PecuniaritiesSearch results for 'Holidays' (page 1 of 2)

Holidays Should Be Happy: Have a Party-Preparation Party to Reduce Stress

Penelope Pince — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:00:42 +0000

The Holidays are fun, or they’re supposed to be, but sometimes it gets hard to remember that when you have people coming over and a hundred things to get done on time. A good way to take some pressure off when hosting a large Holiday dinner party is to have a Party-Preparation Party the day or a couple of days before the actual event.

When you issue an invitation to your home for a Holiday dinner or party, friends and family usually ask if they can do anything to help. If you have your hands full, take them up on it to relieve some of the stress of hosting a dinner or party. Close friends and family usually won’t mind lending a hand or seeing your house a little messy; in fact, they would probably prefer to help out than not, so they don’t feel guilty for letting you do all the work.

To make things easier for you on the day of the main event, ask them if they would be willing to come over the day before to help you prepare by cutting vegetables and preparing things for cooking or baking the next day. They could also help put up decorations or tidy up the house a little.

One year, our cousin was having a Thanksgiving dinner party and Madoline and I went over and spent an evening cutting vegetables and straightening up for him (he lives with a brother and they were a little messy). We had a good time hanging out in the kitchen, something we didn’t get a lot of chance to do because we all had busy lives, so it was fun and the work didn’t feel like work.

If you’re hosting dinners and parties this year and feel a little overwhelmed, give it a try. Most of us already have our hands full during non-Holiday seasons, so don’t be embarrassed if you need a little help around the Holidays. And you can make the preparation fun by turning it into a party of sorts.

Instead of making it just a cook and clean session, schedule in a little rest and relaxation too. Remember, the point of all this is to help relieve stress in preparing for the main event, so it’s not supposed to be a fancy to-do. If you’re not hosting a dinner or party this year but someone close to you is, suggest the idea to them.

Hosting a Party-Preparation Party

Choose a few close friends and relatives that you are comfortable having around when the house isn’t perfect, who are comfortable with each other, and whom you are comfortable asking for help.
Put on fun music to listen and sing to while you’re working.
Have some snacks and drinks around (easy snacks that don’t need preparation – i.e. cookies.)
Take breaks to chat and enjoy each others’ company.
When you’ve finished your preparations, have a drink – tea, coffee, hot chocolate or eggnog – and some dessert to unwind a little before they go home.

Everyone will probably be busy and in a hurry to be somewhere or do something from now through New Year’s Day, but it’s important to take some time to relax.

Research has shown that heart-related illnesses claim more lives during the Holiday Season than other times of the year. Researchers attribute this to changes in diet, increased alcohol consumption and emotional stress; they also speculate that people tend to delay treatment because they’re busy. (Deaths Peak During Hoiday Season)

So remember, the Holidays are meant to be a celebration. If you’re feeling stressed, don’t be afraid to ask for help. After all that’s what friends are for. And friends are what the Holdays are all about.

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Free Printable Templates: Holiday Snowflake Gift Tags, Treat and Mini Carrier Bags

Penelope Pince — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:30:26 +0000

Here are some free printable templates for Holiday gift bags and tags designed by Madoline Hatter. Feel free to print them for your personal use. This is a snowflake design on various shades of blue background and includes carrier bags, treat bags and gift tags.

Suggestions: Gift tags can be printed on cardstock paper and tied to a carrier bag with twine, yarn or string, or printed on paper and glued to a bag.

If using on an inkjet printer, make sure the ink is fully dry and avoid touching the color ink when gluing.

Printing and Assembly Directions:

Click on the small images
Select “scale to fit” on your paper. (These images are large enough to be printed on paper sizes larger than 8.5″ x 11″.)
Follow directions for folding and gluing where applicable.

We will be uploading several more designs to our Freebies category over the next few days. Hopefully they will help save you some money this Holiday Season.

Happy Holidays from Pecuniarities!

Snowflake Holiday Treat Bags

Snowflake Small & Mini Holiday Carrier Bags

These carrier bags come in 2 sizes. The Mini Carrier Bags (left) measure 3 1/2″ tall, the Small Carrier Bags (right) measure approximately 4 1/2″ tall.

Snowflake Holiday Gift Tags

Favorite Christmas Memory

Penelope Pince — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:01:37 +0000

The topic for this month’s PF Bloggers Group Writing Project is our Favorite Christmas Memories. My favorite memory is our first Christmas in our own house, which was 2006. We bought our house in November 2005, but we had to travel out of the country to attend a cousin’s wedding – actually we were bridesmaids for the wedding – so our first Christmas in our house was 2006.

