Here's a list of things I just plain want. not in any order.
so much to do, so little money!! but eventually things need to be repaired or replaced or updated. i think it's only a matter of time before we have to replace the conventional heat/air system in our house, which sucks right now and i imagine is pretty old. our house was built in the early 60's and boasted being the most modernized neighborhood in atlanta at that time. central heat and air was the main selling point. well, now i think all that needs to change. i want my next climate control method to be geothermal. yes, it sounds crazy - like some kind of plot to take over the world but really it's just using the earth like a giant condensing coil. it's going to cost more up front but hopefully pay for itself in a few short years.
but in our more immediate future is the roof. right now, it's practically falling apart because some idiot did a half-assed job several years ago when a tree branch fell and crashed onto the high roof over the bedrooms. the roof leaks right above my bed. and we have a strong suspicion that there is ZERO insulation in the roof, which is just unbelievable. i'm pretty sure that the layers of my pitiful roof are as follows: wood decking (as can be seen from the inside), 3/4" plywood (hopefully there's at least this much!), roofing paper, tar (bitumen?), and gravel (except on the high roof, which is bare). i am going to install (as soon as possible) a white TPO roof on at least 3/4" rigid insulation. i am hoping that i can scrape off the roofing paper and tar, or if i have to - remove and replace the plywood base - and glue some rigid foam insulation to the plywood. then, i want the white thermo-plastic membrane hot-rolled on top of that. it must be white to reflect the heat, and be flashed like nobody's business and will require a completely new gutter system (fully integrated with a rainwater collection system, of course).
a new roof and a new climate control system. major, major steps towards a greener home. i already know that the asbestos has been removed and that we do not have a radon issue. the next concern i think will be the protecting the crawl spaces.
something that i'm not sure i can even think about right now is the east wall of the house, which goes from the bedrooms down to the "basement", where it turns from wood panel to brick. the brick is very obviously spalling and large cracks can be seen. this is due to the shitty roof leaking, where water has actually gotten between the walls and into the brick. yeah, it doesn't sound good because it is really really bad. especially because the brick MAY be load-bearing. which means i might need a whole new wall.
it gets depressing fast, so i'm just gonna hope an pray that a solution will reveal itself one day before the house collapses.
this is an awesome list i snatched off the web, an article on msn.
Devote 15 minutes a day to being cheap
Every bit helps, but frugality doesn't have to be a full-time job. Just chip away at wasteful habits a little at a time.
By The Simple Dollar
Over the past few months, I noticed that on an average day, I spend somewhere around 40 minutes engaged in some sort of activity intended to cut costs. I hang clothes out on the line to dry, clip coupons and so forth, and at the end of the month I see the results of that effort when I add up my assets and calculate my net worth. That time spent day in and day out really does save money.
However, many people blow off the concept of frugality because it's "time-consuming." I argue that all it takes is 15 minutes a day to start seeing some serious benefits from frugality -- big enough benefits that they start making a real impact on your monthly budget.
What can I possibly do in 15 minutes that would save money? Here are 20 simple tasks anyone can do in 15 minutes, and the savings really add up over time. (Got suggestions of your own? Add them here.)
1. Clip coupons from the Sunday newspaper or troll the Internet for more.
2. Write a grocery list (and stick to it when you shop).
3. Check the air pressure in your car tires, including the spare, and fill appropriately.
4. Hang clothes up to dry instead of using the dryer.
5. Go through the house and turn off all electrical devices you're not using.
6. Make your own meal instead of buying takeout or eating out.
7. Do routine maintenance tasks around your home (change the furnace filter, maintain gutters, fireplaces, garbage disposal, etc.).
8. Make your own laundry detergent.
9. Replace light bulbs with CFLs, compact fluorescent lights.
10. Install a programmable thermostat.
11. Plant and maintain a small vegetable garden.
12. Sell off clutter that you don't need and don't use anymore.
13. Read through your community calendar for cheap or free activities.
14. Drive at 65 or under, even on the interstate.
15. Basic hygiene and health: Wash your hands, drink lots of water, etc.
16. Prepare a meal (or a few meals) to stick in the freezer for easy cooking later.
17. Take care of small financial tasks that you've been putting off (protesting fees, requesting a lower rate on your credit card, switching checking accounts, setting up a 401(k), setting up a Roth IRA, etc.).
