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.
