It doesn't take a lot of money, sometimes it takes no money, to keep a child entertained in Raleigh, North Carolina. If you're like the rest of the struggling parents in America, you look for ways to occupy the children
in a meaningful way, yet keep a watchful eye on the pocketbook so you can spend your money or more frivolous things like groceries. Well, in Raleigh, you won't have to make the choice between a day out with the children and dinner.
The key is to think like a child. Adults make life way too complicated. Remember snow angels, forts, lemonade stands and making a scrapbook out of dried up leaves? If you do, perhaps you're not entirely lost. Maybe connecting with some of these no- or low-cost activities in Raleigh will respark your own inner child. Repeat the mantra: children want to explore EVERYTHING.
Here are some things to see and do with children in the Raleigh, North Carolina area that are free for the taking. Mix these sites with normal, everyday activities. You'll be amazed to learn that children will be just as impressed with those small things much the way you were before grown-up life intervened.
Along the way, it will be up to you to make the journey equally as entertaining. Add in games of I Spy, License Plate Bingo and the like to make the drive nicer. If you tap into that inner child of yours, you won't be lost for activities.
To read the entire article, go to Associated Content.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
How to Invest in Art for Profit
Art can be a great investment, which unlike an IRA or pension plan, you can enjoy as it appreciates. The art aficionado has the best of both worlds: the here AND the now.
To collect art as an investment is much like collecting any other antique/collectible. You have to keep one HUGE caveat in mind: Buy a piece of art that you love because you may end up owning it.
To read the entire article, go to Associated Content.
To collect art as an investment is much like collecting any other antique/collectible. You have to keep one HUGE caveat in mind: Buy a piece of art that you love because you may end up owning it.
To read the entire article, go to Associated Content.
Clean Your Computer, Part 2
Homeowners and business owners alike will take care and pride in cleaning their spaces, even moving heavy equipment and furniture to be sure no part is missed. Nonetheless, they often neglect a work horse in many family
rooms, home offices and outside offices: the computer.
You faithfully organize your computer files, run a weekly scan and defrag the system, and have your virus protection software set up to perform a full scan of your work on a regular basis. And that's great! Now, however, it's time to focus some attention on the outside of your machine.
--
Keep your computer clean to save expensive trips to the computer tech. To read the entire article, go to Associated Content.
rooms, home offices and outside offices: the computer.
You faithfully organize your computer files, run a weekly scan and defrag the system, and have your virus protection software set up to perform a full scan of your work on a regular basis. And that's great! Now, however, it's time to focus some attention on the outside of your machine.
--
Keep your computer clean to save expensive trips to the computer tech. To read the entire article, go to Associated Content.
Clean Your Computer, Part 1
Every year, dutiful homeowners into launch their spring cleaning rituals: airing out linens, scrubbing windows, etc. While computers are focal points of many home offices and family rooms nowadays, they're neglected
when it comes to spring cleaning. This is especially true in regard to the virtual parts of the computer: your files and folders. Here are a few tricks and tips for spring cleaning your computer.
1. CLEAN OUT THE CLUTTER. We tear through our build up of neglected clothes in closets with the mantra: If I haven't worn it in a year, I pitch it. Use that same thought when going through your computer.
--
Keep your computer clean, and you save on trips to the computer tech. To read the entire article, go to Associated Content.
when it comes to spring cleaning. This is especially true in regard to the virtual parts of the computer: your files and folders. Here are a few tricks and tips for spring cleaning your computer.
1. CLEAN OUT THE CLUTTER. We tear through our build up of neglected clothes in closets with the mantra: If I haven't worn it in a year, I pitch it. Use that same thought when going through your computer.
--
Keep your computer clean, and you save on trips to the computer tech. To read the entire article, go to Associated Content.
What Credit Card Companies WON'T tell You
In today's economy credit card customers often find themselves in hardship situations. A Baltimore woman faced this typical dilemma recently.
She was doing everything she was supposed to be doing---buying here and there only what was needed, paying towards the account, as well as paying extra each month whenever she could.
