Hello Fellow Broke Galaxians,
You may need extra cash . . . and soon!!! There's so many people on the Internet yelling at the top of their lungs that you need to buy their system to make money that I don't know where to turn. I thought I would share my experience with AirBnB and let you know that the hype about this company was all true--they really do deliver on their word.
I was in this situation last year when I was minimizing all my expenses and still needed extra money to pay off my credit cards so I could get out of debt faster. I pulled out all the stops to reach my goals. After selling everything I could, I knew I had to find another way to bring in some quick cash. That's when a friend told me about renting a room on AirBnB. This brought in the money needed to put me over the edge of paying off my debts. It was extremely easy to sign up.
You can find them here at https://www.airbnb.com/
Once you've signed up, clean up your room, take some pictures and voila--you may have another stream of income. You don't have to have a 4-star residence to rent a room, many people just need somewhere to stay while working in town or vacationing and they're looking for a good deal. I've had both kinds of people contact me and I've stayed at an AirBnB when attending a workshop.
Once you have signed up, cleaned up your space, take pictures and post it.
PHOTO TIPS
1. Not everything needs to be in the photo. Crop out items that are messy.
2. Use an editing program (preferably free) to create the best photograph. I use Picasa, but that is discontinued and I suppose I will have to move on to another program.
3. Take photographs in the middle of the day when it is light, but overcast. This will give you a softer light and not produce hard shadows. You'll want to show your home in the best light possible.
4. Be honest. Don't take photos of the bear that passed through your yard 5 years ago. If the bear doesn't visit nightly, don't post the picture of it. People want to see exactly what they're getting.
5. Take a photograph of each room that will be available to your guest, as well as any amenities (deck, hot tub, patio set).
AFTER YOU'VE SIGNED UP
Walk through your home and decide what you will pack away and what you will leave out. This protects you and your guest as well.
It's important to ensure your family's safety, so check locks on all areas of the house that will not be available to your guest. It's great if the visitor can have a separate entrance with their own bathroom, then they will be able to enjoy privacy and safety as well.
Play up any interesting features the home has to offer. This may be your biggest selling point. My home was a log home with a totem pole out front and many guests wanted to feel like they were truly on vacation.
MAKING YOUR GUESTS COMFORTABLE
One of my guests told me a horror story of how they stayed with a family and the father told them under no certain terms were they to mix with the family. Their room was a small little hovel at the top of the stairs and once they came into the house they were expected to stay in the room. Wow! It's important to find out all expectations before you leave on a trip.
Make guests feel as comfortable as possible. Since it is considered a bed and breakfast, provide some kind of breakfast. This doesn't mean you have to feed them a 4-course meal. You can provide coffee, some drinks and some quick breakfast snacks. Either way, it's good to communicate with your guest beforehand and ask them what they would like. Some wanted a special tea and some were happy with whatever you had on hand. Asking will help you keep your expenses as low as possible, but not to the point where your guest has a bad time and doesn't feel welcome in your home.
ALTERNATIVE IDEAS ON AirBnB
If you don't want to rent your home, consider offering an experience on AirBnB, such as a hike or bike ride. Sometimes people want to do something fun, but they don't want to go on a guided tour with 15 other people. As a local, you will have experience in the area and may know the best fishing spots or hiking trails. Some people even offer cooking classes. There may be something that you're good at that someone wants to learn so put your hobbies to work for you to earn some extra cash.
One of the good points of AirBnB is that they handle all the money. If there's an issue or complaint, they work hard to resolve it. In the end, I enjoyed my experience as a host and as a guest.
So, go forth and save $$$.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Putting a Little Life into the Fire--Heating with Wood
Hello Fellow Broke Galaxians,
Sometimes it's so hard to start a fire in your wood stove you wonder how forest fires even start. Those of us who heat with wood know the work involved with keeping the cabin warm all winter. Sometimes when you heat with wood, starting a fire and keeping it going can be exhausting. To save time and money, you can make your own fire starters.
Fire Starter Sticks and Fuel
We keep a squirt bottle filled with 90% rubbing alcohol. It comes in handy when starting the wood stove. Squirt a small amount on the newspaper or kindling and light. Although others have used fire starter, I prefer rubbing alcohol.
The secret to a great fire is a lot of dry kindling. Keeping fire starter available can be expensive if you're heating on a full time basis.
Kindling
I have a friend who collects twigs and limbs all year and ties them in small bundles with string or yarn. Then when it's time to start the fire, she grabs her tied twigs and tosses it into her stove.
Garbage
One thing I like to do is to save cardboard boxes and stuff them with junk mail and old newspapers and kindling we've collected throughout the year. This burns fast unless you add some wood strips to the box.
Candle Strands
Dipping a couple of cotton mop head strands into hot wax can act as a large candle. You can use any cotton string twisted together into a big knot and dipped in wax. These can burn for approximately 8 minutes or longer.
