How to Make a Part-Time Job Work: Tips From My Dad

Many of us work part-time jobs in order to pay bills, cut debt or to build up savings accounts. -Last week, I wrote about different part-time jobs. But working extra hours is a really chore if you also have other careers and competing commitments.

Here are a few tips about fitting part-time jobs into a full schedule.

My Dad, for example, worked full-time as a teacher and school administrator during the day. At night he worked different jobs in restaurants, a store and even on a ship dock unloading cargo.
He used these strategies to make his second job work:

1. Keep track of the uniform. Most second jobs involve a uniform or some kind of dress code that is very different from our 9-to- 5 wardrobe. My Dad kept his waiter's uniform in the car or in his locker during the school week. This strategy made it easier for him to make a quick change with minimal effort. Time was a precious commodity because after the school bell rang, my Dad worked until midnight several days a week.

2. Arrive at the second job a little early, my Dad advises. Getting to work ahead of time gave him a little time to freshen up, change and relax.

He's right. I learned that lesson the hard way. During my first year in New York, I worked at Editor & Publisher magazine from 9 to 5. In the evenings, I worked in a restaurant until 11 pm.
After leaving the magazine, I would stretch out at home as long as possible: Bad move. That stay-at-home until the-last-second plan was not relaxing. I was always scrambling and harried.

3. Remain focused on financial goals. Working a second job is easier if you constantly remember your financial goals, such as paying off debt or saving for a house, my Dad says.

The extra job "was just something that had to be done," he says. "I was just determined and put my mind to it."

4. Take care of yourself. "You must mentally prepare yourself and get as much rest as you can," my Dad says.

In future posts, I will provide tips about working a part-time job while attending school and tips about saving the extra paycheck.
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Jessica Biel Gets Frugal Exercise

Walking is one of the cheapest, easiest and healthiest forms of exercise. It's a work-out enjoyed by Jessica Biel in this recent photo from Us magazine:

"Jessica "The Bod" Biel takes a four-legged friend for a low-key walk in Los Angeles." --Us Magazine

I walk about one mile daily, sometimes more. Here are 10 reasons why I enjoy walking:

1. I don't need to buy fancy or expensive equipment. (I buy great athletic shoes on sale. My Reeboks, for example, were purchased at a BOGO-half off sale at Macy's. )
2. No gym needed.
3. Walking fits into small time slots of the day.
4. I can walk and accomplish other tasks and errands. The Post Office is a half-mile from my home. Buying stamps is an easy way to log in a mile.
5. Walking is meditative.
6. Walking is the cheapest form of transportation.
7. A stroll is good for the heart and easy on the joints.
8. I can walk alone or in groups.
9. It's a fun exercise to do with kids.
10. I don't need to enroll in a class, watch a tape or hire a personal trainer.
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Meet Me on the Radio at WLRN.org

I'll be chatting live on WLRN, an NPR station, with Joseph Cooper, host of Topical Currents at 1 pm on Wednesday, March 28th, eastern time.

Tune in anywhere: Hit the "listen now" button on WLRN's website (www.wlrn.org); otherwise for local traffic in Miami it's: 91.3 FM on the radio dial.

We plan to talk about unusual uses for everyday items, frugal alternatives to expensive time saving devices and other topics.

Please send me your #1 Frugal Tip. Leave a comment or send an email (sharonhr@bellsouth.net). Time permitting, I'll mention as many tips as possible, with credit.
Thanks & Tune in.
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Cheap 'n Easy Floor Cleanups: A Link to Miami Herald Column

Between dog tracks, dust from the garden and sneaker prints, my broom and mop
have been working overtime since the recent installation of white high-gloss
tiles in my living room. Fortunately, there are time-saving short-cuts to reduce
clean-up time.

• Use your pencil. Simple pencil erasers are great for
removing scuff marks from tile and wood floors. I tested this tip and
successfully rubbed out a few marks from my new tile floor.

That's a short sample of my most recent column in the Miami Herald. The piece includes a rundown of time and step-saving tips for floors. And of course, while cleaning floor be careful on slick or wet surfaces. Here's the link to the column.

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Tight-Fisted Miser & Dumpster Diving Tips

Dumpster Diving is a controversial sport in the frugal arena. Some folks swear by it and others turn up their nose at the idea of picking through trash. For Friday, I've put together a short round-up of Dumpster Diving strategies and philosophies.

Tight-Fisted Miser, for example, takes the clean approach to trash dives. He hunts for coupons in discarded mail piles. Here's his post, which I accidentally deleted from the 66th Festival of Frugality.

"I received a mailer of coupons from Chick-fil-a in the mail yesterday. The coupons included ones for a free chicken sandwich and a free chicken biscuit. What made these a really good deal is that no purchase is necessary. I don’t have to spend any money to get my free sandwich. This is where the dumpster diving comes in. Since this is such a good deal I wanted more coupons..." --Tight-Fisted Miser

This link from All Things Financial also provides some valuable info about bin picking.

"Dumpster Diving can also be profitable. You can make money with everything from aluminum cans to items that can be resold at garage sales. People have been known to give up their day jobs to do this!" -- All Things Financial

Dawn from Frugal for Life rates Dumpster Diving as her #1 Money-Saving Tip

If you aren’t in a hurry and have some patience, keep your eyes peeled when driving by apartment complexes or dorm area or trash day in the suburbs. You would be amazed to find what you need if you wait and watch. Recently my roommate and I fixed up a dresser that we found at the dumpster. And it’s one of those older,
better made ones as well. --Frugal for Life

My house has a few gently discarded items. I'll have my tips on Sunday.
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Acid Burns Holes in Your Teeth and Wallets

You can save money at the dentist office by cutting down on sodas. Check out this interesting story about soda and teeth.

