Now It Is BBQ Time Garden Is Planted Time To Have Some Frugal Fun At Home

     It just seems like I was telling my father that April is over and now May is over. At one point in time I used to use the grill all year. I have three grills. Two Weber kettle grills and a no name gas grill. The Weber grills are of course charcoal grills. 

     Just think about the fun you could have with little cookouts with your family and friends. Think about all the cooking you can do with a grill. At one time I had a smoker and a turkey fryer too. People used to love to have my outdoor cooking. 

     Cooking for others used to be my bag. I really enjoyed it. It was my fun thing. It should be yours. On Sundays I used to cook for a lot of people. It was fun for me and fun for them too. It does however require some effort on your own part. 

     First you have to decide what you will be cooking. A main dish and the sides. A feast for friends. How much better can that get.I do not know too many people that have a lot of money. I guess I really do not know many people at all. I do not know of many people who converge and get together like people used to. Everybody just wants to get off work and go home. Go home. That used to be such a drag for me. Now it is pretty much the only thing I want to do. But I do not feel that I am the only one thinking that way.
     Anyway. Back to grilling. First choose the meat dish or dishes that you are doing. Beef, chicken, pork, lamb or some wild game (if you have access to wild game). Then when you select a meat choose the sides. Baked potatoes and corn can be made on the grill but take up a lot of space. If you have the space no big deal.
     The biggest deal with the meat is how you season it and how you cook it. Steaks aren't that tough. You can just throw them on the grill and they will generally turn out fine. But I like to take the time and effort to marinate them. If even for just an hour or two. It adds to the flavor tremendously. It can also cut down on the cooking time. As rare or medium is going to have good flavor. Since you are out to have a good time cook them to taste for your guest. They will appreciate it!
     Chicken on the other hand does require some marinate and seasoning. Other wise you are just going to have dry and hopefully not burnt chicken. I like to marinate chicken with Italian salad dressing. All night is great. An hour will work. Then cook it with low indirect heat. Hopefully on a charcoal grill. With a Weber you can regulate the heat with a top and bottom vent. Cook chicken low and slow.
     Stop! Let's talk about starting the grill. The big thing with starting a charcoal grill is the lighting. Take your grill brush and clean the grate at least somewhat. Only the rough stuff will do. Gauge the amount of charcoal to as how much you are planning to cook. Put the charcoal on the bottom (charcoal) grate. Maybe two or three deep. Towards the center. Soak the coals down with charcoal lighter fluid. The key here is to let the fluid soak in and not cause an explosion when you light it. It also causes the charcoal to heat evenly. After about two minutes light the charcoal. It will not make a big flareup and will start to burn evenly. Which is what you want. At this juncture let it burn about thirty minutes. This pretty much applies to all charcoal grill cooking.
     Everybody has their own thing with pork. If you are smoking the pork put it on a smoker and let it cook for six to eight hours. If you are cooking it on a grill I like to boil it for at least a half hour. The meat is cooked at that state. Then put it on the grill at low heat. I guess I am a low heat kind of guy. Do not add any sauce until it is about 3/4 of the way done as it will only burn on the outside and becomes hard. So wait to the last quarter.
     I have even made beef and pork roast on a grill. Put the vegetables in with the seasoning and marinate and wrap them up tight in heavy duty aluminum foil. Works great and seals the juices in.
     Cooking baked potatoes in foil works great too. As does corn on the cob. I shuck the corn. Put butter, seasoning on the ears. Wrap it up and throw it on the grill.
     As the summer progresses hopefully you will have fresh produce from your garden to enjoy!

Now It Is BBQ Time Garden Is Planted Time To Have Some Frugal Fun At Home

     It just seems like I was telling my father that April is over and now May is over. At one point in time I used to use the grill all year. I have three grills. Two Weber kettle grills and a no name gas grill. The Weber grills are of course charcoal grills. 

     Just think about the fun you could have with little cookouts with your family and friends. Think about all the cooking you can do with a grill. At one time I had a smoker and a turkey fryer too. People used to love to have my outdoor cooking. 

     Cooking for others used to be my bag. I really enjoyed it. It was my fun thing. It should be yours. On Sundays I used to cook for a lot of people. It was fun for me and fun for them too. It does however require some effort on your own part. 