Orange Skins
Dry orange skins and use them as a fire starter. Oranges contain flammable oil inside the skin that can be used to start a fire. In addition, they create a citrus scent when burned. To dry orange peels, lay them on a cookie sheet and set them next to your wood burning stove. Store the dry peels in a zip-lock bag until needed.
Cotton Balls and Petroleum Jelly
Find the largest cotton balls you can find and rub Vaseline into the center of each one. When the cotton ball turns into a giant ball of goo, drop it into a zip-lock bag and start another one. Although these are messy, they work great at starting fires.
Fire Nuggets
There are plenty of fire sticks sold in camping section of stores. Most of them are made of paraffin, paper and cotton. Lighting a small nugget made of wood chips and candle wax can produce a 10-15 minute burn that will help keep a fire alive. For most logs, this will give you plenty of time to get the fire roaring without having to repeatedly stuff in more paper and cardboard. This fire starter is easy to make and simple to store.
Making Your Own Fire Nuggets
You should be able to find most items you need at yard sales or second-hand stores. Look for ugly, old used candles that are cheap.
Next, find hamster bedding in the pet section or saw dust in the home improvement sections. You can use cedar chips for dogs, but they are large and cumbersome and will probably need to be put through the blender first. If you have enough dryer lint, this could also be used instead of sawdust.
If you know a wood-worker, ask them for their sawdust. Next, take fiber-based egg cartons and use them to mold the wood chips. The egg carton serves two purposes, first, it will hold the chips in place while pouring hot wax and second, it is flammable. Once finished making the fire starters, use scissors to separate into individual fire starters. Don't use foam egg cartons because they are not environmentally sound.
Next, line a mini cupcake tin with mini cupcake papers so that when you pour in the hot wax, the holders will be secure. Minis fit perfectly in the egg carton. They're easy to find at the grocery store and not expensive.
3—Slowly pour a small amount of wax into each cup. Just enough to act as a base for the sawdust.
4--Layer in some fine-textured sawdust or wood shavings and cover the top with more wax. Let cool, and add repeat if necessary. Store the nuggets in a zip lock bag.
5--Slightly cool the layer of sawdust and wax.
6--Add another layer of wax, followed by another layer of sawdust.
7--Cool the final sawdust/wax cupcake holder.
Light the nugget and let it burn.
There you have it Fellow Broke Galaxians. No need to freeze or exhaust yourself with fire-making this winter/spring.
Go forth and save $$$ my friends.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
Sometimes it's so hard to start a fire in your wood stove you wonder how forest fires even start. Those of us who heat with wood know the work involved with keeping the cabin warm all winter. Sometimes when you heat with wood, starting a fire and keeping it going can be exhausting. To save time and money, you can make your own fire starters.
Fire Starter Sticks and Fuel
We keep a squirt bottle filled with 90% rubbing alcohol. It comes in handy when starting the wood stove. Squirt a small amount on the newspaper or kindling and light. Although others have used fire starter, I prefer rubbing alcohol.
The secret to a great fire is a lot of dry kindling. Keeping fire starter available can be expensive if you're heating on a full time basis.
Kindling
I have a friend who collects twigs and limbs all year and ties them in small bundles with string or yarn. Then when it's time to start the fire, she grabs her tied twigs and tosses it into her stove.
Garbage
One thing I like to do is to save cardboard boxes and stuff them with junk mail and old newspapers and kindling we've collected throughout the year. This burns fast unless you add some wood strips to the box.
Candle Strands
Dipping a couple of cotton mop head strands into hot wax can act as a large candle. You can use any cotton string twisted together into a big knot and dipped in wax. These can burn for approximately 8 minutes or longer.
Orange Skins
Dry orange skins and use them as a fire starter. Oranges contain flammable oil inside the skin that can be used to start a fire. In addition, they create a citrus scent when burned. To dry orange peels, lay them on a cookie sheet and set them next to your wood burning stove. Store the dry peels in a zip-lock bag until needed.
Cotton Balls and Petroleum Jelly
Find the largest cotton balls you can find and rub Vaseline into the center of each one. When the cotton ball turns into a giant ball of goo, drop it into a zip-lock bag and start another one. Although these are messy, they work great at starting fires.
Fire Nuggets
There are plenty of fire sticks sold in camping section of stores. Most of them are made of paraffin, paper and cotton. Lighting a small nugget made of wood chips and candle wax can produce a 10-15 minute burn that will help keep a fire alive. For most logs, this will give you plenty of time to get the fire roaring without having to repeatedly stuff in more paper and cardboard. This fire starter is easy to make and simple to store.
Making Your Own Fire Nuggets
You should be able to find most items you need at yard sales or second-hand stores. Look for ugly, old used candles that are cheap.
Next, find hamster bedding in the pet section or saw dust in the home improvement sections. You can use cedar chips for dogs, but they are large and cumbersome and will probably need to be put through the blender first. If you have enough dryer lint, this could also be used instead of sawdust.
If you know a wood-worker, ask them for their sawdust. Next, take fiber-based egg cartons and use them to mold the wood chips. The egg carton serves two purposes, first, it will hold the chips in place while pouring hot wax and second, it is flammable. Once finished making the fire starters, use scissors to separate into individual fire starters. Don't use foam egg cartons because they are not environmentally sound.
