Making Money Blogging

     Being ten months into blogging am am still learning. As one should learn something every day. My goal wasn't thinking that this was going to be a large money making endeavor but one none the less. It seems that my thoughts of $10 a day are grandiose.
     I have written over one hundred posts. Have had over 3500 hits. I have some nice ads. I have readership all over the world. Still to only have made $6. Guess I won't be quitting my day job soon. Darn! I am disappointed to say the least. As I have put forth quit a bit of time and effort into the project. But the fact is making money blogging is about like hitting the lottery.
     Thirty five hundred views is about 350 per month or ten per day. You need thirty five hundred hits per day. You have to build a following that reads your work every day. So the content must be valuable enough for someone to want to read it. Guess I am flunking out here.
     I have always had some pretty good ads. I do not know what kind of ads show up abroad but I can only guess they are relevant to the locality. The thing is here you can have some really cool ads but if no one opens them up you get nothing. Case closed. Many people don't open the ads for fear of being badgered later.
     You have to stimulate comments. I had google plus comments for a while but I cannot retrieve them. Rendering them useless to me. Just part of their (Google's) system. I have touched on quite a few subjects and cannot believe that one of them hasn't caused an opinion from someone. So with no displayed comments, left comments or my ability to respond to comments has to be a disadvantage. It also doesn't stimulate any action between the readers. So the posts just sit there.
     Perhaps my posts are only stumbled upon by people browsing the inter net. They pop onto the site. Look at it briefly and move on as it it worthless to them.

Making Money Blogging

     Being ten months into blogging am am still learning. As one should learn something every day. My goal wasn't thinking that this was going to be a large money making endeavor but one none the less. It seems that my thoughts of $10 a day are grandiose.
     I have written over one hundred posts. Have had over 3500 hits. I have some nice ads. I have readership all over the world. Still to only have made $6. Guess I won't be quitting my day job soon. Darn! I am disappointed to say the least. As I have put forth quit a bit of time and effort into the project. But the fact is making money blogging is about like hitting the lottery.
     Thirty five hundred views is about 350 per month or ten per day. You need thirty five hundred hits per day. You have to build a following that reads your work every day. So the content must be valuable enough for someone to want to read it. Guess I am flunking out here.
     I have always had some pretty good ads. I do not know what kind of ads show up abroad but I can only guess they are relevant to the locality. The thing is here you can have some really cool ads but if no one opens them up you get nothing. Case closed. Many people don't open the ads for fear of being badgered later.
     You have to stimulate comments. I had google plus comments for a while but I cannot retrieve them. Rendering them useless to me. Just part of their (Google's) system. I have touched on quite a few subjects and cannot believe that one of them hasn't caused an opinion from someone. So with no displayed comments, left comments or my ability to respond to comments has to be a disadvantage. It also doesn't stimulate any action between the readers. So the posts just sit there.
     Perhaps my posts are only stumbled upon by people browsing the inter net. They pop onto the site. Look at it briefly and move on as it it worthless to them.

Want A New Wardrobe? Clean Out Your Clothes Closets

     This is the season to be jolly. A lot a catalogs are coming my way that I used to receive on a regular basis. Since I used to buy a lot of stuff from them. Getting catalogs get me to want something. In your mind you create a need. When in reality you do not need it and maybe already have it.
     In the day that I had to dress nice I had twenty or more suits. At least that many sport coats. At least one hundred and fifty ties. Fifty plus pairs of shoes. Conservatively fifty dress shirts. Argyle socks to match the suits, ties or shirts. Over one hundred polo shirts.
     The bulk of which I have given away to individuals, Goodwill, Amvets and the Salvation Army. When I moved to Florida I took a pickup truck full of clothes to the Salvation Army. I gave away a lot of winter clothes. Shoes and boots.
     I am in a wardrobe rut now. In Florida it is shorts and tee shirt or tank most of the time I am off. At work it is the same uniform. So I guess I look shabby most of the time. With the advent of my father in the hospital I did not want to go there looking like a hobo. With all the nervous energy stress creates I decided to go through the closet. I have forty sweaters packed away. Still had thirty dress shirts left. After purging it four years ago. all kinds of trousers and pants. At least thirty pairs of shoes.
     So I went through the dress shirts first. Knowing that I didn't need thirty on hand. I washed them all. Picked out about ten favorites and ironed them. Went through the trousers and jeans. Picked out a few and  washed and pressed the khakis. I also purged the polo shirts and tee shirts. Some of those ninety's polo shirts are dated. The Harley shirts and Millersburg Madness shirts only confuse people now. So I only kept the polo shirts that never go out of style. Tee shirts without writing on them.
     How about jeans? I only wear Levi jeans. I have about eight pairs. I still fit in jeans that I have had since 1978. So I guess I am jean tight.
     There are a certain amount of things that you are going to wear out. Underwear, work clothes, work shoes. etc. Man or women. I think that if you go through your closet you will find  that you have more than enough clothes then you need.

Want A New Wardrobe? Clean Out Your Clothes Closets

     This is the season to be jolly. A lot a catalogs are coming my way that I used to receive on a regular basis. Since I used to buy a lot of stuff from them. Getting catalogs get me to want something. In your mind you create a need. When in reality you do not need it and maybe already have it.
     In the day that I had to dress nice I had twenty or more suits. At least that many sport coats. At least one hundred and fifty ties. Fifty plus pairs of shoes. Conservatively fifty dress shirts. Argyle socks to match the suits, ties or shirts. Over one hundred polo shirts.
     The bulk of which I have given away to individuals, Goodwill, Amvets and the Salvation Army. When I moved to Florida I took a pickup truck full of clothes to the Salvation Army. I gave away a lot of winter clothes. Shoes and boots.
     I am in a wardrobe rut now. In Florida it is shorts and tee shirt or tank most of the time I am off. At work it is the same uniform. So I guess I look shabby most of the time. With the advent of my father in the hospital I did not want to go there looking like a hobo. With all the nervous energy stress creates I decided to go through the closet. I have forty sweaters packed away. Still had thirty dress shirts left. After purging it four years ago. all kinds of trousers and pants. At least thirty pairs of shoes.
     So I went through the dress shirts first. Knowing that I didn't need thirty on hand. I washed them all. Picked out about ten favorites and ironed them. Went through the trousers and jeans. Picked out a few and  washed and pressed the khakis. I also purged the polo shirts and tee shirts. Some of those ninety's polo shirts are dated. The Harley shirts and Millersburg Madness shirts only confuse people now. So I only kept the polo shirts that never go out of style. Tee shirts without writing on them.
     How about jeans? I only wear Levi jeans. I have about eight pairs. I still fit in jeans that I have had since 1978. So I guess I am jean tight.
     There are a certain amount of things that you are going to wear out. Underwear, work clothes, work shoes. etc. Man or women. I think that if you go through your closet you will find  that you have more than enough clothes then you need.

How Are People Doing It?

     You have to wonder how people are doing what they do in this bad economic times. I everyone with a smart phone. I see a lot of new BMW cars running around. I work in a deli in a grocery store. I see people buying prepared food and sub sandwiches. Many more then you think on food stamps. And as you are helping them they are on their smart phone probably recording the transaction so if you mess up they can get something for free. 

     A week or so ago on the Dianne Reem  show on NPR radio there was a segment on SNAP (food stamps). They had all these people talking about how they have to get by on $1.30 a day. How they run out of benefits before the end of the month. Blah, Blah, Blah. If that is the case how can they come in and get $200 to $300 worth of party trays on a regular basis? Big cakes from the bakery. Crab legs and lobster from the meat department. 

     And they are not walking to the store either. They are driving cars. Someone addressed that on the Diane Reem show that was from the government that runs SNAP. He said they cannot track that. Sometimes things fall through the cracks. Again blah, blah blah. If they can tap the phones of everyone and know their emails why can't they track that? 

     Others that are still making some decent money or living on something like a trust fund are just cruising right along. Have we already forgot about the credit and housing crisis a few years ago? Several companies that actually pay well are cutting jobs. But they are telling us of all the new jobs that are being created. You know minimum wage jobs. 

     A lot of companies are cutting their health insurance. Due to the Affordable Health Care Act. My company didn't, this year. From what I gather from the website I do not qualify for any subsidies. Although I am soundly in the lower end of the $11,000 to $49,000 incomes that may qualify. It may become fashionable or the trend to cut insurance benefits. Putting us all on the marketplace. 

     Full time jobs are becoming scarce also. Then companies can cut vacations, benefits, insurance and bonuses. Saving them more money. Many people I know are working multiple jobs just to get by. While I see others doing nothing at all living just as well.

     The old people come in the store and get a few cold cuts. Scraping to get by. Most of them are petrified about the new Medicare deals. That they paid into. 

     I just see the merry go round coming to a crashing halt soon. 

How Are People Doing It?

