The First Radish!

Finally, after weeks of work, the first radish popped up ready to be picked today.  Sure, it was the only thing in the garden that was ready, but one veggie is better than no veggies.

So here is my beloved radish!  It is fresh out of the garden in the picture.  It did not last too long, since now it is in my stomach.  I am a big fan of radishes.

Let's Go to the Park!

I happen to be fairly broke right now, but considering it is Friday, I have the day off, and it is wonderful weather outside, it seemed like I should do something.  My fiance and I decided to take our dog to the park.

No matter how poor I am, I have to remind myself sometimes that there are free activities that are just as fun as activities that cost money.  The park is one of those things.  Not only was our dog happy to get out and play, he got to meet some new people that thought he was adorable.  It was nice to walk around in 70 degree weather, too.  

This particular park is close to the water, so there was some nice scenery, adorable ducks, and a good breeze.  It was a good day.  I hope everyone can take the time to enjoy a nice adventure this coming weekend, even if you may have to work, which I will have to do for part of the weekend.  Life is short and it is good to appreciate it sometimes.

The Garden is Coming Along

There are days when I wonder if the garden will really pay off, but today, while working on getting some weeds out, I realized the garden is really coming along.  I am eager to see what happens next.

I am not sure if I want to plant a garden next year, but for this year, I am going to keep it going to see how the vegetables grow.  As far as I can tell, the hardest of the work is over.  Now is the time to sit back and wait to see how many veggies we can get out of it.  If it makes financial sense, perhaps a garden is worth the work next year.

Does Working in Retail Really Pay Off?

I am a big believer in getting a job, no matter what your circumstances are.  I know people that are not working and think many types of jobs are beneath them.  I am here to say that is not true.  No one is beneath any job.  Honest work makes you an honest person.

With that said, I do realize some jobs are not that appealing because of the pay rate.  If a person is on unemployment, I 100% understand why it is better most of the time to stay on unemployment rather than getting a low-paying job.  Unemployment does typically pay better.

Unfortunately, there are those of us that do not qualify for unemployment.  In this situation, I believe you should take a job... any job... to get by.  I don't care if the job is minimum wage.  You know what is worse than 7.25 an hour?  Nothing an hour!  Making no money is considerably worse than minimum wage.

Last year, when I was between jobs and temp jobs, I worked for 7.25 an hour.  It was pretty rough.  Now I am back to retail again, and making a little more than that an hour.  If I had full-time hours, it would not be so bad.  However, I do not.  Also, the problem with retail is that desire to spend some of your money on the products you are selling.  When you see your products each day and tell the customers how great they are, naturally you want to use your discount to buy them, too.  That is a major problem.

What I would recommend for anyone considering a retail job is:

Try to work at a place where you will be unlikely to buy the products all the time.  It really squeezes more money out of you, even if there is a discount.

Try to work at a job that pays an alright wage (if possible) and work retail part-time if you are mostly interested in shopping and getting the discount.  Retail work is perfect temp work around Christmas time,

If you must retail to make ends meet, try to work it full-time.  Part-time simply does not pay off.  If that is not possible, try to squeeze in two part-time jobs at once.

Also, take the location into consideration.  Are you going to spend a lot in gas or public transportation?  It may not be worth it.

Always pack a lunch when you can.  Chances are, all the restaurants in the area will be too expensive.

And most of all, good luck!

To Buy Cheap Toilet Paper or Not... That is the Question!

In my life, I am stuck making decisions for many things.  One of those decisions is toilet paper.  You see, I always spend money on the nicer stuff.  I mean, the toilet paper goes in a private area, so I want to make sure I get the best.  However, lately I have been experimenting with the cheaper stuff due to finances.  I find I do not like much of it.

I am a big believer in saving money whenever possible, but I do think you pay for quality when it comes to paper products.  I like to buy brand name toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissues.  My fiance believes there is no need for this.  Many store brands are just as good as name brands.  This has never been my experience, but we are giving it a try.

It turns out, White Cloud from Walmart is not bad.  It is not as good as some people claim it to be either.  It is just alright.  So if I have to deal with cheap toilet paper, I guess I can get it.  Sometimes I do feel it does not pay off to be cheap though.  I have yet to find quality low-budget paper towels.  If I have to use twice the amount, I don't find it to be a bargain.  Just saying.