The Summary: Many of the most popular everyday sodas are horrible for your teeth. The erosive potential of a normal cola is on average 10 times more than that of fruit juices. When it comes to sodas, root beer does the least amount of damage to your teeth.

--from Tali Rosenberg, a new intern at the Frugal Duchess

"...many other popular diet and sugared sodas are nearly as corrosive to dental enamel as battery acid. LiveScience.com

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Working at Dip 'n Dots for Debt & Other Part-Time Job Tips

A neighbor (in her 20s) was wearing a Dip'n Dots uniform while walking her dog. I was puzzled by the ice cream store uniform.

"I thought you worked in a doctor's office," I asked her.

"Still there. Dip 'n Dots is my part-time job," she explained.

She works a second job in order to pay off a student loan and auto debt. Her part-time work experience reminded me of the recent post from Tired of Being Broke , a 20-something writer who has recently posted about a second job that is used to pay off student loans. I've also held a long series of part-time jobs to pay my bills. Indeed, finding a second job to pay off debt or to make ends meet is one of the moves recommended in the book Help! I Can't Pay My Bills by Sally Herigstad, a contributing writer on MSN Money.

When I lived in Manhattan during my 20s, I worked for Editor & Publisher magazine during the day and I worked at a restaurant at night. During my New York years, I also worked part-time as a book store clerk and shoe model. I found my various jobs through contacts, roommates and luck.

• waitress: I found this job based on a tip from a roommate
• shoe model: Tip from a waitress
• book store clerk: I saw the sign while reading in an upscale bookstore.

My parents, especially my Dad, worked in the Public School System by day and worked different part-time jobs at night. My Dad worked in restaurants, a night club and even on a ship dock, where he unloaded cargo. (My parents even worked second and third jobs while attending graduate school). The extra money helped pay for our new house in the suburbs, family vacations, education and other costs associated with raising four children.

Next Thursday, I will provide tips from my dad and my neighbor about how they managed money, time and family while working two jobs. Here are coping strategies that worked for me:

• Pick a second job that is either near your home or near your first job. A short commute reduces transportation costs and gives you extra time to chill. In New York, I was able to walk to the restaurant where I worked in the evenings.
• Work for a flexible company: I always made sure the managers of my part-time jobs knew that I also had a full-time job. Sometimes -- but not always --their awareness provided me with a little more slack. They looked the other way if I showed up a few minutes late or if I needed extra time during a break. I didn't abuse their kindness.
• Get to know your co-workers. I often swapped shifts with other co-workers and we also covered for each other in different situations. Fellow workers were also a good source of job leads, workplace tips and other insights. For instance, during one of my blue-funks, a middle-aged woman who worked the cash register told me: "When it begins to haunt you like that, you have to let it go." And now, about 20 years later, whenever I start to obsess about some problem or scenario, I think of my co-worker's advice.

This article has information and links about finding a part-time job.

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Tainted Pet Food Teaches: Fancy Brand Labels May Be Scams

As a dog owner, I've been actively scanning the growing list of tainted pet food brands. I want to make sure that our dog "Scruffy" does not eat the food that has killed or sickened many other pets.

But beyond the food product scare, the tainted pet food case offers one major lesson on labels, marketing and consumer dollars. For instance, one pet food manufacturer produces dog and cat food for dozens and dozens of name brand and private label companies. That production scenario explains why so many different brands have been hit by the tainted pet food. This story provides an excellent summary of the situation.

"...some of most premium pet-food brands in the U.S. use the same manufacturer that processes dozens of low-price private-label products, according to Adage.com."

--Monsters and critics.com

The bottom line: As consumers we pay different amounts of money ---sometimes dramatically higher-- for basically the same products that are dressed up with fancier labels, celebrity endorsements and big-ticket marketing campaigns.

Beyond pet food, the same production scenario exists in cosmetics, household products and food products for people. While researching one story about private label foods, I was surprised at the number of big label names that also made private label products using the same formula.

A father of friend once supervised the production of candy for a private label company. His daughter shared this insight with me: The two different versions of the candy sported the same recipe, but different labels and prices. Likewise, a television makeup artist once told me that cheaper cosmetic labels are often identical or similar to higher-priced brands.

So why pay more?
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Grey's Anatomy Star Knits & Other Hobbies From Festival of Frugality

Yarn and knitting needles are in the real-time script of Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl in this photo from Us magazine. Knitting is a frugal hobby that offers relaxation and practical finished products.

"KNITTING FACTORY
Grey's star Katherine Heigl takes a break from shooting to hit a local knitting store in Santa Monica, CA. --Us magazine

For more insights about frugal crafts and kids, check out this post from the latest Festival of Frugality. It's a very thoughtful piece about how a father spends time with kids in a craft shop. He offers a very frugal & meaningful family activity. Also from FOF, I enjoyed this piece about 10 Smart Ways To Save Money On Your Hobbies. This post has practical and thoughtful suggestions for financing pleasures. Thanks to both authors for contributing to the Festival of Frugality, which has about 30 great posts on different topics.

The benefits of relaxation and down time are immense. And hobbies are good for businesses and careers. For instance, I work smarter when I take time out.

"Too little downtime may have life or-death consequences: A nine-year study of 12,338 men ages 35 to 57, all free of heart disease showed that those who took the most vacations were 29 percent less likely to be diagnosed later with heart disease -- and 17 percent less likely to die of it -- than those who skipped vacations."
--Make Time for Yourself by Dianne Hales, Parade magazine.

How important are hobbies to our long-term physical and fiscal health? Very. A friend of mine recovered from a personal tragedy with the help of knitting. She stitched her life together during the meditative silence of knitting. After enrolling in a knitting class, she made a woman's suit (looked like Chanel), children's clothes, sweaters and other garments. My friend now teaches small community classes on knitting.

My personal list of frugal hobbies includes:

• writing
• reading
• baking
• gardening.