One day, she found herself in dire straights. And that's the point. It can happen to anyone.
Her interest rates ranged from 3.99-5.99 percent, hardly exorbitant, and she paid a $300 monthly minimum. None of this seems out of the ordinary, but the young woman found herself in a very extraordinary situation. She had a rock-bottom interest rate, a quite do-able minimum payment---and she found herself at the end of one month with two choices: cashing in her IRA which was worth about half of what it was worth just a few years prior, or looking for a loan shark. Neither scenario seemed appealing.
To read the entire article, go to Associated Content.
She was doing everything she was supposed to be doing---buying here and there only what was needed, paying towards the account, as well as paying extra each month whenever she could.
One day, she found herself in dire straights. And that's the point. It can happen to anyone.
Her interest rates ranged from 3.99-5.99 percent, hardly exorbitant, and she paid a $300 monthly minimum. None of this seems out of the ordinary, but the young woman found herself in a very extraordinary situation. She had a rock-bottom interest rate, a quite do-able minimum payment---and she found herself at the end of one month with two choices: cashing in her IRA which was worth about half of what it was worth just a few years prior, or looking for a loan shark. Neither scenario seemed appealing.
To read the entire article, go to Associated Content.
Painless Ways to Save for Your Dream Vacation
Most people think they can't afford a vacation. No matter how they budget, there's never enough. Not true. We make time and money for things that are important to us.
Just as you need to pay yourself first (with savings), you need to dedicate money for a vacation because it recharges your
batteries.
You're looking at your budget, right in front of your eyes in black and white...mocking you! Daring you! You can't squeeze a penny more out to even pencil in a trip to the local rest stop three miles from your house to feed the birds and get a candy bar from the vending machine the numbers sneer. Vacation fund? Who are you kidding? Take control and show that pencil who is in charge.
To read the full article, go to Associated Content.
Just as you need to pay yourself first (with savings), you need to dedicate money for a vacation because it recharges your
batteries.
You're looking at your budget, right in front of your eyes in black and white...mocking you! Daring you! You can't squeeze a penny more out to even pencil in a trip to the local rest stop three miles from your house to feed the birds and get a candy bar from the vending machine the numbers sneer. Vacation fund? Who are you kidding? Take control and show that pencil who is in charge.
To read the full article, go to Associated Content.
Frugal Facts: Lots of Uses for Witch Hazel
Current economic times have resulted in a re-focusing on old, (cheap) household favorites like Witch Hazel. And this particular old favorite is new in that it fits the new "green" status. As they say, :"what's old is
new again".
When I was a teenager, many years ago, (cue that fancy writing from the initial Star Wars movie.... "In a galaxy far away") I used to apply some Witch Hazel on my face before going to bed. I had absolutely no idea what it was made of, chemically speaking. I just knew it was a great astringent for oily, acne, teenage skin, and it fit my budget (then, under 50 cents a bottle).
To read the full article, go to Associated Content.
new again".
When I was a teenager, many years ago, (cue that fancy writing from the initial Star Wars movie.... "In a galaxy far away") I used to apply some Witch Hazel on my face before going to bed. I had absolutely no idea what it was made of, chemically speaking. I just knew it was a great astringent for oily, acne, teenage skin, and it fit my budget (then, under 50 cents a bottle).
To read the full article, go to Associated Content.
Need Money? Sell Your Treasures at Auction
Everyone is looking to make a few extra dollars nowadays, and some need look no further than their closets and pantries and knick knack shelves hiding all of those antiques and collectibles. The problem is how to know
what your stuff is worth before you try to sell it.
This article is strictly for those who have a time element or effort element and want to go to an antiques dealer as opposed to eBay or Craigslist. I'll do another frugal financial piece on researching and pricing those items if you're willing to take the time, but if time is of the essence, or you really don't have the patience for it, your next best bet is in finding the right antiques dealer or collector to sell your objects to. I was an antiques dealer, and I still sell online, so I know finding the right person to sell your object is key.