     You have to wonder how people are doing what they do in this bad economic times. I everyone with a smart phone. I see a lot of new BMW cars running around. I work in a deli in a grocery store. I see people buying prepared food and sub sandwiches. Many more then you think on food stamps. And as you are helping them they are on their smart phone probably recording the transaction so if you mess up they can get something for free. 

     A week or so ago on the Dianne Reem  show on NPR radio there was a segment on SNAP (food stamps). They had all these people talking about how they have to get by on $1.30 a day. How they run out of benefits before the end of the month. Blah, Blah, Blah. If that is the case how can they come in and get $200 to $300 worth of party trays on a regular basis? Big cakes from the bakery. Crab legs and lobster from the meat department. 

     And they are not walking to the store either. They are driving cars. Someone addressed that on the Diane Reem show that was from the government that runs SNAP. He said they cannot track that. Sometimes things fall through the cracks. Again blah, blah blah. If they can tap the phones of everyone and know their emails why can't they track that? 

     Others that are still making some decent money or living on something like a trust fund are just cruising right along. Have we already forgot about the credit and housing crisis a few years ago? Several companies that actually pay well are cutting jobs. But they are telling us of all the new jobs that are being created. You know minimum wage jobs. 

     A lot of companies are cutting their health insurance. Due to the Affordable Health Care Act. My company didn't, this year. From what I gather from the website I do not qualify for any subsidies. Although I am soundly in the lower end of the $11,000 to $49,000 incomes that may qualify. It may become fashionable or the trend to cut insurance benefits. Putting us all on the marketplace. 

     Full time jobs are becoming scarce also. Then companies can cut vacations, benefits, insurance and bonuses. Saving them more money. Many people I know are working multiple jobs just to get by. While I see others doing nothing at all living just as well.

     The old people come in the store and get a few cold cuts. Scraping to get by. Most of them are petrified about the new Medicare deals. That they paid into. 

     I just see the merry go round coming to a crashing halt soon. 

Holiday Bonus Time

    A lot of folks are looking forward to some kind of Holiday cash bonus.  This is big deal for me as it is for most. This can be tempting to be silly and buy or blow it in any way.  When you are not used to having extra money it may make you use poor judgement. I do not think I will be getting much back on taxes this year. I should probably pay off one or two small credit cards. Then take the money paid on those bills and apply it to the next lowest balance. Then roll it to the next.

     All this sounds great if you can apply it. Something however always pops up and by March I am pretty much hand to mouth again. I have tried and failed many times. I have about six hundred dollars of dental work that has to be done. I will try not to fail this year. But I most likely will fail. Because when I pay the dentist I will have used up my credit card paying fund. Then I usually get new glasses in January The annual visit to the optometrist ends up costing $80 to $150 if I end up getting glasses or lens with the deductibles.
     So as you see I have more than plowed through the bonus I will receive. Top it off with the fact I have double downed on a couple of credit card bills and poof. Broke again. Add to it a couple of stupid purchases I made because I deserve it. It is the Holiday Season you know. By the end of January I am feverishly awaiting my tax return. Which was late last year.
     Also add the fact that I already know that my health insurance, dental insurance, vision care insurance and long term disability insurance payments are going up. When the auto insurance is going to be renewed it will most likely go up too. Grocery bills are going up too. As a loaf of white bread is now $1.50 and milk is $4 a gallon.
     All of these factors are going to more than offset the fifty cent raise I received last year. Causing me to have less money every week. Did I mention that my rent also went up? As has gasoline.
     I do appreciate the holiday bonus. I was however in a position that I really needed it. One should not get themselves in that position. But just about everybody I know is in the same boat. So when that Holiday Bonus comes in think a minute. That warm fuzzy feeling of being quite wealthy will dissipate soon. You can find yourself further behind and nothing or no one to bail you out. I am a full time worker that is supposed to get forty hours a week. I have been scheduled 37 to 38 hours the last several weeks. Further dropping my weekly income.
     If this is what they call a better economy I dread the future or if another economic meltdown occurs. 

Holiday Bonus Time

    A lot of folks are looking forward to some kind of Holiday cash bonus.  This is big deal for me as it is for most. This can be tempting to be silly and buy or blow it in any way.  When you are not used to having extra money it may make you use poor judgement. I do not think I will be getting much back on taxes this year. I should probably pay off one or two small credit cards. Then take the money paid on those bills and apply it to the next lowest balance. Then roll it to the next.

     All this sounds great if you can apply it. Something however always pops up and by March I am pretty much hand to mouth again. I have tried and failed many times. I have about six hundred dollars of dental work that has to be done. I will try not to fail this year. But I most likely will fail. Because when I pay the dentist I will have used up my credit card paying fund. Then I usually get new glasses in January The annual visit to the optometrist ends up costing $80 to $150 if I end up getting glasses or lens with the deductibles.
     So as you see I have more than plowed through the bonus I will receive. Top it off with the fact I have double downed on a couple of credit card bills and poof. Broke again. Add to it a couple of stupid purchases I made because I deserve it. It is the Holiday Season you know. By the end of January I am feverishly awaiting my tax return. Which was late last year.
     Also add the fact that I already know that my health insurance, dental insurance, vision care insurance and long term disability insurance payments are going up. When the auto insurance is going to be renewed it will most likely go up too. Grocery bills are going up too. As a loaf of white bread is now $1.50 and milk is $4 a gallon.
     All of these factors are going to more than offset the fifty cent raise I received last year. Causing me to have less money every week. Did I mention that my rent also went up? As has gasoline.
     I do appreciate the holiday bonus. I was however in a position that I really needed it. One should not get themselves in that position. But just about everybody I know is in the same boat. So when that Holiday Bonus comes in think a minute. That warm fuzzy feeling of being quite wealthy will dissipate soon. You can find yourself further behind and nothing or no one to bail you out. I am a full time worker that is supposed to get forty hours a week. I have been scheduled 37 to 38 hours the last several weeks. Further dropping my weekly income.
     If this is what they call a better economy I dread the future or if another economic meltdown occurs. 

Money Leaks

     Not making a lot of money I have to really watch out for money leaks. A blown $100 can put me into a bind for a month. So as hard as it is for me I have to really watch. A big thing is that I no longer like to go out much. Eating out or bars. This is a major money leak for most of us. If you make enough money to cover the necessities and have money left this is not as much of an issue. But as a low wage earner it matters. 

     Clothing shopping can be a big expense. I have enough clothes to last the rest of my life. Except for things that wear out quickly such as work shoes, pants, (the shirts are provided) and underwear. Most of this I can get from gifts. If anyone asks me what I want for a birthday or Christmas I just say one of these items. So I may not be up to date on some of the current styles. But that is OK. Most of the classic stuff doesn't really go out of style anyway. Do a closet search and you will be amazed as to what you find. A wash and ironing may make something come back to life.
     Electronic gadgets can be a big money leak. The latest computing tools. Televisions. Phones. I just seen some new kind of  TV that costs $9000. How much better can it be? Can you make do with a modest TV? A less than state of the art phone or computer.
     OK you have decided to not eat out that much anymore. So you are going to be cooking at home now. I have found a pretty good swing in prices. The store that has the best prices is ten miles away. So you average a fifty cent saving per item. If you buy twenty items you save ten dollars. So then you take out three dollars for gas and save seven dollars. So unless you get several items you won't save much or anything at all. So you need to make a list and allow some time to make a saving. A lot of cleaning supplies, detergent, stationary, home items, food basics etc. can be purchased at dollar stores. Some stores have better meat than others. The choice of meat you pick can greatly affect your food bill. All meats have pretty much the same nutritional values. Some just take more work to taste the best.
     Transportation weighs heavily on your budget. Your car being the second most expensive item you have. Not having a car payment for years was nice. But I felt that I needed to get another car before the other one died and would not any trade in value. Just because you have a car you don't have to use it if you can walk or ride a bike. The last few weeks I have had to make several one hundred mile round trips. I have bought much more gas than usual. Regularly getting by on twenty dollars of gas a month or less. As I can get by with a bicycle.
     Hobbies or sports can be a big leak too. Golf can cost a lot of money. So can most any hobby or leisure activity you participate in. Try to find something less expensive to do with your free time. Notice I said free time not leisure time. Leisure costs money, free time is free.
     Habits and vices can cost money. $5 a day adds up to to $1825 over a year. Take two $5 habits and that comes to $3650 a year. I need to stop the smoking. That'll save me $1825 per year. Maybe I will feel better too.
      You can also save money on your energy bills. Unplug or put appliances on strips and shut them off when they are not in use. Use modern efficient lights. Turn them off when not needed. Use less lights at night. Sometimes a night light will do just fine when just watching TV.
     These little things can save you some money. The less you have to spend the less you have to make. Or the more you can save. Another thing I need to work on.
   
   
     

Money Leaks

     Not making a lot of money I have to really watch out for money leaks. A blown $100 can put me into a bind for a month. So as hard as it is for me I have to really watch. A big thing is that I no longer like to go out much. Eating out or bars. This is a major money leak for most of us. If you make enough money to cover the necessities and have money left this is not as much of an issue. But as a low wage earner it matters. 