On Black Friday 2006, we went to Walmart for some shopping, and because we take our dogs everywhere with us and they were in the car, Madoline and I took turns going in to shop. Madoline went second, and when she came out, she had an 8′ Douglas Fir in a shopping cart. Thus began our Christmas festivities. We moved the dogs to the front seat, put the backseat down and shoved the tree into the car and it fit just perfectly with the tip of the tree at the dashboard. We drove the 50-minute trip home with Madoline and the 2 dogs in the front passenger seat (one sitting on the floor and one in her lap), the tree at my elbow and the whole car smelling like Christmas.

Wrestling the tree out of the car, sawing off a bit of the bottom and putting it in the tree stand was a bit of an ordeal, but we finally got it standing almost completely straight in our music room (a dining room for most people). This was our dogs’ first Christmas (they would turn 1 on January 5) and while they had no idea what Christmas was, they could tell it was exciting and were all over the place as we got out the ornaments and decorated the tree.

Because this was their first Christmas, we made them Christmas clothes and dressed them up for pictures. After the hours we put into making the clothes, we had to make sure we got lots of good pictures because they would grow out of them in a matter of weeks. Here are some of our favorites.

Since this was our first official Christmas with the 2 of us and our new family, we decided to allow ourselves a budget of $100 to shop for each other. In previous years, since living on our own, we either skipped presents or had small budgets of $20 each. This year we went all out. We took a couple of shopping trips to the mall where we again took turns going into stores to buy each other presents, then had to make the other personal look the other way while we put them in and took the out of the trunk.

After we got home, we snuck our gifts to our rooms and then rooted around the house for boxes to put them in, wrapped our presents and put them under the tree. (This is my favorite part.) We also did some shopping online and whenever the mail carrier rang the doorbell, we ran to the door to make sure the other person wouldn’t see anything. Madoline couldn’t decide what else to buy for me when she still had $40 left, so I ordered the Ticket to Ride German Map Ediition as a present for both of us.

On Christmas Eve, we each opened one present. I wanted to play the Ticket to Ride game so I chose that one as the one I wanted to open but made Madoline open it. We stayed up till 4 a.m. playing that game and whenever we play it now, I think about that Christmas. When we got up on Christmas Day, the first thing both of us wanted to do was to continue playing Ticket to Ride, which we call by it’s German name which is a lot more fun – Zug um Zug [tsoog-oom-tsoog]. So we played Zug um Zug and then each opened a present, then we’d play another game, open another present, one of which was Carcassonne (another of my favorite German strategy games), and so on.

Because our business is mostly seasonal and centered around major holidays, we decided to take a vacation after we shipped out our last Christmas orders (our Christmas rush started the beginning of November and ended around mid-December). We spent the couple of weeks after Christmas hanging out, watching movies, playing games, drinking Earl Grey tea and eating chocolate.

We had also gotten presents for our dogs – little stuffed animals toys that they could play with while we relaxed – and we got enough to give them each one for each of the 12 days of Christmas starting on Christmas Day and ending on Epiphany, their birthday. On their birthday, we baked them a carrot-oatmeal-peanut butter cake which they enjoyed and smeared all over my bed.

That was our first Christmas in our own house, and thus far, my favorite Christmas memory.

* * *

About the PF Bloggers Group Writing Project

The Personal Finance Bloggers Network is a group of 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 thePF Bloggers Group Writing Projectpage for the others!

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Frugal Christmas: Skipping the Tree and Presents This Year

Penelope Pince — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:00:33 +0000

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.

Free Printable Templates: Christmas Candy Stripe and Plaid Carrier Gift Bags

Madoline Hatter — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:14:32 +0000

With Christmas almost upon us, here are some last minute gift bag templates for the eleventh hour shoppers and gift wrappers. The Small carrier bags measure approximately 4 1/2″ tall, and the Mini carrier bags 3 1/2″ if printed on an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of paper.

The images are large enough to be printed on slightly larger paper if desired. Select “scale to fit” when printing. Directions for folding and gluing are included on the printout. Click on the small images below to view and print.

Merry Christmas!

Red and White Candy Stripe Holiday Gift Bags

Red, Green and White Candy Stripe Holiday Gift Bags

Red, Green and White Plaid Holiday Gift Bags

Originally posted 2008-12-22 07:15:23.

Holiday Blog Carnivals

Penelope Pince — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:49:11 +0000

Pecuniarities participated in 3 blog carnivals last week.