I dabble in my little porch garden, but my sister in Orlando is the real gardener. She produces organic collard greens, peppers, tomatoes and other yummy vegetables. She grows enough to present neighbors, friends and family with gifts of plants and produce. The roots in her garden have a great home.

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Festival of Frugality: A Carnival of Money & Poetry

Welcome to the 66th Festival of Frugality. If you're new to the Frugal Duchess, please take time to look around my site. But reserve most of your attention for the Festival. I had originally formatted the Festival with snippets of economical poetry. But a last-minute technical glitch forced me to change my plan.

All this week, I will single out different posts from the Festival. I'll make additional comments about the posts.

I'm grateful to Jim of BluePrint for Financial Prosperity for letting me host the Festival. Thanks to anyone who submitted. Next week's carnival will be hosted by: Debt Hater.


"ever been kidnapped
by a poet... "
--Nikki Giovanni --Kidnap Poem


Editor's Pick

Ben presents 10 Ways College Students can Save Money on Spring Break posted at Money Smart Life. These tips are great for anyone planning a vacation. For instance, I really connected with the first tip about looking beyond the brochure when booking a hotel. On one vacation, we were burnt by a hotel that looked great online and in the brochure, but was horrible when we actually checked in.

Sagar Satapathy presents Live without Credit Cards: 77 Tips posted at Credit Card Lowdown.
This is a helpful list of money-saving tips for the home, work, the car and other areas. Here's a sample:

"Forgo unnecessary insurance. Card companies will try to
hard sell theft insurance for their cards. Don't fall for it-it's not really
needed. --Credit Card Lowdown.

Stephanie presents A Frugal Balance posted at Stop the Ride!.

"Being frugal is about saving money, but it is also about prioritizing how you
spend your money. You don't have to give up everything you enjoy. You don't
always have to buy the cheapest option. Of course, butter, milk and bacon are
examples on a small scale, but finding a frugal balance, with in your budget,
applies to all levels of our time and finances. A Frugal Balance

The Bargain Queen presents The B(argain shopping) Team posted at The Bargain Queen blog.

"You can often get great deals by buying something that's
been minimally damaged and fixing it up (plus it keeps things out of landfill),
but not all of us have the skills or equipment to make even minor repairs.
Here's the service providers you need to know to be able to buy damaged clothing
and have it fixed up." --The Bargain Queen blog

Other Favorites:

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Help! Could I Have Bag Lady Syndrome? posted at The Digerati Life. This post asks a very thoughtful question: "Could being exceptionally frugal be a sign of bag lady syndrome?"

Bryan C. Fleming presents 6 Percent Online Savings Accounts posted at Bryan C. Fleming. This article addresses this issue: "Can you and I get 6 percent interest on our money?"

ispf presents Watching Movies For Cheap (The Sequel) posted at Grad Money Matters.


Grocery & Food Shopping

Jim presents Saving: Not Always About Unit Price posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Roast chicken or how to pinch a penny ’til it screams posted at Home Ec 101.

"Here at Home Ec 101 we get a lot of questions on how to
stretch those grocery dollars. One of my personal favorites is to buy a whole chicken. You can get a lot of bang for your buck with one of these, just make sure you don’t buy one injected with anything over 5% sodium solution; it burns
me up to pay for water." --Home Ec 101.

****correction: Post written by Heather of Home Ec 101****

Yan presents Browse coupons from local grocery stores online at ProBargainHunter.com posted at ProBargainHunter.com.

Home Stuff

Spending on Warranty to Save Money: His television went black, but he saved with the extended warranty. The equation of warranty math, time and home appliances works for this writer. I also enjoyed reading the comment from Tim.

Amy Allen Clark presents Ask Frugal Momma: The Amazing Dishwasher posted at Amy Allen Clark. This is a super piece about getting more out of your dishwasher.

Melanie Rimmer of Bean Sprouts presents Frugal Mindset Summary:

"One of the most difficult things about becoming more frugal is
breaking out of the mindset that you must have the right product for every need. The article discusses creative ways to make do without specialised gadgets, and challenges readers to come up with lateral-thinking (and thrifty) solutions to three hypothetical problems."

Jenny Blackburn presents Overdoing Easter posted at Adventures in Parenting.

Car
Savvy Steward presents Car Freshner Tip - Glade Plugins Refill posted at Savvy Steward: "A frugal tip for car fresheners."

FMF presents Buying a Car Using the Web posted at Free Money Finance.


Entertainment & Hobbies

Shannon Christman presents 10 Smart Ways To Save Money On Your Hobbies posted at Personal Finance Advice.

KevinL presents She's Crafty posted at Weekends With Dad. This post offers a creative and frugal source of fun with kids. A lot of stores have craft programs and Keven presents his kid-friendly and pocket-friendly day of craft.

Jenn @ Frugal Upstate presents Columbia DVD Club-Good Deal or Not? posted at Frugal Upstate.

story3girl presents Eating out for cheap posted at story's blog. I loved these tips. Very helpful

ispf presents Watching Movies For Cheap (The Sequel) posted at Grad Money Matters.

3 Things About Money:Presents:frugal Travel Tips

Brett presents Free Magazines For The Rest of Your Life posted at Brett.

Banking, Money & Personal Finance

nickel presents How to Avoid ATM Fees posted at fivecentnickel.com.

Phil presents Think Before Donating « Phil for Humanity posted at Phil for Humanity. This post raises the question: "How can people, who are in debt, feel comfortable donating?"


Pushpa Sathish presents Talking Dollars: The 100 Most Famous Quotes about Finance posted at Debt Consolidation Lowdown.

Jon Morrow presents Why Paying Down Your Mortgage is a Good Idea posted at Real Estate Mega Book.


Shadox of Money and Such presents The Bait and Switch : This post is about how companies to "re-neg, ignore and not honor offers, discounts and rebates." Shadox offers strategies for dealing shady bait-and-switch policies.