     Clothing shopping can be a big expense. I have enough clothes to last the rest of my life. Except for things that wear out quickly such as work shoes, pants, (the shirts are provided) and underwear. Most of this I can get from gifts. If anyone asks me what I want for a birthday or Christmas I just say one of these items. So I may not be up to date on some of the current styles. But that is OK. Most of the classic stuff doesn't really go out of style anyway. Do a closet search and you will be amazed as to what you find. A wash and ironing may make something come back to life.
     Electronic gadgets can be a big money leak. The latest computing tools. Televisions. Phones. I just seen some new kind of  TV that costs $9000. How much better can it be? Can you make do with a modest TV? A less than state of the art phone or computer.
     OK you have decided to not eat out that much anymore. So you are going to be cooking at home now. I have found a pretty good swing in prices. The store that has the best prices is ten miles away. So you average a fifty cent saving per item. If you buy twenty items you save ten dollars. So then you take out three dollars for gas and save seven dollars. So unless you get several items you won't save much or anything at all. So you need to make a list and allow some time to make a saving. A lot of cleaning supplies, detergent, stationary, home items, food basics etc. can be purchased at dollar stores. Some stores have better meat than others. The choice of meat you pick can greatly affect your food bill. All meats have pretty much the same nutritional values. Some just take more work to taste the best.
     Transportation weighs heavily on your budget. Your car being the second most expensive item you have. Not having a car payment for years was nice. But I felt that I needed to get another car before the other one died and would not any trade in value. Just because you have a car you don't have to use it if you can walk or ride a bike. The last few weeks I have had to make several one hundred mile round trips. I have bought much more gas than usual. Regularly getting by on twenty dollars of gas a month or less. As I can get by with a bicycle.
     Hobbies or sports can be a big leak too. Golf can cost a lot of money. So can most any hobby or leisure activity you participate in. Try to find something less expensive to do with your free time. Notice I said free time not leisure time. Leisure costs money, free time is free.
     Habits and vices can cost money. $5 a day adds up to to $1825 over a year. Take two $5 habits and that comes to $3650 a year. I need to stop the smoking. That'll save me $1825 per year. Maybe I will feel better too.
      You can also save money on your energy bills. Unplug or put appliances on strips and shut them off when they are not in use. Use modern efficient lights. Turn them off when not needed. Use less lights at night. Sometimes a night light will do just fine when just watching TV.
     These little things can save you some money. The less you have to spend the less you have to make. Or the more you can save. Another thing I need to work on.
   
   
     

Dad In Hospital Edition

     For the last few weeks I have been having to visit my father in the hospital. He has always been fairly healthy. But they decided that he needed a heart valve replaced. He had a heart deflect from birth. The U.S. Army detected that in 1953. With his heart keeping him out of the Army. It never did seem to hinder anything that he would do for the next fifty plus years. 

     Well like your paint on the walls you do not notices things as it happens slowly. As time went on he started to slow down. He has had a brain tumor. They corrected that with a cyber knife. At USF hospital if I remember correctly. He has had skin cancer. He has had bladder cancer. All this time never complaining. Only to the fact he cannot hit the golf ball as far.

     Two weeks ago I took four days off of work to take him to the hospital. I am glad that I did that. I got to spend the last day he was coherent to spend with him. My manager was not too hip on that. But eventually came around to my thinking. 

     He has not had any food or water since Tuesday November the 19th. His heart surgery turned out to be a bit more than a valve. A quadruple bypass. That was on Wednesday. He was in ICU and supposed to be out by Monday latest.Well he is still there now. He had a colon operation too. That is two big wammies in a week. 

     He is getting better slowly I guess. He has had the best treatment possible. As Tampa General Hospital is rated the best in Florida. He had the best heart surgeon. Dr. Cedrick Sheffeild. The pastor of their church has made several trips to see him. That would be Jean Simpson of the United Community Church of Sun City Center in Florida. You cannot think of of much help she has been. 

      I can only say that I have never seen my father in such a weakened state. But I would just like to thank everyone involved. This man provided me with a "Leave It To Beaver" lifestyle that a lot of people do not or will not be used to. 

      I can only hope for the best.    

Dad In Hospital Edition

     For the last few weeks I have been having to visit my father in the hospital. He has always been fairly healthy. But they decided that he needed a heart valve replaced. He had a heart deflect from birth. The U.S. Army detected that in 1953. With his heart keeping him out of the Army. It never did seem to hinder anything that he would do for the next fifty plus years. 

     Well like your paint on the walls you do not notices things as it happens slowly. As time went on he started to slow down. He has had a brain tumor. They corrected that with a cyber knife. At USF hospital if I remember correctly. He has had skin cancer. He has had bladder cancer. All this time never complaining. Only to the fact he cannot hit the golf ball as far.

     Two weeks ago I took four days off of work to take him to the hospital. I am glad that I did that. I got to spend the last day he was coherent to spend with him. My manager was not too hip on that. But eventually came around to my thinking. 

     He has not had any food or water since Tuesday November the 19th. His heart surgery turned out to be a bit more than a valve. A quadruple bypass. That was on Wednesday. He was in ICU and supposed to be out by Monday latest.Well he is still there now. He had a colon operation too. That is two big wammies in a week. 

     He is getting better slowly I guess. He has had the best treatment possible. As Tampa General Hospital is rated the best in Florida. He had the best heart surgeon. Dr. Cedrick Sheffeild. The pastor of their church has made several trips to see him. That would be Jean Simpson of the United Community Church of Sun City Center in Florida. You cannot think of of much help she has been. 

      I can only say that I have never seen my father in such a weakened state. But I would just like to thank everyone involved. This man provided me with a "Leave It To Beaver" lifestyle that a lot of people do not or will not be used to. 

      I can only hope for the best.    

A Few Other Little Energy Tips

     I had a post a few days ago about CFL bulbs. This resulted in a 30% saving in my electric bills. I usually have lower electric bills then others I talk to that live in similar sized apartments. Here is a few other little tips.

     1. Unplug devices when they are not being used. The coffee pot, toaster, microwave, and any other small kitchen appliances. Appliances use a small amount of current just being plugged in.

     2. Put your entertainment (TV and stereo) and all of the DVD etc on switchable stripes. Also use a strip that have surge protection. This will also protect your devices in a storm or other cause of an electric surge. Switch them off when not using.

     3. Do the same step as above for your computer, wi-fi, router, and printer set up. Same principal. Why do they need power when you are not using them. Also the surge protection also applies.

     4. Set your thermostat closer to the outside temperature. If it is 29 degrees outside people will set their thermostat at 80 degrees. So it feels warmer. Then if it is 90 outside they set the air conditioning at 65. So they feel cool. This not only uses a lot of energy but causes more of a shock to your body when you have to go outside. Wear less or lighter clothes when it is warm. Heavier when cold. Go figure.

     5. Use less lights. Use LED night lights. At night when I am watching TV I can have one night light on in the kitchen and one in the bathroom and see just fine to get around.

     6. Turn the temperature down on your water heater. Water heaters can use a lot of energy. I have been happy with mine turned down to between 100-110 degrees. Which is about as low as I can get it. I still have water hot enough to wash dishes and shower.

     7. Check the setting on your refrigerator. I have had things freezing in mine before. Too cold. It does however keep things longer.

     8. Use your blinds and curtains to regulate the sun coming into your home. Close them to keep the inside cooler in warmer weather and let the sun shine in to help warm the home in cooler weather. This can make a great deal of difference. When I lived up north I had trees planted in the front and back of the house. Back being east and west being west. In the summer the trees helped keep the temp lower from the shade. In the winter the leaves fell off and let the sun through.

     These little tips can save you some money on energy. It may seem to be extra trouble to unplug and switch things off but you get used to it and will not seem like that big of a deal. 

A Few Other Little Energy Tips

     I had a post a few days ago about CFL bulbs. This resulted in a 30% saving in my electric bills. I usually have lower electric bills then others I talk to that live in similar sized apartments. Here is a few other little tips.

     1. Unplug devices when they are not being used. The coffee pot, toaster, microwave, and any other small kitchen appliances. Appliances use a small amount of current just being plugged in.

     2. Put your entertainment (TV and stereo) and all of the DVD etc on switchable stripes. Also use a strip that have surge protection. This will also protect your devices in a storm or other cause of an electric surge. Switch them off when not using.

     3. Do the same step as above for your computer, wi-fi, router, and printer set up. Same principal. Why do they need power when you are not using them. Also the surge protection also applies.

     4. Set your thermostat closer to the outside temperature. If it is 29 degrees outside people will set their thermostat at 80 degrees. So it feels warmer. Then if it is 90 outside they set the air conditioning at 65. So they feel cool. This not only uses a lot of energy but causes more of a shock to your body when you have to go outside. Wear less or lighter clothes when it is warm. Heavier when cold. Go figure.

     5. Use less lights. Use LED night lights. At night when I am watching TV I can have one night light on in the kitchen and one in the bathroom and see just fine to get around.