     First you have to decide what you will be cooking. A main dish and the sides. A feast for friends. How much better can that get.I do not know too many people that have a lot of money. I guess I really do not know many people at all. I do not know of many people who converge and get together like people used to. Everybody just wants to get off work and go home. Go home. That used to be such a drag for me. Now it is pretty much the only thing I want to do. But I do not feel that I am the only one thinking that way.
     Anyway. Back to grilling. First choose the meat dish or dishes that you are doing. Beef, chicken, pork, lamb or some wild game (if you have access to wild game). Then when you select a meat choose the sides. Baked potatoes and corn can be made on the grill but take up a lot of space. If you have the space no big deal.
     The biggest deal with the meat is how you season it and how you cook it. Steaks aren't that tough. You can just throw them on the grill and they will generally turn out fine. But I like to take the time and effort to marinate them. If even for just an hour or two. It adds to the flavor tremendously. It can also cut down on the cooking time. As rare or medium is going to have good flavor. Since you are out to have a good time cook them to taste for your guest. They will appreciate it!
     Chicken on the other hand does require some marinate and seasoning. Other wise you are just going to have dry and hopefully not burnt chicken. I like to marinate chicken with Italian salad dressing. All night is great. An hour will work. Then cook it with low indirect heat. Hopefully on a charcoal grill. With a Weber you can regulate the heat with a top and bottom vent. Cook chicken low and slow.
     Stop! Let's talk about starting the grill. The big thing with starting a charcoal grill is the lighting. Take your grill brush and clean the grate at least somewhat. Only the rough stuff will do. Gauge the amount of charcoal to as how much you are planning to cook. Put the charcoal on the bottom (charcoal) grate. Maybe two or three deep. Towards the center. Soak the coals down with charcoal lighter fluid. The key here is to let the fluid soak in and not cause an explosion when you light it. It also causes the charcoal to heat evenly. After about two minutes light the charcoal. It will not make a big flareup and will start to burn evenly. Which is what you want. At this juncture let it burn about thirty minutes. This pretty much applies to all charcoal grill cooking.
     Everybody has their own thing with pork. If you are smoking the pork put it on a smoker and let it cook for six to eight hours. If you are cooking it on a grill I like to boil it for at least a half hour. The meat is cooked at that state. Then put it on the grill at low heat. I guess I am a low heat kind of guy. Do not add any sauce until it is about 3/4 of the way done as it will only burn on the outside and becomes hard. So wait to the last quarter.
     I have even made beef and pork roast on a grill. Put the vegetables in with the seasoning and marinate and wrap them up tight in heavy duty aluminum foil. Works great and seals the juices in.
     Cooking baked potatoes in foil works great too. As does corn on the cob. I shuck the corn. Put butter, seasoning on the ears. Wrap it up and throw it on the grill.
     As the summer progresses hopefully you will have fresh produce from your garden to enjoy!

Is Debt Consolidation A Wise Move ?

     I got the email from Credit Karma the other day.  Opened it and checked out the results. I am not sure if this a new feature but it suggested that I get personal loan to pay off revolving debt I have. So I pursued it and have apparently got the loan.
     This lowers my monthly payment and will force me to pay off this debt quicker. The caveat here is to take these funds and pay off this other debt. Then not create more new debt. This a good thing and will require me to exercise discipline. Only to use these credit cards for some unforeseen emergency. Although credit cards should not be considered an emergency fund.
     I should feel like the rat in the trap. I don't want the cheese just out of the trap.  So let's  hope this is going to work out well as it seems to be materializing.  The funds should soon be sent and I will pay off  hand full of other bills.  One payment less than the others combined. Paying them off faster then  the  rate I am going.
     Again this will be good if it is handled properly. On a monthly basis I will be saving $75 a month. Seven hundred in total interest. If I follow the plan I will pay everything off in three years instead of five. Also lowering my interest rate.
     Let's just take a Walmart card for instance. If you only make the minimum payment you balance will go down about $1 for month. You will never pay it off. Unless of course you get some kind of windfall and make and start to make big stabs at it.
     Most of my writings center upon folks in my situation that are not trying to get rich on the stock market. Or trying to get that big nest egg for retirement. Just trying to get by on a day to day basis. You know, living hand to mouth. So this is just some kind of bottom feeding thing to someone who was smarter or luckier.
     I do not generate much if any revenue from this blog. Are my ads terrible. If they are not check them out. That will also serve to get me out of the trap faster!

Is Debt Consolidation A Wise Move ?

     I got the email from Credit Karma the other day.  Opened it and checked out the results. I am not sure if this a new feature but it suggested that I get personal loan to pay off revolving debt I have. So I pursued it and have apparently got the loan.
     This lowers my monthly payment and will force me to pay off this debt quicker. The caveat here is to take these funds and pay off this other debt. Then not create more new debt. This a good thing and will require me to exercise discipline. Only to use these credit cards for some unforeseen emergency. Although credit cards should not be considered an emergency fund.
     I should feel like the rat in the trap. I don't want the cheese just out of the trap.  So let's  hope this is going to work out well as it seems to be materializing.  The funds should soon be sent and I will pay off  hand full of other bills.  One payment less than the others combined. Paying them off faster then  the  rate I am going.
     Again this will be good if it is handled properly. On a monthly basis I will be saving $75 a month. Seven hundred in total interest. If I follow the plan I will pay everything off in three years instead of five. Also lowering my interest rate.
     Let's just take a Walmart card for instance. If you only make the minimum payment you balance will go down about $1 for month. You will never pay it off. Unless of course you get some kind of windfall and make and start to make big stabs at it.
     Most of my writings center upon folks in my situation that are not trying to get rich on the stock market. Or trying to get that big nest egg for retirement. Just trying to get by on a day to day basis. You know, living hand to mouth. So this is just some kind of bottom feeding thing to someone who was smarter or luckier.
     I do not generate much if any revenue from this blog. Are my ads terrible. If they are not check them out. That will also serve to get me out of the trap faster!