Sagar Satapathy presents Starting Early: The Young Adult’s Guide To Personal Finance posted at Debt Consolidation Lowdown.


Health & Personal Needs

Erin presents There's Money in the "Monthlies" posted at Queercents. Erin at Queercents calculates the amount of money a typical woman will shell out for the "Monthlies" in her lifetime as well as provide us with alternatives to save money and the environment.

MFJ presents Frugal cure for a sore throat posted at My Financial Journey.
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Eavesdropping on Frugal Conversations

Sometimes it doesn't pay to mind your own business. For example, today I picked up a few tips on frugal living by eavesdropping. I overheard this cell phone conversation in the elevator of my building.

Cast:

• A 20-something, fashionably dressed young woman (Elevator Girl) and her cell phone.
• Me and my BOGO half-off pair of Reeboks

Elevator Girl: (speaking walkie-talkie style into her cell phone. She's saving minutes by using this feature.) I'll pick you up. Now you know, my car has no air conditioning [in hot, hot South Florida] and the passenger window doesn't roll down. But, hey, it'll get you from point A to point B."

She smiles and steps off the elevator. I marvel at her no-nonsense embrace of a Basic Transportation car. She seems proud of her auto and makes no apologies for driving a clunker. In contrast, I've seen people go into big-time debt to lease the latest status symbol car.

Scenario # 2

The Scene: I'm in line forever at a national chain store. The man in front of me is checking, checking, checking the flyer and then smiles triumphantly. The cashier nods in agreement. I am too curious to get into a faster paced line. I move closer to hear the conversation.

Tall Man: See! That was worth it. I saved a lot of money.
Cashier: (Nods as Tall Man walks away).
Me: What was that about? What did he save?
Cashier: $3.98 on Saline solution. He thought he had the coupon and then he finally found it in the flyer. It was a big savings.

Lessons I learned:

1. Keep your coupons and promotional discounts organized. Time is money.
2. Be persistent. Don't be intimidated by impatient cashiers or fellow shoppers. Hold out for your savings.
3. Know your sales.
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Cheap Roots for the Garden: My Latest Miami Herald Column

I live in an apartment with a balcony that faces the ocean. Although, I miss the backyard of my childhood, I love the view. We've even created a container garden on our balcony. Due to my interest in gardening, I put together this piece for my latest newpaper column. The link to the full article, which appeared on Sunday in the Miami Herald, is below.

. There are many sources for free or cheap greenery. Plenty of plants and pots from garage sales decorate my porch garden. In addition to yard sales,there are many other sources of either inexpensive or free sources of plants and flowers, says Sue Williams of www.frugalgardening.com/.

Her No. 1 tip? ''Never be afraid to ask for anything,'' Williams says. She worked as an activities director for a nursing home and as a foster parent and says she ``always needed help getting supplies for both jobs. Consequently, I learned to ask for what I wanted as well as what I needed. I discovered people are very willing to help and to share. They just need to be asked.''

• Online sources: Freecycle.com and craigslist.org feature free or low-cost merchandise, including plants. Williams recommends posting an online notice requesting excess plants from gardeners.

That's how my newspaper column begins. Here's the link to the rest of my latest column in the Sunday edition of the Miami Herald .
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Favorite Posts-its: Links I Like

From an edible emergency fund to money and marriage, there were a lot of good posts out there this week.

Here are a few of my favorite posts for the week.

Boston Gal's Open Wallet offered: The emergency fund you can eat .

Double Income No Kids has posted: How We Co-manage our Finances .

Get Rich Slowly: How to Save for the Trip of a Lifetime .

One Money Dummy Getting Smarter : My new financial strategy.

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Don't Feel Deprived: My Favorite Advice from the Tightwad Gazette

Deprivation is dangerous for my budget. Some of my biggest splurges have taken place during one of my I-feel-poor moods.

"The feeling of deprivation will undermine any effort to pursue long-term discipline," writes Amy Dacyyzyn aka the Frugal Zealot in one of my favorite essays in The Tightwad Gazette.

I like her three-step cure for deprivation:

1. Celebrate your choice:

lRecognize that you are engaging in the discipline out of choice. You decide to give up something so that you can have something else.

--Amy Dacyczyn

My Example: We drive a thrifty old minivan. Without a monthly car note, we have more money for family vacations.

2. Rank expenses on a dollar-per-value scale. Begin to shed perks that mean the least.

"When you give up the lower priority things first, hopefully your budget will allow you to keep the extras that genuinely give value to your life."

--Amy Dacyczyn

My Comment: I've given up my shoe fetish. I used to be crazy about shoes. But now, I'd rather save the money for a spa date or just save the dollars that I used to spend on my feet.


3. Don't try keep up with the Frugal Joneses or the Big Spenders.

My Comment: I have friends that are black-belt savers and economizers. I have others who live in mansions and have full-time help, plus drivers. But it's very self-defeating when I try to compare my savings account to theirs. Sure, it's okay to have role models, but I can't compare my apples to my neighbor's oranges.

"Wringing your hands over economic inequities merely wastes emotional energy that could be better used in a positive way to achieve your goal."-- Amy Dacyczyn

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Linking Poetry with Frugal Living: Seeking Submissions for Festival of Frugality

lI do not say these things for a dollar or to fill up
the time while I wait for a boat...l

--Walt Whitman from Song of Myself

There's a literal link between poetry and frugal living. Poetry involves the economy of words; frugality involves the economy of money and resources.


With that link in mind, I'm putting together the next edition of the Festival of Frugality, which runs on Tuesday. Here's the submission form.

Please submit stories, tips and posts about any aspect of frugal living.

Poets are also welcome to submit verses with a monetary theme.
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Organic Food Discounts & Cooking Guides

My week-long splurge of organic food articles ends with this post about the current sale at Wild Oats, which has wide aisles of organic produce and packaged foods. Select items are buy-one-get-one free. The latest sale lasts through March 27.