     6. Turn the temperature down on your water heater. Water heaters can use a lot of energy. I have been happy with mine turned down to between 100-110 degrees. Which is about as low as I can get it. I still have water hot enough to wash dishes and shower.

     7. Check the setting on your refrigerator. I have had things freezing in mine before. Too cold. It does however keep things longer.

     8. Use your blinds and curtains to regulate the sun coming into your home. Close them to keep the inside cooler in warmer weather and let the sun shine in to help warm the home in cooler weather. This can make a great deal of difference. When I lived up north I had trees planted in the front and back of the house. Back being east and west being west. In the summer the trees helped keep the temp lower from the shade. In the winter the leaves fell off and let the sun through.

     These little tips can save you some money on energy. It may seem to be extra trouble to unplug and switch things off but you get used to it and will not seem like that big of a deal. 

Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

     Now days all days are pretty much the same. Stores are open every day. Some 24 hours a day. With internet you can shop any day and at any time of the day. Imagine a time when stores closed at noon on Saturday. Closed all together on Sunday. Banks were open from about 9-5. Monday through Friday. No teller machines. Wow. You really had to plan ahead. Big cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angleles were open 24/7. But small town America was. Many states had Blue Laws not allowing businesses to be open on Sundays. 

     I lived my first 17 years in a small town. Businesses were open Monday through Saturday. Most closed at noon on Wednesday. Then were open till noon on Saturday. Closed on Sunday. Even most of the gas stations were closed on Sunday. Grocery stores were closed on Sundays. This allowed small businesses to be family ran and still have a life. Amazing how we got by. But we did. If you needed groceries for Sunday you bought them on Friday or Saturday. If you needed gas you got it on Friday or Saturday. Pretty layed back. Not hunters and gathers like we are today. 

     Think about it. There are whole generations that do not remember that things weren't available all the time. They do not need to think. Just like a bunch of animals.

    

Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

     Now days all days are pretty much the same. Stores are open every day. Some 24 hours a day. With internet you can shop any day and at any time of the day. Imagine a time when stores closed at noon on Saturday. Closed all together on Sunday. Banks were open from about 9-5. Monday through Friday. No teller machines. Wow. You really had to plan ahead. Big cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angleles were open 24/7. But small town America was. Many states had Blue Laws not allowing businesses to be open on Sundays. 

     I lived my first 17 years in a small town. Businesses were open Monday through Saturday. Most closed at noon on Wednesday. Then were open till noon on Saturday. Closed on Sunday. Even most of the gas stations were closed on Sunday. Grocery stores were closed on Sundays. This allowed small businesses to be family ran and still have a life. Amazing how we got by. But we did. If you needed groceries for Sunday you bought them on Friday or Saturday. If you needed gas you got it on Friday or Saturday. Pretty layed back. Not hunters and gathers like we are today. 

     Think about it. There are whole generations that do not remember that things weren't available all the time. They do not need to think. Just like a bunch of animals.

    

CFL (compact fluoresent lights) And My Experience With Them

     I first learned of compact fluorescent lamps from my favorite blog The Simple Dollar. This is Trent Hamm's blog. The fluorescent bulb story was from 2007. When I switched to them I immediately noticed a 30% saving in my electric bill. Now there are LED's too. 

     I am writing this to everyone and to some people that I know that have just got married. Little things like this add up. Both read my blog. So now your $100 electric bill is now $70. That is a $360 savings over the year. Almost all of our lives we have went to school, worked and shopped under fluorescent bulbs. I do not think they are harmful. When I get a few irons out of the fire I my try a few LEDs. Such as my desk lamp. 

     Check out Trent at The Simple Dollar. I have been reading him for seven years now. He makes sense. Also per his posts I picked up Frugal Living Wise Bread and Zen Habits. All courtesy of The Simple Dollar..

     Check out these other blogs. They will give you some nice facts to make your life better. 

      

CFL (compact fluoresent lights) And My Experience With Them

     I first learned of compact fluorescent lamps from my favorite blog The Simple Dollar. This is Trent Hamm's blog. The fluorescent bulb story was from 2007. When I switched to them I immediately noticed a 30% saving in my electric bill. Now there are LED's too. 

     I am writing this to everyone and to some people that I know that have just got married. Little things like this add up. Both read my blog. So now your $100 electric bill is now $70. That is a $360 savings over the year. Almost all of our lives we have went to school, worked and shopped under fluorescent bulbs. I do not think they are harmful. When I get a few irons out of the fire I my try a few LEDs. Such as my desk lamp. 

     Check out Trent at The Simple Dollar. I have been reading him for seven years now. He makes sense. Also per his posts I picked up Frugal Living Wise Bread and Zen Habits. All courtesy of The Simple Dollar..

     Check out these other blogs. They will give you some nice facts to make your life better. 

      

FDR Addendum

     The FDR post earlier was not complete when published. It left off at talking about the thirties. Even though the United States was in a terrible economic position for working people the government was not in a bad financial position. So the government was in a position to help. Also some of the greatest public works were done during this time. You know the old trade time for money. With so many people unemployed the government had a huge work force to pull from. 

     To make things worse the weather took a toll on the Great Plains farming areas. When the European immigrants went to the west and mid west the prairie lands had about twelve to sixteen inches of top soil. Due to thousands of years of being grasslands. The agriculture methods depleted the soil. Losing inches of top soil every year. Then these great wind storms came through. Blowing away the remaining soil. Ruining all the farms from the area. Another crisis. The food production was hurt. If you see pictures of these people they are skin and bones. Not fat people on welfare. They are almost dead. Heading to California. 

     As with any economic shortcoming the rich remain rich. The bottom feeders suffer. There was a lot of technology and discovery at this time. The administration knew that there was a war brewing. And without much fanfare were developing a new military. In the early thirties the US had mostly left over WWI stuff. So they really pumped up. Developing new planes, ships, rifles, plans etc. Japan and the US were always best buddies.  But with their aggression on the Asian continent the US backed off. The US sold them their oil and all the scrap metal they wanted. As Japan did not have these natural resources. Japan resented this. The US even had a Chevrolet factory in Japan. Ever heard of JVC. That is Japan Victor Corporation. You know RCA. So when we cut them off it created a problem. 

     Germany on the other hand knew that the US would side with England. It is funny that Russia and China were US allies in WWII. Then became enemies after the war. Germany and Japan became allies. Go figure! There are still a few WWII vets around. But they are getting to the 90 years of age bracket and dying off. If you have a chance check out the old movies on Turner Classics. You will see that these folks were just as cool or even cooler then we are.

     During the late thirties and forties the US was developing the Atomic bomb. FDR knew. But even the vice president didn't. The Germans were working on one too. But they didn't quite get it done. Good thing as they would have used it frequently. 

     FDR's sudden death in 1945 put Truman as President. He had to make the choice to use the atomic bomb. When they first tested it they did not know if it would blow up the whole world. Causing a chain reaction. Well it did not destroy the world. Not yet anyway. It is estimated that there would have been a million troops lost in a land invasion of Japan. So they nuked them. 

     So FDR was President for four terms. Longer then any other. Through financial hardships, climate problems and ultimately war he led the country. He smoked cigarettes and drank whiskey. He was in a wheelchair. Most people did not know that as they tried to hide it. He had to be one of the best Presidents.

    

FDR Addendum

     The FDR post earlier was not complete when published. It left off at talking about the thirties. Even though the United States was in a terrible economic position for working people the government was not in a bad financial position. So the government was in a position to help. Also some of the greatest public works were done during this time. You know the old trade time for money. With so many people unemployed the government had a huge work force to pull from. 

     To make things worse the weather took a toll on the Great Plains farming areas. When the European immigrants went to the west and mid west the prairie lands had about twelve to sixteen inches of top soil. Due to thousands of years of being grasslands. The agriculture methods depleted the soil. Losing inches of top soil every year. Then these great wind storms came through. Blowing away the remaining soil. Ruining all the farms from the area. Another crisis. The food production was hurt. If you see pictures of these people they are skin and bones. Not fat people on welfare. They are almost dead. Heading to California. 

     As with any economic shortcoming the rich remain rich. The bottom feeders suffer. There was a lot of technology and discovery at this time. The administration knew that there was a war brewing. And without much fanfare were developing a new military. In the early thirties the US had mostly left over WWI stuff. So they really pumped up. Developing new planes, ships, rifles, plans etc. Japan and the US were always best buddies.  But with their aggression on the Asian continent the US backed off. The US sold them their oil and all the scrap metal they wanted. As Japan did not have these natural resources. Japan resented this. The US even had a Chevrolet factory in Japan. Ever heard of JVC. That is Japan Victor Corporation. You know RCA. So when we cut them off it created a problem. 

     Germany on the other hand knew that the US would side with England. It is funny that Russia and China were US allies in WWII. Then became enemies after the war. Germany and Japan became allies. Go figure! There are still a few WWII vets around. But they are getting to the 90 years of age bracket and dying off. If you have a chance check out the old movies on Turner Classics. You will see that these folks were just as cool or even cooler then we are.

