from someone who once hated to practice the piano

In order to persuade anyone to read or believe what advice I attempt to provide, I must first relate that my strong disinclination for music practice is long past, and that not only did I major in music, but practicing the piano is now a favorite form of study and recreation. From growing up among other musicians and my little experience in teaching piano lessons, I have never doubted that inability or reluctance to practice is more common than it is uncommon. I have the firsthand experience of being a reluctant piano student and a trial upon the patience and efforts of several piano teachers and my mother and so would like to help those in that frustrating position by sharing my observations concerning the various reasons which may prevent regular and productive practice by young or beginning music students and offer some possible suggestions for improvement.

It is a funny thing that practicing the piano should seem to require so much discipline. My sister and I were really very easy to manage as children and teenagers. We did well in school, preferred to read books rather than go out, hardly spent any money, were never punished, and did everything expected of us except to practice the piano (we started learning at the ages of 5 and 3). In fact we both so severely disliked piano practice that our usual way was for each of us to play through our pieces for 20 minutes once a week just before walking to our teacher’s house. Incredibly enough, we advanced enough to show that our dislike of practice did not result from lack of ability because we successfully performed at recitals, church and school events, and our parents were proud.

Perhaps it is that discipline in any field is difficult for people in general, but music did seem especially difficult—more so than drawing, karate, math, and even learning German—and in fact it is so. The enjoyment of those on the receiving end of a musical performance often forms the misconception that the preparation behind the result consists largely of pleasure and ease. In actuality music is as much a science as it is an art and as much a discipline as it is a pleasure (and in the result there is only as much pleasure as there was discipline before it). Consideration must especially be shown to children when requiring them to undertake a subject the parts of which may be impossible or difficult to grasp at a certain age, and every effort made to promote the small successes which create the eagerness and habits of long term achievement.

Following is a series of small essays addressing various aspects of piano practice as pertains to children. While my experience is primarily in piano and singing, the principles I relate can be effectively applied to other instruments.

Related posts:

• Under the Weather – Recommended Reading
• April 2008 Finance and Frugality Blog Carnivals
• Motivating Children to Practice Music (Part 3)
• Motivating Children to Practice Music (Part 4)
• Blog Carnivals

In music, speed of execution has a tendency to be a used as an indicator of excellence. Playing fantastically fast is the trait commonly associated with musical virtuosity and accomplishment, most especially by amateur listeners. I will only say briefly how this favoritism for one trait does great injustice to the other facets of musical performance such as tone, articulation, etc. as the point of this little essay is to explain how overvalue of fast playing is many a young musician’s greatest enemy.

Playing music very fast is satisfying and a often sure way of getting compliments. For these reasons, young and beginning musicians will too often attempt to play a piece at a faster tempo than they can execute correctly. Sometimes the result is that the piece sounds “okay” but will never reach the level of excellence that is possible with slower practice. Usually the result of trying to play too fast is that the student repeatedly plays the wrong notes or the wrong rhythms and unless slow and deliberate practice is applied, scant improvement will result from many hours of such practice. The frustration of making the same mistakes over and over is the frequent reason of a child declaring “I hate this piece” or “I hate piano practice”.

The reality is that those who learn to play brilliantly and fast have learned to practice very slowly. It is possible to make a game of playing slowly and deliberately by praising it as a skill and offering the task as a challenge. Setting slow tempo as an objective may help to remove the common delusion of its being tedious. Children should be encouraged to practice no faster than they can play without errors. The tempo should be gradually increased and if incidence of errors increase, it should be slowed down again. An older person should sit by if necessary and count out each beat as it is almost impossibly hard to play to a metronome when very young. A teacher may explain this principle, but cannot enforce its application in daily practice, therefore parental participation will be necessary on a daily basis.

It should be clearly explained that playing slowly is not a sign of incompetence or stupidity, which other children might tease or adults accidentally imply. Accuracy should be placed before speed and when learned in this order the difference between playing fast and playing well fast will be obvious. Being able to play accurately will remove much anxiety in performance and lessons. Practicing slowly will make difficult passages seem less like insurmountable problems, render faster results, and increase a student’s satisfaction and determination in the endeavor.

For parents who are not themselves musicians, the following guidelines may be useful:

1. The faster the projected tempo of a piece the slower it should be practiced. A Largo or Andante may often be learned at Largo or Andante. It is possible for many to play a Moderato prettily from the start and achieve successful performances, however some technical accomplishment may be lost if at least certain parts are not singled out for slow practice. I strongly recommend that one begins to study an Allegro or Presto at something like a Largo in order to play it well as Allegro or Presto.
2. Also please note that after the mastery of a fast piece of music, it is often necessary and always beneficial to practice it with exaggerated slowness and attention to detail on a regular basis. This activity is not only necessary for maintaining technique, but also prevents music from being reduced to an automatic activity, which is sometimes called physical memory. It often happens that the actual notes are forgotten and a pianist can only remember a piece by playing really fast without thinking. This is a condition in which a child is in terrible danger of memory loss in the middle of a recital and being frightened off forever.
3. The most obvious reason for practicing slowly is to figure out and memorize fingerings which then become automatic and fluent when playing faster. This is extremely important, but equally important is the development of technique and familiarity with dynamics and details which the student might otherwise forget or fail to notice.
4. When playing a piece slowly, make a point of playing beautifully and expressively, dwelling upon dynamics and articulation, bringing out legato or staccato, and making choices in phrasing, etc. Experimentation with expression and technique is also possible at this point so long as it is not in any way encourage bad habits. Practicing in this manner will not only improve the finished piece but can be extremely enjoyable to the practicer and those who are forced to hear the practicing. In fact, one can put on charming family performances of fast pieces expressed slowly. Those who are unaware of the indicated tempo may never suspect that an eloquent Andante is actually named Presto.

Related posts:

• Motivating Children to Practice Music: Introduction
• Under the Weather – Recommended Reading
• April 2008 Finance and Frugality Blog Carnivals
• Blog Carnivals
• Motivating Children to Practice Music (Part 4)

Originally posted 2008-02-23 07:00:32.

Most library websites these days go way beyond the ability to check your account and renew books. Rather, you have access to:

• Free e-book, audiobook, video and music downloads
• Periodicals
• Career and skill building resources
• Homework help for students
• School and career test preparation
• Databases of resources on a variety of subjects including (but not limited to):
  • Consumer information
  • Health
  • Genealogy
  • Grants
  • Business and Career

e-Books, Audiobooks, Videos & Music

Many California libraries belong to a program called Califa, where users of participating libraries can log-in with their library card numbers and check out e-books, audiobooks and music. I’m sure library systems in other states have similar programs.

Materials available through Califa include fiction, non-fiction, children’s and young adult literature. The Califa system offers public domain and non-public domain items. Copyrighted material is copy-protected so that while you can use them, they can’t be copies. Non-copyrighted material can be copied to your computer to keep indefinitely.

My favorite of the offerings are the audiobooks. The system is quite up to date and offers contemporary works and bestsellers such as The Da Vinci Code, Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich, Harry Potter and A Series of Unfortunate Events, as well as classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Moby Dick, etc.

Our favorites that we have listened to several times are the Chronicles of Narnia. The recording quality is good, download is fast, installation and operation of the software was easy.

How the Califa system works

• Browse the catalog for e-books, audiobooks or music you want to check out
• Add the items you want to check out in your “book bag”
• Check out when you are ready (I believe the loan period is 3 weeks).
• Enter your library card number and PIN (Visit or contact your library to get a PIN or if you don’t know yours. It’s often the last 4 digits of your phone number.)
• Download the Overdrive software to play audiobooks or music on your computer
• You can listen to the material on your computer for a period of time before it expires
• The Overdrive program also has MP3 download for iPod, iPhone and iPod Touch

The best part is that even though our current local library isn’t part of the Califa system, I was able to access the system using my old library card from when I lived in Alameda County (in the Bay Area). Older library cards do expire after several years, but if you recently lived in a bigger county or city system, you may still be able to access online resources through those libraries’ websites using your old library card. In California, most libraries will issue you a card as long as you are resident of the state.

So get on our library’s website and check out all the great resources you have access to. If you don’t have a library card, go and get yourself one!

For more on the benefits of a library card, check out a post I wrote earlier this year: The Library Card, Your Other Rewards Credit Card.

Related posts:

• Pecuniarities News: Top 100 Finance Blogs, MSN Smart Spending, FrugalFocus and Consumer Safety
• Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #16
• The Library Card: Your Other “Rewards Credit Card”
• Public Domain Music: Music you already own!
• Friday Fun: Meme Me! 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Me (Penelope Pince)

Many composers, Wolfgang Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven among them, have no living descendants and therefore their works have been bequeathed to the world, and to you. Why then are poor college students required to purchase volume after volume of expensive music scores for the purpose of learning a few pieces each semester? Surely not for the enlightenment of reading the editors’ introductions and comments (explanations which can be found elsewhere for less cost).

Thanks to the Internet, archives of public domain music are increasingly readily available to music students, teachers, and performers for the mere cost of paper and ink (plus the use of a computer). Some benefits of using public domain music are as follows:

1. It saves money. A ream of paper will cost you less than most music books and usually contains more pages. An ink cartridge is also cheaper than most music books (I nearly purchased a $70 book of sonatas once) and you can save more money by refilling the ink yourself.
2. This resource allows you to try out pieces without purchasing beforehand music that might not suit you.
3. Music teachers that regularly use public domain music do not need to stock up books for resale or send students and parents on quixotic quests for a particular edition.
4. Public domain music is useful for the study of music literature as it is easily collected and organized and can be studied directly off the computer screen.
5. These scores are often early editions (very quaint in appearance) and may be useful for comparisons in research and analytical papers.

The following are a few tips on printing and organizing public domain music:

• Select “scale to fit page” in print settings before printing.
• Print music one-sided so that the pages can be spread out on a piano. Even if you do not intend to play it yourself, you may need an accompanist at some future time.
• Have one folder containing only pieces being currently studied for the purpose of taking to your lessons. Pieces being considered can temporarily reside here.
• Organize printed music into categories by instrument, style, or composer. Secure these groupings of music into manila folders by the use of brads or threading yarn or string through punched holes. This method allows the music to be read, reorganized, or taken out and prevents the chaotic accumulation of papers on, around, and under, your piano.
• If your music has been wrinkled and trampled from being badly kept, we can tell you from personal experience that it is possible to restore damaged printouts by ironing with a flat iron (no steam) on a firm surface such as a table covered with a sheet. Ironing through a sheet of blank paper will ensure that you do not get ink on your iron.

