I'm very excited to see that people are checking this blog out (at least once?!?), but hopefully, if you ever feel the urge, a comment or two, or three... will be left.

Last night, some friends came over, and we sat around the dining room table talking and eating cookies that I had made in the food dehydrator. (Yes the dehydrator.) Funny thing is, my Mom gave it to use, along with the recipe book, but she never realized you could make cookies/bars. (You can also make yogurt, granola, crackers and jerky in this dehydrator.)

So my thought for the day is: whatever appliance you buy, read the instruction book completely. (And believe me, I do know how boring they can be.) But there are often tips, tricks, or recipes that you would never know about otherwise. And most times they are very useful.

If you buy a gadget at a garage sale and it doesn't have the instruction booklet, chances are you can find the company online and they will send you a replacement. And most times it is free, or a very small charge.

I was watching my husband fix his Dad's pizza oven this morning. I love watching him fix things, and walk around with jeans and no shirt on, and, well... anyway....

Another great way to be frugal is to fix things yourself.

But I have no idea how, you may say. Well, Spyros had never fixed a pizza oven before today, either. He opened it up by undoing a few screws and then saw that a wire was no longer attached. So he attached the wire, and plugged it back in.

Unfortunately it still did not work.

So he opened it up again, and saw that there was another wire unattached. So he attached that wire, and looked it over more carefully. After not finding anything else, he plugged it back in. And this time it worked.

Saved his Dad $100 if he were to buy it new. (Or $25, if he was like us and bought a like-new one at a garage sale.)

Try to fix what's broke first. You may make it worse, but if you do, you can always hire someone to fix it or purchase a different one. But chances are you will fix it, and it will help your self-esteem to try fixing more things.

Plus there are so many books at the library that you can check out to help you with fixing things. The Reader's Digest series is a good one.

A lot of times it's as simple as something being clogged and needing to be cleaned out, something's burnt out, or a loose wire.

Try it, you just may like it!!!!

It's nice having a significant other who is handy with the computer. Spyros was kind enough to put a counter and comment section on my blog. Well, I'm sure he did it to be nice, but any chance he gets to use the computer, he takes!
Anywho....
I receive a magazine called "Budget Living". I did not subscribe to this magazine, otherwise I would cancel it. I was all excited when I saw that I could sign up for it for free on my freebie site. (I have gotten about a dozen magazines this way. (I've only subscribed to magazines I knew we would like, or thought we would. And when we're done with them, we bring them with us to the library to go in the free-for-all magazine bins.)

I make negative comments, to Spyros, about this magazine every time I get it. So I thought I would share with everyone else why I don't enjoy it, and perhaps save you money if you were going to buy/subscribe to it.

First let me start with the positives:
They have a section called "Making It", where they give you different ideas on making stuff with inexpensive goods or stuff that you may already have. A lot of these projects are very nice for gifts or for items around your own house.

The next part I like is "Money Talks" by Clark Howard. He gives information on everything from budgets, stocks, etc... I have found useful information, and I am sure others have also.

And the last section I enjoy is when they go into someone's house that has been decorated very frugally. It's great seeing different ideas, and something that others on a budget or just beginning to live on their own could do. But with this section there is drawbacks such as, $450 lamps and $65 dish drainers.

Now for the other 105 pages of the 120 paged magazine.

Their "Loose Change" section is often filled with items that someone who is living a frugal life (either by choice or circumstance) does not need. And in most cases it's very expensive. In just this issue there is a self tanner for $26. (Now granted they say it's a bit much, but they were given it for free to try. Of course they were, so they could pass the praise onto their readers.) A lamp from Pottery Barn for $88. (Go to a yard sale or The Salvation Army and get one for $15 or less.)

They also ask a celebrity to purchase some items for a theme and give them a certain amount to spend. (First off how many of us have people giving us money to spend on a theme, and second these are non-essential items, that in most cases you can get cheaper elsewhere.)