Next, line a mini cupcake tin with mini cupcake papers so that when you pour in the hot wax, the holders will be secure. Minis fit perfectly in the egg carton. They're easy to find at the grocery store and not expensive.
Items Needed
·
Wood Chips, Saw Dust or Dryer Lint
· Old Candles
·
Tin Can and Pot of Water
·
Fiber Based Egg Carton
·
Mini Cupcake Holders and Mini Cupcake Tin
Step by Step
1—Start by melting
the wax in a discarded tin can, set the can in a small pot of water and add
heat. If you have an old pot and you are not worried about ruining with melted
wax, then use it. A double boiler is the
best for melting the wax without causing the wax to burn. Don’t forget wax is
hot and will burn if splashed on your skin. Wax has a low flash
point, and can catch fire if left on the stove unwatched.
2--Place cupcake papers in either a cupcake tin or a fiber-based egg carton.
3—Slowly pour a small amount of wax into each cup. Just enough to act as a base for the sawdust.
4--Layer in some fine-textured sawdust or wood shavings and cover the top with more wax. Let cool, and add repeat if necessary. Store the nuggets in a zip lock bag.
5--Slightly cool the layer of sawdust and wax.
6--Add another layer of wax, followed by another layer of sawdust.
7--Cool the final sawdust/wax cupcake holder.
Light the nugget and let it burn.
There you have it Fellow Broke Galaxians. No need to freeze or exhaust yourself with fire-making this winter/spring.
Go forth and save $$$ my friends.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Extreme Couponing . . . or not.
Hello Fellow Broke Galaxians,
We’ve all heard the stories about people who use so many coupons that they only pay $10 for $200 worth of groceries. I have never had the ability or patience to go to extremes, but I have saved quite a lot of money with coupons.
For one thing, I use a list when I go to the store. Finding a coupon for specific items on my list is difficult. Am I truly saving money by couponing? Yes, it takes time to coupon. However, if you’re like me and have time but no money, this is a perfect trade off. Searching for each individual coupon may be worth it.
Before you do anything, create a list of items you will need for upcoming meals. Some people shop every two weeks. I find it easier to make a weekly shopping trip. On Tuesday evenings, we sit down as a family and create a menu for the week. Why Tuesdays? We go to town and shop on Wednesdays. Everyone is different and will have their own way of doing things. Bottom line—we start with a list of ingredients needed for each meal.
Now that you know what you need, search the area store circulars for “loss leader items.” These are sale items that are designed to lure you into the store with hopes that you will purchase other items not on sale.
If possible, find coupons for those loss leaders to save the most money. Find out if the store will let you double your coupon or even Stacking Coupons. When you combine manufacturer coupons with store coupons, this is called stacking.
Where do you find coupons?
Newspaper circulars. Since I don’t buy the paper, I am sometimes able to find extra circulars at the recycling depot or friends who will contribute to my cause.
Store Internet Coupons. Most stores will have internet circulars that will be sent to your personal email.
Internet Coupon Sites. The Blog site, “The Well Kept Wallet,” by Laurie Blank, has a wonderful list of internet sites that I have never considered. You can find her at
https://wellkeptwallet.com/best-coupon-sites/. However, I have used www.coupons.com and www.coolsavings.com with success.
Other sites include:
www.coupons-grabber.com
www.befrugal.com
https://thekrazycouponlady.com
www.passionforsavings.com
www.grocerycouponnetwork.com
www.couponmom.com
https://hip2save.com/grocery-coupon-network
Coupon Apps will provide cash back for some items you buy. Some App sites are Snap by Groupon, CartSmart, Ibotta, Checkout51, SavingStar. Passion for Savings App. Downloading Apps from grocery stores where you shop can help.
USPS Mail. Sometimes, you can receive coupons from companies that you contact.
Sign up for Store Rewards Programs. Some stores will offer discounts and specialized coupons depending on your purchases. It pays to sign up for these.
Rebates. Be sure to save your receipts for rebates. You may not find a rebate when you bought the item, but it may be available a few weeks later.
When you find a good deal of products you use on a regular basis, make multiple purchases.
After you start collecting coupons, organize them. I used to use an index card box with dividers. You will be able to create a system that works for you.
The next step is to search weekly store circulars for sale items. Circle them and then find a coupon, if available, to go with that item. If you don’t have a coupon for that particular item, enter that particular item on a search engine and you may be able to find one.
It’s easy to get carried away, buying a lot of different grocery items you may not need. Stick with your list. You won’t save money if you’re buying a lot of unneeded things.
So, go forth and save $$$.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
We’ve all heard the stories about people who use so many coupons that they only pay $10 for $200 worth of groceries. I have never had the ability or patience to go to extremes, but I have saved quite a lot of money with coupons.