Note About Copyright & Public Domain Works
Not all free music listed on the Internet is legally in the public domain. Countries have different copyright laws which determine the date range from which a work enters into public domain. I believe the general rule for most countries (United States and Europe) is 70 years for works produced before 1978, but Canada only has a 50 year rule. There is no universal copyright law and local laws must be respected. Copyrights may be renewed by the owners be they companies or individuals. A musical work can simultaneously exist in editions that are in the public domain as well as editions that are copyrighted.

List of Sites for Public Domain Music

Instrumental Sheet Music

• Sheet Music Fox
  An extensive collection of free classical sheet music for almost all types of instruments and ensembles including sonatas, concertos, symphonies, etc. Some of the larger collections (for composers such as Mozart) spill over into Sheet Music Archive.
• Sheet Music Archive
  This site allows 2 free downloads a day, or unlimited downloads for a yearly subscription fee of $19.95 per year. But with many other free sites available, there really isn’t much need to pay for public domain music.
• Piano Public Domain
  As the title suggests, this is a collection of public domain classical music for piano. This site has both free and non-free music. The link above will take you to the free music. Other music is available at a small charge.
• Werner Icking Music Archive
  Free sheet music for various instruments by an extensive list of composers.
• Noten-Klavieren.de (Site in German)
  Click on “Komponisten” for the directory of free music sorted by composers, “Kammermusik” (Chamber Music) for ensemble pieces, which consist mainly of piano and violin duos, but there are also a few trios. “Klavier” means Piano, and “Geige” means Violin. Click on the title of the piece you want, then either “pdf” to print it or “mp3″ to hear how the piece sounds.
• Mutopia
  A collection of music in the public domain which has been typeset by a team of volunteers. Currently holds 1,264 works by well-known composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, etc.

Vocal Sheet Music

• Art Song Central
  Still a fairly new but growing collection of art songs and arias for vocalists. Freely available to singers and teachers to print in PDF format.
• Choral Public Domain Library
  An extensive collection of vocal music in various arrangements for small or large ensembles. As of this writing, this collection holds 9,081 score pages and 1,292 composer pages. An invaluable resource for singers and choirs.

For Scholars of Music

• Digital Scores Collection (Harvard University)
  This is a library of digital photographs of original or old scores in the hand of the composers or copyists. This collection has been available to Harvard students and scholars around the world.
• Sibley Music Library (University of Rochester)
  Scans of various works by a large list of composers.
• VARIATIONS Prototype: Online Music Scores (Indiana University)
  A collection of scans of opera, song, choral, chamber, orchestral, solo instrumental and piano literature.

The above are just a few of the sites where public domain sheet music can be found. Another good place for music resources is your public library where you can check out books and scores of classical and contemporary music (including songbooks of contemporary artists and soundtracks of films). However, scores you check out from the library, especially, contemporary volumes, are not likely to be in the public domain, so be sure to abide by the copyright laws. The library is a good way for you to try out or learn new music you otherwise wouldn’t have access to.

For more information and links for public domain sheet music, we recommend visiting the following websites:

• IMSLP: Other music score websites
• Online Music Scores (Arcadia University)

Related posts:

• Free e-Book, Audiobook, Video & Music Download and Online Resources From Your Local Library
• About This Blog
• Motivating Children to Practice Music: Introduction
• Terms of Use
• The Library Card: Your Other “Rewards Credit Card”

There is a skill called sight-reading. Sight-reading is the act of playing a piece of music through without having practiced it beforehand. We usually sight-read a piece when considering whether to learn it or when it is first assigned to us by an instructor. Some people continue to sight-read a piece indefinitely without ever resorting to the other skill: practicing. Practicing is to study a piece of music and usually by dividing it into sections to be repeated as many times as necessary until mastery of the whole is achieved by mastery of the parts. Sometimes these small sections are divided and studied in even smaller sections.

My definition of practicing might be called “boring” by those who like the immediate pleasure of playing and hearing an entire piece at once, and to play and hear it again and again just the same with probably a few slight improvements. That is entertainment, not practice.

By an unfortunate accident in the course of history, the word “Discipline” has been alloted a rather negative connotation and made synonymous with words like “Arduous” and associated with doing things that are “Not Fun”. Discipline is also presumed to require long periods to time, but time we have known to be relative since 1916 (thanks to a famous publication by the other Einstein). Therefore it should come as no surprise that a short duration of disciplined practice is rewarded by the “Instant Gratification” of noticeable improvement.

The above is a roundabout way of stating at the risk of my credibility that disciplined practice with attention to detail is really very fun, a fact possessing little chance of persuasion but which we must all discover for ourselves. This statement applies to the art of practicing slowly, addressed in the previous essay, as well as the art of practicing a piece in sections which will be briefly introduced here.

How small a section to isolate depends upon the difficulty and style of the music being studied and also upon the philosophy and particularity of one’s music instructor. Accomplishing one phrase at a time is a common way which naturally leads to combining several accomplished phrases and repeating that larger section for some time. Be aware, however, that certain sections smaller than a phrase—as small as 1 measure or even 2-3 notes—will benefit from being practiced alone for several minutes or several hours. Instances of very few notes requiring prolonged attention may be for reasons such as: unusual fingerings, notes separated by wide intervals, complex rhythms, ornaments, etc. Passages that the student hopes to play very fast should also receive many hours of undivided attention in which practicing slowly is included.

The key to such total concentration without suffering is to simplify the student’s view of the objective. If one’s goal is to learn an entire piece, playing only one section of it repeatedly will appear slow and frustrating. When sitting down the young student for piano practice, make it very clear that the objective of the day is to learn this measure or that phrase and nothing else. It does not even matter when the piece will be finished or even if it will be finished. Enforce a slow tempo that will guarantee the student’s success and create satisfaction. Encourage the relatively easy memorization of these sections so that the pianist may have the benefit of watching the hands while working on technique. The truth is that, in spite of the appearance of discipline, repetition is untaxing on the mind and almost comfortably lazy. Properly done, it is very enjoyable for the student to see how rapidly he or she improves. There is greater delight in playing a phrase excellently than in struggling through an entire piece. Once begun to practice, one might not want to stop.

Having practiced sections of a piece in this manner, should your child make a mistake or suffer memory loss in the middle of performance, he or she can easily begin at the start of one of these sections and be spared the uncomfortable experience of sitting silently before an audience. There is also the advantage of memorizing the piece as it is learned in minute sections as memorization of the entire piece appears daunting to some and is often faced with lack of confidence and reluctance. Practicing in sections can also be used solely for memorization.

The secret ,which is not a secret, is to isolate the objective. However small a musical goal, it should be a complete goal and well achieved. The popular saying concerning forests and trees can usually be reversed concerning music.

Related posts:

• Motivating Children to Practice Music: Introduction
• Under the Weather – Recommended Reading
• April 2008 Finance and Frugality Blog Carnivals
• Motivating Children to Practice Music (Part 3)
• Blog Carnivals

An interesting experiment would be to forbid a young child to ever touch the piano, after all it is a very expensive instrument. One can easily imagine how much higher the piano instantly rises in that child’s estimation. One then promises the child that he or she will be “allowed” to begin learning the piano at a certain age. Even better then, if someone in the family—a parent, older sibling or cousin—were to frequently play very charming pieces of the kind accessible to children. Pieces from the Romantic era are very suitable for this purpose (e.g. Fϋr Elise & Doll’s Dream), should be repeated often and might even have stories invented about them. It is very natural that the child will aspire to play these pieces someday, and a united goal has been formed without duress.

When the long awaited birthday or predetermined date is come, the parent or guardian sets a time limit in which the child is allowed to practice the piano (concentration usually lasts 15-30 minutes so it is better to set too short a time than too long) and strictly enforces it. What happens after this point is too individual to generally state, but I think it is likely that practice will be less dreaded, more concentrated and the end will seem to come too soon. Eventually the child may become proficient enough that the proficiency itself will be a great motivation and make strict regulation of practice unnecessary.

The above scenario may strike some people as unusual and even unnatural. I am not instructing that the reader follow this method and neither will I discourage it for I see no harm in it. It should be remembered however that playing music is a privilege whatever our age or skill level. It should not be a thing to be suffered and should a child find a certain piece particularly odious, it may be for the better to change it for one that better pleases. If a child really despises the art, it may not be too harmful to allow him or her to give it up, for nearly everyone who gave up playing the piano at a young age lives to regret it and it is never too late to begin learning again with the knowledge of years lost as a valuable lesson learned.

Related posts:

• Under the Weather – Recommended Reading
• Motivating Children to Practice Music (Part 3)
• Motivating Children to Practice Music: Introduction
• Tuning Your Own Piano: A Skill With Many Unexpected Benefits
• Motivating Children to Practice Music (Part 4)

Originally posted 2008-02-21 19:57:34.

My suggestions are divided into the following subsections:

• Summer Hobbies – activities with lasting benefits and meaning
  
• Summer Studies – develop skills that will be useful in life
  
• Summer To-Do’s – a few ways to get your life or home in order
  
• Summer Fitness – ways to keep cool and stay fit
  
• Summer Pet Bonding – make your pet happy and you healthy

Summer Hobbies

Here are some ideas for catching up on tasks that may have been neglected during the year.

• Write in your journal
  Write about your past year, what’s on your mind, who and what you like and dislike, your daydreams, anything. In future years you will be glad you did it and also amused by your younger self. You think you will always remember what happened when, but as time goes by, memories do fade and become forgotten. (Trust me, I’m speaking from experience and I’m not yet 30 and have a memory better than most.)
• Make a family video
  Go around the house and take a video of your family going about its regular business. You will be glad for the memories one day.
• Scrapbook
  Organize family photos, report cards, birthday cards, artwork, concert programs and other keepsakes from the past year into a scrapbook.
• Reading
  Reading (even fun fiction) can help improve your mind, vocabulary, grammar and writing skills. If you go to the library, you can read in an air-conditioned environment without having to pay for the air-conditioning or the books.

Summer Studies

Yes, summer should be fun, but there’s no reason it can’t be both fun and productive.