Wild Oats is also having a special one-day sale on organic and natural food tomorrow: Friday, March 16.


This link leads to a store-by-store locator and specials at the different outlets. Plug in a zip code to get a list of sales at Wild Oats stores within that region.

Both Wild Oats and Whole Foods stores have excellent how-to cook sections on their web sites. For example, Whole Foods offers a great series called: Meals for 4 Under $15, which includes step-by-step cooking instructions. Wild Oats has also an online cooking guide. I recommend the Quick & Easy Recipes.
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How to Quit Your Job & Other Tips at Carnival of Personal Finance

From an informative comparison of college savings plans to a how-to-quit your job guide, The Carnival of Personal Finance No. 91 is a great read. The Sun’s Financial Diary runs an excellent show. The line-up is well organized with very thoughtful commentary from the host, who must have spent hours reading, digesting and sifting through the submissions.

Here are a few of the posts that caught my eye:

I enjoyed Coverdell IRA vs. 529 plan for College Savings from Financial Zero to Hero Husband and Dad. This post provided a very thoughtful summary and comparison of two popular savings plans.

Here's another must-read: A Job Quitter’s Primer: 25 Reasons To Leave Your Job from Silicon Valley Blogger at The Digerati Life. This is an excellent article for those considering a job move.
It's a keeper.

When Your Car is a Gold Digger: Budgeting for Auto Maintenance from Money Under 30 is also a very helpful piece. I especially liked the tip about creating a self-insurance plan for repairs.

I'm glad to be in the line-up. Thanks to the host for taking the time to read over 75 entries and to organize such a wonderful carnival.
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Frugal & Rich: 10 Reasons I'd Save Even With Wealth

When looking for a gown to wear to a family wedding, I browsed through Marshall's and I also checked into an upscale boutique. In both stores, I saw the same gown, but the Marshall's version was about one-third the price of the boutique counterpart. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I was stunned by the huge price difference.

That moment of comparison shopping made me realize that even if I had a lot of money, I'd still live frugally. Here's why:

10 Reasons Why I'd Save Even With Wealtlh

1. I would give more money to charity, including scholarship funds for inner city kids.
2. I would save money in order to justify my purchase of the best court-side season tickets for Miami Heat games and NBA playoffs. I'd take my boys and I would also find some fun outing for my husband and daughter. They have to do something fun while me & the boys are at the games.
3. I would be frugal in order to spend more money on my favorite projects and hobbies.
4. I would save in fear of a downward shift in fortune. I, too, have my bag lady fears, something that even Oprah has confessed to.
5. I would be frugal in order to pay back my parents, siblings and friends for all their years of generosity.
6. I would donate money to various educational institutions, public and private. The list would include my parents Alma Mater: Cheyney University, Georgetown University (My school) and the schools that my children attend. I would also give lots of money to my syngogue.
7. I would save in order to conserve the environment. I have too much stuff already.
8. I would continue to clip coupons & shop sales with my savings going to greater purchases of organic produce. I would buy a larger share in a food co-op and provide several scholarship shares for those who can not afford to shop organically.
9. I would save so that my children could live comfortably.
10. And I'd live frugally just for the discipline.

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Debt Hater's Carnival of Debt Reduction

Debt Hater hosts The 78th Carnival of Debt Reduction. Financial Priorities holds center stage at this carnival, which is well-organized and features smart commentary.

Here are a few of the posts that caught my eye, with links quoting the descriptions offered by Debt Hater.

• Blogging Away Debt: "isn’t getting fanatical about debt repayment." The Priority: living the good life and developing good fiscal habits.
• The Family CEO: "switched to debit from credit to avoid overspending." The Wisdom: What a difference a debit card makes!
• Queercents offers: "paying attention to your emotions" while spending. The Bottom Line: A very insightful and helpful piece about emotional shopping.

I'm happy to included in the line-up. Thanks to the host for reading, organizing and creating the carnival. It's an excellent read.

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$15 Million Movie Ticket Giveaway

This free movie ticket offer is just another headline-grabbing stunt from Universal Pictures. But free tickets are free tickets. Here are the details from an AP report.

J Universal Pictures has come up with an unusual plan to try to fill theaters when its film "Peaceful Warrior" opens later this month: The company is giving away $15 million worth of free tickets.

Through a partnership with Best Buy, the film company will give interested moviegoers as many as 10 free tickets to see "Peaceful Warrior" during its opening weekend, March 30 to April 1, Universal's president of marketing, Adam Fogelson, announced Tuesday. J

Here's the link to the complete story from Associated Press.
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Frugal Fun w/Kids: Tips from Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner: 15 Low-Cost Ideas

It doesn't cost a thing to swing. That's the fiscal lesson from this playground shot of Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and their toddler, which recently ran in People Magazine.

"Proud parents Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner get into the swing of things with 1-year-old daughter Violet at a Vancouver playground on Sunday. Garner is currently in the British Columbia province filming the dramedy Juno. "--People

Sure it's fun to take the kids to some of those big-ticket indoor playgrounds for toddlers and teens. But the Afffleck-Garner celebrity example of Frugal Fun reminds me that you don't need a lot of bells and whistles to make kids happy. Likewise, their stellar example prompted me to put together my own list of free or low-cost activities for parents and kids.