Trying To Stay Happy Most Of The Time Everywhere

     We all have that day that we are waiting for. That weekend or vacation. Something to wish that we were not where we are now and at this Shangri-La that we know that we will sometime be in. This fantasy just makes the here and now less pleasurable. If we could just make the most of the now time we would always be happier.
     I know heading in for work or something that I would rather not do I am focused on that thing that I think that I would rather be doing. Making what I am doing seem worse than it is. Creating anxiety when you could probably not have it.
     All the wishing, hoping and praying will not change where you are at any given second. So you just have to deal with it. How you deal with the now determines how things will come out later. What you will be doing and where you will be doing it.
     Last summer I was off for five weeks total for three surgeries. When the first doctor gave me a note to tell me that I needed to take ten days off it felt strange. Then being off for three weeks straight I sort of developed a desire to be off all the time. Realizing that some folks are off all the time.
     The fact is that I after a short  time I was not bored. The days seemed to start passing quickly. I see a lot of people in my complex that do not work and seem to be very happy. I guess I could be happy having what I have without having to do anything to have it.
     This knowledge just makes me feel less happy. pretty much all the time. As with that time off even being in pain was better then having to do something you do not really like to do. I have nine medical issues that seem to qualify for a state of disability. I have aches and pains that I did not know one could have.
     But the reality of it is that trying to be happy in the here and now is something to concentrate on. Knowing that things aren't the best but certainly could be worse. Just need to find that fair to midland.

Trying To Stay Happy Most Of The Time Everywhere

     We all have that day that we are waiting for. That weekend or vacation. Something to wish that we were not where we are now and at this Shangri-La that we know that we will sometime be in. This fantasy just makes the here and now less pleasurable. If we could just make the most of the now time we would always be happier.
     I know heading in for work or something that I would rather not do I am focused on that thing that I think that I would rather be doing. Making what I am doing seem worse than it is. Creating anxiety when you could probably not have it.
     All the wishing, hoping and praying will not change where you are at any given second. So you just have to deal with it. How you deal with the now determines how things will come out later. What you will be doing and where you will be doing it.
     Last summer I was off for five weeks total for three surgeries. When the first doctor gave me a note to tell me that I needed to take ten days off it felt strange. Then being off for three weeks straight I sort of developed a desire to be off all the time. Realizing that some folks are off all the time.
     The fact is that I after a short  time I was not bored. The days seemed to start passing quickly. I see a lot of people in my complex that do not work and seem to be very happy. I guess I could be happy having what I have without having to do anything to have it.
     This knowledge just makes me feel less happy. pretty much all the time. As with that time off even being in pain was better then having to do something you do not really like to do. I have nine medical issues that seem to qualify for a state of disability. I have aches and pains that I did not know one could have.
     But the reality of it is that trying to be happy in the here and now is something to concentrate on. Knowing that things aren't the best but certainly could be worse. Just need to find that fair to midland.

Cutting Out The Fun Things And Moving Towards More Plant Based Food

     An Elvis Costello song talked about something that turned out to be confetti and the cost of living in sin would make a poor man out of Paul Getty. Thirty plus years later it turned out to be true. Alcohol is expensive. Tobacco is expensive. Meat is expensive. I would have to think that hobbies are too. As I have not played golf for almost a year. I really haven't missed it. Just being out on the course used to be fun. But it was getting to be a chore and couldn't wait to be finished. Making it a waste of time and money.
     Bicycles have something I have been into for some time now. I for the most part can use a bicycle for all the daily transportation needs. I get on these kicks where performing maintenance is a pass time. But everything is up to snuff and I don't feel like messing with it anyway.
     It doesn't seem like I feel like doing much of anything but staying at home. This isn't too bad as I have been able to get a lot of home projects done. Cleaning and taking care of my patio. I planted 5 tomato plants and four pepper plants. Hopefully they will be productive and result in some fresh veggies. I have tried in the past to grow them in the ground unsuccessfully. This year I am using recycled 5 gallon buckets as containers. I cleaned them out and drilled four eighth inch holes about two inches from the bottom for drainage. Then I put pea gravel in the bottom. Then made a mixture of manure and bagged topsoil. Not that much manure as it can burn the plants. Only time will tell. This should be a good little project.
     I used really be excited about keeping a car immaculate. Now I could mostly care less. Last week I started a campaign to take better care of the car. I thoroughly cleaned the outside with a bucket, water, sponge, detergent and a chamois. It was time consuming and offered some good exercise. Plus it didn't cost anything. Got all the sap and bugs off and was as clean as when I got it. A good chore to accomplish and some exercise without bothering a soul. Unless of course someone got upset about the water in the carport which happen to get cleaned too from all the water. A win win as far as I am concerned.
     Usually things that are considered fun has a money cost to them. Theme parks, restaurants, bars, sports and sports outings, boats, movies, shopping and just about any other thing you can think of. Try to find things to do with or without people with the resources you have already or are available for no money cost. Libraries, parks and other public places do not charge money. My community has a pool and a workout room that I admit I do not use. But I should. Just keeping your home tidy can be something to do that has an obvious benefit. You can also use your free time to work out a plan to get out of debt if you have any. Discipline your self to not spend more money and add to your debt.
     Walking and a bicycle ride can be a fun pass time. Again this is something you can do with others or yourself. Teach yourself DIY skills that you enjoy. I mess around with model trains, sometimes. With the help of the internet and magazines I have taught myself how to be fairly proficient with model trains. Model railroading can become very expensive so my forward progress has pretty much stopped here.
      Over the years I have became handy with bicycles. Minor repair, maintenance, tire changing and repair. Most of the time things that stop me on bicycles are not having the correct tools which can be costly. Making a visit to your local bike shop a wiser move.
     I have also learned how to minor watch repairs. I have messed with this for a long time. But buying an inexpensive watch repair kit on ebay has expanded my capabilities. These are not jeweler quality tools but a lot better that none at all. Having the right tool although not the best one is a whole lot better then not having any at all.
     Working on computers and electronics are also a hobby/skill. I can generally get a computer going again. Even though it may take some time and effort. Six years ago my computer blue screened and I stopped at a computer shop and they told me it would cost about $400 to fix. it took a while but I was able to figure it out and get it going again. As I am using it now. I am however surprised as to how many people will not even think about trying to fix something themselves.
     In the food section I am an American. I like meat and all the fried stuff that kills us. The production of meat is getting cost prohibitive for low income folks like me. I will have to learn to switch to a more vegetable diet. One could live on beans. If it were the only food available beans would get you through. Add some potatoes and leafy greens and you have all that you need.
     Again I like meat as much as anyone. But if I could learn to make it a treat and only have it intermittently it would be healthy and cost less. I have always been a meat and potatoes person. The fast food companies know that. So that is what they sell. We have at least two generations of these fast food junkies. For the most part I blame it on the "me" generation which spreads hitherto and henceforth of my age group.
     So many people grew up in broken families with each parent "doing their own thing". The kids where just there. At least in that era there were grandparents to step in. After two generations the grandparents are "doing their own thing" people too. So evolved a group or generation that have kind of had to survive on their own. So they figured it out. Milk dad for this and mom for that. Work them against each other. Then reap the profits.
     The currant generation coming of age do not want to work or move out of the "house". Just mess with their Facebook and play with the computer, watch TV and be Epicurean in their pursuits. Most would rather not work since they do not have to. If they do they only do the very minimum and complain about being tired. While still thinking they deserve thee best in life. The military has concerns that 2 out of 3 twenty year old Americans cannot pass the test to join the forces. As if they wanted to anyway. In their mind a machine or phone ap would get anything done that is needed.
     So more vegetables and fruits are needed in my diet. Right. Economically I will be forced to. Will I ride the bicycle? I guess if I need to get anywhere. Do I need to cut the bad habits? They made a poor man out of Paul Getty. How do I stand a chance?