To see the full article, follow this link to Associated Content
what your stuff is worth before you try to sell it.
This article is strictly for those who have a time element or effort element and want to go to an antiques dealer as opposed to eBay or Craigslist. I'll do another frugal financial piece on researching and pricing those items if you're willing to take the time, but if time is of the essence, or you really don't have the patience for it, your next best bet is in finding the right antiques dealer or collector to sell your objects to. I was an antiques dealer, and I still sell online, so I know finding the right person to sell your object is key.
To see the full article, follow this link to Associated Content
How to Get the Best Deals on Antiques & Collectibles
As an auction goer and antiques and collectibles dealer, I'm here to tell you that there are plenty of tips for you to get great deals on your favorite items. And antiques dealers and auction lovers would love to share
those tips with you... if you'd only ask. In the meantime, here are some tips the experts would give you. Use these as a starting point, to save some money.
Always ask for a discount whether it be at an antiques mall, show, flea market or garage sale. If the dealer is located in a mall, the general practice is that a customer will be given a 10 percent discount on items with a sales price of over $20. (This varies by mall and dealer, so takes this as a generalization.) If you're at a yard sale or flea market, or even the outdoor antiques fair, always ask for a discount, or
To read the full article, go to Associated Content.
those tips with you... if you'd only ask. In the meantime, here are some tips the experts would give you. Use these as a starting point, to save some money.
Always ask for a discount whether it be at an antiques mall, show, flea market or garage sale. If the dealer is located in a mall, the general practice is that a customer will be given a 10 percent discount on items with a sales price of over $20. (This varies by mall and dealer, so takes this as a generalization.) If you're at a yard sale or flea market, or even the outdoor antiques fair, always ask for a discount, or
To read the full article, go to Associated Content.
The Family Budget, Get Your Expenses in Hand, Part 1
Over the last few years, double digit unemployment and lack of consumer growth, along with the clamp-down on free money from credit card companies has forced Americans to do something they haven’t had to do in decades: frugal budgeting. A foreign concept for many, frugal budgeting has become fashionable again, out of necessity.
People believe budgeting and frugality mean that you must live like a pauper: no fun, no friends, no happiness. A whole generation of Americans, deemed The Greatest Generation, survived war, depression and raised children, attended parties, loved and found happiness.
The key to making frugal budgeting a success is to get in the mindset that it’s not a punishment, and “denial” doesn’t mean giving up happiness. It just means, gasp, for the first time in a long time, we have to live within our means. You can do that.
The second key to frugal budgeting is to know that it’s an evolving animal. What you list at first may be realistic. You will have to tweak it constantly, at least initially. If you make a budget that’s too restrictive, you will fail much like the extremely obese woman will fail to lose weight if her new diet is nothing but grapefruit. You won’t stick with it.
Write it down. If you can work in a spreadsheet, this will be easier, because you can fine tune numbers instantly. There are several online sites that list budget templates. If you get stuck, take a look at those for ideas. (See Resources.)
Income. You’ll have fixed amounts like your salary, as well as variable amounts that come from bonuses, side/freelance work and gifts. It’s best you consider just your salary only, so list the variable income to the side, knowing it’s your wiggle room.)
TOTAL INCOME
Expenses. For now, you want to plug in numbers as they exist now. Be honest, leaving nothing out. Don’t forget the morning coffee and the weekly bowling league (falling into the categories of dining out and entertainment).
Pull your bills. Until you write down the monthly amounts of your bills, you may not recognize that you are overpaying for a service, or that there is room to save money by cutting back on non-essential items.
Use broad categories for your spreadsheet (or list). These will vary depending on your stage at life. You may want to add a separate line for the subcategories to get that accurate picture of the spending.
Some bills are paid weekly (even daily), others weekly or monthly. Make three columns: Weekly (to reflect what comes out of your paycheck and from which category), Monthly and Annually.