• Learn a new language
  The benefits of learning languages are endless. Learning a new language can help you to:
  • Get ahead in your career
  • Make new friends from different parts of the world. When you show an interest in someone’s language or culture, they are often appreciative and take an interest in you in return.
  • Improve your English (or first language)
• Learn to play a musical instrument
  Music enhances the mind in many ways. Studies have shown that children who study music at an early age do better in school than those who don’t. Aside from that, it is also just plain fun.
• Learn to sew
  Sewing is a very useful skill to have regardless of your gender. You can learn to mend clothes, make your own clothes and other things for your house, which can save you a lot of money. Older and more skilled children can even make their own clothes for the coming school year. Check out one of our earlier articles for more info: Save Money by Sewing Your Own Clothes.
• Take a computer class
  Learn to type properly, use a spreadsheet or database, design websites, make presentations, etc. Most jobs these days involve computer use, so knowing as much as you can about computers might help you get a higher salary.

Summer To-Do’s

A few suggestions for improving life at home and getting ahead on the coming year.

• Get a head start on your Christmas shopping
  This could save you time and money because you can shop at your leisure and take advantage of summer sales. Leaving your shopping to the last minute usually costs more because you are up against a deadline and usually have fewer options.
• Sort through your stuff
  Go through your clothes and things and prune out those you no longer want or need. You could donate the things you no longer need or hold a garage or yard sale and make some money to put into your college or retirement savings.
• Re-arrange your room or home
  Re-arranging your room or home can have a positive impact on your life. A change can be uplifting and produce an overall feeling of well-being and accomplishment, renew your energy and increase productivity.
• Clean out your computer
  Ideally you would do this several times a year, but if you use the internet and download a lot of things, it’s a good idea to clean out your computer on a regular basis. If there are programs you don’t use, uninstall them. If there are files that you no longer need, delete them. Clean your registry if you’ve had the computer for a while. Keeping your hard drive from getting too full will extend its life.

Summer Fitness

A few suggestions for staying cool and healthy this summer.

• Mall Walking
  Walking in an indoor, air-conditioned mall is a great way to get exercise away from the heat and smog, and you can also save on sunscreen. You can even window-shop during your walks, but if you think you might get too tempted, leave your money and credit card at home.
• Swimming in an indoor pool
  Swimming is another low-impact exercise (safer than running) which increases endurance, muscle and cardiovascular strength. Try to swim in an indoor pool whenever possible or wait until early evening to avoid sunburn.
• Ice Skating
  Not only does it let you get away from the heat, but it’s a good low-impact and aerobic exercise which will help strengthen your bones and cardiovascular system. Taking some lessons and learning to skate properly can be worth the money.

Summer Pet Bonding

If you have a pet, spend some quality time together. Not only will you make your pet very happy, he/she will help make you healthier. (How Pets Help People)

• Take your dog to obedience school
  Obedience school is good for socializing and teaching discipline. There is nothing wrong with repeating obedience school for fun and refreshing both your memories.
• Teach your dog new tricks
  There are lots of fun tricks you can teach your dog: beg, spin (in both directions), roll, speak, catch a ball or frisbee, etc. You can also teach your dog to be helpful around the house: closing the door or brining you something you dropped. Dogs enjoy feeling helpful and learning new things can keep mature dogs’ minds sharp.
• Take your dog for long evening strolls or hikes
  If going hiking, be sure to take another person along, bring lots of water and plastic bags, and make sure your dog’s feet are protected from rough terrain. For your dog’s and other hikers’ safety, never let him off-leash on a hiking trail.
• Enter your dog in a 4th of July costume contest
  Make a fun costume for your dog and enter a costume contest or parade. (Sorry, for the self-promotion, but if you don’t want to make your own costume, check out some of our patriotic dog clothing and costumes at Franga Designs.)

Well, I hope some of these suggestions prove helpful in making your summer both fun and productive. Vas-y t’amuser!

Related posts:

• June 2008 Finance and Frugality Blog Carnivals
• Under the Weather – Recommended Reading
• No-Air Conditioning Summer Part 1 – How It Started: No-Heat Winters
• Language Lesson ~ Frugality is a Virtue
• Frugal Thermodymics Part I: Limiting Sources of Heat in the Home

Originally posted 2008-06-09 05:28:43.

Because we mentioned learning to tune your piano as a way to save money, I will briefly introduce the topic in this post. For actual tuning instructions, theory, and technique, there are enough websites and manuals available that I think there is little point in repeating that information here (my favorite sources may he found at the end of this post). Instead I will offer some points for you to consider if you are thinking of attempting to tune your own piano. These are things I have learned from my own experience with piano tuning and the discovery of numerous unexpected benefits beyond the financial resulting from this one new skill.

Saving Money

Since this is a financial blog, it makes sense to address the money factor first. The average tuning will cost you about $80. And since most pianos require two tunings a year (due to the changing seasons) you pay your tuner $160 per year not including regulating and minor repairs—which you can also learn to do on your own.

You will need to purchase some basic tools (tuning lever, mutes, A440 tuning fork), but these are one time expenditures resulting in long term savings. While shopping for a tuning kit, I saw prices as low as $60 for new tools and $40 for used tools. I opted for a $90 tuning kit because higher quality meant more accuracy and less risk of damaging my piano. Basic instructions for tuning can be found online for free or you can purchase a manual. This depends on how seriously you wish to learn the subject. I highly recommend Arthur A. Reblitz’s book, Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding, Second Edition: For the Professional, the Student, and the Hobbyist, which is thorough and easy to read.

And because time is money, you will need to consider the time you will spend tuning your piano. Your first few tunings may take you several hours, but with practice you might be able to tune your piano in 40 minutes. And remember it is only twice a year. You know how much your time is worth, so you decide.

Physical and Aural Requirements

You will need to be healthy enough to stand and lean over the piano for prolonged periods and repeatedly turn the handle of your tuning lever. You will need a little dexterity with the hands to insert wedges between the strings and turn the lever in very small increments. You should be able to distinguish musical pitches relatively well. You don’t need perfect pitch, but hopefully you are not tone deaf (though tone deaf individuals can probably tune with the help to electronic devices). If you own a piano, you are most likely a musician and your ear should be adequate.

How Hard is Piano Tuning?

How complicated piano tuning is depends on what methods you choose and how much you expect of yourself. Unless you are giving serious concerts in your home, you only need to tune well enough to please yourself and most listeners won’t know the difference. Here are several methods I know of that non-professionals use to tune pianos

From easiest to most difficult

• Use a CD which plays the 88 tones of the piano and match each tone as closely as you can.
• Use an electronic device which tells you what frequency (pitch) you are on so you know when you get it exactly in tune.
• Tune A440 to a tuning fork and tune the other pitches by ear. This is best done by using the intervals Major 3rd, minor 3rd, Major 6th and Octave.
• Learn tuning theory and set the temperament using “beats,” then tune the other notes by matching octaves.

The last method is more precise and requires more patience. It will also increase your knowledge and musicality.

Tuning Improves Your Ear

Ear training is the most stressful part of a musical education for many people. It is also the easiest part to neglect once you’ve scraped an acceptable grade and run away from your last listening exam. And even if you’ve never been in an ear training class, you can imagine how anxious you might be if you sat in a room for 45 minutes trying to process and write down what your teacher is playing before he starts playing the next thing you have to write down. Ironically, ear training class seems to create more insecurity than competence (except in rare individuals) due to the high level of pressure most of us feel in that situation.

There is nothing like routine to turn a skill into a mere habit. In the beginning, you might be uncertain whether an interval you tuned is inaccurate or whether you have a perfect unison in the 2 or 3 strings that make up one note. By the time you have tuned all 88 notes once or twice, you should find yourself quite confident about what you are hearing.

Tuning theory, if you choose to learn it, explains the mathematics (quite simple) and relationships between pitches which takes the mystery out of ear training and makes it more factual.

You Will Better Appreciate Your Instrument

Ever since I began to tune and maintain my piano, and realized how much work it entails, I have an increased appreciation for it as a fine and complex instrument. Penelope and I recently rearranged the entire house in order to move the piano to a location with the most stable temperature in winter and summer. I also dust it more often and make an effort to keep it covered when not in use, but the latter proved rather impractical because now that I work at home, I play the piano frequently during the day and often in the night as well. Still, one might say that I now have a more complex relationship with my piano.

Advantages for Pianists

As a pianist it was not so much the tuning, but learning my way around the inside of the piano that improved my playing. I can make choices based on what sort of harmonics I want to achieve and pedal according to how I want the dampers to interact with the strings. And if you have pretty good mechanical skills, you might learn to regulate and do minor repairs because there is a convenient sort of independence in being able to pop open the piano and fix a broken note or stop an annoying clicking part.

Advantages for Singers

Being able to identify and produce an accurate pitch is an obvious advantage for singers, because we have to tune our vocal chords to every note in a song. The process of piano tuning is good practice for your brain to find correct pitches. The physics of piano string vibration is closely related to vocal cord vibration which improves your understanding of partials and harmonics, allowing you to make more informed choices concerning issues such as vibrato, tone color and basic technique.

Benefits for the Curious and Scholarly

When I decided to learn to tune my piano earlier this year, I had no idea how many new subjects of interest it would lead to. I have been reading up on things like the history of the piano, earlier piano technology, and the math and physics of music which explains the reasons behind all those rules and conventions learned in music theory.

And most fun of all, I used what I learned about the workings of the piano action to design a mechanical toy which Penelope and I built for our dogs just yesterday. This really neat toy is a wooden lever with a place on one end where my dog Wolfie loads a tennis ball. He then steps around to the other end and depresses the lever with his paw, flinging the ball in the air for him to catch. This is so cool that we cheer until we are too hoarse to sing. And it all came from tuning the piano!

Recommended Resources for Piano Tuning and Repair

• Manual: Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding, Second Edition: For the Professional, the Student, and the Hobbyist by Arthur A. Reblitz
• Tools: KS Piano Tuning Kits
• Tools, Parts & Online Instructions: Tuning Your Piano – Do It Yourself

Related posts:

• Motivating Children to Practice Music (Part 2)
• 101 Ways to Save Money in Your Everyday Life
• Motivating Children to Practice Music: Introduction
• Motivating Children to Practice Music (Part 4)
• Motivating Children to Practice Music (Part 3)

Tiny leaks and evaporation put a constant drain on your resources. As discussed in our previous post, From Pennies One Million Dollars Grow, a few cents saved here and there can add up to be a significant amount. Here we offer 101 suggestions for plugging expenditures in various aspects of your life – around the house, in your personal care, transportation, recreation and more. Most of these ideas we currently use or have applied in the past.