For one thing, I use a list when I go to the store. Finding a coupon for specific items on my list is difficult. Am I truly saving money by couponing? Yes, it takes time to coupon. However, if you’re like me and have time but no money, this is a perfect trade off. Searching for each individual coupon may be worth it.
Before you do anything, create a list of items you will need for upcoming meals. Some people shop every two weeks. I find it easier to make a weekly shopping trip. On Tuesday evenings, we sit down as a family and create a menu for the week. Why Tuesdays? We go to town and shop on Wednesdays. Everyone is different and will have their own way of doing things. Bottom line—we start with a list of ingredients needed for each meal.
Now that you know what you need, search the area store circulars for “loss leader items.” These are sale items that are designed to lure you into the store with hopes that you will purchase other items not on sale.
If possible, find coupons for those loss leaders to save the most money. Find out if the store will let you double your coupon or even Stacking Coupons. When you combine manufacturer coupons with store coupons, this is called stacking.
Where do you find coupons?
Newspaper circulars. Since I don’t buy the paper, I am sometimes able to find extra circulars at the recycling depot or friends who will contribute to my cause.
Store Internet Coupons. Most stores will have internet circulars that will be sent to your personal email.
Internet Coupon Sites. The Blog site, “The Well Kept Wallet,” by Laurie Blank, has a wonderful list of internet sites that I have never considered. You can find her at
https://wellkeptwallet.com/best-coupon-sites/. However, I have used www.coupons.com and www.coolsavings.com with success.
Other sites include:
www.coupons-grabber.com
www.befrugal.com
https://thekrazycouponlady.com
www.passionforsavings.com
www.grocerycouponnetwork.com
www.couponmom.com
https://hip2save.com/grocery-coupon-network
Coupon Apps will provide cash back for some items you buy. Some App sites are Snap by Groupon, CartSmart, Ibotta, Checkout51, SavingStar. Passion for Savings App. Downloading Apps from grocery stores where you shop can help.
USPS Mail. Sometimes, you can receive coupons from companies that you contact.
Sign up for Store Rewards Programs. Some stores will offer discounts and specialized coupons depending on your purchases. It pays to sign up for these.
Rebates. Be sure to save your receipts for rebates. You may not find a rebate when you bought the item, but it may be available a few weeks later.
When you find a good deal of products you use on a regular basis, make multiple purchases.
After you start collecting coupons, organize them. I used to use an index card box with dividers. You will be able to create a system that works for you.
The next step is to search weekly store circulars for sale items. Circle them and then find a coupon, if available, to go with that item. If you don’t have a coupon for that particular item, enter that particular item on a search engine and you may be able to find one.
It’s easy to get carried away, buying a lot of different grocery items you may not need. Stick with your list. You won’t save money if you’re buying a lot of unneeded things.
So, go forth and save $$$.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Broke Girl is Still Here
Hello Other Broke Galaxians,
Yes, I'm still here. I spent the last week in New Smyrna Beach, Florida taking the Level I Bob Ross Painting Course. I plan to finish off the course with Level II and Level III eventually so I can (1) Learn to be a better artist and paint awesomely wonderful paintings and (2) Give classes so I can be less broke and teach others to paint awesomely wonderful paintings.
As you see, I have a plan.
Whether I'm able to pick up a job or not, teaching Bob Ross Painting classes on the weekend could help me meet great like-minded people and I wouldn't mind having a side gig to help with expenses for my hobby and pay a few bills.
Hobbies are important. They build self confidence, as well as new skills. Collecting things--not so much because you may have a hard time parting with your collectibles. Seriously, what are you going to do with that matchbox car collection that you can't part with?
Take a look at your hobbies and interests and see if there's something you can do to bring in extra income, whether it's piano or guitar lessons, or how to put together a kicking resume. There's something that you excel at that will benefit someone else. Take a good look at yourself and make a list of what you can do.
Take care my fellow Broke Galaxians. Go forth and save $$$.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
Yes, I'm still here. I spent the last week in New Smyrna Beach, Florida taking the Level I Bob Ross Painting Course. I plan to finish off the course with Level II and Level III eventually so I can (1) Learn to be a better artist and paint awesomely wonderful paintings and (2) Give classes so I can be less broke and teach others to paint awesomely wonderful paintings.
As you see, I have a plan.
Whether I'm able to pick up a job or not, teaching Bob Ross Painting classes on the weekend could help me meet great like-minded people and I wouldn't mind having a side gig to help with expenses for my hobby and pay a few bills.
Hobbies are important. They build self confidence, as well as new skills. Collecting things--not so much because you may have a hard time parting with your collectibles. Seriously, what are you going to do with that matchbox car collection that you can't part with?
Take a look at your hobbies and interests and see if there's something you can do to bring in extra income, whether it's piano or guitar lessons, or how to put together a kicking resume. There's something that you excel at that will benefit someone else. Take a good look at yourself and make a list of what you can do.