The Carnival of Personal Finance #184: From the Land Down Under was hosted by Saving to Invest who spent his Christmas holidays in summery Australia. This edition included my post on our plans for a frugal Christmas: Frugal Christmas: Skipping the Tree and Presents This Year.
The 157th Festival of Frugality: The Queen’s Speech Edition was hosted by Miss Thrifty all the way from the Mother Country and included the Queen’s annual Christmas message which has been a tradition since 1932, as well as an alternative for those who can’t be bothered to watch the Queen. Madoline’s post, Using Nature’s Gift Wrap: The Eggshell was selected as an Editor’s Pick in this royal edition. Double thanks for the honors!
The 44th Money Hacks Carnival – The Merry Christmas Edition was hosted by Where You Are Now and included my post on how Gifts Cards Could Be a Blessing This Christmas.

Well, that’s all for this week. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoy your New Year’s festivities.

Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #13

Penelope Pince — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:35:52 +0000

Christmas is in the air and I am bundled up to resemble a fat penguin, wearing 4-5 layers, and huddled in front of a space heater as I type. The weather also forecasts snow for us tomorrow, which is somewhat rare as we live in the Mojave Desert in Southern California. Having grown up in Hawaii, I can’t say I’m not a little excited about the snow but don’t really look forward to the accompanying cold.

But anyways, on to our roundup for this holiday season.

Wide Open Wallet offers 10 Holiday Budget Busters.
Frugal Dad offers Holiday Saftey Tips.
My Dollar Plan shares 37 Homemade Gifts Under $20.
Master Your Card shares 42 ways he’s going to make 2009 awesome.

We participated in 2 blog carnivals last week and would like to thank the hosts for including our posts.

Carnival of Personal Finance #182 – Don’t Go Broke Over The Holidays Edition was hosted by Free From Broke and included Madoline’s post on Two Natural and Economical Ways to Shed Dry Winter Skin.
Festival of Frugality #155: The Chic-Tacky Christmas Edition was hosted by Greener Pastures and included Madoline’s post on Beautiful Homemade Christmas Ornaments from Eggshells.

Well, this wraps it up for today. Happy Holidays!

Using Nature’s Gift Wrap: The Eggshell

Madoline Hatter — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:00:05 +0000

An elegant and unforgettable way to wrap a present

Mimic one of natures miracles by giving jewelry, money, a small gift or an engagement ring inside a pretty eggshell that must be cracked open by the recipient. The broken eggshell may be kept as a memento of the occasion.

You will need:
1 egg per gift
Clear nail polish or white glue
Nail polish in color of your choice*
or spray paint/enamel

If making a speckled egg, choose a pale background color and brown or gold for the freckles.

*A nail polish color with iridescent sparkle is best to conceal the crack (the sparkle adds opacity). If your color of choice is translucent, do two or more undercoats with a glittery polish similar in color.

To open the egg

Place egg on a plate large enough to catch the contents

Use a small sharp knife to saw and cut into eggshell near the middle

When you can insert the knife into the egg, twist slowly to produce a single crack

Carefully separate halves of shell. You should have a single edge that fits neatly together

Wash with detergent and warm water

Air dry or blow dry with hair dryer

To enclose the gift

Wrap valuable or fragile items in tissue paper to prevent jingling and protect from glue and paint

Paint a layer of clear nail polish or white glue onto each broken edge

Place the present in the bottom half of shell and carefully re-fit the two halves together.

Hold firmly closed and paint clear polish or glue over the outside of the seam. After a minute or so, the egg will stay closed on its own.

Set egg on the mouth of a bottle to dry

To paint the egg

Paint one half at a time, leaving a dry area to set back on the bottle

To avoid denting the surface, wait until enamel is thoroughly dry to paint the other side and set egg back on bottle

Try to overlap and feather the edge to make a seamless finish

When the crack is no longer visible and the egg has a smooth finish, you are done

A coat of clear nail polish or varnish will add luster and protect from scratches

Optional Touches

Tie a ribbon and bow

Gift tag

Glue on dried flowers or tiny rhinestones

A sprinkle of glitter

Lightly scent the tissue paper with flower and plant oil before wrapping present

You can also paint the inside of the egg before closing to make a nice keepsake

Add in some dried rose petals with gift

To make a ring box, cut a styrofoam ball in half. On the flat surface of he ball, cut a groove to hold the ring. Push the center of a piece of fabric into the groove, wrap the remainder around the ½ ball, secure with pins or glue. Glue covered ball into bottom of egg. The weight of the styrofoam will probably make the egg stand upright on its own.

Good luck living green and giving green!

Happy Holidays,

Madoline Hatter

Beautiful Homemade Christmas Ornaments from Eggshells

Madoline Hatter — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:12 +0000

Easy, inexpensive, elegant, and durable

This year, I made my Christmas ornaments out of eggshells because there is something whimsical and magical in the shape of a natural egg. They can look just like regular glass ornaments or Fabergé style eggs. An eggshell is stronger than you would imagine and even stronger after being coated with a few layers of enamel. I have accidentally dropped my shells from heights of 3 to 4 feet during and after painting without breaking any—which no glass ornament I have known could have survived. And because you will eat the inside of the egg, the shell is virtually free.