101 Drops in the Bucket

Saving on Utilities

• Minimize electricity use during peak hours (weekdays during work hours). Do laundry, use hot water, etc. in the evenings.
• Cook enough for several meals at once.
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
• Turn off shower when shampooing and soaping.
• Work or read in the same room with family members or roommates to consolidate light usage.
• Take advantage of natural daylight to get your work done. Sleep when it’s dark, get up as soon as it is light (before sunrise).
• Hold off on personal phone calls that can wait until evenings and weekends when rates are lower or free.
• Wash things on the lawn to water the grass at the same time.
• Water the lawn or garden in the early morning or after sundown. Skip watering on windy days.
• Use curtains to keep your house cool in summer and warm in winter.
• Keep thermostat lower in the winter and wear extra layers.
• Don’t separate colors in your laundry; instead, hand wash items that bleed. This way, you can reduce the number of loads. Saves water, electricity and soap.
• Keep thermostat as high as can be tolerated in summer without harming your pets, antiques and musical instruments.
• Drink lots of cold water to keep cool and reduce need for air conditioning.
• Turn off air conditioning in late afternoon, open doors and windows and turn on fans.
• Using ceiling fans in summer and winter (reverse directions to push warm air down).
• For laundry, set a shorter dryer time. It’s better to have to do a touch up instead of using unnecessary gas or electricity. You’d be surprised how little time some clothing need to dry. If taken out still warm, damp things can still air dry quite quickly.
• Cancel cable, purchase a few DVDs a month (which cost less than cable and leave you with an asset) and watch current shows online at Hulu or network channel websites.

Saving on Food and Health

• Eat smaller portions to avoid waste and overindulgence.
• Eat foods of substance that hold you over longer (i.e. proteins).
• Take baking soda instead of over-the-counter antacids (unless you have other health conditions that are affected by sodium intake).
• Put away leftover food immediately to prevent spoilage.
• Do not overfill refrigerator as food goes bad faster due to poor air circulation.
• Do house and yard work for exercise.
• Get an exercise bike for $150-$200 or pedal exerciser for under $20 and some hand weights instead of a gym membership.
• Water down juice to reduce caloric and sugar intake as well as make the juice last longer.
• Make a pot of tea with a teabag instead of just one cup.
• Opt for stainless steel silverware and cookware without plastic parts as they last indefinitely.
• Use a hand whisk instead of electric egg beater to burn calories and save money.
• When baking – cakes, casseroles, etc. – use a cookie sheet instead of aluminum foil to cover the pan or casserole dish.
• Combine a box of Jell-O with a pack of unflavored Knox Gelatin for lower sugar content and cost.
• Buy quart-size yogurt instead of individual serving cups. They often cost $2.00 per container and save a lot.
• (Cont. from #78) When finished with the yogurt, save the container for storing food, cut fruits and leftovers, or use for various projects around the house such as mixing paint.
• Bring treats home. For example:
• (Example 1 for #80) Instead of going out for ice cream, buy a gallon and a pack of cones and enjoy several ice cream cones at the same cost.
• (Example 2 for #80) Instead of ordering delivery pizza, bring home a frozen pizza. The most deluxe frozen pizza such as Freschetta still costs a lot less than delivery plus tip.
• If you cannot decide between a low-carb and low-fat diet, low-fat is usually cheaper.

Saving on Household

• Use old clothing to make rags, pillows, blankets and pet beds.
• Use a home dry cleaning kit instead of a professional dry cleaner.
• Use less laundry detergent unless your clothes are very dirty to extend the life of your clothing.
• Turn clothing inside-out when washing to preserve the appearance.
• Use rubbing alcohol to sanitize doorknobs, exercise equipment, refrigerator handles, etc.
• Hold the insecticide. When you see an ant or other little bug, wipe it away with a soapy sponge and discourage further visits by cleaning thoroughly and caulking any cracks and entry points.
• Use rubbing alcohol to kill insects such as ants, spiders, gnats, silverfish.
• Use vinegar to kill tougher and larger insects. Vinegar in a spray bottle is also the best and cleanest fly swatter.
• Use vinegar in place of more expensive cleaners.
• When the oven is on, set dishes or other items to dry on top of or near the oven (keep safety in mind).
• Repaint or varnish furniture you already own for a new look or to give it second life.
• If throwing or cutting up old clothes, salvage buttons, zippers, drawstrings, bows and re-usable trims for mending other clothing.
• Rinse dishes before soaping to save dish detergent.
• When doing dishes, put the dirtiest at the bottom so that soap and water can run over them while you’re washing other easier dishes first.
• If you dry your hands or face on a paper towel, set it aside for cleaning floors and other things.
• Use cold water to clean on hot days to prevent getting overheated and save electricity or gas.
• Follow the The Life Stages of a Dish Sponge not only for sponges, but towels, clothing and anything else that applies.
• Use plastic shopping bags instead of buying trash bags. The small size will also encourage you to take the garbage out more often.
• Use small holiday buckets that can be purchased half-price (around 25¢-50¢) after a holiday for trash cans/waste baskets or cleaning buckets. These small buckets can be set on the counter near the kitchen sink to keep dogs out of the trash.
• Water down dish and hand soap. You often pump out more than you need.
• Learn to perform minor repairs around your home such as lighting a pilot light, replacing a thermocouple, etc. (We once saved $70 by changing the thermocouple on our water heater ourselves instead of calling a repairman.)
• Redye color-worn clothing to give a second life. Fabric dyes can be purchased in the laundry section.
• To save your septic system, instead of pouring cooking oils down the drain, pour them into empty glass or plastic bottles, close tightly and throw away.
• To extend the life of your septic system and reduce frequency of pumping, throw toilet paper in a trash can lined with shopping bags (and take it out everyday).
• Instead of replacing your pillow, launder in hot water and dry on thoroughly on high heat (to kill dust mites). You can even cut one seam open, fluff the material by hand, and sew it shut. No one will notice if your stitching is untidy. Consider a pillow cover if you suffer from allergies.
• Use pillow and mattress covers to prolong the life of your bedding and facilitate easier cleaning especially if you have pets or children.
• Use a push reel lawn mower. It is cheaper to buy, efficient to store, requires no fuel, has fewer parts to maintain and repair, and provides for refreshing and fun exercise.
• Use a wind-up clock instead of a battery or electric clock.

Saving on Personal Care

• Opt for a low maintenance and shorter hair style to save on shampoo and hair products.
• Make bar soap last longer by unwrapping and letting it dry for about a week before using it. (You could set it in your closet during this time to make things smell fresh.)
• In personal grooming, wherever practical, pluck instead of wax as a one-time purchase of a good pair of tweezers lasts for years.
• While using a facial scrub, exfoliate your hands (and maybe even your elbows) before rinsing off.
• Accept free samples of products that you use and would purchase – soap, deodorant, shampoo, lotions, etc. – so long as it doesn’t require you to pay money or register for some sort of membership. A sample is usually enough for several uses and can put off need to purchase them.
• Dry your hair naturally to save electricity, heat damage to hair, and sweating. In cooler weather, wear a small towel, scarf, or flannel cap until hair is almost completely dry.
• Curl your hair without electricity. Cut rectangular strips from an old t-shirt, roll up sections of damp hair and tie in a knot. This method has been used for many centuries and gives a very charming style of curl. Mousse can be applied before curling if desired.
• Keep good quality ribbons from gift wrap and packaging (such as for candy, food, and cosmetics) and use these as hair ties for securing the ends of braids, tying a bow over a plain rubber band, or stitching hair styles on your head (with a blunt needle).

Saving on Hobbies, Recreation and Entertainment

• If there are 2 or more of you, wait for the DVD release of a film instead of going to the theater, especially if you like to watch a film more than once. The purchase of 1 DVD is less than the cost of 2 movie tickets.
• Buy DVDs instead of renting. You may see fewer films in a year, but will have assets to reuse or resell.
• If you have a piano, consider learning to tune it yourself, which can save about $160 a year. The one-time purchase of a good tuning kit and manual is about $110. Tools could be had for less, but good tools will better prevent damage. Refer to: Tuning Your Own Piano: A Skill With Many Unexpected Benefits
• Use the library to borrow books, audiobooks and music and rent movies for $1-$2 a week. See The Library Card: Your Other “Rewards Credit Card” for more ways your library can save you money.
• Buy a small potted Christmas tree instead of a large “dead” one. When Christmas is over, plant it in your yard to increase your property value or keep it for next year.
• If you need paper for crafts and projects, request paper at the grocery store checkout. We used to use paper bags for testing clothing sewing patterns. Horse feed bags are great for patterns, too.
• Use reading as a frugal leisure activity that will improve your writing, grammar, and vocabulary which is advantages in all walks of life. The Frugal Literate’s Guide to Affordable Reading.
• Stop paying for classes, lessons, and activities if you or your children do not attend, practice, or enjoy them enough. A break might revive motivation or provide a chance to discover new interests and talents.

Saving on Shopping

• Shop online whenever possible and take advantage of free and low shipping costs to save gas and time.
• When shopping, always check unit prices. Don’t be deceived by packaging size.
• Don’t buy junk food if you’ll regret it eating it.
• Use cash back rewards credit cards wherever and whenever you can.
• Try to limit purchases to things of lasting value such as books, classic literature, reference books, classical music, conservative fashions and acoustic instruments instead of electric.
• Purchase furniture made of real wood and not laminate or particle board. If items contain particle board, at least make sure the framing is constructed of solid wood. Particle boards will bow, causing shelves to collapse, and swell and become permanently damaged when wet.
• Choose latex and rubber toys for your dogs. They outlast plush toys by several years and are more sanitary.

Saving on Miscellaneous

• Use online postage printing and carrier pickup for mailing packages.
• Turn of wrist watches when not wearing them to save the battery.
• Pick up all loose change.
• Use open source software.
• Resist pressure from peers and solicitors to donate to causes you do not feel strongly for or cannot afford.
• Close your bank account and open a credit union account with higher dividends, no minimum balance, unlimited free teller visits and checks, and fee-free accounts. Why Credit Unions Instead of Banks
• Choose credit cards with no annual fees. You could be spending or earning interest on that money.

Saving on Transportation

• Walk wherever and whenever you can.
• Consolidate errands.
• Plan your route to avoid left turns when driving.
• When driving, take your foot off the gas when anticipating a stop ahead.
• Park in the first vacant space you find.
• Plan downhill routes to and from your destinations.

Hurrah! We made it!

Related posts:

• Our Fourpence Worth has moved. Please update your feed readers.
• Interesting Reads from Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #9
• Pecuniarities (Our Fourpence Worth) 1 Year Anniversary
• Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #11
• Put Your Brain Where Your Money Is: Think to Save

Here are just a few … ok, more than a few … of our books, movies and music. (Please give us a moment to load our widgets.)