Take care my fellow Broke Galaxians. Go forth and save $$$.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
Friday, March 9, 2018
Popped Wheat Berries -- The Perfect Healthy Snack
Hello Broke Galaxians,
One of our big expenses at the grocery store come in the way of snacks--crackers, chips, sweets. When I shop when I'm hungry, it's even worse. Crackers are a big downfall.
One way to avoid the extra expense and still enjoy nightly snacking is by making your own popped wheat--not puffed wheat, but popped wheat.
Wheat is fairly inexpensive when bought in bulk. Many health food stores carry it. You can even buy wheat berries online at Wal-Mart.
Although you can buy puffed wheat cereal at the store, this is not something that can be safely done at home. Commercial manufacturers have equipment that pressurize the wheat berry with high temperatures and steam to the point where the steam flashes and the kernel puffs up like popcorn. So when "they" say, "don't try this at home," it's probably best to listen.
Wheat can still be popped, it just won't fluff up like popcorn. However, the kernels will expand slightly and can be eaten as a tasty, healthy treat that has a nutty flavor.
How to Pop Wheat.
1. Soak the berries overnight.
2. The next day, boil the wheat berries for a few minutes, then simmer them for 45 minutes. They should double and triple in size.
3. Drain the wheat berries and then put them on a clean, dry towel and pat them dry to take the excess moisture off them.
4. In a frying pan, add a few tablespoons of oil and the boiled wheat berries.
5. Cover the frying pan with a lid.
6. Pop the wheat berries as you would pop corn. (Gently shake the berries in the oil on top of the stove).
When your wheat berries are popped and still hot, remove the lid and add salt or seasonings to the popped wheat.
You can even add popped wheat to salads or sprinkle on top of your granola.
The popped wheat berries are much better than processed snack food that is much more expensive and bad for me.
So, my fellow Broke Galaxians, go forth and save $$$.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
.
One of our big expenses at the grocery store come in the way of snacks--crackers, chips, sweets. When I shop when I'm hungry, it's even worse. Crackers are a big downfall.
One way to avoid the extra expense and still enjoy nightly snacking is by making your own popped wheat--not puffed wheat, but popped wheat.
Wheat is fairly inexpensive when bought in bulk. Many health food stores carry it. You can even buy wheat berries online at Wal-Mart.
Although you can buy puffed wheat cereal at the store, this is not something that can be safely done at home. Commercial manufacturers have equipment that pressurize the wheat berry with high temperatures and steam to the point where the steam flashes and the kernel puffs up like popcorn. So when "they" say, "don't try this at home," it's probably best to listen.
Wheat can still be popped, it just won't fluff up like popcorn. However, the kernels will expand slightly and can be eaten as a tasty, healthy treat that has a nutty flavor.
How to Pop Wheat.
1. Soak the berries overnight.
2. The next day, boil the wheat berries for a few minutes, then simmer them for 45 minutes. They should double and triple in size.
3. Drain the wheat berries and then put them on a clean, dry towel and pat them dry to take the excess moisture off them.
4. In a frying pan, add a few tablespoons of oil and the boiled wheat berries.
5. Cover the frying pan with a lid.
6. Pop the wheat berries as you would pop corn. (Gently shake the berries in the oil on top of the stove).
When your wheat berries are popped and still hot, remove the lid and add salt or seasonings to the popped wheat.
You can even add popped wheat to salads or sprinkle on top of your granola.
The popped wheat berries are much better than processed snack food that is much more expensive and bad for me.
So, my fellow Broke Galaxians, go forth and save $$$.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
.
Monday, March 5, 2018
Stop Losing Money on Your Garden
Hi Fellow Broke Galaxians--
Guess what? It's time to plant your starts if you don't want to spend a fortune in a few months at the garden center.
I know I can drop large amounts of hard-earned cash every spring to get my garden going. By doing this, I am not helping my cause to save money in the long run.
The dilemma of the plastic garden start kit.
You see the kit at the store and you get excited--at least I know I do. The promise of a productive garden that is overflowing with vegetables makes you practically salivate. Before you know it, your cart is filled with seeds, little peat buttons with the associated pots and you're standing at the check out line.
You may think you're saving money buying those little peat pots or buttons, but I'm not sure this is the case. First, while these little starts have all the nutrients for your plant in the convenience of a button, they are expensive and you may find yourself transplanting well before you're able to get the start into your garden.
You'll lose some of your tender plants to transplant shock and if you wait too long, you'll have root-bound plants that never quite recover. You've probably seen it before--the roots grow through the bottom of the container and you have to damage them when you pull them out to transplant.
Your plants outgrow the plastic container before they are big enough to transplant. Plants don't germinate at the same rate. So while your tomato plants are one height, your pepper plants are another. You may still need to have the warmth of the plastic cover on the peppers, but you can't because the tomato plants are too tall.
First, tomatoes have long, luscious root systems that stretch into the ground--and frankly, those little, tiny peat pots aren't going to cut it. Roots don't like someone messing with them. They don't respond well to constant transplanting. Think about it in these terms--how would you handle moving every few weeks? It would be traumatizing.