Cutting Out The Fun Things And Moving Towards More Plant Based Food

     An Elvis Costello song talked about something that turned out to be confetti and the cost of living in sin would make a poor man out of Paul Getty. Thirty plus years later it turned out to be true. Alcohol is expensive. Tobacco is expensive. Meat is expensive. I would have to think that hobbies are too. As I have not played golf for almost a year. I really haven't missed it. Just being out on the course used to be fun. But it was getting to be a chore and couldn't wait to be finished. Making it a waste of time and money.
     Bicycles have something I have been into for some time now. I for the most part can use a bicycle for all the daily transportation needs. I get on these kicks where performing maintenance is a pass time. But everything is up to snuff and I don't feel like messing with it anyway.
     It doesn't seem like I feel like doing much of anything but staying at home. This isn't too bad as I have been able to get a lot of home projects done. Cleaning and taking care of my patio. I planted 5 tomato plants and four pepper plants. Hopefully they will be productive and result in some fresh veggies. I have tried in the past to grow them in the ground unsuccessfully. This year I am using recycled 5 gallon buckets as containers. I cleaned them out and drilled four eighth inch holes about two inches from the bottom for drainage. Then I put pea gravel in the bottom. Then made a mixture of manure and bagged topsoil. Not that much manure as it can burn the plants. Only time will tell. This should be a good little project.
     I used really be excited about keeping a car immaculate. Now I could mostly care less. Last week I started a campaign to take better care of the car. I thoroughly cleaned the outside with a bucket, water, sponge, detergent and a chamois. It was time consuming and offered some good exercise. Plus it didn't cost anything. Got all the sap and bugs off and was as clean as when I got it. A good chore to accomplish and some exercise without bothering a soul. Unless of course someone got upset about the water in the carport which happen to get cleaned too from all the water. A win win as far as I am concerned.
     Usually things that are considered fun has a money cost to them. Theme parks, restaurants, bars, sports and sports outings, boats, movies, shopping and just about any other thing you can think of. Try to find things to do with or without people with the resources you have already or are available for no money cost. Libraries, parks and other public places do not charge money. My community has a pool and a workout room that I admit I do not use. But I should. Just keeping your home tidy can be something to do that has an obvious benefit. You can also use your free time to work out a plan to get out of debt if you have any. Discipline your self to not spend more money and add to your debt.
     Walking and a bicycle ride can be a fun pass time. Again this is something you can do with others or yourself. Teach yourself DIY skills that you enjoy. I mess around with model trains, sometimes. With the help of the internet and magazines I have taught myself how to be fairly proficient with model trains. Model railroading can become very expensive so my forward progress has pretty much stopped here.
      Over the years I have became handy with bicycles. Minor repair, maintenance, tire changing and repair. Most of the time things that stop me on bicycles are not having the correct tools which can be costly. Making a visit to your local bike shop a wiser move.
     I have also learned how to minor watch repairs. I have messed with this for a long time. But buying an inexpensive watch repair kit on ebay has expanded my capabilities. These are not jeweler quality tools but a lot better that none at all. Having the right tool although not the best one is a whole lot better then not having any at all.
     Working on computers and electronics are also a hobby/skill. I can generally get a computer going again. Even though it may take some time and effort. Six years ago my computer blue screened and I stopped at a computer shop and they told me it would cost about $400 to fix. it took a while but I was able to figure it out and get it going again. As I am using it now. I am however surprised as to how many people will not even think about trying to fix something themselves.
     In the food section I am an American. I like meat and all the fried stuff that kills us. The production of meat is getting cost prohibitive for low income folks like me. I will have to learn to switch to a more vegetable diet. One could live on beans. If it were the only food available beans would get you through. Add some potatoes and leafy greens and you have all that you need.
     Again I like meat as much as anyone. But if I could learn to make it a treat and only have it intermittently it would be healthy and cost less. I have always been a meat and potatoes person. The fast food companies know that. So that is what they sell. We have at least two generations of these fast food junkies. For the most part I blame it on the "me" generation which spreads hitherto and henceforth of my age group.
     So many people grew up in broken families with each parent "doing their own thing". The kids where just there. At least in that era there were grandparents to step in. After two generations the grandparents are "doing their own thing" people too. So evolved a group or generation that have kind of had to survive on their own. So they figured it out. Milk dad for this and mom for that. Work them against each other. Then reap the profits.
     The currant generation coming of age do not want to work or move out of the "house". Just mess with their Facebook and play with the computer, watch TV and be Epicurean in their pursuits. Most would rather not work since they do not have to. If they do they only do the very minimum and complain about being tired. While still thinking they deserve thee best in life. The military has concerns that 2 out of 3 twenty year old Americans cannot pass the test to join the forces. As if they wanted to anyway. In their mind a machine or phone ap would get anything done that is needed.
     So more vegetables and fruits are needed in my diet. Right. Economically I will be forced to. Will I ride the bicycle? I guess if I need to get anywhere. Do I need to cut the bad habits? They made a poor man out of Paul Getty. How do I stand a chance?