I painted my eggshells with surplus nail polish from a manicure set given to me by a coworker five or six Christmases ago. If you don’t have unwanted nail polish, cheap brands with pretty colors can be bought for under than $1 a bottle.

Emptying the Egg

The common method of emptying an eggshell is to poke a hole in each end, stir the contents with a needle and blow it out. I find this method requires a larger hole than attractive so I prefer to use a syringe and needle to empty my eggshells. You can get syringes for refilling ink cartridges, but make sure they are new and clean because you want to eat the egg.

Pierce the top and bottom of the egg with a heavy sewing needle and use the syringe to draw out the contents. If the syringe seems to get stuck, you have caught a piece of membrane. you simply have to keep trying until the membrane peeps out of the hole and you can pull it out with your fingers. Injecting a little water into the egg and shaking it thins the contents and makes it easier to empty.

Wash the eggshell in dish detergent, drain and leave to dry. Then bake a cake or have scrambled eggs for dinner.

Making a Hanger

You can add the hanger before or after you decorate. Wire hangers make nice handles while painting. Ribbon and string are also ideal hangers, but if they are fancy or delicate, put them on last to avoid stains and accidents.

You can attach your hanger to either end of the egg with hot glue or fabric glue (I prefer glitter fabric paint). Wire hangers can be bent or curled at one end and inserted inside the hole.

Painting and Decorating Your Egg

Nail polish is the best paint because it dries quickly and has a pretty shine. It also strengthens the shell and reduces risk of breaking if the ornament is dropped. I even used some calcium fortified clear polish as a topcoat. Plain nail polish eggs really resemble traditional glass ornaments. You can also decorate them with glitter, lace, cords, and fabric trims. Eggs are relatively inexpensive and healthy so feel free to experiment. And you might just take them out again out when Easter rolls around.

Below are some examples of the variety of colors and styles you can use on your eggs.

You could even try making ornaments with eggshells broken open. How about a Fabergé egg Santa sleigh or cozy winter village. An eggshell igloo, snowman, or polar bear?

Tips to Avoid Overeating at Thanksgiving Dinner

Penelope Pince — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:00:23 +0000

The Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are no doubt the 2 of the most looked forward to occasions in America. I know they’re my favorites. But over the years, I have to come find that while I very much enjoy the dinners, they are not without consequences – mainly the side effects of overindulgence: an “enhanced” figure and sometimes acid indigestion.

One serving of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, yams, a roll and pie (which is what we usually have) is often more than my stomach can comfortably hold, and I am full in 5 minutes. Yet, it all tastes so good that I often can’t help going back for seconds, which I inevitably regret. And I am sure I’m not alone in this.

So I thought I would offer a few tips for those not opposed to a little deviation from the regular sit-down Thanksgiving dinner. I am not suggesting substitute foods – like mashed cauliflower for mashed potatoes or adding heaps of bran to the dressing, both of which we have tried in the past (while the latter wasn’t so bad, the first was rather disastrous as I believe we also mashed yam in with the cauliflower – yuck).

What I am suggesting is a different way of eating. It is easy to overeat when you’re sitting around a table heaped with goodies because you don’t really feel how full you are when sitting down. Also, it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to receive the signal from your stomach that it is full. So here are a few suggestions to help you save your waistline and avoid the need for Tums or Alka-Seltzer.

Tips to Prevent Overeating and Weight Gain at Thanksgiving or Christmas

Have a buffet style dinner

Having to stand up to get second helpings will help you to gauge how full you are.
Use smaller plates

Using smaller plates will help avoid the “eyes are bigger than your stomach” syndrome. Also, if you take less on the first helping, you can justifiably go back for seconds and feel satisfied that you got to have 2 helpings without over-stuffing yourself.
Use smaller serving utensils

Use regular tablespoons (or teaspoons if you’re really serious) instead of large serving spoons. This will help avoid huge helpings.
Picnic-style instead of sit-down dinner

Instead of eating everything in one sitting, keep the “buffet” open and everyone can graze and hang out over the course of an afternoon and/or evening.
Break before dessert

Instead of segueing directly to dessert, take a little break. Even just sitting around and chatting for a while to let your stomach digest a little helps. Or consider a few of the following:
- Going for a slow, relaxing family walk
- Going early Christmas caroling
- Playing a game like charades that encourages mild movement

Again, these suggestions deviate from the traditional sit-down family dinner. If you’re a stickler for tradition, they might not work for you. Rather, they’re for those open to a little change and wish to avoid overeating, which is so easily done at these occasions, this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Healthy Alternatives to Aerosol Air Fresheners

Madoline Hatter — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:59:40 +0000

You may not know it, but you may be waging long term biological warfare on yourself and your family. There is increasing awareness about the harmful effects of exposure to chemicals such as pesticides and household cleaners, but did you know that air fresheners are also poisons?