     During the late thirties and forties the US was developing the Atomic bomb. FDR knew. But even the vice president didn't. The Germans were working on one too. But they didn't quite get it done. Good thing as they would have used it frequently. 

     FDR's sudden death in 1945 put Truman as President. He had to make the choice to use the atomic bomb. When they first tested it they did not know if it would blow up the whole world. Causing a chain reaction. Well it did not destroy the world. Not yet anyway. It is estimated that there would have been a million troops lost in a land invasion of Japan. So they nuked them. 

     So FDR was President for four terms. Longer then any other. Through financial hardships, climate problems and ultimately war he led the country. He smoked cigarettes and drank whiskey. He was in a wheelchair. Most people did not know that as they tried to hide it. He had to be one of the best Presidents.

    

FDR

     Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the United States 32nd President. He followed Herbert Hoover after defeating Hoover in the 1932 election. The American economy tanked in late 1929. After a wild decade called the "Roaring Twenties". Funny how the Republicans are stereotyped as conservative.Under Republicans Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge the United Sates was a very wild country. Talk about pure capitalism. I kind of remember the eighties that way under Ronald Reagan. It was fun but that will become another post. 

     FDR came from a rich New York family. Theodore Roosevelt was a relative. He was not in it for the money. After a decade of prosperity and helping the English and French win World War I the US was cooking. The US even used Cadillacs for autos in World War I. The Europeans thought the Americans were made of money. In fact they were. 

     So Herbert Hoover started giving the companies and factories money. This didn't work. Because you can't sell if people don't buy. FDR on the other hand tried to put money into the peoples hand. If they have it they will spend. George W. Bush even tried this. I remember getting a couple of checks for $600 from the government. Have you got any checks lately for the Oboma bunch? No because you had to work to get checks from Bush. Oboma just gives money to people who don't work. 

     There were a lot of great projects that came about during the thirties. People got money but they had to do something for it. They built roads, bridges, dams, parks, planted trees and many other things. People got paid but they done something in return for it. Now we just want to sit around and sue someone for money and take a free ride. 

      If things weren't bad enough the Germans and Japanese acted up. In their minds they were not doing anything different then the Americans did before. After all the Americans are the coolest. We took land form the French, English, Spanish, Russians, Indians and anyone else we could get it from. We had slaves. Child labor. But we did kick ass. 

     So we tried to stay out of World War II also. But knew that wasn't going to happen. 

FDR

     Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the United States 32nd President. He followed Herbert Hoover after defeating Hoover in the 1932 election. The American economy tanked in late 1929. After a wild decade called the "Roaring Twenties". Funny how the Republicans are stereotyped as conservative.Under Republicans Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge the United Sates was a very wild country. Talk about pure capitalism. I kind of remember the eighties that way under Ronald Reagan. It was fun but that will become another post. 

     FDR came from a rich New York family. Theodore Roosevelt was a relative. He was not in it for the money. After a decade of prosperity and helping the English and French win World War I the US was cooking. The US even used Cadillacs for autos in World War I. The Europeans thought the Americans were made of money. In fact they were. 

     So Herbert Hoover started giving the companies and factories money. This didn't work. Because you can't sell if people don't buy. FDR on the other hand tried to put money into the peoples hand. If they have it they will spend. George W. Bush even tried this. I remember getting a couple of checks for $600 from the government. Have you got any checks lately for the Oboma bunch? No because you had to work to get checks from Bush. Oboma just gives money to people who don't work. 

     There were a lot of great projects that came about during the thirties. People got money but they had to do something for it. They built roads, bridges, dams, parks, planted trees and many other things. People got paid but they done something in return for it. Now we just want to sit around and sue someone for money and take a free ride. 

      If things weren't bad enough the Germans and Japanese acted up. In their minds they were not doing anything different then the Americans did before. After all the Americans are the coolest. We took land form the French, English, Spanish, Russians, Indians and anyone else we could get it from. We had slaves. Child labor. But we did kick ass. 

     So we tried to stay out of World War II also. But knew that wasn't going to happen. 

Bikes To Commute, Save Money, Be Green And Frugal

     Well as we are moving into fall it is still bicycle commuting time. As many people commute all year. Up north in the rain and snow. Cold and wind. Today in Florida it got to 90 degrees. After we have been having a nice cooling trend into the 80's. Commuting after all takes place in all types of weather all year long.
     I recently sold my Trek 800 mountain turned commuter to a friend so she could give it to her son in law a a bike to commute to work on. So I have trimmed my stable by one. From four to three. As I said before two is probably the right number of bikes. The next one to sell is going to be a harder choice however. One is too large for me and the other is too small. Maybe I should sell them both and wait for one the right size to show up in the future. But that would make too much sense for me. And it is also hard to find cash buyers.
     I have found that the type of tires make the most difference as to how a bike will travel over different terrain. Off road and racing tires being the least practical for commuting purposes. So touring, city and urban type tires are the most practical. They roll well and have enough tread to get you through something like gravel and grass. The bike that was sold had Bike Nashbar Streetwise tires without kevlar. I did however install the Slime tire liners. They were a pain to install but did not have any flats on that bike after installing them last year in October. Running over all kinds of stuff commuting through a construction zone. They are $10 a piece (you need two) and are hard to install. But no flats in a year makes me seriously consider them for the bike that will take on the major commuting role. Not too much fun walking out to a flat after a long day at work. So I am considering getting the tire liners.
     The used bikes I have bought were not especially the right size for me. I actually didn't realize that except for the obvious, child's, girls, BMX  that there were so many size choices for adults. So the first thing you need to worry about is size. The two road bikes I have are either about 2CM too small or large. So remember size. www.ebicycles/artice/bicycleframe-size-charts.html. This link will provide you with information as to a size that will work for you. You will be then able to get a bike that will last you a long time without having to get another one that fits!
     A road bike, mountain bike, cruiser, single speed or hybrid all will work just fine as long as it fits and has tires to cover your route. Remember that even if you have a bike lane all the debris ends up on the side of the road where you will be riding. After the almost two years of construction I will have access to a bike lane and a deserted sidewalk that now has street lights. Makes it nice coming home at night as the highway I ride on has a 50 MPH speed limit and those week end nights where someone may have had a few too many or texting on the phone.
     Riding your bike to work is green, frugal (saves money), and gets you some basic exercise. In many cases it is as fast as driving and you get to see things you would have never noticed before.

Bikes To Commute, Save Money, Be Green And Frugal

     Well as we are moving into fall it is still bicycle commuting time. As many people commute all year. Up north in the rain and snow. Cold and wind. Today in Florida it got to 90 degrees. After we have been having a nice cooling trend into the 80's. Commuting after all takes place in all types of weather all year long.
     I recently sold my Trek 800 mountain turned commuter to a friend so she could give it to her son in law a a bike to commute to work on. So I have trimmed my stable by one. From four to three. As I said before two is probably the right number of bikes. The next one to sell is going to be a harder choice however. One is too large for me and the other is too small. Maybe I should sell them both and wait for one the right size to show up in the future. But that would make too much sense for me. And it is also hard to find cash buyers.
     I have found that the type of tires make the most difference as to how a bike will travel over different terrain. Off road and racing tires being the least practical for commuting purposes. So touring, city and urban type tires are the most practical. They roll well and have enough tread to get you through something like gravel and grass. The bike that was sold had Bike Nashbar Streetwise tires without kevlar. I did however install the Slime tire liners. They were a pain to install but did not have any flats on that bike after installing them last year in October. Running over all kinds of stuff commuting through a construction zone. They are $10 a piece (you need two) and are hard to install. But no flats in a year makes me seriously consider them for the bike that will take on the major commuting role. Not too much fun walking out to a flat after a long day at work. So I am considering getting the tire liners.
     The used bikes I have bought were not especially the right size for me. I actually didn't realize that except for the obvious, child's, girls, BMX  that there were so many size choices for adults. So the first thing you need to worry about is size. The two road bikes I have are either about 2CM too small or large. So remember size. www.ebicycles/artice/bicycleframe-size-charts.html. This link will provide you with information as to a size that will work for you. You will be then able to get a bike that will last you a long time without having to get another one that fits!
     A road bike, mountain bike, cruiser, single speed or hybrid all will work just fine as long as it fits and has tires to cover your route. Remember that even if you have a bike lane all the debris ends up on the side of the road where you will be riding. After the almost two years of construction I will have access to a bike lane and a deserted sidewalk that now has street lights. Makes it nice coming home at night as the highway I ride on has a 50 MPH speed limit and those week end nights where someone may have had a few too many or texting on the phone.
     Riding your bike to work is green, frugal (saves money), and gets you some basic exercise. In many cases it is as fast as driving and you get to see things you would have never noticed before.