Related posts:

• More About Us
• The Library Card: Your Other “Rewards Credit Card”
• Motivating Children to Practice Music: Introduction
• Free e-Book, Audiobook, Video & Music Download and Online Resources From Your Local Library
• About This Blog

A credit card, when used wisely and responsibly, brings you a number of benefits and can save you money. And so does a library card. The public library is one of your most useful resources for saving money. With a library card, which you can obtain for free, you have almost limitless access to a variety of services and materials such as:

• Books – Fiction
  Especially good for people who read a lot but usually only read books once.
• Books – Non-Fiction
  Books on careers and jobs, writing resumes and cover letters, learning computer software and programming, accounting and taxes, starting your own business, etc.
• Foreign Language Books
  Fiction and non-fiction in foreign languages prevalent in your community. Many California libraries carry books in Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic and Vietnamese.
• Audio Books
  Classic, children’s and contemporary literature on CD or Audio, including new releases and popular titles.
• Music
  Classical, contemporary, film soundtracks, international music, etc. CDs that you can check out just like a book.
• Movies
  Most libraries have movies (DVD and VHS) that you can rent for $1 or $2 and let you keep for a week.
• Magazines
  There’s usually a good selection of general and special interest publications to choose from including titles like: People, Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, Better Homes & Gardens, The Family Handyman, and even young adult magazines such as Seventeen. Instead of paying for a subscription, you can read current magazines at the library and some libraries will let you check out back issues to take home to read.
• Newspapers
  Current editions including local and national newspapers such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc. can be read in the library.
• Computers
  Free computer access for word processing or internet use. Instead of paying for computer use at Internet Cafes, you are usually allowed 1 hour of free use per day and more if there are not other users waiting.
• Online services
  You can access online databases of periodicals and articles and educational websites from within the library or your home computer. Many libraries offer online access to e-books, audio books, and music that you can download and read or listen to on your computer.

Continue reading for information on other useful services provided by your library and tips for responsible library use.

Other services provided or sponsored by your public library:

• Reserving Materials
  If your library location doesn’t have something you need, you can request the same item from another location. When it arrives at your local library, they will contact you by phone or email to let you know it is ready for you to pick up. This service is almost always free and you are only charged a small fee ($.50 or $1.00) if you fail to pick it up within a reasonable amount of time.
• Renewing Materials
  Most loan periods are 3 or 4 weeks, depending on the library. Unless there are other users waiting on the same items, you can often renew your materials for up to 2 more times. Libraries make it very easy for you to renew items these days with online or automated phone renewals.
• Special Events
  Some public libraries host guest lectures and performances by professionals in various fields such as writing, music, history, etc.
• Used Book Sales
  If you like to collect books, library used book sales are one of the best sources for expanding your personal library or collection. You can often find new, like new, or vintage and antique books for very good prices. Most hardcovers sell for $1.00, trade paperbacks for $0.50, and paperbacks for $0.25.

A few tips for borrowing materials from the library:

• If you tend to forget due dates, set up a reminder on your computer email program, Google Calendar or cell phone to to either renew or return your borrowed materials a few days before the due date. Some libraries have email notification systems that can send you email reminders too.
• The online account access is a very convenient feature. If you can’t make it to the library by the due date, just log on, check all the items due and hit the renew button. It’s a good idea to do this a few days before the due date in case some of the items are not renewable.
• Don’t let anyone else use your card.
• If you’re concerned about the cleanliness of the materials, use a paper towel and some rubbing alcohol to wipe the surfaces before using them.
• If you’re applying for a library card, bring ID and proof of address such as a utility bill addressed to you if your current address doesn’t match the one on your ID.

Some people don’t like to use the library because you sometimes have to wait a while to read new releases. But in the big scheme of things, is it really so bad to wait a few weeks or months to read that new novel? A little patience can save you a lot of money.

To see how much money your library can save you, go to your local library’s website and look for a page called the “Library Value Calculator”. Enter in the number of books you read per month and any other services you could be using there and see how much you can save.

After all, if you think about it, you have actually already paid for these services by paying your taxes, so you might as well use them.

Related posts:

• Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #20
• Free e-Book, Audiobook, Video & Music Download and Online Resources From Your Local Library
• Who’s to Blame for Your Spending? You or You?
• Credits Cards Really Aren’t So Bad
• Resources

A necessity is an item/service that you simply cannot do without in your everyday life and that is vital to your survival and situation.

A luxury is anything that is not a necessity.

A few examples of necessities (or necessary expenditures) would be:

• Food
• Rent/mortgage
• Auto insurance
• Home insurance
• Health insurance
• Gas
• Auto Maintenance
• Utilities: electricity, gas and phone

Of course these are not the only necessities in the world, and it’s different for everyone, but when you really think about it, true necessities are actually quite few in number, and many things that you think you need are in fact not that necessary.

A few common examples of luxuries would be:

• Entertainment – movies (at the theater, renting, or buying), music and/or books
• Cable or satellite
• Toys and games (video or non-video)
• More than one home phone line
• More than one computer (even one computer could be considered a luxury in dire circumstances)
• High speed internet service

Even in one of the main necessities, food, there are luxuries that aren’t necessary. Necessary foods are foods that are vital for your health and continued existence. These are usually basic foods and staples that fill out your food pyramid and keep you in good health. Any food that is not vital to your health and survival should be regarded as a luxury.

A few examples of luxury foods when grocery shopping would be:

• Chips and other junk food
• Cookies and other sweets
• Gourmet cheeses
• Alcoholic drinks
• Soda and other bottled beverages
• Bakery goods
• Specialty breads i.e. foccacia
• Seasonal and tropical fruits
• Fancy meats (i.e. steaks)
• Pre-prepared and packaged foods (sandwiches, salads, sushi, cut fruit, etc.)

I say “should be regarded as a luxury” because I think it is important to understand and appreciate the difference. I am not saying that your life should be completely stripped of all pleasures and comforts, but when you are purchasing a new DVD or CD, it is important to be aware that what you are purchasing is a luxury item.

So, the first step in trying to figure out how to cut your expenditures is to go through your regular purchases (including services) and distinguish all luxuries from necessities. Luxuries should not be regarded as “forbidden” because it could turn into an obsession (the desirability might be blown out of proportion), but be aware that by choosing not to purchase these items, you are gaining an advantage.

Related posts:

• Pecuniary Links & Pecuniarities Update ~ July 2009 #1
• Simple Solutions to Staying Out of Debt
• Frugal Christmas: Skipping the Tree and Presents This Year
• Financial Lent: A Frugal Fast to See What You Can Live Without
• Carnival of Pecuniary Delights No. 24: Friends Edition

Originally posted 2008-04-25 00:59:12.

From Our Fourpence Worth

• Father’s Day
  If you’re still looking for a Father’s Day present, many of our ideas from Frugal but Thoughtful Mother’s Day Gift Suggestions could also apply to fathers and father-figures in your life.
• Tax Rebate
  If you are truly interested in helping the US economy, check out Don’t Spend that Tax Rebate Just Yet for a few suggestions on how to and how not to spend your tax rebate based on an article by Liz Pulliam Weston of MSN Money.
• Motivating Children to Practice Music
  Take advantage of summer vacation to help your kids get ahead on their music practice and get the most out of your music lesson fees with some advice by Madoline, who majored in music and has had experience in teaching children’s piano lessons.
  • Motivating Children to Practice Music: Introduction
  • Part 2: Playing the Piano is a Privilege (Not a Chore)
  • Part 3: Playing Slower for Faster Results
  • Part 4: Divide and Conquer

  (If you like the image to the right, which is an original illustration by my sister Madoline, check out our CafePress store Mozartini for gifts and collectibles featuring this image and other artwork by the same hand.)

• Editor’s Picks
  We’re starting to get the hang of blogging (which was completely new to us when we started this blog in February), and have produced a few Editor’s Picks in recent blog carnivals:
  • The Frugal Literate’s Guide to Affordable Reading
  • Frugal but Thoughtful Mother’s Day Gift Suggestions
  • My Favorite Money and Time Saving Websites
  • Guide to Safe and Smart Traveling with Pets
  • Lottery Tickets: Worthy Investment or Waste of Money?
  • Simple Solutions to Staying Out of Debt

News from the Personal Finance Blogosphere

• Personal Finance Buzz
  Check out PF Buzz for lots of great personal finance articles and vote for your favorite ones — hint hint — my profile.
• Finance Fiesta
  Last Thursday (June 5th) saw the first edition of the Finance Fiesta blog carnival hosted at Master Your Card. This week (today), the Fiesta is being hosted at Wide Open Wallet and will be hosted by yours truly next Thursday. If you have a finance or frugality related article, be sure to submit it by Wednesday June 18th 5:00PM EDT to be considered for inclusion in the 3rd Edition of the Finance Fiesta!
• Summer Savings Series
  Money Life Network is running a Summer Savings Series over the course of 3 weeks with tips including but not limited to:
  • Ways to save on travel
  • Frugal activities for the kids
  • Ways to save on your auto expenses
  • Ways to save on groceries
  • How to get motivated to save

  Be sure to also check out my last article Frugal, Fun and Productive Summer Activities for some ideas for keeping cool, busy and fit this summer.

I promise to return soon with more scintillating material. Thanks for reading!

Please consider subscribing to our RSS Feed to keep up with new posts. If you prefer, you can also have new posts delivered directly to your inbox by Subscribing by Email.

Related posts:

• Tips for Staying Healthy This Winter
• Hosting the 3rd Edition of the Finance Fiesta Blog Carnival
• Hosting the 16th Finance Fiesta Blog Carnival
• Does Thinking About Money Make You a Bad Person?
• Closing Your Credit Cards Can Hurt Your FICO Score

Originally posted 2008-06-12 05:48:09.

OK, I know the word “meme” is supposed to be a noun, but I couldn’t help myself. If you know my blog’s name, you know that I love to play with words. I coined – pun intended – the word “pecuniarities” one night and just had to change my blog’s name. Besides, if “friend” can be used as a verb these days (“friend me on facebook!”), then it can’t be too long before “meme” becomes a verb.

But anyways, my new blogging associate, Trevor the Financial Nut, has tagged me for “7 Things You Didn’t Know About Me” and I figure it can’t hurt for fellow bloggers and readers to know 7 more things about me that aren’t already on our About pages.

First here’s how it works:

“7 Things You Didn’t Know About Me” Meme Rules

1. Link to your original tagger(s) and list these rules in your post.
2. Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
3. Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged.