History has taught the human race that bad smells mean disease and infection, so naturally we all want our homes filled with good smells. Unfortunately, chemicals used to carry these good smells into your home may give you lung problems and cancer. You should be especially vigilant about uses of air fresheners if you have cats because cats can be fatally poisoned by airborne substances absorbed through the skin.

Here are some alternatives you might consider to aerosol or plug-in air fresheners. You can make or purchase these items made with natural plant oils.

Scented candles

Scented candles are ideal for bathrooms as they are resistant to humidity. Light these whenever needed. They are great for eliminating odor from strong smelling foods after cooking or eating. I like to read and write by candlelight and always have votive candles in wine glasses on my desk.

If you are afraid of fire, place short, fat candles in heavy glass jars. Small flames usually extinguish themselves when a candle is dropped, but if you want to be extra safe, place candles in sturdy glass jars taller than the candle, so that the flame is contained should the jar tip. Light sunken or hard to reach candles with a burning spaghetti noodle.

Potpourri

Keep in bowls, pouches, out of reach of pets and small children who might eat sweet smelling things. You can even pull out the poly-fill of a stuffed animal, mix potpourri into the fluff and re-stuff. A scented stuffed animal can be placed on shelves, in drawers, or near your bed if it contains sleep enhancing herbs. Do not give an herbal toy to children or pets unless you are sure that the ingredients are safe.

Cloth Sachets Filled With Dried Herbs

Good for keeping your clothes fresh and bug free. You can make or purchase very pretty ones. Add scented oils if desired for a stronger scent. We use cedar filled pouches for closets and inside the piano.

Pomanders

These are scented balls made with oranges and cloves (instructions below) that last for years. They are natural, very fragrant and deter insects. Pomanders can be decorated and hung in your closets, around your home, and in your car. They can also be placed in drawers and storage boxes. You could make a bunch for Christmas ornaments and then redistribute them for use around the house after the holidays.

Fresh flowers

These don’t last as long, but are not expensive if you have a garden.

Pet Perfumes and Colognes

If your home has pet odors, you might consider using colognes and perfumes formulated for pets. If your pet is prone to allergies, ill, very old, or very young, you should get your vet’s recommendation for a product. Remember that not all products marketed for pets are entirely safe and that products formulated for dogs may be harmful to cats. The best air freshener may be a bath for your cat or dog. If odors are cause by skin conditions, herbs with antibacterial and anti-fungal properties may be helpful. But always research ingredients so that you do not accidentally poison your pet.

How to make a pomander

You might want to make a dozen or more at a time because a pomander will last forever (unless they get wet).

Take an orange, lime, or lemon.
Prick holes in the skin with a large needle and insert whole cloves until you have a prickly ball. For a neat appearance, space the cloves like longitudinal lines on a globe.
Cure the pomade by rolling it in powdered herbs and letting it dry for several weeks.
During the drying process, coat regularly with powdered herbs to prevent mould. Pomander will shrink as it cures.
Decorate with ribbons and flowers if desired.
To renew scent after long use, treat with essential oils and roll in powdered herbs.

Powdered Herbs for curing pomanders (use one or more)

Cinnamon
Ginger
Clove
Myrrh
Nutmeg (toxic to cats and dogs)

Some Common Fragrance Herbs

Lavender
Lemon
Rose Geranium
Rose
Orange
Cinnamon
Allspice
Bayberry
Pine
Citrus
Sandalwood
Mint

Recommended Reading
Air Fresheners: Are they bad for my health?

Originally posted 2008-10-02 06:00:38.

Make Something Useful Out of Your Christmas Tree

Madoline Hatter — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:49:49 +0000

This is a re-post of one of our earliest articles first published February 27, 2008.

Conversion of a Common Coniferous Conundrum

When we moved into our own home, my sister and I decided to make our first Christmas a memorable one, which included the purchase of a 7 foot tall Christmas tree. Another occasion which came with taking possession of the house was our going to the sanitation office and signing up for trash pickup, at which time we were warned that sanitation engineers would refuse to empty any trash container which was overfilled. To make sure we understood what it meant to overfill a trash container, the sanitation department employee showed us several photographs of a trash container into which a Christmas tree had been rammed with the lid in various half-hearted attempts at closure. Happily, this specific offense we will never be tempted to commit. For why on earth would two practical people like ourselves throw away (or reduce to mulch) a perfectly good used Christmas tree?