Consider growing long rooted plants in 2-Liter soda bottles. Cut off the top of the bottle just below the neck. Poke several holes in the bottom of the container and fill it with soil. This gives plants, like tomatoes, the length they need so you're only transplanting them once into your garden. When it's time to transplant, cut a circle in the bottom and push the plant into the hole.
If you don't have a "coke" habit, you may know someone who does and wouldn't mind having you take those pesky bottles off their hands.
Empty Milk Cartons make perfect planters. Instead of adding to the local landfill, reuse some of the empty containers around your house.
For those smaller seeds that respond well to transplanting, consider using fiber-based egg cartons or empty paper towel and toilet paper rolls. Some seeds have shallow root systems and grow slower than tomatoes.
Take the empty toilet paper roll and fold one of the ends inward. Continue this process with three more folds to make an envelope shaped bottom. Fill it with soil and you'll have your own little planting pot. Cut an empty paper towel tube in thirds and fold them the same way you would the toilet paper roll. You should be able to plant these directly into your garden and the container will eventually deteriorate and become part of the soil. This will keep the roots intact and undisturbed.
What about missing out on the nutrients in the peat buttons?
You can get the same results if you buy a bag of potting mix and provide your own containers. Don't go out and spend money on fancy-shmancy containers when you've probably got something you can use laying around your house. It feels good to give new life to something you would normally throw away--but it feels even better to save money.
So Fellow Broke Galaxians--Go forth and save $$$.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
Guess what? It's time to plant your starts if you don't want to spend a fortune in a few months at the garden center.
I know I can drop large amounts of hard-earned cash every spring to get my garden going. By doing this, I am not helping my cause to save money in the long run.
The dilemma of the plastic garden start kit.
You see the kit at the store and you get excited--at least I know I do. The promise of a productive garden that is overflowing with vegetables makes you practically salivate. Before you know it, your cart is filled with seeds, little peat buttons with the associated pots and you're standing at the check out line.
You may think you're saving money buying those little peat pots or buttons, but I'm not sure this is the case. First, while these little starts have all the nutrients for your plant in the convenience of a button, they are expensive and you may find yourself transplanting well before you're able to get the start into your garden.
You'll lose some of your tender plants to transplant shock and if you wait too long, you'll have root-bound plants that never quite recover. You've probably seen it before--the roots grow through the bottom of the container and you have to damage them when you pull them out to transplant.
Your plants outgrow the plastic container before they are big enough to transplant. Plants don't germinate at the same rate. So while your tomato plants are one height, your pepper plants are another. You may still need to have the warmth of the plastic cover on the peppers, but you can't because the tomato plants are too tall.
First, tomatoes have long, luscious root systems that stretch into the ground--and frankly, those little, tiny peat pots aren't going to cut it. Roots don't like someone messing with them. They don't respond well to constant transplanting. Think about it in these terms--how would you handle moving every few weeks? It would be traumatizing.
Consider growing long rooted plants in 2-Liter soda bottles. Cut off the top of the bottle just below the neck. Poke several holes in the bottom of the container and fill it with soil. This gives plants, like tomatoes, the length they need so you're only transplanting them once into your garden. When it's time to transplant, cut a circle in the bottom and push the plant into the hole.
If you don't have a "coke" habit, you may know someone who does and wouldn't mind having you take those pesky bottles off their hands.
Empty Milk Cartons make perfect planters. Instead of adding to the local landfill, reuse some of the empty containers around your house.
For those smaller seeds that respond well to transplanting, consider using fiber-based egg cartons or empty paper towel and toilet paper rolls. Some seeds have shallow root systems and grow slower than tomatoes.
Take the empty toilet paper roll and fold one of the ends inward. Continue this process with three more folds to make an envelope shaped bottom. Fill it with soil and you'll have your own little planting pot. Cut an empty paper towel tube in thirds and fold them the same way you would the toilet paper roll. You should be able to plant these directly into your garden and the container will eventually deteriorate and become part of the soil. This will keep the roots intact and undisturbed.
What about missing out on the nutrients in the peat buttons?
You can get the same results if you buy a bag of potting mix and provide your own containers. Don't go out and spend money on fancy-shmancy containers when you've probably got something you can use laying around your house. It feels good to give new life to something you would normally throw away--but it feels even better to save money.
So Fellow Broke Galaxians--Go forth and save $$$.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
Saturday, March 3, 2018
5 Triggers That Prompt You To Spend Money
Hello Fellow Galaxians,
Knowing why and how you spend money is important to breaking the habit of over-spending. One of the ways to break a bad habit is to replace it with a good one.
So, go forth and save $$$ my friends.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
I'm pretty sure you know that it's literally
impossible to save money by spending money.
If your goal is to get out of debt
and save money, you must find a way to stop spending on items that are
not absolutely necessary. But telling yourself to not spend
money isn't enough--you need to understand the psychology behind your spending
habits and learn how to fight your urge to spend yourself broke.
First, you must make a
list of everything you buy--and I mean everything. By doing this, you will
begin to see habits and patterns. Think about what would happen if you didn't
buy anything that day. Why did you buy each item? What feeling did it bring
you? Did you buy it because of convenience or to make your life easier?
