Housewives’ Tips for Outside

“Old is new again” doesn’t just apply to things. At a time when stretching a buck is paramount, taking a look at how our grandparents and their parents ran their households can offer some much-needed savings advice.

Here are some hints for the gardener gleaned from a couple of marvelous old books, “500 HOUSEHOLD HINTS by 500 HOUSEWIVES” and “HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA” (both printed around 1920), with a few notes from me.

Weeds. From HOUSEHOLD HINTS: To kill weeds in a gravel path, pour boiling water over the gravel and leave for about twenty-four hours, after which the gravel can be raked over and the weeds removed.Vinegar also works, though both methods are best used on new growth. For established weeds, nothing beats getting down on your hands and knees and pulling them out by the roots.

Green Fly. From HOUSEHOLD HINTS: “Nothing is better than a pair of soft brushes joined together with a cane bow, so that by pressure of the hand they are brought in contact and the bud between them is cleared.”

Bugs. Boiling water is quite effective. I can attest to this, especially for ants in the garden. The HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA also suggests some rather ghastly mixes of petroleum and benzine or brimstone and saltpetre, but I definitely don’t recommend these. For ants, however, I do recommend orange oil. I save all my orange peels and blend them with a little water, strain the mix, then use the liquid as a spray.

Composting. From HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA: In a corner of the plot, well away from the house…if possible, that the most prevalent winds do not carry aromas toward the dwelling, dig a substantial hole, and in it put all garden refuse, mowings from lawn, cabbage and other leaves…….and all such vegetable material….makes what is known as compost……it can be hastened by throwing salt, soda (ash) and lime …….and a few buckets of water poured over the heap……Fork over now and again to let air and damp get in….

Earwigs. From HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA: The best and simplest trap is that of a small flower-pot, stuffed with a little dry moss and inverted on the top of a stake. It should be examined every morning and evening and its catch of earwigs destroyed by plunging into hot water.

Cabbage caterpillar. From HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA: Hand pick the young caterpillars and crush the egg clusters.

Potato Blight. From HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA: To prevent blight, spray the foliage with Burgundy or Bordeaux mixture. I don’t know about this; seems like a waste of good wine to me.

Slugs. My grandmother used to pour salt on them. This effectively causes them to dehydrate. I think it’s kinder to just squash them.

Wasp stings. From HOUSEHOLD HINTS: If…you should get stung….rub a cut onion on the spot. It will ease the pain and cause the swelling to go down. My mother used to use this remedy on me but I don’t recall if it actually worked!

Cut flowers. From HOUSEHOLD HINTS: Fill the bowl with sand to within an inch from the top, and soak with water. In this the flowers will keep fresh twice as long …… and will stand up. From HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA: An aspirin or a little starch dropped into the water…..will keep the stems upright. ……cut a small piece off the stem every day and split hard woody stalks about 1 inch from the bottom. Add a little soda (ash) and salt to the water to freshen the flowers.

Well, I hope some of these hints will be of use to you. At the least, it’s fun to look back and get a glimpse of life in the early 1900s.

Setting Up A Simple Home Office

An up side to the downturn in the economy is that you really can get some great bargains right now. Combine that with a little imagination and setting up an office for your new home business can be a relatively easy and inexpensive task.

I started thinking about this when both my printer and fax machine decided to depart this life together a few days ago. Not surprising, really, as they’re both five or six years old – eons in today’s technological era. My scanner, the granddaddy of them all at eight, is ready to head for the retirement home, too. Dreading what this was going to cost me I started researching replacement equipment and was happily amazed.

All-in-one (print, copy, scan and fax) machines, wireless to boot, can be had for as little as $100. That’s less than half of what I paid for the scanner alone eight years ago! For my needs I settled on the Lexmark X7675 All-in-One Printer, which goes for a measly $103 at Amazon, with free shipping. It’s listed elsewhere in the $300 range.

Complete computer packages, which include monitor, keyboard and mouse, can be had for as little as $400 – $500.  Obviously, if your business is graphic design you’ll need something with greater capacity, but to operate your Bonanzle booth or promote your pet-sitting service, minimal is just fine. Just scout around online for the best deals or check your local stores. And don’t waste money on a new phone system; use what you have until you start making money. Just make sure all your household members know how to answer when the phone rings. You don’t want your four-year old saying, “Hi, Mommy’s changing my baby sister’s diaper”.

For office furniture, if you can’t make do with the dining room table and a bunch of cardboard boxes as filing cabinets, look on Craigslist. I just saw a computer desk, cherry wood-stained, in good condition, for $25. And that’s the asking price! They’d probably take less. Or you could go “a la college days” (30 years ago, that is) and opt for plastic cartons and plywood to create a pseudo desk with storage space beneath and make bookcases from concrete blocks and wood panels.