It Seemed That Seventies TV Shows Focused On A Smaller World

     It seems to me that the old TV shows of the sixties and seventies were more focused on local situations. Not a bunch of vampires or zombies that do not exist. So I guess they were more or less reality shows them selves. Not any far fetched things that are made by computer animation. Maybe boring by today's standards but more likely to a situation you may run into on a daily basis. I am more likely to confront a con man, charlatan or vamp than a zombie, transformer or alien.
     On my recent article about broadcast television I can watch several of the old shows I grew up with. The old detective and police shows I really liked. The silly old sixties comedies. Over the air I get seven PBS channels. My cable company thinks I only deserve one.
     Another thing is how much less expensive this television shows and movies to make. Take Dragnet or Adam 12. On Sundays I get Streets Of San Francisco,Cannon, Rockford Files, Kojak, and Colombo. How great is that. All with a very real plot that could actually happen.

It Seemed That Seventies TV Shows Focused On A Smaller World

     It seems to me that the old TV shows of the sixties and seventies were more focused on local situations. Not a bunch of vampires or zombies that do not exist. So I guess they were more or less reality shows them selves. Not any far fetched things that are made by computer animation. Maybe boring by today's standards but more likely to a situation you may run into on a daily basis. I am more likely to confront a con man, charlatan or vamp than a zombie, transformer or alien.
     On my recent article about broadcast television I can watch several of the old shows I grew up with. The old detective and police shows I really liked. The silly old sixties comedies. Over the air I get seven PBS channels. My cable company thinks I only deserve one.
     Another thing is how much less expensive this television shows and movies to make. Take Dragnet or Adam 12. On Sundays I get Streets Of San Francisco,Cannon, Rockford Files, Kojak, and Colombo. How great is that. All with a very real plot that could actually happen.

Five Ten Twenty

     It doesn't seem that it takes long to spend five, ten or twenty dollars. Poof, it's just gone. Lunch, five. Smokes, five. Milk, five. Before you know it you have spent fifteen dollars. Another five for a beer or two and you are at twenty. That's six hundred a month. 

     On the other side of the coin it is called the cost of living. We all have to spend some money everyday to live. Rent, utilities, car payments, and other bills. So it is a given that you will spend some money everyday if you do not take a dollar out of your wallet.

Five Ten Twenty

     It doesn't seem that it takes long to spend five, ten or twenty dollars. Poof, it's just gone. Lunch, five. Smokes, five. Milk, five. Before you know it you have spent fifteen dollars. Another five for a beer or two and you are at twenty. That's six hundred a month. 

     On the other side of the coin it is called the cost of living. We all have to spend some money everyday to live. Rent, utilities, car payments, and other bills. So it is a given that you will spend some money everyday if you do not take a dollar out of your wallet.