1. Retail Therapy.
Spending
money can give you a false sense of happiness that lasts about as long as it takes you to get your credit card bill or to look at your bank account. Maybe something bad has
happened or you feel bad about yourself and spending money makes you feel good. Some people eat to
elevate their mood and some shop, and some do both. Recognize retail therapy
for what it is.
Find
another activity that doesn't cost money. What else can give you that high? What else can cause your endorphins to raise? Try going for a walk in the sunshine. At first you may not enjoy the walk, but by the end of the walk, I promise you'll
feel better. If you must spend money, go to the dollar store and by one item to
satisfy your urge. Invite a friend over for a movie night. Maybe time with a friend will lift your mood.
2. Boredom.
Maybe you
shop because you're bored. Recognize this for what it is and admit that you're
bored. You may need a new hobby. There may be an area in your life that needs
attention. Trade shopping for another activity that doesn't cost
money.
3. Sales events.
Marketers study how to lure shoppers into spending their hard earned money. We may feel like we need to participate and buy items we don't actually
need because we're afraid we will miss out on the sale. Black Friday is a
perfect example of this. No one wants to miss out on a good deal. To combat this, you may want to go visit a friend that day or unplug yourself from the internet and avoid television during that time. If there are big ticket items you need, give yourself time to save for them. It's like Christmas--you know it's coming, it's not a big surprise--it comes every year. So, save for it. Set up a savings account and put a small amount of money in it for this particular event.
4. Reward Spending.
You
may want to reward yourself for some achievement or in celebration. Find
another way to reward yourself.
As a dieter, it's essential that you don't reward yourself with food when you lose a couple of pounds. As a habitual spender, you may want to not reward yourself by spending money.
Maybe buying that daily specialty coffee is your reward. You may want to find another way to reward yourself. More people buy gifts for themselves at certain times of year, such as a birthday or Christmas.
As a dieter, it's essential that you don't reward yourself with food when you lose a couple of pounds. As a habitual spender, you may want to not reward yourself by spending money.
Maybe buying that daily specialty coffee is your reward. You may want to find another way to reward yourself. More people buy gifts for themselves at certain times of year, such as a birthday or Christmas.
5. Impulse Spending.
Don't immediately run out and buy something you need. Do your homework, researching the model and price range. Take the time to find the best value. You may need to spend money on newer models instead of ones found on the secondary market. Electronics should be bought new, but you may not need the latest gadget since you will pay more the closer you are to the release date. Consider buying a later model that has a good track record on Consumer Reports or on research sites. By researching, you may find a better deal than just buying one at the first place you look. Search for coupons, rebates or sales on items you need.
Don't immediately run out and buy something you need. Do your homework, researching the model and price range. Take the time to find the best value. You may need to spend money on newer models instead of ones found on the secondary market. Electronics should be bought new, but you may not need the latest gadget since you will pay more the closer you are to the release date. Consider buying a later model that has a good track record on Consumer Reports or on research sites. By researching, you may find a better deal than just buying one at the first place you look. Search for coupons, rebates or sales on items you need.
Try the 30-day rule. If you feel that you need something new, give yourself 30 days to decide if you actually need that item. By practicing delayed gratification, you will feel a semblance of self control and you will also have time to decide if you really want to spend money on what you are planning to buy.
Breaking bad habits.
If you enjoy that morning cup of coffee on the way to work, can you replace that with a coffee made at home with a specialty creamer? What is it that you specifically like about that coffee? Perhaps you feel that you need a new outfit. Can you accessorize instead? Maybe you can sell your unused clothes in a consignment shop to afford the clothes you want. If you go out with friends and spending money is part of the event, plan for it. Cut back in other areas of your life so you can afford the night out.
If you enjoy that morning cup of coffee on the way to work, can you replace that with a coffee made at home with a specialty creamer? What is it that you specifically like about that coffee? Perhaps you feel that you need a new outfit. Can you accessorize instead? Maybe you can sell your unused clothes in a consignment shop to afford the clothes you want. If you go out with friends and spending money is part of the event, plan for it. Cut back in other areas of your life so you can afford the night out.
So, go forth and save $$$ my friends.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
Thursday, March 1, 2018
10 Ways to Cut Costs at the Grocery Store
Hello Fellow Broke Galaxians,
Getting your financial
lives in order can feel like a giant monster that is out of control. One problem many families have is that of that monthly grocery budget. A few dollars here and a few dollars spent there can quickly spiral out of control and all the sudden your money is gone-gone-gone. So how do you tame that Monster? Maybe these tips will help.
1. Grocery Store Reward Cards.
Many grocery stores have
free membership cards that offer awards, cash-back or coupons. They even offer
occasional sweepstakes and promotional offers. It pays to sign up and use them at stores you frequent.