Products Reliability And Happiness

     In college thirty plus years ago I wrote an essay for a political science class called Products Reliability And Happiness. I will attempt to paraphrase it and add to it here. For a long time humans did not have the luxury of having products and services to choose from. In between the major civilizations people had to eke out an existence as best they could. There was nothing to buy and nothing to buy it with as you have no money. Barter at best. I cannot imagine how that would be. Of course you didn't have to live by a clock. Only daylight and dark. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. 

     Fast forward a few centuries. Now it is all about products and services. House payment or rent. It is a product or service. Utilities. A product and service. Transportation (airplane, ships, autos, buses, bikes) are also a product and service. Food is also a product and service. Clothing also. I cannot remember the last time I made my own pants. Perhaps never. 

     So all the things we want are available to us. All we need is money. How do you get money. I guess you have to be an entrepreneur or employee. Or perhaps someone who has saved their money and retired. You could also just live off the fat of the land. In any event you will probably get enough to get by. 

     After time we all develop preferences and desires. "I could really go for a Coke right now". "Gee they are out of such and such thing that I am looking for". If we cannot find them we are not happy. Distraught. We get so fixated on a product or service that it causes ourselves a great deal of unhappiness if that product or service is no longer or presently available. Waaa!

     The main thing is that we are employed (for the most part) to provide the products and services that people desire. If we produced a product or service that was not desired we would have a position that would be obsolete. Therefore we would have to learn to live off the fat of the land. Unfortunately the fat is starting to run lean. 

     Throughout the 1990s you would probably catch me driving a Jaguar, Mercedes, or BMW. Of course I had a Chevy or Ford too. For work you know. Do you know how much an oil change is in those imports? A whole bunch. But you can run into people who can really afford these cars in the waiting room. Nothing like networking. 

      So we all want the things we want. Human nature. So we all things that we really want. Can't live without. A certain something. I do not need to list them as they are as personal as anything. I see people everyday and myself included into this. So we are the most happy when we can get the the products and services we desire.

        In this day and age we have became so accustomed to products and services that we are addicted to them . "Oh no I am not addicted to anything." Well think again. How about toilet paper. We use it every day!

Products Reliability And Happiness

     In college thirty plus years ago I wrote an essay for a political science class called Products Reliability And Happiness. I will attempt to paraphrase it and add to it here. For a long time humans did not have the luxury of having products and services to choose from. In between the major civilizations people had to eke out an existence as best they could. There was nothing to buy and nothing to buy it with as you have no money. Barter at best. I cannot imagine how that would be. Of course you didn't have to live by a clock. Only daylight and dark. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. 

     Fast forward a few centuries. Now it is all about products and services. House payment or rent. It is a product or service. Utilities. A product and service. Transportation (airplane, ships, autos, buses, bikes) are also a product and service. Food is also a product and service. Clothing also. I cannot remember the last time I made my own pants. Perhaps never. 

     So all the things we want are available to us. All we need is money. How do you get money. I guess you have to be an entrepreneur or employee. Or perhaps someone who has saved their money and retired. You could also just live off the fat of the land. In any event you will probably get enough to get by. 

     After time we all develop preferences and desires. "I could really go for a Coke right now". "Gee they are out of such and such thing that I am looking for". If we cannot find them we are not happy. Distraught. We get so fixated on a product or service that it causes ourselves a great deal of unhappiness if that product or service is no longer or presently available. Waaa!

     The main thing is that we are employed (for the most part) to provide the products and services that people desire. If we produced a product or service that was not desired we would have a position that would be obsolete. Therefore we would have to learn to live off the fat of the land. Unfortunately the fat is starting to run lean. 

     Throughout the 1990s you would probably catch me driving a Jaguar, Mercedes, or BMW. Of course I had a Chevy or Ford too. For work you know. Do you know how much an oil change is in those imports? A whole bunch. But you can run into people who can really afford these cars in the waiting room. Nothing like networking. 

      So we all want the things we want. Human nature. So we all things that we really want. Can't live without. A certain something. I do not need to list them as they are as personal as anything. I see people everyday and myself included into this. So we are the most happy when we can get the the products and services we desire.

        In this day and age we have became so accustomed to products and services that we are addicted to them . "Oh no I am not addicted to anything." Well think again. How about toilet paper. We use it every day!

Quick Goodwill Update And More

     Going to Goodwill stores has been something I have done for a long time. I even went with my grandmother in the sixties. Those grandmothers from my era knew how to get the most from the dollar. As they were raised and married through the Great Depression. You just never know what you will find at a thrift shop.
     I find it amusing that thrift shopping is hip now. It used to be provocative to tell someone you bought something from one. This morning there were likely more shoppers at Goodwill than the mall across the street. The mall is just filled with redundant Chinese junk. At high prices. Good will is filled with junk too. But you will never know when you will find a diamond in the rough. Popularity has caused their prices to rise a bit. Supply and demand you know. You got to pay for hip.
     People go through the thrift stores and buy the diamonds to sell at yard sales, Craigs List and ebay. So when you go now you will not find that piece of high end audio or great wall art that you may have found years ago. Also Goodwill has caught on and is pricing things in a less random fashion then they used to. Junk is still priced as junk. And nicer things are priced accordingly.
     When shopping you may find the piece of clothing that is the coolest. Take the time to look it over closely. Someone got rid of it for some reason. If it has a stain on it do not think that you will get it home and get it out. They wash everything in a strong industrial wash. If they couldn't get it out chances are you can't either. Check for buttons, holes and holes in pockets of pants.
     I have bought cookware there too. But I thoroughly boil and clean the pieces. Multiple times. Then you know they a clean. You can every once in a while find a nice piece. Most appliances are sold as is. Take the time and ask if you can plug them in. Again why get rid of something if it works. The ones donating are usually doing it for a tax write off and not the kindness of their heart. Buyer beware.
     Finally I have disengaged from Google plus. As it will not let me read the comments. I want any and all comments to be below each post and to be read by all. In the standard format there has been a lack of comments. Even if I push it to provocative. With Google plus I have received comments without the ability to read or respond to. Making them clandestine and worthless to me. If you have something to say, say it.

Quick Goodwill Update And More

     Going to Goodwill stores has been something I have done for a long time. I even went with my grandmother in the sixties. Those grandmothers from my era knew how to get the most from the dollar. As they were raised and married through the Great Depression. You just never know what you will find at a thrift shop.
     I find it amusing that thrift shopping is hip now. It used to be provocative to tell someone you bought something from one. This morning there were likely more shoppers at Goodwill than the mall across the street. The mall is just filled with redundant Chinese junk. At high prices. Good will is filled with junk too. But you will never know when you will find a diamond in the rough. Popularity has caused their prices to rise a bit. Supply and demand you know. You got to pay for hip.
     People go through the thrift stores and buy the diamonds to sell at yard sales, Craigs List and ebay. So when you go now you will not find that piece of high end audio or great wall art that you may have found years ago. Also Goodwill has caught on and is pricing things in a less random fashion then they used to. Junk is still priced as junk. And nicer things are priced accordingly.
     When shopping you may find the piece of clothing that is the coolest. Take the time to look it over closely. Someone got rid of it for some reason. If it has a stain on it do not think that you will get it home and get it out. They wash everything in a strong industrial wash. If they couldn't get it out chances are you can't either. Check for buttons, holes and holes in pockets of pants.
     I have bought cookware there too. But I thoroughly boil and clean the pieces. Multiple times. Then you know they a clean. You can every once in a while find a nice piece. Most appliances are sold as is. Take the time and ask if you can plug them in. Again why get rid of something if it works. The ones donating are usually doing it for a tax write off and not the kindness of their heart. Buyer beware.
     Finally I have disengaged from Google plus. As it will not let me read the comments. I want any and all comments to be below each post and to be read by all. In the standard format there has been a lack of comments. Even if I push it to provocative. With Google plus I have received comments without the ability to read or respond to. Making them clandestine and worthless to me. If you have something to say, say it.

Trying To Strike A Frugal, Green Balance Of Work Time And Free Time

     I would imagine that if you worked a consistent schedule week in and week out it would be easier to strike a balance with your work time and free time. You work every week Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. Lunch every day is at noon. Returning at 1pm. You know that you are going to have every Saturday and Sunday off. All holidays off and the three day weekends when they occur. This gives you the luxury of planning ahead and having time to participate in outside activities and organizations regularly.

     Forward to my schedule and millions of others in retail. Why they cannot establish a consistent schedule for retail is unknown. One day I may have to get up at 5am. The next day I may have off or not have to be at work till 3pm. My lunch break may be at 10am, 3pm or 6pm. This keeps your body in a wreck. I for the most part have the same days off. That helps. But these different shifts occur during the same week. Not different per week. 

     So what is a person to do? Go to bed early one night. Get up early one day. Sleep late one day. Stay up late the next night. What a mess. No one seems to question it, it is what it is. But it has flaws. If I do not need to be at work early I still rise at 7am. Even if I have to work till 11pm. That makes a long day. Then you may have to be in early the next day. 