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Penelope Pince

1) I once wanted to be a jockey.
When I was young, I was “horse crazy.” I read every horse book I could get my hands on, both fiction and non-fiction, and the Black Stallion series by Walter Farley was my favorite. When it became evident that I wouldn’t be suited for a career as a jockey (I’m big boned), I decided I’d be a racehorse trainer. Now I own a dog and horse costuming business.

2) I used to be a surfaholic.
Checking the surf report before bed, getting up at 4:00AM, donning bathing suit and surf shorts despite the cold, jumping into freezing water (OK, freezing by my definition is probably “temperate” to anyone who didn’t grow up in Hawaii) and catching waves at sunrise = Heaven on Earth.

3) I love Caesar salad.
Especially with lots of creamy garlicky dressing, crunchy croutons, grilled chicken, avocado, freshly grated parmesan and ground black pepper. Whenever we used to eat out, I always odered Caesar salad if it was on the menu, regardless of the restaurant’s specialty. My very favorite Caesar Salad was at a place called Pizza Bob’s in Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu.

4) I have perfect pitch.
This means that if you were to play a note on an [in-tune] instrument, I could tell you what note it was without looking at the instrument or having previously been given a point of reference. Some say this is a curse that ruins your ability to appreciate music, but I don’t know any other way of hearing or playing music and can’t imagine what it would be like without it.

5) I like to whistle.
I whistle along to movie soundtracks (sometimes while watching a movie), concertos,  sonatas, instrumental segments of songs and pretty much any music that I can’t sing to. This drives Madoline batty, becuase it also includes while she’s playing the piano or singing, but I often don’t know I’m doing it. And I don’t always whistle the main melody; being a mezzo-soprano (vocal), I sometimes whistle harmony.

6) I was named after a song.
Not Penelope Pince (pen name), but my real-world name. I’m not telling what song or what name, but I will tell you the song was by Bread. I must say my mother had pretty good taste – in music and in names. I didn’t like it when I was young because it used to be a boy’s name and people always got it wrong, but now I’ve learned that it’s not so bad to have a unique name.

7) I am an obsessive compulsive-Type A-perfectionist.
It takes me about 2-4 hours to write and polish up a blog post  (large posts like my Frugal Valentine’s Gifts/Dates, Free Online Video Websites and Consumer Safety posts took days). I can’t rest until I am sure that I haven’t left out anything relevant, that there are no typos, grammatical errors, extra spaces, etc., and I still always manage to find something to fix after the post is published. This is not a trait I would recommend to anyone who desires a carefree existence with lots of sleep.

My 7 Tags

If I’m tagging you, it’s because I’ve gotten to know you a little through blogging or social networking (i.e. we’ve commented on each other’s blogs a few times lately, we’ve emailed, chatted on forums or twitter, etc.) and I would like to get to know you a little better. If I didn’t tag you, please don’t be offended as the limit is 7, and I’ll catch you some other time around!

1. Mrs. Micah
2. Living Well On Less
3. The Paycheck Chronicles
4. Single Guy Money
5. Bible Money Matters
6. Free From Broke
7. Budgets Are Sexy

That’s it. This was the first meme I’ve done and it was quite fun. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Related posts:

• Friday Fun: Calvin and Hobbes Lemonade Stand Economics Lesson & WSJ Giveaway Reminder
• March 2008 Finance and Frugality Blog Carnivals
• Carnival of Pecuniary Delights No. 12: Catch a Wave Edition
• Car Trouble: Watch Out for Those Pesky Wabbits
• Thank you!

Madoline and I have decided that in light of the economy, we’re not going to get a Christmas tree or presents for each other this year. Since being on our own, we have passed many a Christmas without a tree and found that we can enjoy it just as much. Now that we’re grown up, we can feel Christmassy without having a tree, and not have to deal with taking it down and recycling, something we’ve always hated to do since we were kids, when the Holidays are over.

Our Reasons for Not Getting a Tree

• A Christmas Tree is a luxury, not a necessity.
• No friends or family coming over to visit because we live thousands of miles from everyone.
• We really don’t like taking the tree down after the Holidays (one year, we left it up until April.)
• We would rather spend the money on something that lasts longer.
• We can still make Christmas special in our own way.

How We’re Making Christmas Special Without a Tree and Presents

• We can still put ornaments and decorations up around the house to make it festive.
• We might use the money saved from buying a tree on some new DVDs that we can watch together on Christmas Day (movies are one of our passions).
• We’ll make presents (toys) and bake biscuits for our dogs.
• We’ll spend the whole day together – hanging out with our dogs, watching movies and playing games.
• We’ll listen to and sing Christmas music.
• We’ll call our grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins and talk to them on the phone.
• We’ll still have a special dinner – probably turkey or something else really good.

I do love having a Christmas tree in the house. I love the smell. I love turning the lights, mobile carousel ornaments and music on every morning. I love wrapping presents. I love sneaking them under the tree and making Madoline guess what they are. I love everything about Christmas.

But not having this every year will make other Christmases when we do have these things all the more special. And the peace of mind of having a little extra money in the bank in the coming months outweighs the few weeks of luxury of having a tree and presents. We’re grown up now and don’t need these things to make Christmas special. That’s not to say we won’t do it all the first year we feel the coast is clear.

Related posts:

• Holiday Blog Carnivals
• Favorite Christmas Memory
• Make Something Useful Out of Your Christmas Tree
• Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #12
• Freebies: Printable Paper Toy Soldiers Ornaments

This month’s topic for the PF Bloggers Network Group Writing Project is “Rich People Gone Broke.” Our chosen subject for this project is Wolfgang Mozart, one of the greatest composers that ever lived. While a genius in everything musical, he was less lucky when it came to money management.

Prodigy and Breadwinner

Mozart first went to work at the age of five. As a child prodigy, he traveled extensively and made a living as performer, composer, conductor and curiosity. These travels were documented by his family’s letters to their friends in Salzburg.

At first Leopold proudly related the enormous sums of money earned by his children, especially Wolfgang, and described the generous (resalable) gifts they received from kings and princes. Then he got wise and began to conceal their earnings, claiming that they made virtually no profit after expenses. This later strategy made it hard for us to know the exact amount of Wolfgang’s earnings, but it was surely a fortune. In addition to cash, the gifts accumulated on these journeys were mostly made of gold and were described by a friend to resemble a church treasury.

Until age 23, Wolfgang Mozart increased his family’s wealth on journeys in Austria, England, Italy, Paris, and other places where he was often received by royalty and nobility. If they did not collect enough gifts at one location, Leopold sold tickets to the public to hear his children perform—anything to make a buck . . or a florin. But this venue lost him some patronage because the upper class didn’t want anything the commoners had.

Although Leopold successfully concealed the earning of his children, it is clear that Wolfgang Mozart was the primary breadwinner of his family, and as such was jealously guarded from theft. His trips were always chaperoned by one or both parents, his father constantly warned him about the deceitful and ensnaring nature of women, and his mother whisked him off to Paris (at the orders of his father) to save him from a girl he desperately wanted to marry.

Rebellion and High Living

“I could not go about Vienna looking like a tramp, particularly just at this time. My linen was pitiable; no servant here has shirts of such coarse stuff as mine, — and that certainly is a frightful thing for a man. Consequently there were again expenditures.” – Vienna, September 5, 1781, in a letter to his father

Mozart’s financial troubles began when he rebelled against his father (after his mother died) and quit his unfulfilling job (something we all understand) as the Archbishop’s musician. In his time, musicians were regarded as craftsmen and ranked as servants in a household, but Mozart’s early experience of being cherished by the highest people in society convinced him that he was special and caused him to be offended by this condition.

Mozart’s early career furthermore harmed his financial prospects by giving him a taste for high living and expensive clothes. The Empress Maria Theresia even once gave him clothes outgrown by her own children and to the end of his days, he was said to have a love of buttons.

Mozart lived a bohemian existence in Vienna, getting the occasional commission, putting on concerts, giving lessons, and selling published works. By comparing the currency of the time with the USD in 1989 William and Hilda Baumol estimate Mozart’s average income during his Vienna years to be about $175,000 annually. His opera The Marriage of Figaro alone earned a fee of $30,000, the same amount as his annual rent.

He would have had enough to live on had he not “needed” luxurious apartments and clothes. Mozart excused his extravagances by saying that he had to look and live a certain way to fit in with his noble patrons. We have to admit that to a degree he was justified in needing premises to teach and the best piano available at the time. His wife was said to be equally extravagant a spender and in later years spent much time at a spa, supposedly for an illness but possibly carrying on an affair.

Pecuniary Problems

In later years, Mozart’s financial state became increasingly desperate. His earnings decreased drastically due to inflation and the economical climate during the Turkish War. There are also rumors that the court composer Salieri sabotaged him somewhat (but didn’t kill him). His failure to secure a permanent post may be because he was not respectfully servile and lacked Beethoven’s ability win everyone’s love while being terribly rude.

To make matters worse, Mozart’s father died and left everything to his sister to punish Mozart for deserting the family business. Much of the money bequeathed to Anna Maria was likely to have been earned by Wolfgang in his youth and concealed from him by his father. He was not even allowed one of the many trinkets given to him at his performances. The disowned son was reduced to begging loans from his friends and the clandestine composition of a Requiem which he failed to complete before he died.

Sadly, things were starting to look up for Mozart at the time of his death. His last opera, The Magic Flute, had made him immensely popular and he had been appointed the next Kapellmeister at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. But had he lived to enjoy a larger income, who is to say he would not have incurred proportionately larger debts? Would he have increased his standard of living and the number of buttons on his coat to keep up with his new degree of fame?

Posthumous Prosperity

As for his wife, Constanze Mozart became a shrewd businesswoman when she found herself a widow with two young children. After her “friend” and Mozart’s student Süβmayr completed the mysterious requiem, Constanze cheated Mozart’s customer Count Walsegg who intended to perform the piece as his own composition. She pretended ignorance of the exclusiveness of the contract and sold the work to a publisher . . . after she sold Count Walsegg his copy. She procured a pension from the Emperor and took advantage of her status as a poverty-stricken widow to make sizable amounts of money with benefit concerts.

The Mozart family prospered. The widow made a good living selling the works of her late husband, putting on concerts with his music, and later writing his biography with her second husband. Though poor in life, Wolfgang Mozart was able to provide for his family in death and in that sense, was not a financial failure.