Now onto their "The Goods" section. If you thought Loose Change bothered me, this section does more. They focus on different household, clothing, etc.. items depending on the season. This month we have outdoor lounge chairs ranging from $350 to $36, Flip-flops from $85 to $3, and Beach Bags from $175 to $6. (Yes, I am thinking you can find it (in most cases) cheaper elsewhere, and/or spend your money on your community ((neighborhood yard sales or Goodwill)). They also have more catagories such as; Beauty, Entertainment, Gadgets, etc...

Then there's the Fashion section, the Party Thrown with a Theme section, and more. Once again for items that are more expensive then you can find elswhere, and with the party - throw a pot-luck party (less expensive for you ((and if all your friends do this type of party - less expensive for everyone)), and there's a lot less stress on the host.)

Plus we have the ads. I know you need ads to pay for the magazine, and I will say that they try to have ones that are for places that are inexpensive (Target, Home Depot) or Earth Friendly (Scooters) but they have many more for convenient items (Lean Cuisine) and items that cost more just because of their name (Martha Stewart).

I hope this was educational for you - especially if you have or will ever think about buying it. And hopefully someone who works on the magazine will come across this, and realize that there are ways to make a Budget magazine fit more into everyone's budgets.

If there's any magazines or books out there on Frugal Living or Simplicity that you have read and recommend, I would love to know what they are. I've already read numerous books on this topic, but I am always looking for another good one, or someone to share thoughts and opinions on a book we've both read.

Here's what we've all been waiting for, a pill to cure our shopaholism.
Yes you did read it right.

Here's the article that briefly talks about a pill in development, and it gives which emag it found the information in.

http://www.fool.com/fribble/2000/fribble000626.htm

When you actually begin to look at situations and think about it, it's sad, disturbing, insane (or whatever other word you care to use) how much more effort people will put into finding ways to "cure" whatever situation they are currently in, then taking responsibility and owning up to them.

It's not my fault that I have a problem. Everyone else has it better than me. I'm just not lucky. When will it be my turn?

And how much more time and money these cures cost, instead of just not buying items you don't need to survive. (With a little bit of enjoyment thrown in.) But with the little bit of enjoyment, you need to know how much is enough.

Soon Spyros and I will be writing down how much is enough.
For me I would have to say; All my debts paid off (3 school loans, mortgage, and money owed to father-in-law), investments that have enough interest each month to pay for basic needs (utilities, food, clothing, insurance, vehicle up-keep and gas), and some extra for frugal trips and misc.

If I had to choose between new cars, DVDs, brand-name clothes, etc..., or being able to spend time with my husband, friends and family. I would always choose the second
.
Because sweetie, you can't take it to the grave.

I just finished reading "Getting a Life" by Jacqueline Blix and David Heitmiller.
It is a book based on their and other people's experiences with "Your Money or Your Life" by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez.

While reading it, I said to Spyros that he should read "Your Money..." We'll he's started it and about a third of the way through it, and we have decided to follow the program to help us become financially independent.

If anyone out there has done the program, or is doing the program, I would love to hear from you. And even if you didn't like it, I would still like to hear from you!

I highly recommend it as a read, and possibly a life change.

Read an article regarding a system where DVDs automatically "rust" so they can't be played after two days. This is so people can rent the movie and not have to return it.

The link is http://news.com.com/2100-1026_3-1003889.html?tag=fd_top.

Now that we have begun to live a more simple, frugal life it offends me how much waste there is in this country. From disposable washclothes and bibs, single servings of food, and now DVDs.

Buy in bulk and break the portions down to single servings. (Costs less and doesn't produce as much waste with packaging)

Wash your washclothes and bibs. (Once again, cheaper and less garbage)

And borrow your DVDs from the library (In most cases you can keep them a week) Or if you can't remember to return them, then don't rent any. (Saves ya money.)

We need to start thinking of saving our resources for future generations. And even if you don't think one person can help, you are wrong. Every little bit helps, and if others see you doing it, they are much more likely to join in.