikea

We've seen how inexpensively you can furnish a living space using inexpensive furniture from Ikea.  Now, we'll move on to the dining area.  If you are starting out or starting over, you need some place to eat.  If it doesn't make sense to buy a high dollar dining room from a showroom store, you can get what you need from Ikea.  You can furnish a dining room and get essential dining necessities for less than $300 at Ikea.

By Christian Koehn (fragwürdig) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Starting Over at Ikea

If you've got to start out or start over from the ground up and want light weight, affordable, furniture, the Scandinavian furniture store has you covered.  If you look hard, you can get some great deals.  For example, this "Bonus" flatware was only $3.99.

If you'd like to read about how to furnish your entire living room with Ikea furniture for less than $500.  Check out this article:   Ikea Can Furnish a Living Room for $500 or Less

Downsized Homes for Downsized Dreams

In these rough economic times, it's getting harder and harder for Americans to achieve the dream of home ownership and hold onto homes that they do buy.  More and more Americans are seeking alternatives to the big McMansion homes of the 1990s.  Some are downsizing into far smaller homes and cottages that are more affordable and easier to maintain.  The most extreme home down-sizers are actually moving into tiny homes.

By Pearson Scott Foresman [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Here is an article detailing some of the reasons why many people are opting for tiny, economical, homes:

Seven Reasons to Consider a Micro Home

This week we will look at options for furnishing a smaller space on a small budget.  It's one way to kick start a downsized American dream.

Eating Cheap!

Even if you are broke, you still have to eat.  Fortunately, there are still some dirt cheap foods at the grocery store.  They aren't the healthiest foods on the menu.  But, they'll do in a pinch if you have to stretch your money!

Five Super Cheap Foods for a Recession

 By Daniel K. Gebhart (photo taken by Daniel K. Gebhart) [CC-BY-2.5 
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Living in a Van Down by the River

When lay offs struck our household, we were lucky not to have to live in a van down by the river.  We managed to execute a strategic withdrawal from a crumbling economy, put our stuff in storage, and move in with relatives.  But, we wonder what it would be like to live in a van down by the river.

 By Omer Simkha [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

How to Live in a Van Down by the River: 

A Plan for Life After the Financial Meltdown 

The American economy is getting pretty scary. With financial portfolios collapsing, a boom in foreclosures, jobs being sent overseas, the looming specter of economic failure, there is a real possibility for unemployment and personal financial disaster. But, look on the bright side; at least we may have time to go camping. In an immortal Saturday Night Live skit, the late comedian Chris Farley once warned kids that they might end up "living in a van down by the river." Now, we might all end up living in vans down by the river. Would it really be so bad to live in a van down by the river?

Living in a van down by the river might be fun. However, you'll have to get some basic supplies together and plan your lifestyle carefully. You'll have to figure out what you'll do each day and what you'll eat. Your living and storage space will really be limited so you'll have to plan very carefully. Fortunately, there have been some classic articles on Stealth Van Living. Stealth van aficionados make it clear that you can make sleeping, cooking, and entertaining possible in the smallest of vehicles.

Personally, if my wife and I were ever to live in a van down by the river, there are a few vital accessories that we would need. First, and foremost, we would need a paid off van. We would be pretty hard pressed to live together with our dog in our little Chevy. Next, we would want a solar shower. A solar shower consists of a 5-gallon black plastic bag that contains water and is heated by the sun. SundanceSolar.com offers a solar shower for about $15. Once the sun heats up the water, you can hang the bag on a pole or tree limb and take a shower. I'd imagine it would be a pretty short shower, but I'd still want one. Even if I lived in a van down by the river, I would want to be able to groom appropriately for a job interview.


Next, I would need a tent. Since living space would be at an absolute premium, it would be nice to have a tent or screened room as a temporary expansion for our humble home. Walmart has an Ozark Trail 12' x 9' polyester dome screen house for only $38.88 online. Other nice screen gazebos sell for less than $100. If you snore heavily, the extra tent would serve the same purpose as a comfortable couch or extra guest bedroom. Target has a Greatland Backpacking tent for only $29.99. You wouldn't need an adjustable rate mortgage to get one.


I would imagine that a van down by the river could get pretty stuffy. In the warm spring and summer months, it could be especially challenging to live in a van down by the river. The Auto Cool Solar Powered Car Fan costs only $15 at TVProducts4Less.com and looks like it might be the perfect accessory for daytime cooling. Since it is solar powered, it would not drain the van battery. Alternatively, a Coolatron 12V car fan would also do a good job of circulating the air. However, it would put a load on the van battery. For real luxury, an auxiliary air conditioner humming away on roof would be best. But, shame on me for being an American and wanting more.