Planting A Garden To Offset Food Prices And Get Your Own Organic Food For Less

    This year I am planning to grow a few vegetables on my patio. I have tried to grow a tomato plant in the ground a couple of times unsuccessfully. This year I am going to attempt to grow them in containers. Five gallon buckets actually. I have access to these for free. I just have to clean them out. Drill a few holes about two inches from the bottom to let the excess water drain out. Put some stones or gravel about two inches deep to help keep the holes from clogging and I should be in.
     I have a pretty good size patio for a small apartment. However I have ten foot tall schefflera plants around the outside border for shade and privacy. So that cuts down on the available sunlight somewhat. But that shouldn't be a big problem.
     In Indiana the soil I had in my yard was mostly clay. It was all woods when I bought the lot but when they graded it they buried the top soil somewhere along the line. Clay is about as opposite as you can get from Florida soil. The soil here is almost all sand. Clay would be hard as a rock when dry and then just mud when wet. So there I made raised beds. 4 feet by 8 feet and created my own loam. A loam is clay, sand silt and organic matter which is nearly tantamount to top soil.
     My first project is a tomato plant. I used a mixture of manure and top soil out of bags from Walmart. I did not elect to get the pricier Miracle Grow soil for $6 a bag and just got the basic for $1.30. Still had some manure left from last years attempt. Last year I planted a Florida hybrid plant in the ground in August. This year I am using a Rutgers plant with which I had good luck with in Indiana. As it gets just as hot and humid there in the summer as it does here.
     What else should I try to grow. Maybe some peppers. Onions would probably a good thing to grow. As I like them. You can get some onions and have fresh green onions all year. Low lying plants like potatoes and cucumbers are pretty much out because of the space involved.
     My grandfather used to grow such a huge garden. To give you an idea it would be about half of a football field. Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, rhubarb,watermelon, cantaloupes, honeydew, hot peppers, tobacco, herbs, sunflowers (my grandmother's gig), squash, beets, lettuce and whatever else I cannot think of.
     He had a couple of grape harbors. One red and the other white. He also could make wine out of dandelions. Those older folks where a lot sharper then we are. Nowadays we think we are so sharp because we can work a smart phone and order fast food. Those older folks were a lot sharper then we are as far as life and survival.
     At any rate gardening should prove to be a fun and fulfilling project for you. If you are a home owner with a decent sized yard you can also get the kids involved. My girlfriend's grandchildren used to really get a kick out of helping me in the garden. With yard work in general.
     So give it a whirl. It may be one of the funnest things you do this summer!

Planting A Garden To Offset Food Prices And Get Your Own Organic Food For Less

    This year I am planning to grow a few vegetables on my patio. I have tried to grow a tomato plant in the ground a couple of times unsuccessfully. This year I am going to attempt to grow them in containers. Five gallon buckets actually. I have access to these for free. I just have to clean them out. Drill a few holes about two inches from the bottom to let the excess water drain out. Put some stones or gravel about two inches deep to help keep the holes from clogging and I should be in.
     I have a pretty good size patio for a small apartment. However I have ten foot tall schefflera plants around the outside border for shade and privacy. So that cuts down on the available sunlight somewhat. But that shouldn't be a big problem.
     In Indiana the soil I had in my yard was mostly clay. It was all woods when I bought the lot but when they graded it they buried the top soil somewhere along the line. Clay is about as opposite as you can get from Florida soil. The soil here is almost all sand. Clay would be hard as a rock when dry and then just mud when wet. So there I made raised beds. 4 feet by 8 feet and created my own loam. A loam is clay, sand silt and organic matter which is nearly tantamount to top soil.
     My first project is a tomato plant. I used a mixture of manure and top soil out of bags from Walmart. I did not elect to get the pricier Miracle Grow soil for $6 a bag and just got the basic for $1.30. Still had some manure left from last years attempt. Last year I planted a Florida hybrid plant in the ground in August. This year I am using a Rutgers plant with which I had good luck with in Indiana. As it gets just as hot and humid there in the summer as it does here.
     What else should I try to grow. Maybe some peppers. Onions would probably a good thing to grow. As I like them. You can get some onions and have fresh green onions all year. Low lying plants like potatoes and cucumbers are pretty much out because of the space involved.
     My grandfather used to grow such a huge garden. To give you an idea it would be about half of a football field. Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, rhubarb,watermelon, cantaloupes, honeydew, hot peppers, tobacco, herbs, sunflowers (my grandmother's gig), squash, beets, lettuce and whatever else I cannot think of.
     He had a couple of grape harbors. One red and the other white. He also could make wine out of dandelions. Those older folks where a lot sharper then we are. Nowadays we think we are so sharp because we can work a smart phone and order fast food. Those older folks were a lot sharper then we are as far as life and survival.
     At any rate gardening should prove to be a fun and fulfilling project for you. If you are a home owner with a decent sized yard you can also get the kids involved. My girlfriend's grandchildren used to really get a kick out of helping me in the garden. With yard work in general.
     So give it a whirl. It may be one of the funnest things you do this summer!

Keeping Up Wth Rising Costs When Your Wages Are Not Keeping Pace

     Just about everywhere you turn prices for goods and services are creeping up. We all notice the big jumps that make the news. But day in and day out everything is going up just a little bit at a time. Fifty cents or a dollar at a time. If you make fifty transactions a week that could mean fifty dollars. 

       Rent goes up $25. Gas 25 cents a gallon. Milk a dollar. So you get a $40 a month raise and the cost of the same things cost you $200 more. You are in the hole $160.My insurance costs went up about $20 a week. My raise was $40 a month. So I am down $40 a month there. Phone goes up $5 a month. Cable a couple of dollars. Let's say our weekly grocery bill goes up $10 a week. Another $40 a month. Gas bounces around but should be figured at about $4 a gallon. Thankfully I can ride my trusty bicycle to work. 

     I am not saying a $40 a month raise is not fair. It just isn't keeping pace with costs. So the only thing to do is to cut back further on spending. Last year I went to Walmart for vacation. This year I'll go to Dollar Tree. I cut my our hair. Can't cut back there. I already eat the less expensive cuts of meat. Maybe have to cut out meat. Produce is also high priced. Unless you just eat beans. May have to be next. 

     Overtime at work is another option if you can get it. My company is not into overtime right now. A second income source is another answer. My schedule bounces around so much a second job for one day a week is hard to find. Not enough of you are clicking any of my ads making this a not for profit exercise. No extra earning here. Still need to come up with an other stream of income like maybe writing a blog that pays a hundred or so a month. Hint, hint. 