2. Go alone.
One way I lose money or
overspend is when shopping is a family activity. Everyone is indiscriminately adding to the
cart. They cannot leave that store without that one item they absolutely cannot
live without. Chances are, family members weren't even thinking of buying it
until they saw it on the shelf. The Marketing Science Institute notes that the
amount of these unplanned purchases can significantly skyrocket when kids or the
spouse comes along on the shopping trip--so go alone.
3. Go armed with a list and don't buy anything not on the list.
By preplanning your
trip, you avoid any unnecessary spending. Also, you will know which store
offers the best deals on each item. By knowing exactly what you need, you will be less likely to add extra items to the cart.
4. Buy in Bulk.
Buying in bulk only
works if the item costs less in bulk and if you will definitely use the items
bought. A good deal is only a good deal if you will use what you buy. Bring a
calculator and know how much a roll of toilet paper costs in lower quantities before you buy 30
rolls in bulk at a higher price. If you're afraid of food going bad before you use it, research how to store it. As long as you store the items correctly (out of sunlight and properly sealed), they
should last a long time and be there when you're ready to use them.
5. Buy Generic.
It pays to try generic
brands. For the most part, there isn't a marked difference between generic and brand
names. Sometimes the food is processed in the same plant and the only difference is marketing and packaging. If the family complains about their brand
name cereal, try storing it in a plastic container--out of sight out of mind.
6. Buy Sale Items in Bulk.
Look at the sales fliers each week. Grocery stores offer what they call loss leaders which is designed to lure you in with cheap prices. They make their money off the other items you buy that aren't on sale. Stock up on loss leader items and you'll save.
Don't bypass the produce isle without seeing what is starting to ripen. Sometimes bananas go on sale and I snap them up. I use bananas for banana bread and in my morning smoothies. Peel the bananas and store them, three at a time, in freezer bags. They will be there when you're ready to use them. I ounce found a sale on carrots, bought several bags and pressure canned them. It's extra work, but by processing sale foods you will have them when you need them and them at a discount.
Don't bypass the produce isle without seeing what is starting to ripen. Sometimes bananas go on sale and I snap them up. I use bananas for banana bread and in my morning smoothies. Peel the bananas and store them, three at a time, in freezer bags. They will be there when you're ready to use them. I ounce found a sale on carrots, bought several bags and pressure canned them. It's extra work, but by processing sale foods you will have them when you need them and them at a discount.
7. Use Coupons.
There's a show on
television that shows how people extreme couponing. Sometimes they buy a couple hundred dollars of groceries for very little. Most of us don't want to put in the time to do extreme couponing, but you can still save quite a bit of money with them.
Coupons can be found in many places--on sales fliers, in the newspaper, on the internet, and by signing up for coupon sites. By investing a little bit of time, you should be able to save a lot of money by doing this. Be sure to watch for the expiration date and if the coupon rules. You may end up buying two items to take advantage of the coupon and it may not save you as much money as you think. Some stores will allow you to double your coupon value, but be sure to ask first. You will want to make the most of your money.
Coupons can also be found at Internet sites such as redplum.com, queenoffree.net, and smartsource.com.
Coupons can be found in many places--on sales fliers, in the newspaper, on the internet, and by signing up for coupon sites. By investing a little bit of time, you should be able to save a lot of money by doing this. Be sure to watch for the expiration date and if the coupon rules. You may end up buying two items to take advantage of the coupon and it may not save you as much money as you think. Some stores will allow you to double your coupon value, but be sure to ask first. You will want to make the most of your money.
Coupons can also be found at Internet sites such as redplum.com, queenoffree.net, and smartsource.com.
8. Sign up for Saving Apps.
By downloading an App, you
may be able to find the best price for an item or even receive cash back on
something you've bought. It may pay to check out sites such as Ibotta,
Shopmium, Checkout51, Groupon Snap, and Saving Star. Some Apps pay you in coins
that you can redeem for cash, while others pay with PayPal or gift cards. Either
way, saving money will definitely put a smile on your face.
9. Buy Groceries on the Internet.
Sometimes you can find
grocery items on Amazon that cost less than the local grocery store. I've
ordered food from Wal-Mart and had it shipped to my door free. When we want to
use pecans in holiday cooking, we sometimes find cheaper prices online with
free shipping from vendors. More now than ever before companies are offering
grocery delivery services. In some cities you can have it delivered within a
few hours of ordering. However, if saving money is your game, you will need to
know the price per ounce you normally pay for something to ensure you're
getting the best deal.
10. Shop the Scratch and Dent Sales.
There are usually
shelves or carts at the grocery store that have discontinued or dented items.
This is a great area to find bargains. Be sure to check that all packaging is
not compromised, meaning that it is still sealed. use good judgment because
slightly dented cans are usually fine, but cans with severe dents may have a
damaged seal that can lead to contaminated food. Grocery stores that have a
bakery usually sell day-old bread at a discount that you can store in your
freezer for a later date.
With a few tweaks to
your buying habits and a little research and preparation, buying groceries
doesn't have to kill your budget.
So, my fellow Broke
Galaxians--Go Forth and Save $$$.
Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl
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