Another don’t is printed office stationary. Most of you probably don’t even need business cards. I know people who’ve made millions and never had a letter-head or business card in their lives. If you are in a business that relies on handing out cards, then get the free ones at Vista Print. You can go for the gold-leaf embossed after you start making the big bucks.

One of the biggest rip-offs of all is the replacement cost of ink and toner cartridges for your office equipment. Search online to compare prices and look for compatible cartridges, rather than name-brand. My experience has been that they work equally as well. Or, for inkjets, you can try refill kits. This will involve injecting ink into your existing cartridges and can be a bit messy if you’re not careful.

The general object here is to get only what you need, when you need it and save your money for more important things. Believe me, I speak from experience, and an office full of obsolete and excessive file holders, floppy discs, 3-ring binders, floppy disc holders, business cards, printed labels, rubber stamps……..

The Art of Barter

How much is your time worth? Maybe more than you think.

Bartering is a means of exchanging one service or commodity for another, without the use of money. In times of monetary crisis (like Now!), when cash is in short supply, it can be a means to get the things you need without having to dip into the old piggy bank.

Over the years I’ve bartered for many things. For my part I’ve offered services such as bookkeeping, dog walking, window cleaning….you name it. In return I’ve received technical help on the computer, electrical work, even a chance to go treasure diving. After training as a massage therapist I plied my trade part time for monetary payments but also found it to be a great bartering commodity (And get your mind out of the sewer! We’re not talking about sexual favors here). If I needed heavy work done in the garden, for instance, there was always someone willing to help out in exchange for a massage session or two.

There’s plenty of scope to barter for “stuff” as well; just take a look on Craigslist. You may be surprised that items that no longer have worth to you may well be of value to others.

The thing to do is make a list of what you want (or need) and another of what you have to offer. Don’t sell yourself short; think of everything you might do – sewing, cleaning, errands. Do you have specialized training? Auto mechanic, plumber, computer skills, artist? What might be lurking in the garage or attic that you could exchange? Do you have furniture, a car, a boat that you no longer want?

Once you know what you want and what you can offer, put your own ad on Craigslist or Kijiji. Check the classifieds or you could try approaching someone directly. If your air conditioning needs a serious tune up before the summer heat hits, try asking a local professional if he’d be prepared to do the work in exchange for bookkeeping, office cleaning, hair cutting, yodelling lessons, whatever…..!

There are also a myriad of online bartering services now-a-days. Just search online for barter clubs. Bear in mind, though, that these clubs require fees, however small, for helping match you with other members.

Another thing to consider is that there may be tax implications with bartering. (Oh, yes! The IRS wants its piece of you even when no actual money is involved). To learn more check here.

Well, I’m about to place an ad for an old conversion van I no longer use. I’ll gladly take cash for it but I also need some painting and repairs done around my house. My husband is just not Mr. Fixit, so I’m also going to offer the vehicle in exchange for the work and, frankly, I’ll probably get better value out of it as a barter.

“He who wants to barter, usually know what’s best for him.” – African proverb

Getting a Tax Refund? Spend It

This year the average tax refund will be $2,705.00. For most of us that’s a lot of moolah, so go ahead and spend it……….wisely!

1. Reduce your credit card debt. Saving on interest payments is like earning interest. As of April 6th, 2009, the average credit card rate for non-reward credit cards had increased to 12.80%. A 12-month CD won’t get you much more than 2.5%, so where do you think your money would be better spent?

2. Improve the value of your home. Even though values have plummeted, this is still your biggest asset. Protect it by doing much needed repairs or a little upgrading. Now is a great time to negotiate a really good price with a contractor but be very wary that you don’t over-improve.

3. Re-finance your mortgage. Your refund might cover out-of-pocket expenses to get a better mortgage rate. If you currently have a mortgage of $165,000 at 7% you could save more than $200 a month with a rate of 5%.  But do your homework first. If you don’t plan to stay in your home much longer you’re probably better off to keep your refund in hand. Check www.bankrate.com for information and www.zillow.com for home values.

4. Start an emergency fund. Or add to your existing fund. Conventional wisdom says that you should have sufficient cash on hand to cover three months worth of bills in the event that you lose your income. Frankly, I think that should be at least six months.

5. Invest in your career. Even if you’re currently employed, use your refund to learn new skills that will make you more invaluable to your employer or more marketable if you lose your job.

It’s your money; you earned it and Uncle Sam has had the use of it, no interest charged. Now it’s time to put that refund to work for you. So buy yourself a little peace of mind instead of that big-screen TV.

Little Changes Add Up To Big Savings

Ten things you can do that will keep a little ( or maybe a lot) more money in hand.

1. Eat at home. Forget dining out, or at least limit the number of times you visit a restaurant. If you don’t feel like cooking you can find plenty of prepared foods and good wines at the store that will cost you less than a meal out.