     Cutting out going to restaurants and bars is a big money savings. It is usually a big waste of time and money for me as no one wants to be around me anyway. Mall trips are out of the question. I haven't played golf since last June and do not really miss it. Ebay forays have came to a standstill. I have cut cable and internet to the very basic. Bought an antennae for $5 at a yard sale and pick up about 15 extra channels for free. Don't have or want the latest or greatest cell phone. No more home phone. No big TV. Did not go to the eye doctor this year. Putting off needed dental work. Where else to cut? Replaced all light bulbs with energy saving CFLs. Unplug or have appliances on strips that can be shut off when not in use to save the trickle charge they use even when not turned on. I did not have to use the furnace this winter but summer is upon us so my electric bill will about double even keeping the thermostat set at 82 degrees. 

     Work shoes are my largest clothing expense as I seem to need a new pair about every month or so. I have found that Dickies work pants cost a little more but hold up better then anything I have found and do seem to resist the bleach stains the best. 

     Checking on the internet I have nine medical issues that can qualify for disability. I have at least five neighbors I know are on disability. All of which live in a nicer apartment and drive cars. They seem to be getting by. And not going to work. I do not know how they could be living any closer to the vest than I am working. Just doesn't make it seem worth working. I see them come into the store driving automobiles and spending money. Are they getting more on disability than I am working? Just drives me up a wall and I need to somehow get it out of my mind. The folks I am talking about are not in wheelchairs. Walking with canes. Although the cane seems to be obligatory if not just reinforcing the facade. Enough on this as I guess I am just jealous. Not of the people that are truly in need.. Just the ones who get by with it through some way and how. They probably laugh at me (if they even notice) when I jump on the little bicycle and right to work to do a physically and mentally demanding job, To put up with customers, co workers and management. To live almost as well as they do. Without lifting a finger. Just be sittin'. I need to get this off my radar screen before I completely flip out. 

     Leisure time and habits can be a money leak as well. I am down to not much of either. Being the last bastion of things that are not essential to cut out. Sitting home guarding the television is getting old. Need to find other activities to do that do not cost any money and somewhat fun. Helping aging parents on one off day pretty much fills that day. It does however give me pleasure to be able to be there and help. As they have put up with me for 54 years. 

     Without seeming selfish I need to find other things that I can do to enjoy for maybe just myself. We all get our little routines and comfort zones. At this juncture I need to stop the merry go round, get off and look around to see the world. Find something new. Get a grip on some positive change. Maybe use the exercise room and pool that is free at my apartment complex. Start riding a bicycle for leisure instead of just back and forth from work. Something, anything. Just get out of the rut a bit. 

     As far as other income streams I am pretty good with computers and electronics. I can also do minor watch repairs. Also bicycle repairs. Maybe these folks on disability have some other income streams as they have the time on their hands. Or perhaps are trust fund babies that are just getting a bit more milk.

     At this juncture I come home from work real tired and pretty disgusted. But work is the best thing that I have going right now. I do not need to do anything rash and stay the course. Since I am not going to be promoted to CEO anytime in the near future I just have to get by on what I earn. Put up with the good and the bad. A check up from the neck up. 

     I have written many posts by now and did not expect to set the world on fire. But did expect to make a little money at this. I feel that I have some decent and relevant ads. Try to keep it where anyone in the family can read and hopefully enjoy the posts.

     Last month I was approved for a loan that totally surprised me. I guess companies are doing whatever they can to stimulate business. I was so close to taking it on. Only to live to regret it in the future. I just got my letter for the new lease. My rent is going up another $25. That may kill me let alone another consumer product loan!
     Perhaps a better blog is where I need to go. This would be my favored route as I can do this about any time from anywhere. Please give me some input. What would you like me to write about. Should I just hang it up and consider it a learning experience. As heretofore, henceforth I will keep trudging along. My readers have been from all over the world. Which is really cool although not financially rewarding. It is something that most people have not at least tried.
     Again thank you who have read my posts. Please give me some input as to what you want to hear about. I am sure that I am not the only one in the same boat as myself. Kind of like purgatory. I am not being greedy. Just trying to survive. And have a decent time doing it. As the rat says, "I don't want the cheese, just out of this trap".

Keeping Up Wth Rising Costs When Your Wages Are Not Keeping Pace

     Just about everywhere you turn prices for goods and services are creeping up. We all notice the big jumps that make the news. But day in and day out everything is going up just a little bit at a time. Fifty cents or a dollar at a time. If you make fifty transactions a week that could mean fifty dollars. 

       Rent goes up $25. Gas 25 cents a gallon. Milk a dollar. So you get a $40 a month raise and the cost of the same things cost you $200 more. You are in the hole $160.My insurance costs went up about $20 a week. My raise was $40 a month. So I am down $40 a month there. Phone goes up $5 a month. Cable a couple of dollars. Let's say our weekly grocery bill goes up $10 a week. Another $40 a month. Gas bounces around but should be figured at about $4 a gallon. Thankfully I can ride my trusty bicycle to work. 

     I am not saying a $40 a month raise is not fair. It just isn't keeping pace with costs. So the only thing to do is to cut back further on spending. Last year I went to Walmart for vacation. This year I'll go to Dollar Tree. I cut my our hair. Can't cut back there. I already eat the less expensive cuts of meat. Maybe have to cut out meat. Produce is also high priced. Unless you just eat beans. May have to be next. 