15 Fun & Cheap Activities with Kids

1. Go for a walk.

2. Play tag.

3. Make cards together.
4. Play board games. Here's a link to family game nights and here's another link on the topic.
5. Cook together: My children love to bake, mix and blend with us.
6. Browse through a Farmer's Market (a Simple Dollar Tip).
7. Draw, Color and sketch.
8. Watch a TV or movie together. Here's what happened when I watched Hannah Montana with my daughter.
9. Write letters.
10. Dance: We love to put on music and just dance. It's fun.
11. Work out with an exercise tape: We have worked out with Tae-Bo and Yoga with our kids. (We purchased our tapes from discount bins and we borrowed other exercise tapes from the library.)
12. Read together. My daughter and I have girl-time, reading-time.
13. Clean up! I get so tired of the Mommy Maid routine. Teach them to tidy up.
14. Homework. Trying to "help" with math homework has been humbling for me and very entertaining for my kids.
15. Call friends and relatives. I love having conference calls or pass-the-phone chit-chats with Aunts and Grandparents. Hey M&D ( sibs)!

Here are other fun activities from Familyfun.com. There are excellent crafts and exercises on this website. Disney.com and Crayola.com.
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Festival of Frugality: Diverse Paths to Extra Money

With tips about freebies, college work-study programs and painless budgeting, The 65th Festival of Frugality is up and running. It's a well-organized roundup with witty transitions and lots of diversity. I've bookmarked a few of the stories. Here are some of my favorites:

I enjoyed the English Major's post on buying coupons on eBay.

I also liked The Free Geek's tips about freebies: The Geek’s Guide to Getting Free Stuff.

Living Almost Large has a super item about how she makes money from steeply discounted items at IKEA. She assembles then sells and writes about her efforts in: Best money savings (making!) deal.

I read with interest: Getting to Graduation: Going to College Without Student Loans. Let's hear a college cheer for work-study programs!

Sarah of Wise Bread has an insightful post: How to follow a budget without breaking down in tears.

Thanks so much to the host for taking the time and energy to assemble the festival, which included a wide field of posts. I'm happy to be included in the line-up. I have a tough act to follow next week, when FOF moves here for the week. Please help me get my act together by submitting early.

In the buttons section of my sidebar, there is a link to the Carnival sites. Look for the Festival Frugality and submit your article. Also I plan to post a direct link to the Festival submission form later this week.
Thanks.
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Wild Uses for Paper Clips: Tip Tuesday Report

As I organize the clutter in my desk drawers, I expect to find enough paper clips to stock a small office supply store. Conveniently, I have found several tips for dealing with paper clips, which "were patented by Samuel B. Fay in 1867," according to this snippet of history from Early Office Museum.

Here are a few of my favorite Paper Clip Tips from a past issue of Woman's World:

• Snack Saver: Don't pay extra for upscale food clips. Large paper clips work fine for sealing up chips and cereal. Just fold the bag and clip.


• Place Saver: Paper clips are great for marking off frequently used phone numbers. This tip means that you'll spend less time in the phone book. I also use paper clips to save my place in magazines and books My husband does not, however, recommend paper clips as book markers because clips can ruin pages with indentations and/or rust marks.


• Photo Finish: I love to place family pictures and postcards on the bulletin board near our computer desk. But I hate the push-pin holes in snapshots and cards. The Woman's World Solution: Dangle paper clips from the push-pins and then attach the photos to the paper clips.


• Zipper Repair: A bright paper clip can be used to replace a missing zipper pull.

Here are 101 Uses for a Paper Clip: an excellent list of 125 uses. I've featured the first 10. (see below) I've actually used paper clips to stitch together falling hemlines (tip # 1). This trick works best if the hem is floor-length, which is and not as visible as a knee-length hem repair.

• hem holder
• cigar filter unstopper
• spray bottle unclogger
• eye glass repair
• hair barrette
• zipper tab
• clean fingernails
• Xmas ornament holder
• unclog Elmer's glue bottle
• calendar holder" Source: --101 Uses for a Paper Clip
  

Wikipedia offers an excellent list of low-tech and high-tech uses for paper clips:

"Paper clips can be bent into a crude but effective lock pick and can be used as in place of a q-tip to clean ones ear (though this should probably be done for you rather than by you). A paper clip is also a useful accessory in computing: the metal wire can be unfolded with a little force. Several devices call for a very thin rod to push a recessed button which the user might only rarely need. This is seen on most CD-ROM drives as an "emergency eject" should the power fail; also on early disk drives (including the early Macintosh). Some Palm PDAs advise the use of a paper clip to reset the device. The track ball can be removed from early Logitech pointing devices using a paperclip as the key to the bezel. A paper clip bent into a "U" can be used to start an ATX PSU without connecting it to a Motherboard (connect the green to a black on the Motherboard header). One or more paperclips can make a loopback device for a RS232 interface (or indeed many interfaces). A paperclip could be installed in a Commodore 1541 disk-drive as a flexible head-stop. Paperclips have been used (unsafely) to replace fuses."

There are many other uses for paper clips including educational recycling projects for kids.

Likewise, The Paper Clips Project was a school program in which students from a Southern school collected paper clips as a special memorial to Holocaust victims.

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Frugal Priorities on the Organic Food Chain: What's Best to Buy Organic

I've been writing about my organic food club over the last week. My Two Dollars has also posted an excellent item about the health value of organic food.

But if you don't have the funds for organic produce, Consumer Reports has an excellent guide that will help you set money-saving priorities by offering tips about what's best to buy organic and what's okay to get from the standard (non-organic) produce section. The guide also provides links to other organic food sources, including tips for getting organic food for less and information about pesticides on fruits and veggies.

Here are items that are best to buy organic:

"Apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes,nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and
strawberries.

Why: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s own lab testing
reveals that even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry
much higher levels of pesticide residue than others.

Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., have developed the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables, above, that they say you should always buy organic if possible because their conventionally grown counterparts tend to be laden with pesticides. Among fruits, nectarines had the highest percentage testing positive for pesticide residue.