     I realize that to maintain diversity of skill sets they have people change shifts. That way everyone can learn to do all the tasks that need performed. But it always doesn't work that way. Some people never do certain things. Period. Some people never have the opportunity to do things. 

     I have been however to figure thing out and do thing that need to be done. I can clean house and do laundry on late days. Having it completed so as I will not have to fool with it on a off day. Maybe take a bike ride. Hopefully to ride a bike to work that  afternoon. Getting home early one day is sort of a treat. As you can live like a citizen. Eat dinner at a regular time and not be coming home when everybody else is asleep. 

     Perhaps I am whining here. As people who work the M-F, 9-5 probably feel in a rut. Like a toy train on an oval track. Going round and round in the same place. The same stuff every weekend. Never off during the week. So maybe I should not be so critical of my schedules. 

     Late shifts are an excellent time to get chores done. Get exercise. Ride the bike. Talk to people that you otherwise wouldn't see. I have never been a weekend person anyway. When I did have a whole weekend off I was at a loss. In Indiana however I had every Sunday off. Thursdays too. That is probably the only consistency I need. Now I have off  Mondays and Thursdays. I like that too. Again I should not be whining. 

     The balance comes in to play. I cannot tide a bicycle 15 miles in the morning before I plan to ride it to work that day. Then work on my feet all day then ride home. But I can take a short ride and still commute. I need to start working out a bit I suppose. There is a gym in my complex. I do get shy in these type of environments. Neither of the above activities cost any money or have any further impact on the environment. Win win. 

     Today being off I was able to do some shopping and hit Goodwill to check for anything I couldn't live without. Scored a nice pair of  Polo shorts for cheap. I have time to blog. I have learned and noticed from a new neighbor across the street that it is OK to stay home. When she is off from work it seems she stays home. She is Barbie personified. If she stays home what does an ugly old man like me need to be worried about going out there. While this does not seem fun to a lot of people it would have saved me thousands over the years. Not to mention a lot of wear and tear. I went out to a bar a few weeks ago. in the afternoon. Only the tail end of the lunch crowd, a few barflies, the bartender and myself. A really good investment of $20. Not really. 

     Free time and leisure time may not be the same. Free time can be free, no cost. Leisure time however can cost money. Boats, motorcycles, sports, casinos, theme parks etc. Free time can be free of charge. There is always something that needs to be done around the house. Clean out that fridge. Check closets for stuff that you may have forgotten about and will buy again thinking you do not have it. The patio needs attention. A bike needs work. Reconcile your checkbook. Clean that bathroom. Get your fall clothes out. As fall is here in Florida it is probably only going to be getting in the eighties now. Need to dig out those flannel shirts. Right. 

     

Trying To Strike A Frugal, Green Balance Of Work Time And Free Time

     I would imagine that if you worked a consistent schedule week in and week out it would be easier to strike a balance with your work time and free time. You work every week Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. Lunch every day is at noon. Returning at 1pm. You know that you are going to have every Saturday and Sunday off. All holidays off and the three day weekends when they occur. This gives you the luxury of planning ahead and having time to participate in outside activities and organizations regularly.

     Forward to my schedule and millions of others in retail. Why they cannot establish a consistent schedule for retail is unknown. One day I may have to get up at 5am. The next day I may have off or not have to be at work till 3pm. My lunch break may be at 10am, 3pm or 6pm. This keeps your body in a wreck. I for the most part have the same days off. That helps. But these different shifts occur during the same week. Not different per week. 

     So what is a person to do? Go to bed early one night. Get up early one day. Sleep late one day. Stay up late the next night. What a mess. No one seems to question it, it is what it is. But it has flaws. If I do not need to be at work early I still rise at 7am. Even if I have to work till 11pm. That makes a long day. Then you may have to be in early the next day. 

     I realize that to maintain diversity of skill sets they have people change shifts. That way everyone can learn to do all the tasks that need performed. But it always doesn't work that way. Some people never do certain things. Period. Some people never have the opportunity to do things. 

     I have been however to figure thing out and do thing that need to be done. I can clean house and do laundry on late days. Having it completed so as I will not have to fool with it on a off day. Maybe take a bike ride. Hopefully to ride a bike to work that  afternoon. Getting home early one day is sort of a treat. As you can live like a citizen. Eat dinner at a regular time and not be coming home when everybody else is asleep. 

     Perhaps I am whining here. As people who work the M-F, 9-5 probably feel in a rut. Like a toy train on an oval track. Going round and round in the same place. The same stuff every weekend. Never off during the week. So maybe I should not be so critical of my schedules. 

     Late shifts are an excellent time to get chores done. Get exercise. Ride the bike. Talk to people that you otherwise wouldn't see. I have never been a weekend person anyway. When I did have a whole weekend off I was at a loss. In Indiana however I had every Sunday off. Thursdays too. That is probably the only consistency I need. Now I have off  Mondays and Thursdays. I like that too. Again I should not be whining. 

     The balance comes in to play. I cannot tide a bicycle 15 miles in the morning before I plan to ride it to work that day. Then work on my feet all day then ride home. But I can take a short ride and still commute. I need to start working out a bit I suppose. There is a gym in my complex. I do get shy in these type of environments. Neither of the above activities cost any money or have any further impact on the environment. Win win. 

     Today being off I was able to do some shopping and hit Goodwill to check for anything I couldn't live without. Scored a nice pair of  Polo shorts for cheap. I have time to blog. I have learned and noticed from a new neighbor across the street that it is OK to stay home. When she is off from work it seems she stays home. She is Barbie personified. If she stays home what does an ugly old man like me need to be worried about going out there. While this does not seem fun to a lot of people it would have saved me thousands over the years. Not to mention a lot of wear and tear. I went out to a bar a few weeks ago. in the afternoon. Only the tail end of the lunch crowd, a few barflies, the bartender and myself. A really good investment of $20. Not really. 

     Free time and leisure time may not be the same. Free time can be free, no cost. Leisure time however can cost money. Boats, motorcycles, sports, casinos, theme parks etc. Free time can be free of charge. There is always something that needs to be done around the house. Clean out that fridge. Check closets for stuff that you may have forgotten about and will buy again thinking you do not have it. The patio needs attention. A bike needs work. Reconcile your checkbook. Clean that bathroom. Get your fall clothes out. As fall is here in Florida it is probably only going to be getting in the eighties now. Need to dig out those flannel shirts. Right. 

     

New HeatlthCare.Gov Website Is It Green, Frugal Or Of No Value

     Yesterday I got on the new HealthCare.Gov website to check it out. It may have some magic wand to help people with their medical needs. Also I wanted to check out some plans that may be available to family and myself.
     Remember this is just a quick look (about an hour) that I have been checking out the site. I was under the assumption that this system was open to everyone and could get a good price on a decent health care insurance. There seems to be a lot of run around on the way it works. Or perhaps I am just too dumb to understand it.
     My parents are losing there insurance through the company he retired from. They are going to be on the market for health insurance. With pre-existing conditions. As my father has brain cancer and bladder cancer. With this being an open market place with no pre-existing conditions restrictions. After sorting through the round robin jargon It appears that they do not have much of a plan. Now I just got done reading where it is illegal to get insurance on the Marketplace if you get Medicare. Ironically as I am typing this I am listening  to NPR and the lady on the radio is saying that there is a plan for people on Medicare. Who is right? I guess I need to read some more.
     How about my situation? I have health insurance through my employer. They pay a portion and I pay about $200 a month. Looking at the chart on the website there are ranges in income that qualify for subsidies. Thinking of qualifying for the subsidy and perhaps lowering insurance costs $100 a month. Wrong. For an individual the income range runs from $11,000 to the upper $40,000s. If it is determined by who ever is the determiner that my insurance is "affordable" and meets the minimum standard I do not qualify. Who determines this? I can however still purchase insurance without any discount or subsidy. What a deal! I cannot find a graph or information to see if I fit the paramiters and appear to be up to someones discretion.
     So who does it benefit? Not so sure yet. But I think if you get Medicade you qualify. Do you know anyone making $40,000 plus on Medicade? I guess there is because they may qualify for the discount or subsidy.
     Finding the bill on the internet Title I. says Quality, Affordable Healthcare For All Americans. I guess older folks, people on Medicare and people like me are not included as All Americans. I will make an effort to read the bill. Around 1200 pages that I hope tell me more than the website. With 1200 pages there must be some substance that is comprehensible to laymen like myself.
     This is just a first look. So I have probably made a lot of mistakes and misinterpretations without understanding the main goal or use of the legislation. The only thing I feel right now is that is not going to benefit my aging parents or myself. Kind of selfish I guess. Felt that I may have fell into that "All Americans" category.
     I will however continue to check it out. At this juncture I cannot see why everyone is so upset about something that doesn't seem to do anything. For so many people to feel so strongly one way or another about it some must stand to gain while others stand to lose. I will try to figure it out.