Here are some proposed categories:
Animals
Auto (insurance, gas maintenance, auto payment)
Cable (if your cable bill is a bundle of services such as telephone, Internet, Cable TV, list separately);
Computer (Internet and other services);
Clothing (shoes, repairs, accessories, clothing, uniforms, dry cleaning);
Credit Cards (list separately);
Dental (don’t forget to include insurance taken directly from your check;)
Dining Out/Entertainment (restaurant, fast food, morning coffee, movies, bowling);
Gas & Electric;
Groceries (list pet food under animals and over the counter meds under medical);
Home (association dues, mortgage, insurance, lawn, maintenance, pool, repairs, replacements. If you know you will spend $1,000 on a refrigerator this year, break the amount down over the months. In essence you will be saving along the way.
Insurance (life, jewelry);
Medical (RX, doctor visits, over the counter meds);
Personal Hygiene (hair, nails);
Savings (passbook, emergency, 401k);
School (tuition, activities);
Taxes;
Telephone (separate land line from cell phone);
Travel
TOTAL EXPENSES (Add up the columns to see what you spend, weekly, monthly, annually.)
Deduct the Total Expenses from Total Earnings. This is your current budget. This is a current reflection of your spending. This is your starting point, and it probably hurts to look at it, but until you realize where you may be hemorrhaging money from, you can’t fix it. Let the numbers sink in. Most people think they need more money, always, but if you look at the categories, odds are you will identify problem spots immediately.
Now the fun begins! The INCOME Must Match the EXPENSES. Rework the numbers with an eye towards budgeting to make that happen.
If you don't know how to make a spreadsheet of Income/Expenses, the Internet has several sources of premade budget forms. Use these, adapt them for your needs or create one from scratch
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/tc062062791033.aspx
http://www.christianpf.com/10-free-household-budget-spreadsheets/
The conclusion to this is in the post: Frugal Factoids: Frugal Budgeting, Time to Rework the Budget is in the works.
People believe budgeting and frugality mean that you must live like a pauper: no fun, no friends, no happiness. A whole generation of Americans, deemed The Greatest Generation, survived war, depression and raised children, attended parties, loved and found happiness.
The key to making frugal budgeting a success is to get in the mindset that it’s not a punishment, and “denial” doesn’t mean giving up happiness. It just means, gasp, for the first time in a long time, we have to live within our means. You can do that.
The second key to frugal budgeting is to know that it’s an evolving animal. What you list at first may be realistic. You will have to tweak it constantly, at least initially. If you make a budget that’s too restrictive, you will fail much like the extremely obese woman will fail to lose weight if her new diet is nothing but grapefruit. You won’t stick with it.
Write it down. If you can work in a spreadsheet, this will be easier, because you can fine tune numbers instantly. There are several online sites that list budget templates. If you get stuck, take a look at those for ideas. (See Resources.)
Income. You’ll have fixed amounts like your salary, as well as variable amounts that come from bonuses, side/freelance work and gifts. It’s best you consider just your salary only, so list the variable income to the side, knowing it’s your wiggle room.)
TOTAL INCOME
Expenses. For now, you want to plug in numbers as they exist now. Be honest, leaving nothing out. Don’t forget the morning coffee and the weekly bowling league (falling into the categories of dining out and entertainment).
Pull your bills. Until you write down the monthly amounts of your bills, you may not recognize that you are overpaying for a service, or that there is room to save money by cutting back on non-essential items.
Use broad categories for your spreadsheet (or list). These will vary depending on your stage at life. You may want to add a separate line for the subcategories to get that accurate picture of the spending.
Some bills are paid weekly (even daily), others weekly or monthly. Make three columns: Weekly (to reflect what comes out of your paycheck and from which category), Monthly and Annually.
Here are some proposed categories:
Animals
Auto (insurance, gas maintenance, auto payment)
Cable (if your cable bill is a bundle of services such as telephone, Internet, Cable TV, list separately);
Computer (Internet and other services);
Clothing (shoes, repairs, accessories, clothing, uniforms, dry cleaning);
Credit Cards (list separately);
Dental (don’t forget to include insurance taken directly from your check;)
Dining Out/Entertainment (restaurant, fast food, morning coffee, movies, bowling);
Gas & Electric;
Groceries (list pet food under animals and over the counter meds under medical);
Home (association dues, mortgage, insurance, lawn, maintenance, pool, repairs, replacements. If you know you will spend $1,000 on a refrigerator this year, break the amount down over the months. In essence you will be saving along the way.