Peaches and red raspberries had the most pesticides (nine) on a single sample. Among vegetables, celery and spinach most often carried pesticides, with spinach having the highest number (10) on a single sample --Consumer Reports

It's also best to buy baby food, meat, milk and eggs from organic sources, according to Consumer Reports. In contrast, it's less of a priority to shop organically for these items:

Asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower,
sweet corn, kiwi, mangoes, onions, papaya, pineapples, and sweet peas.

Why:Multiple pesticide residues are, in general, rarely found on conventionally grown versions of these fruits and vegetables, according to research by the EWG.

Meanwhile, tonight we will receive our bi-weekly shipment of organic food. We share pick-up duties with a neighbor. This arrangement saves gas since we only have to do pickup duties once a month.




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My Favorite Post-its: Links I Like

Here is a roundup of a few of my favorite posts from the last week or so,.

The Simple Dollar has a very helpful piece about shopping in Farmer's Markets.
I enjoyed this article.

"... farmer’s markets are the place to go for inexpensive and fresh produce."--The Simple Dollar

Blogging Away Debt has a fun and insightful piece about her efforts to lower the monthly electric bill.

"We spent $30 and installed CFL light bulbs in our home. I unplugged the freezer that we really do not use. I turn off my computer powerstrip when I am not working." -- Blogging Away Debt

My Two Dollars posted an excellent item about the health value in organic vegetables.

"It always amazes me when I hear about people that complain about the cost of buying organic foods. I mean, this is the stuff that fuels you and keeps you going..it's what keeps you alive. So why wouldn’t you want to put the best possible stuff in your body? "-- My Two Dollars

Dumb Little Man has a smart piece about maintaining a balance between work and home. He provides practical solutions for those of us work overtime.

"Occasionally we all have to work at night or on the weekends. The key here is to set an expectation when honestly important projects arise. If you really don't need to work, keep the electronics off. Don't login just because you are curious. As we all know you will find reasons to email people or start completing tasks." --Dumb Little Man

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Frugal Cures for Junk Drawers: My Latest Column in the Miami Herald

My desk is a beautiful antique with a scary feature. For instance, whenever I slide open the main drawer, I expect rabid dust bunnies and crazed paperclips to attack me. It's a surreal 3-D version of the child's game: rock-paper-scissors-shoot. Frankly, I've been shot down by clutter.

After endless papercuts, I've found several frugal solutions for organizing my junk drawers. Those solutions sparked my latest column in the Sunday Miami Herald.

Here's a snippet of the column.

A common indoor pest plagues many homes in South Florida, namely the ''junk drawer.'' Our catch-all drawers contain everything from old pay stubs to misshapen paper clips. And like ants on a countertop, junk drawers multiply in kitchens, home offices and recreation rooms.

Fortunately, there are many simple and frugal solutions to the junk drawer problem. Here are some suggestions from Susanne Phelps, a Hollywood-based professional organizer (www.cluttertamer.net):

By using small boxes from around the home and the sectioned trays from jewelry boxes and tool kits, it's possible to organize the clutter. Phelps offered wonderful suggestions. My favorite part: I don't have to spend a lot for fancy containers and boxes to get my house in order.

• Say goodbye to the junk drawer. You're setting yourself up for disorganization by even calling it a junk drawer. Every drawer in your home should have a specific purpose.

Here's the link to the full column.

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Get a Dog & Other Tips for Making Your Home Unattractive to Criminals

Reduce the curb-side appeal of your home and make it less of a magnet for burglars. That's one of several tips that I received via email from my neighborhood association. The tips were offered by the local police, who interviewed a thief. I featured the suggestions in a recent post.

Bottom Line: A home that is unattractive or unappealing to a robber is important because thieves prefer easy targets.

"Once a burglar has selected a home to burglarize, most will spend no more than a minute trying to break in and less than five minutes inside. " --Kevin Coffey, Author- Active Police Detective - Professional Speaker/President/CEO of Corporate Travel Safety

But in a recent comment, Dawn of Frugal for Life asked: How do you make your home unattractive?

Here are a few answers that I've rounded up.

1. Get a Dog....That's the advice my sister-in-law received from the police after her neighborhood was struck by a series of thefts. The officer told her that a barking dog is actually more protective than an alarm system.

2. Lock all ground-floor doors and windows. Most of the thieves in my neighborhood have entered through unlocked windows and doors.

3. Get an alarm system and post visible stickers announcing the installation of an alarm.

4. Trim or cut back your hedges: A friend of mine loved the look of a lawn lined with tall hedges, but worried that criminals could hide in the bushes. Such fears are justified, according to safety experts.

"Make sure all shrubs and trees are trimmed back so they do not allow a burglar to conceal himself while attempting to open a window or door. If possible, plant bushes with prickly thorns around these locations. They are a cheap deterrent."
--Kevin Coffey, Author- Active Police Detective - Professional Speaker President/CEO of Corporate Travel Safety

Here is an excellent list of tips.
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Beyond Cash: Other Perks of My Organic Buying Club: Recipes for Old Bananas & More!

In my last post, I wrote about the food co-op that we use to buy organic fruits and vegetables for at least 20 percent less than retail stores. We save lots of money and eat well.

But beyond the money-saving benefits, there are a lot of other perks to our buying co-op. Today, I feature a few of those benefits. On Monday, I will post a list of items that are best to buy organic and those that are less of a priority (okay to buy non-organic.)

In addition to the cash savings and the access to tastier/healtheir fruits & veggies, there are other perks of membership:

1. Discovery of new fruits/veggies: Our tote bags often include unusual fruits or veggies. As a result, we stretch our taste buds. My family has sampled different kinds of squashes, purple carrots, white carrots and exotic fruits. We have tasted items that would have never made it into our shopping cart but have since become family favorites.

2. Re-discovery of old standards. Our menu includes plain old vegetables that we have added back into our diet because they have been in our sack of organic veggies. Our meals include beets, red potatoes and other basics that were too boring for us in the past.