Eating down by the river should pose little problem. As long as the river is relatively clean and contains fish, we should be able to eat. Obviously, if we are going to live in a van down by the river and go fishing, it would be a good idea to select the cleanest possible river. I'd prefer a river in a coast area instead of the local Chattahoochee River. With all due respect to the great country singer, Alan Jackson, that muddy water never meant that much to me. I think a coastal area with marshes and estuaries would provide better opportunities for clamming, crabbing, and fishing. We'd also have to be sure to bring fishing poles, tackle, buckets, coolers, and a camp stove in order to catch our grub. Unfortunately, if we have to live in our little Chevy down by the river instead of a van, we may have to downgrade to Ronco Pocket Fisherman. Fortunately, they are buy one get one free for $29.95 at ronco.com.

It's really diverting to imagine a nice camping trip in a van down by the river, but I think I'd really rather forgo a worldwide economic collapse and a global depression. I've got a fishing pole, but I hope our political and business community leaders don't force me to use it.

Coffee for the Recession

This recession has forced lots of people to wake up and smell the coffee.  Not the fancy coffee with whip-cream and a snooty barrista, but the basic black coffee of hard times.  Coffee that tastes like an H1B worker just took your job.  Coffee that tastes like foreclosure.  Coffee that tastes like your hundredth e-mail rejection.  Once you get used to it, you learn to drink it and savor it.

Actually, if you want a great cup of coffee without the fancy frills, the Proctor-Silex 12-cup Coffee Maker makes a pretty good cup.

Product Review:  Proctor-Silex 12-cup Coffee Maker

Marriage in Recessionary Times

Have you found somebody to love you for richer or for poorer?  You can outsource millions of jobs to India and China, but you still can't outsource love.  If you've found a special someone and you want to get married, you can get married on a budget.  One way to save is to buy your wedding band at Walmart!

The Walmart Wedding Band

Things that go with Ramen Noodes

 By Kropsoq (photo taken by Kropsoq) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.1-jp (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.1/jp/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

Our lottery numbers didn't come in.  So, we'll draw our breath in pain and march on with our favorite poverty food.  Yep, Ramen Noodles are the official food of dang we're broke!  If you find yourself eating Ramen Noodles, here are some things you can put in 'em:

1. Frozen Peas
2. Frozen Snap Beans
3. Frozen Vegetable Medley
4. Texas Pete Hot Sauce
5. Sriracha Thai Hot Sauce
6. Canned Chicken (Drained)
7. Roasted Peanuts
8. Soy Sauce

Mmmmm.... takes you back to starving student days!  Yum!

This blog might end today!

If our numbers get picked, if the Megamillions gods smile upon us, if it's our lucky night, I might have to close up this blog and move to the South of France!  We'll probably play one ticket--and only one ticket--to see if we win.  Until then, we get to dream!

New Goodwill in Atlanta

We recently visited a brand, new, Goodwill Store in Atlanta.  It had clean aisles, friendly staff, a great selection, and very reasonable prices.  The new store is located on Northside Drive in Atlanta, Georgia, between I-75 and the Georgia Tech campus.  Here is a steampunk clock that I saw while shopping:

For $12, it was a cool find.  But, ultimately, I passed on it.  What would I do with such a steampunk contraption?

Saving Money on Water Bills!

As America's infrastructure ages, water bills are rising to cover the costs of repairing and rebuilding old water systems.  Out west, reservoirs are limited and states are mandating conservation measures.  There's never been a better time to try and save water and save money on your water bill.


If you're trying to cut your water bill, you've got to focus on your shower.  You can get a low flow shower head and you can take shorter showers.  You can pretend you are in the Navy and take Navy showers!  Here are some ideas to help you take a shorter shower:

Eight ways to take a shorter shower

The next thing to do is to reduce the amount of time water runs in the house.  For example, you don't want to leave the water running while you brush your teeth.  You also don't want to hand wash dishes as that can use a lot more water.  For more tips, check out this US News article on

Simple Ways to Save On Your Water Bill

Selling Your Stuff

There's nothing worse than selling some of your stuff to raise cash.  But, you can't take material possessions with you.  A nice knick-knack on the mantle or a piece of hobby equipment stuffed in the back corner of the closet doesn't do you much good.  It just collects dust.  If you need cash, try a consignment shop, ebay, or an old fashioned garage sale.  You'll feel a few pangs when you let prized possessions go, but it feels good to de-clutter and earn a little cash.

Dealing with a Lay Off - Saving Money

Nothing makes you economize more than a lay off.  If you've been laid off in this economy, it's a full out emergency.  You try to minimize your spending, you try to eat in, and you try to eat cheap.  If you've been used to a comfortable lifestyle, being laid off with a real punch in the gut.  Here are some tips to help you save money after you've been laid off.

Immediate Steps to Save Money After You've Been Laid Off

Millions of Americans are struggling just to survive in this economy.  If you are struggling to survive a lay off, maybe some real survival tips from the Army could help you survive.  Here is an acronym to remember from the Army Survival, Evasion, and Escape Manual:

S - Size Up The Situation.
U - Undue Haste Makes Waste
R - Remember Where You Are
V - Vanquish Fear & Panic
I - Improvise
V - Value Living
A - Act Like the Natives
L - Learn Basic Skills

Here is an article to help you put that acronym into practice during this recession:

Army Survival Tips Might Help You Survive the Recession