Insurance (life, jewelry);
Medical (RX, doctor visits, over the counter meds);
Personal Hygiene (hair, nails);
Savings (passbook, emergency, 401k);
School (tuition, activities);
Taxes;
Telephone (separate land line from cell phone);
Travel
TOTAL EXPENSES (Add up the columns to see what you spend, weekly, monthly, annually.)
Deduct the Total Expenses from Total Earnings. This is your current budget. This is a current reflection of your spending. This is your starting point, and it probably hurts to look at it, but until you realize where you may be hemorrhaging money from, you can’t fix it. Let the numbers sink in. Most people think they need more money, always, but if you look at the categories, odds are you will identify problem spots immediately.
Now the fun begins! The INCOME Must Match the EXPENSES. Rework the numbers with an eye towards budgeting to make that happen.
If you don't know how to make a spreadsheet of Income/Expenses, the Internet has several sources of premade budget forms. Use these, adapt them for your needs or create one from scratch
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/tc062062791033.aspx
http://www.christianpf.com/10-free-household-budget-spreadsheets/
The conclusion to this is in the post: Frugal Factoids: Frugal Budgeting, Time to Rework the Budget is in the works.
Please share your experiences or questions
I want this blog to be interactive. If you've found ways to shave a few dollars off the price of an item, please share it. No MLM stories, please. I've found countless blogs and department store sites that list free samples, money-saving tips and ways that cost the reader nothing but a few minutes of time.
Also, if you have a question---like how to save money on utilities, please send them along. I'm always looking for ideas, and it's a thrill to be able to help others save money. If I have a hobby, that's it.
After all these years I find I am my father's child. So, to Frank Remesch, Sr., thanks, you've spawned a cottage business for me. My dad is the original middle man. He is the guy who knows the guy who has the good deal. He knows where the cheapest gas prices are and how to make every penny count. He taught me early on that if I want something, I have to save for it. I thought he was a hard case when I was 9, but now I know he taught me the pitfalls of impulse buying.
In my personal life, I've gotten on grocery store lists, department sto
re sites, money saving blogs and the like. Each adds something to my life. It takes time to research this stuff, but once it's done, I have resources for all time. And I share them with friends. I want to share them with you, my new friends.
Please do likewise. I look forward to anything you send.
Note that I am a featured contributor at Associated Content in the Finance and Business section. So, I write assignments on a monthly basis. Many of the blogs here come from that site. I am only allowed to post a portion of the article, along with the link. So, please, click on the link for the full article. They are chock full of money-saving ideas.
Thanks,
Kim
Also, if you have a question---like how to save money on utilities, please send them along. I'm always looking for ideas, and it's a thrill to be able to help others save money. If I have a hobby, that's it.
After all these years I find I am my father's child. So, to Frank Remesch, Sr., thanks, you've spawned a cottage business for me. My dad is the original middle man. He is the guy who knows the guy who has the good deal. He knows where the cheapest gas prices are and how to make every penny count. He taught me early on that if I want something, I have to save for it. I thought he was a hard case when I was 9, but now I know he taught me the pitfalls of impulse buying.
In my personal life, I've gotten on grocery store lists, department sto
re sites, money saving blogs and the like. Each adds something to my life. It takes time to research this stuff, but once it's done, I have resources for all time. And I share them with friends. I want to share them with you, my new friends.
Please do likewise. I look forward to anything you send.
Note that I am a featured contributor at Associated Content in the Finance and Business section. So, I write assignments on a monthly basis. Many of the blogs here come from that site. I am only allowed to post a portion of the article, along with the link. So, please, click on the link for the full article. They are chock full of money-saving ideas.
Thanks,
Kim
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