Sources:

• Mozart: A Life
• On Mozart (Woodrow Wilson Center Press)
• Mozart.
• Mozart: The Man and the Artist Revealed in His Own Words

* * *

About the PF Bloggers Group Writing Project

The Personal Finance Bloggers Network currently consists of 8 active personal finance and frugal living blogs. The Group Writing Project is a monthly project wherein each blog will write a post on a pre-determined topic and publish it on the same day of each month. Be sure to visit the PF Bloggers Group Writing Project page for the others!

Extended Group Writing Project Invitation

If you are a blogger, we would like to invite you to write your own post on this topic and submit it for listing with our entries on our Group Writing Project pages. Please visit the following page for details on how to participate in our Extended Group Writing Project.

Related posts:

• August 2008 Finance and Frugality Blog Carnivals
• Ludwig & Wolfgang
• More About Us
• Shop
• Motivating Children to Practice Music (Part 2)

All activities listed below are FREE of admission charges unless otherwise noted (some activities are free on particular days or at particular times of day). Those that are not free cost $5 or less per person. Parking fees are noted whenever possible. Depending on the distance and number of persons in your group, public transit may or may not be less expensive. Check out an earlier post I wrote on How to Save Gas and Time by Using Google Maps, which includes tips on looking up public transportation directions and fares.

General & Sight-Seeing

The Grove Fountain Photo credit: r3m3dy

Our favorite frugal activity was walking malls and pretty places to both sight-see and get some exercise. Here are some of our favorite places to walk. Note that even though these include shopping centers, you do not need to shop in order to enjoy the scenery and atmosphere!

• Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade

  Grab a drink or ice cream cone and just enjoy the scenery and street performers. Check out Santa Monica Pier while you’re there. You don’t have to spend money on the rides, just enjoy the scenery, have a look at the famous carousel built in 1916.

  More information: Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade

• The Grove

  A very pretty outdoor mall with cute buildings and a park-like setting with fountains and outdoor seating. Includes free events such as Movies in the Park, Girls Night Out, Music in the Park, etc.

  More information: The Grove

• Farmers Market

  

  The Farmers Market isn’t only a place to shop for groceries, but they host free events all year round including a Summer Music Series; Family Fun with music, arts & crafts; Fall Festival with marching band, petting zoo, pig races, etc.; Holiday Festivities including music, Menorah lighting, caroling and a toy soldier band; Mardi Gras with Cajun bands, mask making, etc.; and the Gilmore Heritage Auto Show featuring more than 100 vintage and classic cars. (Photo credit: andy castro)

  More information: Farmers Market Events

• Downtown Burbank

  “Come Out and Dance” with live bands with free dance lessons, fine arts festivals, Halloween trick-or-treat, Holiday Cheer and more in Downtown Burbank.

  More information: Events in Downtown Burbank

Entertainment

• The Hollywood Bowl Museum

  The Hollywood Bowl is the world’s largest natural amphitheater which has hosted symphonies, opera, jazz, ballet, presidential addresses, rock concerts, etc. The grounds are open to the public to during the day to see the amphitheater. During the summer months, the Bowl offers rehearsals every Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, from 9 AM to noon. Admission to the rehearsals is free. The Hollywood Bowl museum is open to the public during the day year-round, and nights before concerts.

  More information: The Hollywood Bowl

• TV Studio Audience

  Attend a TV show or sitcom taping as studio audience. Tickets are free, but you may be there until midnight. A great way to see your favorite stars live and an episode of your favorite show before everybody else.

  More information and tickets: TV Tickets, Audience Unlimited

Universal Studios Hollywood

• Film Screenings

  Before films are released, they are often screened to audiences for input. Los Angeles, being the film capitol of the world, is full of films waiting to be screened. However, this one is more based on opportunity striking, because you often need to be invited. We used to go to the malls a lot, sometimes for shopping and sometimes just to walk, and perhaps 1 out of 4 times, we were approached by people looking for film screening audiences. After the film, you are asked to fill out a questionnaire of what you thought of the movie, and you might be selected to stay behind with a small group to answer questions and provide more feedback.

  More information: Tips for How to Attend a Free Movie Screening

• Universal City Walk Summer Block Party

  Free entertainment and movies at Universal Studios City Walk (no admission fee) seven nights a week during the summer. But to save on parking, you will want to find free or low-cost parking elsewhere and walk up to the City Walk.

  More information: Universal Studios City Walk

• Grand Performances

  Grand Performances presents free performing arts that reflect the best of global culture and inspire community among the diverse peoples of Los Angeles.

  More information: Grand Performances at California Plaza

Outdoor Activities

• Night Hikes at Griffith Park

  The Sierra Club leads free 2-hour hikes open to the public to view nightlife and birds. They encourage you to bring binoculars to better see the wildlife.

  More information: Night Hikes

• L.A. Mountains

  Several parks that have free group hikes through several canyons and ranches. Some have a $1-$5 parking fee, but the hikes are free.

  More information: L.A. Mountains Hikes and Events Calendars

Art & Culture

The Getty Villa

It is recommended that you check with each institution regarding admission and parking fees prior to visiting as the information may change.

• The Getty Center

  “The Getty Center presents the Getty’s collection of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens, and breathtaking views.” Admission is Free, but parking is $8.

  More information: The Getty Center

• The Getty Villa

  The Getty Villa, located in Malibu, is an educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.

  More information: The Getty Center

• Skirball Cutural Center

  A great cultural and historical museum which offers free admissions on Thursdays and other free events such as film screenings. We once attended a great exhibit on Albert Einstein here.

  More information: The Skirball Cultural Center

• Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

  The largest arm museum in the western United States. On the second Tuesday of each month, general admission to the permanent galleries and non-ticketed exhibitions is free to all. After 5 pm, you may pay what you wish. Evening special: Vehicles entering the 6th Street parking garage after 7 pm park for free.

  More information: Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

• Los Angeles Public Library

  This is one of our favorite places in the world – a 5-story building full of books. Aside from books, it is also a center of art and architecture with its distinctive sphinxes and rooftop pyramids. Docent guided tours are available daily. Parking is $1 Flat Rate for cars entering after 3PM, and on Saturdays and Sundays.

  More information: Los Angeles Public Library Tours

Educational

• Travel Town Museum

  A combination transportation museum and recreation center located at the L.A. Zoo. Has a miniature train ride tour of the perimeter of the museum for a small fee. Picnic tables and barbecue facilities are available on a first come, first serve basis. Admission is free, parking available on Museum premises.

  More information: Travel Town Museum

• Griffith Observatory

  Located at Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory’s grounds, exhibits, and telescopes are open and free to the public each day the building is open. The Observatory also offers programs, special events, and public star parties.

  More information: Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory

• California Science Center

  “The California Science Center offers fun and informative permanent exhibits presented in interactive worlds. Through hands-on experiences in our galleries, you’ll learn about human inventions and innovations, the life processes of living things and more.” Admission to permanent exhibits is free, additional charge for IMAX and special exhbitions. Parking is $6.

  More information: California Science Center

• Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society – Hollywood Museum 27

  Museuem and exhibit of firefighting history dating back to the 1880s including a library and learning center on fire and life safety for both children and adults.

  More information: LAFD Historical Society

• Barnes and Noble Storytime

  Barnes and Noble bookstore offers storytime for children, toddlers, and beginning readers. This is a nationwide program. Check the events calendar for the schedule of the store closest to you.

  More information: Barnes and Noble Store Events Calendar

• Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

  Exhibits and public programs to educate kids and families about the ocean, its animal and plant life. Children under 12 enter free, adults pay a suggested admission of $5 ($2 minimum).

  More information: Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

Sources for More Free Events and Frugal Activities in the Los Angeles Area

• This week in … Guides to events such as concerts, movies, hikes and other activities in the area (some free, some not)
  
  • Burbank
  • Santa Monica
  • Pacific Palisades
  • Beverly Hills
  • Malibu
  • East San Fernando Valley (Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City & surrounding)
  • West San Fernando Valley (Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Tarzana & surrounding)
  • Southern California

• Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation
  Guide of activities, programs and classes offered through the parks and recreations. Some may be free and some for a fee.
• Parents Connect Activity Calendar – Los Angeles
• Eye Spy L.A. Free Things to Do in Los Angeles
  

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• Save on Groceries, Auto Repair, Movie Tickets, Dining, Travel, Recreation and More with the Entertainment Book: Currently 50% Off
• Festival of Frugality #140: The Frugal Quotes Edition
• Our Financial Lent: Giving up Chocolate and Ice Cream for a Month to Save $14

As for actual gifts, we believe most mothers would appreciate something you made or put some thought and effort into. Below are some suggestions for Mother’s Day gifts. Ideally, you would do some of these things all year round, but Mother’s Day is a good time for them too. Not all of these ideas will suit everyone, but hopefully some of these will work for you and your mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, or any other maternal figure in your life.

Note: Not all of these suggestions are really “frugal” as in “cheap”, but they are frugal in that they are ideas for prudent, useful and practical, but still meaningful gifts that show you’ve put thought and effort into it and, therefore less likely to go to waste as many commercial Mother’s Day gifts tend to.

Hobby Gift Baskets

A few suggestions for baskets you can assemble. You can often find nice baskets at dollar stores or at thrift stores for a very low price. Many of the items recommended in the following list (i.e. books and music) can be purchase used and still in good condition. Used items often clean up nicely with a bit of rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. And even purchased new, these items still make useful gifts with lasting benefits.

• For the Literary Mom
  If she likes to read, scour used books stores and library sales for books she would like (mysteries, vintage books, classics, etc. – paperbacks suggested) and assemble a book basket. You could even include a few snacks to enjoy while she reads (cookies, chocolates, cocoa, tea or coffee mix).
• For the Crafty Mom
  A basket of yarns, fabrics, sewing, knitting or crochet supplies. You could pick out a craft instructions book, find a project she might like and assemble the necessary supplies for that project.
• For the Musical Mom
  CD’s, sheet music, and music books. You might pick a particular theme such as Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, romantic piano, or Italian opera or music from her youth. For older moms, you might have to include a CD player. For pianist moms make or buy a cushion for the piano bench (the unpadded ones are incredibly hard even for young bodies).
• For Moms with Pets
  Assemble inside a new litter box or pet bed: treats and necessities such as grooming supplies, pet vitamins, hair catching tools, odor control, collars and leashes, training equipment, hair bows, super odor suppressing cat litter, car restraints (seat belts), and/or an obedience class paid for by you.
• For the Gardening Mom
  An assortment of seed packets with flowers, spices, fruits, and vegetables. The frugal mom may save a lot of money growing her own produce. For areas with insect problems, herbs such as lavender may deter bugs from the home. You can also include a book on using herbs for health and beauty and include seeds for the plants described.
• For Culinary Moms
  Collect free recipes online to present on index cards or a handmade book. You might choose recipes based on a theme, such as appetizers, a certain ethnicity, a favorite ingredient, or health benefits. You might wish to include few kitchen gifts like a baking pans, knives, silverware bought on clearance (we got ours for under $5), cheese graters, rolling pins, seeds for herbs or young herb plants. Instead of a basket, you could give a blender filled with fruits and smoothie recipes.
• For the Scrapbooking Mom
  Scrapbook supplies and the promise to provide future memories for her to document. Look for creative scrapbook materials such as pretty paper salvages from greeting cards, gift wrapping paper, and nice packaging from things you buy. Ribbon, beads, lace, small toys, letters of the alphabet cut from magazines, cards, and used books. Doilies and decorative embellishments can be purchased at half price or less after a holiday. Glue and scissors might be useful too.