3. Commraderie: My husband and I feel a real sense of community with other members of our food buying club. We've formed new ties and strengthened existing relationships. When we pick up our sacks of bi-weekly shipments, we check in on each other.

4. Exchange of information/recipes: When faced with an unusual vegetable or fruit, members are quick to offer recipes and cooking insights. We've gained information about preparing squash, kale and other goodies.

For example, here is the recipe our group leader sent us for bananas.

Banana Sorbet – Quick Easy and Delicious!

When your bananas start to speckle brown, peel and freeze in Zips or containers. This recipe will allow you to utilize any surplus bananas on hand when ever you want a healty treat.

Frozen Bananas
Fresh Lemon
Dash of Cinnamon

Pulse Process bananas in a food processor. Add a tablespoon or two of fresh lemon juice and a dash of cinnamon just to add some extra zip. Process till smooth to soft serve consistency. Serve in dessert cups with a sprig of mint.

--Jayne Rosenbaum, Organic Produce Buying Club of South Florida

There are organic buying clubs around the country. My earlier post includes national links and a link to a tip sheet about buying organic foods on a frugal budget.

Here's a short description of how our organic food club works:

ORGANIC PRODUCE BUYING CLUB OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.jayroseorganics.com

Bi-Weekly, pre-paid Mixed Variety Share: $43.00. 2 large totes filled. 25–35 lbs. fruits, veggies and greens. Shares change according to market, season and availability. We take a strong stand on purchasing from only responsible,sustainable farms as well as a commitment to purchase from the State of Florida,when the season permits and from within the United States. Local area groups meet through out the State of Florida. Always Fresh. Always Certified. Always Priced Below Retail. Free Produce …(also available).

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How I Save Money in an Organic Food Co-op

For last several months, I've been a member of an organic food club. As part of the club, I buy organic produce for about 20 percent below retail prices and the discount is even higher during peak harvest periods, according to our club organizer: Jayne Rosenbaum of the Organic Produce Buying Club of South Florida. www.jayroseorganics.com (305-868-2136)

A fellow club member crunched the numbers and confirmed that we are saving money through the organic food club. While sitting in the carpool lane for our kids, I reviewed her calculations and agreed that we really are saving. There are other benefits, which I will write about on Sunday.

Our club is regional, but there are organic buying clubs are over the country. Check out localharvest.org to find a buying club near you. That site has links to other non-profit and government sources about organic food.

"The best organic food is what's grown closest to you. Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies." -- Local Harvest

The co-op in my neighborhood works like this:

1. We pay a $42 fee every two weeks. That fee represents our share in the co-op. Members that help with the distribution, bagging and weighing of vegetables/produce receive extra food or additional perks.

2. Our membership share entitles us to a bi-weekly shipment of two grocery bags full of fruits and veggies. We can purchase other items as needed.

3. We pick up the organic produce from a designated location (a community building or the home of a hosting member.) The pick-up site is convenient, typically within a five-minute drive from our home, which roughly equals our commute to the grocery store.

4. Our produce is bagged in cloth canvas bags that are re-used from week to week. We bring in one set of empty canvas bags and receive another set that is fully stocked. When we forget our bags, plastic is used, but this substitution is not encouraged.

The produce is packed with flavor. My children love the organic fruit and I have to force them to save fruit for others. Even naysayers who mock our organic shopping efforts, concede that the food tastes better. I should take and post before-and-after taste-test expressions.

During one dinner party, I served mini plums from the organic club. Our guests loved the plums and as a gift, we sent them home with the entire bag.

There are other ways to save money while buying organic produce. Here are a few tips that I posted based on an interview with Craig Minowa, an environmental scientist with the Organic Consumers Association, a nonprofit industry group.


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My Cash-Only Status Changes: New Credit Card; New Rules?

Cash has ruled my house. We've paid cash for everything, with help from our debit card, check book and generous financing from extended family.

But with the recent arrival of our new credit card that all changes. Actually, no! We plan to ignore the card, except for emergencies.

An emergency is not:


1) A too-busy, too-tired-to cook restaurant meal or take-out pizza
2) An end-of-season clothing sale
3) Last-minute birthday presents
4) Cool new CD: Let's try it.
5) Hair appointments
6) Manicure, facial or other so-called R&R treatments

Those so-called emergency expenses led to a large financial debt load when I was younger and I plan to avoid the credit money pit by:

1) paying off any charges within 30 days to avoid interest costs
2) reading the contract very carefully
3) scanning my credit card statement for unusual fees or activity
4) reading the Carnival of Debt Reduction every week.
5) staying on top of the debates and hearings about credit card fees in Congress. There's a push to force credit card companies to give consumers a better deal.


This item from USA Today outlines the new so-called "kinder & gentler" fee rules from credit card companies.

"In a break for consumers, major banks are rethinking — and in some cases
dropping — a handful of credit card policies that have been widely
criticized. " --USA Today

I also enjoyed this piece from Reuters:

Credit cards promise clear, simple language...from Reuters
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Captured Thief Provides Anti-Theft Tips to My Neighborhood Association

Several major thefts and home break-ins have kept my neighborhood on edge. The police recently caught the thief. Based on the interrogation of the alleged criminal, the police passed on these tips to our neighborhood association.

I've edited the suggestions for space and format, but the quotes are exact:

• "Anyone can be the victim of a break in to their home by a burglar.


• The general rule: make your home less attractive to the thief.


• Be sure to lock all doors and windows prior to leaving your home.


• If you have an alarm system, make sure you turn it on and use it.


• Remember if you will be away on vacation: Stop mail delivery or have someone pick up the mail for you. Stop the delivery of the daily newspaper. Have an
  automatic timer for a light to go on in the house to give it the look of an
  occupied home.


• If you will be gone for several days or longer, call the Police Department
  and ask for a watch order to be placed on your home, so officers will check the
  perimeter while you are gone."

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