Never leaving the house again... well, until tomorrow

In a new, fairly pathetic strategy to save money, I've decided I am simply not leaving my house today.  If I go to the store, I will buy something.  If I go to a restaurant, I will eat something.  So what is a girl to do?  Not leave the house!

Yes, I know that seems anti-social and, sure, I could buy just about anything I want online anyway, but it is just a better idea to stay home anyway.  I have to go to work tomorrow, so isn't that enough?

I have food, water, shelter... whatever I need right here.  So I am going to just stay home... and maybe work online and achieve stuff.

And yes, I realize this is probably the most boring blog post ever.  Perhaps that is why I stopped doing traditional blogging for so long.  Oh well, I will keep working at it.

Growing My Own Veggies This Summer

This summer, I have started on the super epic journey of growing my own vegetables.  Well, frankly, my fiance and I are doing this together.  Growing a garden is not really so much my thing, but being cheap is my thing.  We bought lots of seeds at the dollar store, some as cheap as 25 cents a pack.  Most of the seeds seem to be growing well in starter pots and they are almost ready to be planted in the yard.  This is where the real "fun" begins.

Don't get me wrong, I grew up in the suburbs, but my grandparents had a farm.  I am no stranger to farming.  However, I determined at a fairly young age it was not for me.  Having lived in the city for a long time, it is a culture shock now to live in a house in the suburbs.  Growing a garden seemed like a good idea since my fiance did it in the past, but this time, we probably got too ambitious.

Since the seeds were so cheap, we bought a lot at the dollar store and some at other stores.  Now we have a nice variety of seeds growing.  We also need to make the garden bigger.  We've begun the process, and I have found myself to be exceptionally whiny about it.  I know once everything is planted, it will be fine.  But next year, perhaps we will aim for a smaller garden.

This year, we are growing:

Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Peppers
Corn
Radishes
Watermelons
Pumpkins
Cilantro

I don't think we need to worry about the cilantro since it looks like a squirrel, or perhaps our dog, got a hold of it and it no longer exists.  I also think because we don't know what we are doing with the radishes, perhaps they are turning out so great.  But so far, everything else is good.  We are going to save so much money on vegetables this summer and perhaps not have to buy our own pumpkins in the fall.  Hooray.... I think!

I am back!

Yes, it has been nearly two years, but I am back in business at Blogger.  You may wonder where I have been.  Actually, since I doubt anyone is following me anymore, you probably have not wondered.  At any rate, I stopped writing blogs when they took up just too much of my time.

I was getting carried away trying to keep up with three blogs, writing for HubPages, writing for Wizzley, working on WebAnswers, creating eBooks, working on Mechanical Turk, making products on Zazzle... and working 40 or more hours a week at an office.  Yes, it is a great way to make money if you have time, but I decided to stop getting so carried away.  For my own sanity, I needed to take a break from some of the extra work I had been doing.

For now, I don't have a full-time job anymore, so I decided I have more time to devote to blogging.  I won't have three blogs anymore, but it does not mean I can't have one or two.  So I hope if anyone is still out there, you might want to read my blog.  

Organizing Your Home on a Budget

It is finally spring and time for spring cleaning.  Not only is this a great time to throw out items that are broken, it is a great time to get rid of things you no longer want.  You can make some extra cash selling items online on Craigslist or by selling them at a yard sale.  If you are feeling charitable, you can donate unwanted items in good condition.

Of course, once you are done throwing out items, it is time to organize what you are keeping.  It can be difficult, especially if you do not have much money.  However, it is possible. 

If you are selling unwanted items, take some of the money you made to buy low-budget items to help you get organized.  Some products you can purchase for a low-cost are:

Shelves
Shoe holders
Fabric organizers
Metal carts
Plastic crates
Under the bed organizers

If you are not able to afford to buy anything to organize your home, don't forget to look for some free items.  You may be able to find them from work or from friends and family members.  Free items you can use to get organized are:

Boxes (old printer paper boxes are the best!)
Paper bags
Milk carton crates

If you prop up the boxes or crates just the right way on their sides, they are practically like shelves.  Of course, the boxes and bags are great for storage.  Don't let being on a tight budget ruin your ability to organize your home.  You can do it!