Home and Garden Help

• Clean her house for her (this is one of those that may not suit all personalities)
• Tidy her garden or yard for her
• Go through her house and look for things that need minor (or major) repairs and maintenance and fix them if you can, or arrange for professional assistance if necessary
• Clean all her windows, inside and out. This is a sure way to brighten a life.
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if needed. Install a carbon monoxide detector if she doesn’t have one.

Favors and Services

• Make a nice breakfast and clean up afterwards
• Wash her car, vacuum the interior, clean the upholstery and carpet, take it for a tune up and oil change, check and inflate the tires if needed, and preset her favorite radio stations.

Flowers

• Buy some flowers to plant for or with her (small plants and flowers are often available for under $1.00 at garden centers and even drugstores like Rite-Aid)
• Instead of cut flowers, which while nice, are not very frugal because they only last a few days, you could give her a vase for putting flowers from other flower gifters (this way she’ll think of you every time someone else gives her flowers)
• Give attractive artificial flowers that last all year round. You could even fashion them into curtain tiebacks or trim a hat with them (just use hot glue).

Health and Fitness

• If she doesn’t get enough exercise due to weather, time, environmental or other constraints, consider a Pedal Exerciser that she can use while sitting at home – i.e. on the couch while watching TV. (We bought one of these for ourselves when we lived in the Bay Area where it was cold in the winter, and our grandmother took it because she said it was perfect for her situation.)
• Dumbbells in a pretty color. For the non-athletic mom, you might get a pair of 2 lb. dumbbells.
• Make slipcovers for her stationary bike, treadmill, or other exercise equipment.
• Spend the day with your mom, watching DVDs and pedaling or doing some other aerobic exercise.

Pets

While pets are not considered a frugal gift for the giver or recipient, they can bring a host of other benefits that make the cost worthwhile. Pets are especially good for elderly people who live alone and can use the companionship and are capable – physically, mentally and financially – of caring for them. If your mother lives alone and is fond of animals, a nice gift would be to help her adopt a pet. There are thousands of cats and dogs in need of good homes, and studies have shown that pets bring many health benefits, both physical and mental, to their owners including:

• Lower blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol
• Lower stress and anxiety levels
• Fighting depression and loneliness
• Faster recovery after illness
• Overall better health and fewer doctor’s visits

However, don’t surprise her with a pet. Rather, discuss it with her ahead of time and if she likes the idea and is sure that it is a commitment she is capable of taking on, go to a local animal shelter, pet rescue or other pet re-homing organization together and spend some time choosing a suitable pet for her. Be sure the animal you choose is suitable for in various ways:

• Type of Pet
  While both dogs and cats provide companionship, dogs tend to be more interactive and require more attention and maintenance than cats. Cats and dogs are not the only types of pets to be had, however. Birds, mice, gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas and guinea pigs also provide a presence and can help fill the space and quiet of an empty apartment or house.
• Size and Weight
  Make sure the animal is a size and weight that she can handle. If it is a dog, it should be a weight that she can easily control when walking on a leash.
• Age of Pet
  For elderly persons, mature pets are often more suitable, as they do not require as much physical interaction and activity as young animals, and will have reached a more stable mental, social and emotional level.
• Home Environment
  Make sure the animal will be compatible with the living space. Size isn’t necessarily the only factor to consider, but disposition. A small but high energy dog may or may not be suitable for a small living space, and there are older and larger dogs that can live happily and comfortably in smaller living spaces.

There is no end to the benefits and happiness pets can bring people, especially elderly people who live alone, so if you think your mother might be a suitable candidate for pet ownership, here are a few links to websites with more information on pet ownership for the elderly:

• How Pets Help People
• Animals and Your Health: The Benefits of Pet Ownership
• Safe Dog Breeds for Elderly People
• The Pets for the Elderly Foundation
• The Importance of Pets for Elderly People

Again, remember that pet ownership, regardless of the size or type of pet, is a responsibility not to be taken lightly and sprung on your mother without prior research and consultation with her.

These are just a few suggestions. Whatever you choose to do, remember that what your mother will appreciate most of all is the thought and effort put into the gift and not the monetary value of it.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Related posts:

• Interesting Reads from Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #3
• Under the Weather – Recommended Reading
• Pecuniarities (Our Fourpence Worth) 1 Year Anniversary
• Recent Blog Carnivals (February 2009)
• Frugal, Unique and Meaningful Valentine’s Day Gift & Date Ideas, Plus Budget Tips

With the economy in its present state, there is a sudden surge of interest in frugality, the practice of prudent economy and avoidance of waste (of money or resources). Having been practicing the frugal lifestyle for the past 5 years, we thought this a good time to start a compilation of our tips for shaving a little expense here and there and making the most of what you have.

We will also periodically post time and cost efficient recipes, pet care tips, reviews and recommendations on books, music and films that we have found particularly noteworthy. For more information about us and this blog, please visit our About This Blog and Mores About Us pages.

Related posts:

• It Saves to Be Nice Part 2: How to Be a Nice Customer
• Monopoly Game Expansions for Learning Money Management and Investment Principles
• About This Blog
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• Under the Weather – Recommended Reading

I know this seems strange considering that I am currently holding a 2009 Financial Resolutions Blog Contest, but I don’t do new year’s resolutions anymore. Sure I still make general decisions/goals/plans/etc. for my life, but I no longer pin them down to specific years.

In years past I have set new years resolutions only to forget them within a month, and have come to the belief that, unless you’re one of the rare breed that always succeeds exactly where and when you say on a whim, setting specific goals with “reach-by dates” might be more of a pitfall than a step forward. The act of failing repeatedly at too-ambitious goals could cause you to give up on self-improvement altogether.

So I have resolved to not set specific “new year’s goals” for myself as I might have done in previous years. For example, I have been known to resolve to lose 20 pounds by my birthday, which is in March. You can easily guess how that always turned out. Can anyone healthily lose 20 pounds in under 3 months? In fact, I haven’t weighed 20 pounds less since the 8th Grade, so it may not even be an improbability.

I can’t remember what some of my other resolutions have been, which in itself must say something. But I do remember at least a few years when I have written down an impressive list of resolutions on New Year’s Eve, only for them to fall by the wayside by the end of January, if they even lasted that long.

New Year’s Resolutions Aren’t for Everyone

Does this reek of underachievement-ism? Perhaps. But this comes after almost 30 years of overachievement-ism and extremism. I am one of those people who have a tendency for the extreme. I’m not talking bungee jumping or skydiving, but simply that I tend to go all out when I decide to do something, often to my own detriment.

For example, if you read my No-Budget System post, you will see how extreme I can be when it comes to dieting. There have been times in my past when I have starved myself in an attempt to lose weight. These spurts of starvation never lasted very long, but they weren’t healthy. So, for someone of an extreme nature, like myself — Type A, perfectionist — new year’s resolutions aren’t the way to go. In fact, my constant goal should be maintaining moderation in all things.

Now, when it comes to resolutions, I follow in the fashion of our No-Budget System and not set specific limits or achievements, but simply resolve to do better. There is no rule that everything be perfected or completed by December 31, 2009 or some other significant date, but simply that I will make improvements.

Fitness Goals

One of my biggest goals is to exercise regularly. Unlike years past, I no longer set a goal to lose n pounds by a certain date, because that can lead to unhealthy behavior such as undereating or overexercising. I simply plan to exercise regularly and eat moderately, but I don’t dictate what I cannot eat or exactly how many hours per day I must exercise. I look at extra hours of exercise I get in as a bonus and not a requirement.

Personal Goals

I will continue to try to further my studies and abilities in languages, music, work-related skills and others.

I have been wanting to learn Italian for some years now, but have never gotten around to it. Last week, I discovered a website for learning languages and have signed on to study Italian. The fact that it coincided with the new year was a coincidence and I’m not setting a goal for fluency by the end of the year, but simply that I will do my best to learn as much as I can and without a “complete-by” date, because there is no such thing as a point where there is nothing more to be learned.

In fact, while I consider myself to be a native English speaker, a status some might view as knowing everything there is to know about the language, only last night did I make a new connection and realize the origin of an English word. So, learning a new skill, such as a musical instrument or language is not something that can be wholly completed by a set date.

Financial Goals

For the most part, we will continue to live as we did last year, living as frugally as we can, saving as much as we can for the future and looking for more ways to save.

* * *

In conclusion, I am of the belief that New Year’s Resolutions are a bad habit of the general populus. There shouldn’t be just one day of the year on which goals are set (January 1) and by which goals should be completed (December 31), as it leads to a cycle of planning and failing.

When one falls off the resolution wagon, one is likely to give up on all resolutions instead of just the one — an image of the list of resolutions crumpled and tossed in the trash comes to mind — until next Jan. 1 when it’s time to set new resolutions. One should feel free to set goals at any time of the year, with or without a “reach-by date,” with reasonable time for completion, if at all.

Of course, this isn’t true for everyone. I’m sure there are many out there for whom it works, and perhaps is necessary, to set new year’s resolutions. But everyone is different. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another.

So if you’re one of those for whom it doesn’t work to set new year’s resolutions, look for other ways to achieve your goals. Some people need deadlines in order to get things done, some work better without them. Some might require a system of self-reward or self-flagellation (in other words “the carrot or the stick.”) Don’t give up on goals entirely, just look for a system that works for you.

What are your thoughts? Do you set New Year’s Resolutions? If so, do you stick to them? If not, why?

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Originally posted 2009-01-15 07:00:13.