18. Clean your car's air filter.
19. Learn how to sew and mend things such as buttons, extending the life of clothing.
20. Attend a garage sale instead of flying off to the mall.
Here's the challenge: For the next 30 days, spend 15 minutes each day doing the things on this list and see how your money is doing at the end of the month. If nothing else, you'll find yourself with more spending money. If you're really swift, though, you'll find better things to do with your newfound cash.
This article was written by Trent Hamm, the founder of The Simple Dollar, a blog offering a peek at his recovery from near bankruptcy.
well, score one for the universe. just as i am frustrated with my lack of automobile knowledge, good ole lifehacker posts an awesome article on just that. i have read the article and it is good, very good.
i waste countless hours dreaming, planning & organizing my garden for 2008. unfortunately, it's not looking so plausible anymore. i must cut down a small forest worth of pine trees just to have enough sunlight for a garden, which will cost me a minimum of 4 grand. nevertheless, i dream and drool over catalogs.... so here's a list of plants i really want to grow (so far...)
Fragrant:
plumeria
sweet pea
tea olive
gardenia
climbing jasmine
Herb:
basil
thyme
lavender
rosemary
sage
Vegetables:
tomatoes
zuchini
squash
bell pepper
red pepper
green beans
carrots
potatoes
rhubarb
Fruit:
strawberries
blackberries
fig
pear
Ornamental/Useful:
Loofah
I have car problems all the freakin time and its pissin me off. i just don't know enough about cars, i depended on other people to tell me what to do, when to do it and just shell out the dough. well, i guess i can't be so passive about it anymore so i did a little digging and found this easy to handle checklist of basic car maintenance. from this handy dandy site.
CHECK EACH MONTH
oil level -- add oil if low and check for leaks
hoses -- replace if bulging, rotten, or brittle
belts -- replace if worn, frayed, or glazed
tire pressure -- add air if low
coolant or antifreeze -- add more if low
air filter -- replace if dirty
inspect tires for leaks, damage, bulges, or uneven wear
CHECK EVERY 3 MONTHS
oil and oil filter -- change every 3,000 miles
windshield washer fluid -- add fluid if low
battery and power steering fluid -- add fluid if low
brake fluid -- add fluid if low
transmission fluid -- add fluid if low
battery terminals and cables -- clean if corroded
CHECK EVERY 6 MONTHS
wiper blades -- replace if worn, brittle, or smeary
make sure headlights, brake lights, and turn signals work
make sure horn works properly
inspect brakes for wear and tear or "slippage"
make sure spare tire is fully inflated
inspect exhaust system for rust, damage, or loose parts
inspect shock absorbers for oil seepage or wear
Content provided by OnlineOrganizing.com -- offering "a world of organizing solutions!" Visit www.onlineorganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau, get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you, or get some help starting and running your own organizing business.
Ok, so I made up a meal plan according to the heather method. did you know that there are a lot of meal planning services on the internet? they actually charge you to tell you what to cook! good grief... and i didn't see any sample menus that i liked. sad....none of them really had any ethnic food. anyways, here's my plan for next week:
5 Dinners (with sides):
3 Lunches:
2 Breakfasts (weekend):
Everyday Breakfasts (weekdays - because it's the most important meal!!)
3 Snacks:
3 Beverages:
2 Desserts:
That's it. That's a lot of food -man! Thankfully I have left room for us to eat leftovers for lunch and stuff, so hopefully it will work out. If this turns out to be too many meals and we end up wassting food, I'll have to pare it down some more. The great thing about crockpot cooking is that I don't have to do as much work when I get home which leaves me more time and sanity to make a side dish. So, according to the schedule above I need the following groceries:
Chicken Breasts and Pork Butt or Shoulder.
Sliced Smoked Turkey Breast 1/2 lb, 1 pkg. Smoked Salmon (already have?)