Almost as soon as we wrestled and tilted our Christmas tree into a position which passed for perpendicular, I began scheming at the potential uses of this sizable item which would become available as soon as December 26. However, to make the best of the purchase, we left the tree decorated well into January. After divesting the tree of it’s ornaments, we sawed off the branches while the tree was still standing, leaving a few attractive stumps. The branches were easily disposed of without upsetting the sanitation department. We then sawed off the part of the trunk that had been standing in water and were left with a 6+ foot tree trunk.

My original plan was to convert the tree trunk into a coat rack for our entryway. This was to be achieved by inserting wooden pegs near the top, attaching to the base curved furniture legs to suggest tree roots, and possibly adding a wire bird nest in which to deposit objects like keys and fake eggs. The whole was to be painted a uniform color and varnished. I then shopped around for several months without finding the feet I had wanted and therefore the plan was changed.

My sister had begun playing the violin and was considering the purchase of a music stand. So, we decided to make a music stand instead of a coat rack. I measured the tree trunk and found that after cutting off the top for a music stand, the remaining section was just the height for a table. We had also been in the market for a small table. Each project took approximately two days and cost us next to nothing because we used small remnants of wood, leftover paint, and the only new materials were glue, nails, and screws. Although we painted the music stand blue and the octagonal table green, they make a very nice pair and we declare ourselves very satisfied with the results. But we are not skilled carpenters so you can form your own opinion from the pictures.

There really is no limit to what can be done with the nice piece of organically shaped wood that is a Christmas tree. One might turn it into a curtain rod, a chair, a stool, a ladder (decorative), balustrade, fence post, easel, or a rail to which to tie a goat when milking it to make cheese.

Originally posted 2008-12-27 08:30:47.

Welcome to Frugaltroph!

Frugaltroph — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:30:13 +0000

"Sie essen, sie trinken und bezahlen nicht gern. They like to eat, drink and don't like to pay." — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Image by Madoline Hatter

Frugaltroph is a blog about frugal cooking containing recipes, money saving tips, and simplified versions of traditional dishes. We, Penelope Pince and Madoline Hatter, consider good dining an important part of life, but not so important as to take up a major portion of our time and finances. We have been cooking since our teens and would like to share our experience and a few of our own recipes and methods.

We plan to write on subjects such as school lunches for kids, ethnic foods, holidays an special occasions, creative presentations, and foods of various colors.

A brief explanation of our project title and motto

In biology, the term “-troph” is combined with another word to describe a way of feeding (e.g. autotroph, heterotroph). Therefore, “frugaltroph” is our way of saying “Frugal Feeding” or the diet of Homo frugalis.

Our motto “Sie essen, sie trinken, und bezahlen nicht gern” is a line from Epiphanias, a humorous poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe which is one of our favorite songs (music by Hugo Wolf). In English, it says “They eat, they drink, and do not like to pay.” Our three pigs, represent the three kings of the poem.

We currently plan to do one cooking project a week: to make and photograph the process and results, and write up a post with ingredients and instructions which will be posted here and also at the Pecuniarities site, our frugal lifestyle blog. Check back soon for our first Frugaltroph column.

Frugal, Unique and Meaningful Valentine’s Day Gift & Date Ideas, Plus Budget Tips

Penelope Pince — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:35:15 +0000

Undoubtedly, the only thing worse than having a “cheap date” is being called one. But in the current economic atmosphere when one should be more concerned with prudence in spending habits, a frugal date, in my mind, is something to be lauded rather than repudiated.

After all, dating is all about finding the person you will share your life and finances with till something beginning with the letter “d” do you part. So this year, and perhaps for a few to come, remember this and cut yourself and/or your significant other a little slack and remember that there are more important things in life than extravagant dinners and presents.

Here we will offer some Valentine’s Day Gift and Date ideas that won’t cost a fortune and hopefully make this Valentine’s Day special and fun. I’ve divided this post into several sections with subsections such as “Gifts under $10,” etc. within each section.

Click to go to each section, click your browser “back” button to return here.

Valentine’s Day Budgeting Suggestions
Gestures
Date Ideas
Romantic Foods and Treats
Gift Ideas
Gift + Date Ideas
Valentine’s Date Movies

The artwork contained in this post is by Madoline and more can be seen and purchased on a variety of products from our CafePress store.

Valentine’s Day Budgeting Suggestions

Before we begin, a few suggestions on the finances of Valentine’s Day.