Low-Budget Hairspray is Not Always a Good Idea

I am a fan of hairspray.  I have thick, uncontrollable hair, so I have to use it.  I sort of believe I can't live without it.  I am kind of a hairspray addict.  I typically buy very cheap hairspray, such as White Rain or Suave.  However, due to desperation and a thriftiness, I decided to go even cheaper and buy hairspray at a dollar store.  Mistake!

I decided to glance at the back of the hairspray and much to my surprise, it contains propane.  Ummm... propane on my hair?  I am not too excited.  Furthermore, it says something about only being "55%" hairspray according to regulations.  What the hell does that mean?  Is my hair going to fall out?  Now I am concerned.

So tomorrow, I will be going to Target to get my normal low-budget hairspray.  I have learned my lesson the hard way.  Don't buy hairspray from the dollar store!

Low-Budget Mother's Day Ideas

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and believe it or not, there are some low-budget gift ideas out there.  You don't have to spend a small fortune on jewelry for your Mom.  You can find some great items for a low-cost.

For instance, many dollar stores are loaded with spring items right now.  I am not saying your only gift should be from the dollar store or that you should just give one gift that costs a dollar, but you can make a nice gift basket with items from the dollar store.  Right now, the Dollar Tree has a solar-operated flower that dances, wind chimes, colorful bowls, and pink flamingo glasses.  If your mother likes tacky stuff, well, she is going to love seeing many of those items in her basket.  As a matter of fact, you can even get a basket there!

If you are not willing to go that route, there are plenty of other options.  You can buy a nice potted plant at just about any store.  You can also buy flowers for fairly cheap if you know where to get them.  Farmer's markets, discount stores, and Trader Joe's are great places to purchase flowers and house plants.  You can even order flowers and plants online at Amazon if you live far away and need them shipped to your mother.

You also do have the option of getting an expensive item if you'd like.  This is especially the case if the gift is from more than one family member.  Some mothers actually appreciate electronics like Kindles, iPods, tablets, or a Nook.  The standard Kindle is about 70 dollars right now, but a Kindle Fire is a little under $200.  It might sound pricy, but if several people are chipping it in, it can be a bargain.

So don't worry too much about gifts for Mom this Mother's Day.  There are some really nice deals out there.  And if all else fails, cooking her a nice dinner is always appreciated.

The Dollar Store is the Best Place for Easter Supplies

If you are interested in decorating your home for Easter at a low cost, I recommend checking out dollar stores, such as the Dollar Tree.  Dollar stores offer a number of low-budget Easter and spring decoration items.  Aside from decorating your home for Easter, you can find perfect toys, candy, and items for Easter baskets.  Of course, the best part is... everything is just $1!

Some of the great items you can purchase for Easter at the dollar store are:

Easter garland
Small Easter baskets
Easter buckets
Pinwheels
Plastic eggs
Small stuffed animals
Plastic grass for baskets
Toys
Snowglobes
Egg dye
Candy
Chocolate bunnies
Easter welcome signs for doors
And much, much more!

Many of the Easter items available at the dollar store are pretty decent.  Some of the stuffed animals look slightly mutant-like, but other than that, a lot of the products are super cute.  You can find Easter items you never even knew existed, like camouflage plastic eggs.  I highly recommend taking a trip the dollar store this year for Easter supplies.

For more Easter fun, check out:

How to Add Excitement to Your Easter Egg Hunt

How to Dye Easter Eggs

St. Patrick's Day Shopping at Target

If you want to buy some St. Patrick's Day items, I would recommend visiting Target in the very near future.  Currently, Target has an interesting assortment of St. Patrick's Day products in the dollar bins.  Why bother paying $5 - $10 for fun St. Patrick's Day stuff when you can pay only $1 for items like necklaces, socks, and headbands?  You can even get a St. Patrick's Day hat for a relatively low price in the same section.

Don't worry if you are not Irish.  Not all the items in the St. Patrick's Day dollar bins are for Irish folks.  Some products specifically state things like "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" and others are for anyone that just wants to celebrate the holiday.

If you really want to party this St. Patrick's Day, don't wait the last minute for tacky green party items.  Make sure to visit Target this month to get tacky stuff for just one dollar a piece!