     Overtime at work is another option if you can get it. My company is not into overtime right now. A second income source is another answer. My schedule bounces around so much a second job for one day a week is hard to find. Not enough of you are clicking any of my ads making this a not for profit exercise. No extra earning here. Still need to come up with an other stream of income like maybe writing a blog that pays a hundred or so a month. Hint, hint. 

     Cutting out going to restaurants and bars is a big money savings. It is usually a big waste of time and money for me as no one wants to be around me anyway. Mall trips are out of the question. I haven't played golf since last June and do not really miss it. Ebay forays have came to a standstill. I have cut cable and internet to the very basic. Bought an antennae for $5 at a yard sale and pick up about 15 extra channels for free. Don't have or want the latest or greatest cell phone. No more home phone. No big TV. Did not go to the eye doctor this year. Putting off needed dental work. Where else to cut? Replaced all light bulbs with energy saving CFLs. Unplug or have appliances on strips that can be shut off when not in use to save the trickle charge they use even when not turned on. I did not have to use the furnace this winter but summer is upon us so my electric bill will about double even keeping the thermostat set at 82 degrees. 

     Work shoes are my largest clothing expense as I seem to need a new pair about every month or so. I have found that Dickies work pants cost a little more but hold up better then anything I have found and do seem to resist the bleach stains the best. 

     Checking on the internet I have nine medical issues that can qualify for disability. I have at least five neighbors I know are on disability. All of which live in a nicer apartment and drive cars. They seem to be getting by. And not going to work. I do not know how they could be living any closer to the vest than I am working. Just doesn't make it seem worth working. I see them come into the store driving automobiles and spending money. Are they getting more on disability than I am working? Just drives me up a wall and I need to somehow get it out of my mind. The folks I am talking about are not in wheelchairs. Walking with canes. Although the cane seems to be obligatory if not just reinforcing the facade. Enough on this as I guess I am just jealous. Not of the people that are truly in need.. Just the ones who get by with it through some way and how. They probably laugh at me (if they even notice) when I jump on the little bicycle and right to work to do a physically and mentally demanding job, To put up with customers, co workers and management. To live almost as well as they do. Without lifting a finger. Just be sittin'. I need to get this off my radar screen before I completely flip out. 

     Leisure time and habits can be a money leak as well. I am down to not much of either. Being the last bastion of things that are not essential to cut out. Sitting home guarding the television is getting old. Need to find other activities to do that do not cost any money and somewhat fun. Helping aging parents on one off day pretty much fills that day. It does however give me pleasure to be able to be there and help. As they have put up with me for 54 years. 

     Without seeming selfish I need to find other things that I can do to enjoy for maybe just myself. We all get our little routines and comfort zones. At this juncture I need to stop the merry go round, get off and look around to see the world. Find something new. Get a grip on some positive change. Maybe use the exercise room and pool that is free at my apartment complex. Start riding a bicycle for leisure instead of just back and forth from work. Something, anything. Just get out of the rut a bit. 

     As far as other income streams I am pretty good with computers and electronics. I can also do minor watch repairs. Also bicycle repairs. Maybe these folks on disability have some other income streams as they have the time on their hands. Or perhaps are trust fund babies that are just getting a bit more milk.

     At this juncture I come home from work real tired and pretty disgusted. But work is the best thing that I have going right now. I do not need to do anything rash and stay the course. Since I am not going to be promoted to CEO anytime in the near future I just have to get by on what I earn. Put up with the good and the bad. A check up from the neck up. 

     I have written many posts by now and did not expect to set the world on fire. But did expect to make a little money at this. I feel that I have some decent and relevant ads. Try to keep it where anyone in the family can read and hopefully enjoy the posts.

     Last month I was approved for a loan that totally surprised me. I guess companies are doing whatever they can to stimulate business. I was so close to taking it on. Only to live to regret it in the future. I just got my letter for the new lease. My rent is going up another $25. That may kill me let alone another consumer product loan!
     Perhaps a better blog is where I need to go. This would be my favored route as I can do this about any time from anywhere. Please give me some input. What would you like me to write about. Should I just hang it up and consider it a learning experience. As heretofore, henceforth I will keep trudging along. My readers have been from all over the world. Which is really cool although not financially rewarding. It is something that most people have not at least tried.
     Again thank you who have read my posts. Please give me some input as to what you want to hear about. I am sure that I am not the only one in the same boat as myself. Kind of like purgatory. I am not being greedy. Just trying to survive. And have a decent time doing it. As the rat says, "I don't want the cheese, just out of this trap".

Avast Grime Fighter Addendum

     Well the verdict isn't out yet on the Avast Grime Fighter. I was able to get the desk top computer functioning again by restarting it in the safe mode. I was then ale to access the start menu. From there I was able to go to my computer. Left click c disk. Go to tools. Click properties. Hit the recover mode. Now that takes about an hour. Now the desk top is working fine.

     At this juncture I am unaware of any positive functions Grime Fighter performed. But I have thirty days to get my money back.

Avast Grime Fighter Addendum

     Well the verdict isn't out yet on the Avast Grime Fighter. I was able to get the desk top computer functioning again by restarting it in the safe mode. I was then ale to access the start menu. From there I was able to go to my computer. Left click c disk. Go to tools. Click properties. Hit the recover mode. Now that takes about an hour. Now the desk top is working fine.

     At this juncture I am unaware of any positive functions Grime Fighter performed. But I have thirty days to get my money back.