Salad Mix, Coleslaw Mix, Asparagus.
Apples, Oranges, Bananas, Cherries, Shredded Coconut, Whipped Cream.
Artichoke Hearts, Black Olives, Chickpeas.
Yogurt, Cream, Cheddar Cheese, Cream Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Feta Cheese (already have?).
Toaster Waffles, Sandwich Buns, Pita Bread, Tortilla Chips, Sun Chips.
Oatmeal, Chex Mix, Granola, 2 bagels.
Staples: Milk, Egg, Olive Oil, OJ, Soymilk.
I wonder if I can buy all this for $100. I hope so. This is a pretty healthy menu, in my opinion.
To start the year off right, I made a list of things that really need to be done this month. even if I can't complete them, they should at least be started.
Here is the first List of the year... (in a somewhat chronologically preferred order)
Yea, new year resolutions are a crock but that doesn't stop me from making my lists.
what do I hope to achieve in 2008? above everything is health. I need to treat myself better. That means being active, eating better foods, learning to deal with stress, learning to relax when I need to, deal with difficult people (like my mother) in a harmonious manner. I am also going to pamper myself better. I don't spend any "me" time anymore. I used to hang out in my bathroom doing my nails, inspecting my face close-up, fiddling with my hair & makeup, experimenting with soaps, lotions, etc. I just don't do that anymore. I just go into the bathroom to poop and brush my teeth these days.
I started off 2008 with a very luxurious and long long overdue hot bath. I felt a tinge of guilt because of the drought but then I justified myself because I don't run water, I flush less, take really quick showers, only wash with full loads of laundry/dishes, reuse watever water I can and am implementing a rainwater collection system. so I deserve one lousy bath, right?
It was splendid. I dissolved some epsom salts with a generous dash of chamomile oil and some lavendar bath soap. I read my new favorite book, a slice of organic life, and just soaked. Marvelous. I shall do it more often - like at least once a month I think. I even got to really scrub my feet, which is harder for me to do because of my ankle and oh yea, I got really fat in college which makes it harder to bend.
On a side note, I had a dream the other night but the only part I remember was trying to teach my kid that compassion gives you strength. I don't really know why but it felt like something I should remember.
So, besides the obvious I wanna lose weight goal, I have to seriously work on implementing a strategy. Having asthma and a bad ankle (and now knee) definitely makes it harder but it's not like I have another option. I must lose weight or have a heart attack way before my time. I also want to be healthy when I have kids. So, strategies. Make excersizing and eating right impossible to bypass. Which means I need it to be staring me in the face. I need an excersize machine in my living room. I need a thorough meal plan for every meal of the week. I need Johnny to be on-board. That's the hard part cause he likes his meat and salt and I try to keep that down but it feels like he'll suffer if I eliminate it. God I wish he would quit smoking, it's pissing me off. I want to just have ONE DAY where I don't smell any smoke. And not just secondhand smoke but aftersmell. I hate cigarette aftersmell, it triggers my asthma just as strong as if I were standing next to him while he's smoking.
I also want to lead a more organised life. Financially and professionally mostly. I'm slowly working on that and making some progress so I am happy with it. I need to conquer the Roth IRA thing this year. And I will do the heck out of my taxes.
I also want to be more involved with the community. I need to volunteer with habitat for humanity or something. That ties in with my LEED certification goal.
I would really like to start the printing business thing but I don't think Johnny is enthusiastic enough about it and I don't have the energy to carry us both. So that probably won't be happening. It's too bad cause it's a really good business plan. My goal for 2008 will be to not be too dissapointed in this and just let it happen naturally.
Also in 2008 is my house. I want to finish up all the loose ends and finally get my mini-farm up and running. I am going to plant raised bed vegetable gardens, install a chicken coop, set up my worm farm, plant my herb and flower garden and landscaping. I also need to make repairs to the roof and install the rainwater collection system.
This year we must get bibi's legs fixed. We just have to.
I think that's about all for now. I will be a very happy person if I can accomplish these things this year. It's going to be a busy but very fulfilling year.