Other related articles you might like:

Valentine's Day Bargains at Target

5 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day Without Drinking

January 26 - 27 Weekend - The Baltimore Sun Coupons

Some weekends I wonder if a coupon gremlin has come along and stolen all my coupons before I get my Baltimore Sun newspaper.  Other weekends, I am quite happy to discover many coupons.  This weekend would be just tha type of situation.  There were four packets of coupons included.  Also, there were a Walmart and Target sales paper.  Hooray!

Some of the many coupons included in this weekend's Baltimore Sun are:

• Frozen pizzas (various brands)
• Tums (you might need that after all that pizza)
• Tidy Cat litter
• Puppy Chow
• Ragu spaghetti sauce
• Suave shampoo and other products
• Vaseline products
• Fiber One
• Cheerios
• Tyson Chicken
• Nature Valley Granola Bars
• Tide
• Energizer
• Charmin
• Bounty Puffs
• And much more!

Happy shopping this weekend!  Don't forget, many groceries stores will double your coupons if the amount is under $1.

Happy New Year!

2012 has come and gone and it is time to celebrate the new year.  I hope everyone had a safe New Year's Eve.  Let's all celebrate the coming of 2013.  I am hoping (despite the 13 and the bad luck that it indicates) that this year will be a great one.

Now is the time to sit down and consider your finances.  It is great to plan your taxes, budget, and finance plans for the new year.  Also, if you are looking for a new job, now is the best time.  Many companies put job searches on hold during the holidays, but now they will be looking for new employees.  Maybe we will all have a little luck getting that better paying job this year!

Don't forget... this is also the perfect time to stock up on holiday items.  You can get wrapping paper, decorations, ugly Christmas sweaters, and an assortment of other holiday products right now.  Most stores are selling items for 50% to 75% off.  Also, it is the perfect time to buy Christmas candles for dirt cheap.  Who cares if there is a Christmas tree on the front of it?  If you need candles for practical reasons, such as your electricity going out, I assure you, you won't care about the holiday theme.

Best wishes to everyone and happy new year!

Christmas Shopping Bargains - Weekend Dec. 15/16

If you are a last minute shopper, you are in luck this weekend.  There are many stores that are breaking out their best prices this weekend.  If you are buying the bulk of your Christmas gifts this weekend, you can totally save money.

The first store I want to discuss is Michael's.  Just about everything is on sale.  There are dollar items that are only 50 cents.  T-shirts that are usually $3.99 are now 2 for $6.  Many holiday items are 30 to 60 percent off this weekend.  Not to mention, Michael's has been more than generous with coupons.  They are currently offering 20% off coupons to ALL items... even sale items, for this weekend only.  You just need to sign up for their email discounts.

The next store we need to discuss is New York & Company.  I remember by this point last year, they were all but giving the store away.  The same can be said this year.  There are shirts for 10 bucks.  Scarf and glove sets for $10 that are regularly around $25.  Each day, New York & Company sends emails with crazier and crazier discounts.  I am waiting for them to offer to pay me to shop there soon.

I would also recommend signing up for emails from Yankee Candle and Bath and Body Works.  Each day, both stores are offering a different sale item.  For instance, yesterday Bath and Body Works was selling large candles for only $8 a candle.  They are usually $20 a candle.  Today Bath and Body Works was selling body cream for only $5!  If you sign up for their emails, you will be the first to know the great daily deals at both stores.

I do not promote waiting the last minute to go Christmas shopping, but this year, it does make sense.  Many stores are breaking out some amazing deals to appeal to every shopper.  Even if you thought you were done shopping, it might be worth it to add a few more gifts to your list now.  So enjoy it, last minute shoppers! 

 

Staying Warm This Winter - Christmas Gifts That Help Others

So far, this winter has been pretty mild in Maryland.  I have heard predictions that it is going to get much colder though.  Since many of us have to keep the heat down this winter, it is nice idea to give practical gifts that will keep everyone warm.  There was a time when practical gifts were not the funnest gifts to give, but that is no longer the case.  Staying warm and saving money is something everyone enjoys.

Some ideas for "warm gifts" include:

Slippers: Warm, fuzzy slippers go a long way keeping a person warm.  No one wants to walk around at home wearing shoes; slippers are a warm solution to that.