Discuss a gift budget beforehand whether or not you are married or share finances.
Set a spending range that is comfortable for both parties and stick to it. (If one person gives an expensive gift but the other a more economical one, awkwardness may ensue.)
Consider combining your individual budgets if they are low. This way you might be able to afford something pricier that you can both enjoy.
Consider a “useful” gift. Something more practical rather than romantic that can make your life together more pleasant (long term benefits vs. short term).
Consider making both your gifts by hand and from scratch.
Discuss your date budget and activities that you will both enjoy without spending too much.

It may seem unromantic to talk about the date or gift ahead of time, but lack of communication in financial matters (i.e. spending) is one of the main causes for marital strife, so it might be better for your relationship in the long run if you share in such decisions.

Gestures

for Her

Let her sleep in. Make the kids breakfast and keep them occupied with cartoons or other activities.
Breakfast in bed. As this year Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday.
Help out around the house or yard. Is there something she’s been asking you to do for a while?
Take the kids out for the morning or afternoon to give her some quiet time to relax and get ready for your date in the evening.

for Him

Let him watch football (or whatever sport is on in February). Bring him popcorn, chips, beer or whatever he likes. If you need to speak to him (even about the game), wait until commercial break.
Go with him to do his favorite sport or activity. Is there something he often asks you to do with him that you always say “no” to? Go with him, let him show off for you and compliment him on his prowess.

for Each Other

Ask a friend or relative to take the kids for the day and just relax and enjoy each other’s company at home.
A massage. Lower back for someone who does a lot of physical work (e.g. housework), neck and shoulders if he/she works at a desk or computer.

Date Ideas

Tour of your romantic spots. Plan a route including some or all of the local places where significant points of your relationship took place. Pack a picnic to enjoy at one of your spots. Suggestions of places: where you met, where you had your first date, where you first kissed, where you proposed/were proposed to, your first home together, etc.
Assemble a scrap book of your relationship. This can be an annual activity done on each Valentine’s Day chronicling your life together in the past year. Save and assemble memorable items such as: pictures; notes you’ve written each other; ticket stubs from movies, shows and sporting events you attended together; receipts from romantic dates; and if married or planning marriage: engagement announcement, bridal shower invitation, wedding invitation, baby showers, etc.
Read a favorite childhood book together. Find a book that you both loved as kids, check it out from the library or buy it used and take turns reading it aloud.
Plan your future. This might be a dreaded subject for the commitment-phobic, but if this is a serious and committed relationship, Valentine’s Day is a good time to plan your future life together. Take a scenic tour of neighborhoods and homes that you want to live in, think about the kind of home you want to own (if you don’t own one already) and start thinking about how you are gong to get there.
Do anything together. Paint a room in the house, work in the garden, play games, watch a movie, or just anything you both enjoy.

Romantic Foods and Treats

Pink and red food such as pink butter, cheese, milk, cereal, cake, salad dressing, pudding, rice, sauces. Naturally red and pink foods are beets, cranberry/mayo, frosting, jello, strawberries, jam, and various ice cream.
Heart-shaped food and treats. With heart-shaped cookie cutters and bakeware, you can make heart-shaped cookies, brownies, cakes, sandwiches, fruit, eggs, toast, pasta (lasagne) or whatever your heart desires.To make heart shaped eggs or pancakes:
1. Grease the inside of a metal cookie cutter
2. place on oiled heated pan
3. Firmly hold down while pouring a layer of egg or batter inside of cookie cutter (careful not to burn your hands)
4. Lift cutter when shape is firm and flip pancake/eggs
Give a heart shaped chocolate cake instead of a box of candies. Cake mix can be had for $1 or less on sale. Write your message in frosting on top and save the expense of a card.

Interesting Fact: The Chinese customarily give gold jewelry as a sign of caring, because the recipient may sell it for money in times of need.

Gift Ideas

Some suggestions for frugal but nice gifts. If you are giving a small gift, check out Madoline’s Eggshell Gift Wrap post from December; this is a unique way to wrap a small gift (such as jewelry) in a way your recipient will never forget.

Price breakdown for specific product suggestions doesn’t include shipping as rates may vary and some items might be purchased locally.

Gifts Under $10

The language of flowers. If you live in a area where wild flowers are available, pick your own bouquet of flowers for your date. Refer to the language of flowers for meanings for various kinds of flora, known as floriography.
Plant a rosebush or her favorite flowers in the yard. Plant seeds or transplant a potted plant and mark the spot with a romantic sign.
Hand-knitted or crocheted scarf, hat and/or mittens in his/her favorite color(s). Yarn in fairly inexpensive and the paper wrapped around the skeins often come with instructions for making something.
A Digital Photo Keychain filled with pictures of the two of you that he/she can carry around and look at at any time.
Print his/her favorite poem in the center of a sheet of paper. Frame and matting will make it an elegant art piece and a nice, thoughtful gesture.
A paperback book with your greeting written inside the cover instead of spending money on greeting cards which might get thrown away.
For a nature lover, assemble and paint a bird house in his/her favorite color(s) – Bird House Kit.