2. Shop around for auto insurance. Don’t be shy – call and ask for quotes. A good place for discount rates is through a wholesale club like Sam’s or Costco. If you’re not a member, it can be well worth the price to join.

3. Need a haircut? The biggest savings would be to cut your own hair. If you’re not confident enough to do that then at least wait an extra week or two longer than usual before you visit the stylist. And try a discount salon. Paying more at the mall or spa doesn’t mean you’re getting a better cut. It does mean you’re paying more for name and location and, these days, that isn’t chic.

4. Have a cellphone and land line? Maybe you don’t need both. With an unlimited calling plan, do you really need that home phone?

5. Pay your bills electronically. OK, it’s a bit tedious to set everything up but much more efficient thereafter. And the average homeowner can expect to save $50 or more a year on stamps.

6. Use public transportation. Really! If it’s available to you this can be a huge savings. Not only that, you eliminate the stress of driving and can spend the time reading or even catching up on work.

7. Cut down on expensive paper towels. Instead of mopping up spills with expensive paper products, use a cloth or sponge. To save even more, make use of old cotton t-shirts and underwear. They’re especially good for buffing and polishing and after a few uses, just throw them away. Heck, you were going to do that anyway.

8. Fill the dishwasher and washing machine (More about laundry savings here). It takes as much power to run a half load as a full one.

9. Do your own yardwork. What do you pay for mowing? $30, $40, $50 a week? For a month’s expense you can buy a mower if you don’t already have one. You’ll also be helping yourself by getting some exercise.

10. Cancel your gym membership. You’re already mowing the yard! Maybe you can paint the house next. That will be great for the biceps and triceps, will save you money on high-priced professional painters and improve the value of your home.

Tax-Free Tip For Teenagers

Want your child to retire a millionaire with only $3000 or $4000 now? It’s possible if your teenage kid is gainfully employed and can contribute to a Roth IRA and can act now!

I know money’s tight but consider this. A contribution of $4000 a year between the ages of 16 and 21 at 10% per year earnings will yield more than $2,000,000 (yes, that’s two million) at age 65. And that’s TAX-FREE! Not a bad return for a $20,000 initial investment and perhaps a little extra effort early in life.

Bear in mind the contributions are not tax-deductible but your teenager is almost certainly in such a low tax bracket that this won’t matter.

Here’s the bad news. There’s a good chance the Democrat congress will make major income tax changes in the not too distant future. So this may be the last chance to set up a Roth and reap the benefits of tax-free growth.

Last Minute but Low Cost Christmas or Anytime Gifts

Are you waiting ’til the last minute in hopes of snagging some really terrific sales deals? Or are you just an inveterate procrastinator? Either way, you now have to rush around like Santa on speed hoping to find the right thing at the right price, or you can follow my advice: Pour a little eggnog, add a little rum and pick through the ideas listed here.

Subscriptions – the gift that keeps on giving

Frankly, I would stop right here because there are just so many options. This first one is great – flyingnoodle.com. Here you can choose from a bunch of “the month” clubs; Wine of the Month, Chocolate of the Month, even Salsa or Peanut Butter of the Month club. Prices start around $20 a month and you can sign up for as little as three months or as long as 12.

How about a newspaper subscription? For a discount! Bear in mind that newspapers aren’t just for news. This gift will also benefit the recipient with coupons, sales information, probably self-help articles and all kinds of useful stuff. Go to discountednewspapers.com to check availability and rates.

For magazines go to magazines.com or do a search for newsletters on a favorite topic.

Gift Cards

Almost every place seems to offer these now-a-days. Buy online or in store but before buying anything check reatailmenot.com to see which stores offer online discounts and coupons so the recipient can get the most bang for the buck.

Bear in mind, it isn’t just shops that offer gift cards. You can get gift cards to use at the movies amongst other things. And if you can’t decide on a particular retailer, then get a Visa gift card that can be used almost anywhere.

e_gift Certificates

No need to say much here; you know the drill.  If you don’t have a favorite store to buy from then Amazon.com is always a safe bet with millions of choices and free shipping options.

Gift Folio

Here’s a neat idea from giftfolio.com.  Choose how much you want to spend – say $25. Select a theme and personalize a message. Your recipient will receive an email notifying them of the gift. They get to browse through their online catalog but at no time do they know how much you spent.  It’s not the best bargain in gift-giving if you’re looking at dollar for dollar. However, it’s very nicely done and has a more personal feel to it than a gift card or certificate.

One Share

I love this one. You buy one share of stock out of a long list of companies (I found one for just $1 or you could pay as much as $100) and have it registered to anyone you choose. For this you get a stock certificate; then you can opt to have the certificate framed. You probably won’t be able to get the actual framed certificate in time for Christmas but this is still a really neat gift concept for someone who is, say, a Harley Davidson fan and a great idea for kids. Browse all shares or by occasion at oneshare.com.