Maybe We Are A Treat

     If in this day and age if we are employed we should consider ourselves lucky. We may not be in a position that we would think the great job. But a job none the less. If I sit down and think about it every job I have had has at least one thing that was undesirable. American Heritage dictionary call a job an activity performed in exchange for payment, one performed regularly as one's trade, occupation or profession.
     If you have your own business you can run it as you will. If you have employees you direct them to as how you want something done. An employee has a job.
     The job that I have is in a highly customer oriented super market. They charge more for the service. Just as any other industry does. Remember the old term "you get what you pay for". They do not give you a job so they can give you money and benefits. It is an exchange. Your service for their money. Otherwise why would they need you. If they could get the task performed in some other fashion you would mot be needed.
     All markets are saturated in a tough economy. My company didn't have any real players as far as high end groceries go twenty years ago. Even in a tough economy people have to eat. If you are going to start a business you would start it in something that sell. At least I hope. So if you are at the top of the heap you are the ones to take out. Conversely if you are at the bottom of the heap you have a market also. The in between stores suffer the most.
     I know when I made three times as much as I make now I didn't shop at my store. Too expensive. Of course I had a lot of other priorities. I will not go into that now. Now I have came to realize the difference in stores. A lot of other things are not as important now. So I can spend a little more on better food. I do not seek the service but have came to understand the importance of service.
     We are not just in the retail business. But also in the service business. Service means a lot. There is a lot of things that we can do for ourselves but elect to pay for it. That is the thrill. I do not go to a barber to get a Marine style haircut. Although it is more fun. I let go of that thrill and do it myself. Not much to work with anyway and it would be a waste. Many of our customers drive high end cars. Any ordinary cars will get you where you need to go. But they step up. They can and do enjoy the choice or better things. These consumers can go where they please.
      It is then paramount that we as employees recognize that fact. We need them more than they need us. There is more choices for them to make. We want and need them to be the go to. No ifs, or and buts about it. You may have been the best before but have a tough road to hoe now.
     The first think is to have a team effort. You cannot push a chain. At least very well. Everybody has to pitch in and make it better for everyone. Being a drag makes you a drag on everyone. If all folks involved helps out everybody benefits. It also makes it easier to do our job. I have made a commitment to do the best I can. over the years I have been the best at what I do. Even without being the best in looks and physical condition.. It took hard work. Not dodging things. Willing to go the extra mile to get things done.
     Many times my attitude is not the best or even close. Over the years I was the best John Deere and Honda salesman in 1984 and 1985. At a Chevrolet dealership I was the best salesman in 1986, 1987 and 1988. It was not that I was better than anyone else. I just took it a step further,.
     In your work environment take a little extra step to help out everyone. Not just the boss or thinking you are getting away with anything. Remember the image that you project to the customer. They really do not care about your affairs. We are just a blip on their radar. The only thing that they care about is the service that you give them. Over the years only about 1% of the people care about your personal affairs. Maybe ten per cent remember you. The only thing they want is what they want. And that is now.
     So what we need to do is work together as a team, We are all in the same boat. Don't be lazy. Get the job done. Help your fellow workers. Give your manager Hell. Not really. But a little. Play the game. If you were not doing this, what else would you be doing?

What Would Happen If The US And Mexico Merged

     What would happen if the US and Mexico merged into one country. For one it would be the largest country in the Americas. All that fencing they put up could be recycled to make big fancy wheels. The Border Patrol could be integrated into police forces. It would eliminate illegal aliens. 

     Mexico has some oil that we could use to make gasoline for our cars. They could be part of the Affordable Care Act. The EPA could get busy with their factories that do not come up to standards. The dollar would be the currency for both countries. 

     They are experts in illegal drugs which could be made legal and taxed. Only to be used as directed. They could get a drivers license. Mexico would have to be bi lingual. US franchises could flourish and hire low income former US low wage workers that would be struggling with Spanish. 

     We could take our families down there to work and not have to deal with snow and bad winters. Have a bunch of kids and enjoy the hot weather. Most of us would not have to worry about getting a drivers license or insurance as we would already have one. 

     All the clothes and shoes we need could be made within the border. We could forget about most of the rest of the world and their problems as we should be able to be self sufficient. 

     Products would no longer need to be labeled assembled in Mexico. It could say made in USA. We could make the world's largest prison. Contract it out to any country willing to pay for the services. 

     Looks like a win win  to me. 

Work Hard And Behave

     It is hard to believe all the crime in the small city I live in. Ranging from shoplifting to murder. A great deal of domestic violence. Drugs, shootings, driving without a license. Trying to sell stolen goods to pawn brokers. A sign of a poor economy. 

   I read today that 238,000 college grads are working jobs that do not even require a high school graduation. Like me. I myself and many others wasted a lot of time and money on college. Many people who go to school just don't need or use it. of the nine million jobs lost in the economic downturn, six million of the new jobs were low paying.

     So what are the good paying jobs. The average income they say is $50,000 or about $961.54 per week. I make about half of that and a great deal of others do too. Many that work in the medical field will be impacted by the Affordable Health Act.I am sure as a lot of doctors are closing up shop. Maybe a great deal of others who work for them will be out of work too.
     As being a large service type economy we need to explore other industries that will fill a need. Coal and natural gas seem to be abundant in the US. Gas is a big industry now. For years it is called a clean burning energy. Many fleet vehicles and industrial fork trucks have used natural gas for years. Before and during WW2 The Germans were making fuel out of coal. Even able to make a high grade gasoline suitable for use in aircraft requiring high octane ratings. My father retired from the coal business and told me that they were doing coal to gasoline in the late fifties. The problem was that the cost to do so was about 25 cents while gas was selling at the pump for about 18 cents a gallon. Not that way now! It would also take the strain off the ethanol projects. Cutting down on that to be able to maintain the corn crop to food and keeping food prices down.
     During the Economic Downturn nine million jobs were lost according to what I have read. Six million of these jobs have been replaced. But replaced with low paying (below $25,000) and part time retail jobs. Now retail is saturated. Companies are not wanting full time employees to eliminate the burden of benefits like medical, vacations and bonuses. So many retail stores carry the same made in China junk. I do not know how they are able to stay open. the same junk clothes, shoes, and well just junk.
     How about opening up a strong conservation of natural resource program. The leadership can be the college grads. Although they won't be paid a real high income. But a good livable income. Unskilled workers could also get jobs. Again at an income level that could sustain a reasonable  living. Maybe not all the latest and greatest goodies but a decent living. At least what one could do in the saturated retail sector. These people would be earning an income and paying taxes. This would take the burden off the unemployment roles. Conservation being soil, water, energy (not conserving energy by sitting on the couch), planting trees (which naturally clean the air) and countless other venues.
     Another area is infrastructure. Cities seem to find money to replace sports stadiums. But cannot keep up their water and sewer systems. somethings wrong with that. Highway bridges and the roads themselves need attention. I am amazed as to how fast these systems were built before now. Even without "modern" technology. I guess the workers weren't stopping to text someone every five minutes. Case in point is the Chesapeake Bay Bridges. The original one built in the sixties faster and as accurate as the later one with the "old" technology.
     Recycling is another area that could be greatly improved upon. It appears that we only recycle 1% of all the plastic produced. Stepping up on that in all areas of recycling would create jobs while improving the planet. Most of these jobs would not require a college degree while being able to employ people with a college degree with a leadership role and not working at a Dollar General.
     With the advent of the Affordable Care Act these folks could be provided with insurance correct? Making a living wage, paying taxes bringing down the Federal Deficit.If the program is set up correctly a lot of people (including myself) should be able to use and directed to the public health care facilities that are and have been in place for a long time. These a currently just a government job bureaucracy that keeps unrealistic hours and services. People just go to the emergency rooms at hospitals. No insurance and do not pay their bills. Can't bleed a turnip can you. The public health system already in place needs to be fixed to something that works. That is what it was designed for. Not just a place for the workers to hang out, punch the clock, have all the holidays off and go home.
     Put a cap on unwed mother benefits. One maybe two and then consider that to be the max on these programs. If a family with one working parent and one stay at home parent has another child their employer doesn't automatically give them a raise in pay. They just have to make due with what they have. Burden your own family.
     Make things in the United States. This area has a lot to do with greed of the ownership of companies. Ever try to find a pair of shoes or underwear made in the US? The owners take the factories offshore. Would you not pay $10 more for some shoes or jeans made in the US? This would also make jobs. Again not millionaire positions, but a job. Again the Affordable Care Act should help with the benefits.
     Bring back or increase the luxury taxes. These people can afford it. They raised taxes on tobacco and alcohol. Two products that are mostly used by the less wealthy. If they want to buy a $200,000 car a few more thousand shouldn't stop them. If it does they can just drive a Ford or Chevy. If you can pay $20,000 for a Rolex watch pay another $500 in luxury tax.
     Investigate non profits. Make sure they are doing what they say they do. Not just paying out most funds in administration costs.
     With these suggestions in place all of us work just have to work hard and behave. Making everything better for everyone. Kind of like what they did fifty rears ago and heretofore.