Socks: Cozy socks are the perfect present for people to keep warm this winter.  I am not saying socks are a good idea as the ONLY gift for someone, but slippers and socks or socks and pajamas are a nice idea.

Pajamas:  Thick and warm pajamas are definitely a most appreciated gift this holiday season.  If you buy matching slippers, that is ever better.

Winter hats:  There are plenty of warm winter hats available at stores.  You can get knitted caps or even animal shaped hats.  This is a great option for someone that works outside a lot in the snow.

Boots: Along the same line as hats, boots can be practical and fashionable.  It can be a challenge getting the exact size right though, so unless you are 100% sure on this one, you might want to skip it.

Coats: A nice coat is always a great present for someone during the winter.  This is especially the case if this person has been wearing the same coat for years.  It can be fun to add something new to a wardrobe.

Blankets: A great warm gift are blankets, throws, electric blankets, and electric throws.  Not only are these practical gifts, many electric throws and blankets are very reasonably priced this holiday season.  Also, some have really cute patterns or cartoon characters on them.

Sweaters: Oh no, it is the standard knitted sweater gift for Christmas!  However, some sweaters are beautiful and stylish.  Sweaters that button in the front are the perfect gift for those that work at a chilly office and often need to throw a sweater on when it gets too cold.

Energy saving heaters: There are many options now for heaters.  Most modern portable heaters have automatic shutoffs if they overheat and some are cute and quiet.  A lot of heaters even come with remote controls!  How great is that?  They are the perfect gift for someone without reliable heat at their home, or for someone that wants to warm a small space and save money.

Save Money on Your Heating Bill

One of the best ways to save money on your heating bill this winter is to "winterize" your windows.  You can easily do this by applying plastic to the inside of your windows in your home.  Perhaps you don't even want to apply the plastic to all your windows.  That is just fine! 

If you close off some rooms in your home and don't heat those rooms, then you won't need to worry as much about those windows.  Focus on the rooms in your house you actual use and heat.  Most importantly, focus on the windows that have the most drafts.

Once you determine which windows you want to winterize, you can easily purchase Duck Indoor Shrink Plastic Film Window Kits at any discount store.  They sell for about $10 a box.  Once you've gotten those, you are on your way to keeping out the cold air in no time. 

It also helps to purchase a heater that runs on as little electricity as possible.  You can find those in the same discount stores.  Why bother spending money on oil or gas heat if that is not needed?  Even if saving money is not your top priority, staying warm this winter should always be important.

Adding the plastic to your windows will make you home much warmer, and in no time, you will find your heating bill goes down.  I've been applying plastic to my windows for a few years now and it makes a major difference. 

Christmas Shopping Begins!

The Christmas shopping season has certainly begun.  Finding a giant pile of sales papers with my newspapers this weekend reminded me of that news.  I did not take part in any Black Friday sales, but as usual, I am happy to look for deals.

I went to Target today, mostly for food, but Target lured me into the dollar section with great deals.  Some of the many holiday items you can find in the dollar section are:

• Gift bags
• Wrapping paper
• Holiday glasses
• Holiday decorations
• Tissue paper
• Stocking stuffers
• Christmas cards

Oh yes, it is a good time to hit Target.  This makes sense for Target to sell these items for just a dollar since it can potentially keep someone away from the dollar store this Christmas.  After all, if you have a number of items you wanted to purchase at the dollar store, yet you find most of them at Target, you probably won't even bother to go to the dollar store anyway.  You will probably just remain in Target to make your shopping experience easier. 

Very smart, Target, very smart.

Fuggs and the Folks that Love Them

As a super thrifty shopper, I like to have cute boots, but I am not willing to pay "Ugg prices" for them.  Instead, I am willing to pay "Fugg prices" for boots. If you do not know what Fuggs are, they are fake Uggs.

If you are in the market to buy some fake Uggs, I highly recommend checking out what Target has to offer.  Their Xhilaration boots are just as good as Uggs, but only about $35.  Wow, that is over $100 less than Uggs.  Sure the fur inside might be fake, but A) you can't tell, and B) who wants to wear real fur anyway?

Target boots stand up to the elements the same way expensive boots do.  You can walk through rain, snow, and slush.  Xhilaration boots are not only durable, but also warm, comfortable, and attractive.  So what are you doing just sitting there?  Go buy yourself the best Fuggs in town!