Memberships

Another great ongoing idea that needn’t be expensive. You could buy a membership for local yoga classes, self-help clubs, theater groups, anything the recipient is interested in. Or just get a Costco or Samsclub membership.

Invitation

This is good because you don’t necessarily have to buy anything at all just yet. Before my husband and I were married I gave him a gift of an invitation to a weekend getaway. I had no idea when his timetable would allow him to go, so I wrapped up a cabbage and an old key (it’s weird, I know, but just wait) and  presented it to him with a riddle to solve. He never did figure it out but the answer was that I was taking him to Cabbage Key, which is a tiny Gulf island off the coast of Florida.

You might invite someone to a show, cocktails at the Ritz, dinner at home or a simple walk in the park holding hands.

Personal Coupon

Truly, this is giving of yourself and may be the best gift of all. Create a coupon, or even a coupon book, that can be redeemed when the recipient needs it. You do it for baby-sitting, dish-washing, running errands, mowing the lawn this summer, massage (my personal favorite). The possibilities are boundless.

Personal CD

Customize mixes for everyone on your list with their favorite music. Or make a seasonal soundtrack and give it to all of them.

Personal Video

Go on! Get goofy! If you don’t have a camcorder you could use your cell phone and record something fun and festive. Or sentimental, if that’s more appropriate. You can do this in a few minutes then email it to loved ones. It just might be the most heart-warming gift they receive.

Give the True Spirit of the Season!

Make a donation in someone else’s name. $10 will do. It’s quick, it’s easy and most charities will send a note of thanks to your special person. Best of all, there are so many people (and pets) in need this year that you’ll truly be doing a good thing. What’s more, you and your recipient will be able to bask in the glow of your generosity. Hey! It works for me.

If you don’t have a favorite charity, take a look at some of your local organizations. Or check Charity Navigator for ideas.

Have a Very Merry Christmas, Everyone and remember…

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas”

There’s Money In Muck

My mother may just be the Queen of Cliches……most of them about money. I’ve long since come to realize what little pearls of wisdom those seemingly well-worn truisms are and how they’ve helped stand me in good stead over the years. With tense economic times looming ahead of us, here are a few of my mother’s gems that seem particularly appropriate.

“There’s money in muck”

This is akin to “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. In Mum’s day it was a reference to the local scrap merchant or rag and bone man, who traversed the streets with his pony and cart collecting rags for use in fabric and paper-making and bones for the glue factory. Today, we have ebay, Craigslist and yard sales but the premise is still the same – what’s junk to you may well have value to someone else. So go through the attic, the garage, the garden shed, whatever. If you can’t use it, then get rid of it because that “stuff” is worth absolutely nothing just sitting around gathering dust.

“What goes up, must come down”

If you’re someone who over-extended to buy a home, then took cash out to fill it with that big screen TV and high-end leather furniture and now you’re facing foreclosure, well tough! What were you thinking? The lesson here is twofold. Live within your means and anticipate the worst. Buy a home (a car, furniture, whatever) that you can easily afford and have money left over. Save that extra money. Then when everyone around you is in danger of losing everything, you’ll be sitting smug, smart and secure.

“Look after the pennies, the pounds will take care of themselves”

First off, for pounds read dollars (my mother’s English). But how true this is! You all know the double a penny a day for 30 days deal (if not, take a look at this table. What better illustration of the power of saving pennies. So get yourself a piggy bank and toss in that loose change!

“A penny saved is a penny earned”

Say you’re a careful shopper and save $25 on your weekly grocery bill by buying sale items or using coupons, that money is just the same as if you worked an hour or two for it. In fact, it may be worth more because you had to put less effort into saving the money than working for it. And if you use credit cards, make sure you have rewards features. I just cashed in a bunch of points, accumulated over a long, long time I might add, for a $500 check. (More on this subject in an upcoming blog).

“There’s no such thing as a free ride”

If you do nothing, you’ll get nothing (yes, that’s another cliché) and, for most of us, how true it is. Which takes us to….

“Hard work never killed anyone”

OK, this isn’t absolutely true. We all know there are people who have died from overwork and exhaustion but the point here is that reward comes with effort. Where would Sam Walton, founder of retail behemoth Wal-Mart, be if he hadn’t persevered? Colonel Sanders was no spring chicken (pun intended) when he began franchising his Kentucky Fried Chicken enterprise. Then there’s David Geffen, co-founder of Dreamworks, a college dropout reportedly now worth six billion dollars!

So you see, “Wanting doesn’t get”. Which means you need to get going because ….

Nothing happens unless you make it happen.

Failure cannot cope with persistence
Liz Markovich