Gifts Under $20

A 365 page-a-day calendar and write in personal notes on the anniversaries of all your special dates – date you met, first date, first kiss, when you started “going steady,” when you first said the “L” word, birthday and other holiday wishes, etc. And if you’re really good at this, one note a day for every day of the year.
A customized mug with your valentine message or a photo of the two of you printed on it (and date and year if desired).
A personalized chair or piece of furniture. Go to thrift stores in your area and look for nice pieces of wood furniture. A good solid wooden chair or other small piece of furniture such as a small shelf can often be found for $5 or $10. Sand off the finish and paint it in your significant other’s favorite color. Don’t be afraid to be creative and use colors out of the norm. You will need: a pack of sandpaper, a paintbrush and some enamel paint, or a can of spray paint. All can be found for reasonable prices at Walmart and sand paper and brushes can be found at some dollar stores.

Gifts Under $30

A nice set of feather pillows so he/she thinks of you before falling asleep each night.
A set of fluffy new towels.
For her: pastel colored hand weights to help her meet her fitness goals.

Gift + Date Ideas

As Valentine’s Day this year is on a Saturday, you might be able to spend the day together instead of just the evening. Here are some suggestions for activities for your Valentine’s date are also gifts.

Make heart-shaped chocolate candy together – Chocolate Heart Making Kit.
Make aromatic candles that can provide ambiance for a romantic dinner and evening in – Candle Making Kit.
Personalize His & Hers chairs together. (Date version of the personalized chair idea above.) Go to thrift stores together, pick out and paint chairs for each other.
Make dinner together. Cook something neither of you have made before like an Indian curry or sushi – Sushi Kit with instructions.

Interesting Fact: The word “Gift” in German, means “poison.”

Valentine’s Date Movies

A Valentine’s date doesn’t have to mean an expensive night out. In fact, a quiet night in watching movies together on the couch has more appeal to me. Here are a few suggestions and favorites of mine.

Under $10

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Audrey Hepburn)
Notting Hill (Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts)
You’ve Got Mail (Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks)
Sleepless in Seattle (Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks)
Sense & Sensibility (Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant)
Pride & Prejudice (Keira Knightley, Matthew McFayden)
Emma (Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northem)
Bridget Jones’s Diary (Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant)

Under $20

Lady and the Tramp (Disney)
North & South (Richard Armitage, Daniela Denby-Ashe)
Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart)
My Fair Lady (Audrey Hepburn, Harry Stradling Sr.)

Well, this wraps up our Valentine’s Gift and Date Suggestions. I hope you found at least a few helpful ideas here that will save you money but not get you called a “cheap date.” Just remember the purpose of the holiday is to honor the one you love, not compete for who gives the priciest gift.

The best gift would be to be considerate of him/her, everyday and not just on Valentine’s Day. Be creative, and be yourself.

Also check out our Frugal but Thoughtful Mother’s Day Gift Suggestions for more gift ideas.

Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #14

Penelope Pince — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:33:16 +0000

We hope everyone had a good holiday season. We had a simple and relaxing one staying in, eating our favorite foods (as we had only finished our Thanksgiving turkey a few days before Christmas, we decided to have fish and chips for Christmas), watching our favorite movies (Holiday themed movies on Christmas Eve and Day), and pedaling on our exercise bikes in the days following to burn off those fish and chips.

Now the holidays are over, the days are getting longer, and we must go back to the hustle and bustle of daily life, which I’m not quite ready to do just yet. But I’ll start with a couple of news items for Pecunarities.

Pecuniary News

Our First Blog Contest

I just announced our first ever blog contest here at Pecuniarities, in which we are giving away a free 6-month print subscription to the Wall Street Journal. Those residing within the contiguous U.S. (48 states) and who have not subscribed to the Wall Street Journal are eligible to enter. So pop over and see how you can win!
2009 Financial Resolutions Blog Contest: Win a Free 6-Month Subscription to the Wall Street Journal
Hosting the Carnival of Personal Finance

We have the privilege of hosting the Carnival of Personal Finance next week, January 19th, 2009. This is our first time hosting the CoPF about which I am very excited. If you are a blogger, make sure to get your submission in before 6pm EST Sunday, January 18th.

Giveaways

Single Guy Money is also a giveaway for a $100 Target or Walmart Gift Card (winner’s choice). Head on over and see how you can win!
Your Money Relationship is also holding a giveaway for a $50 Amazon Gift Certificate.

Roundup

Living Well on Less risked injury by making the mistake of being too frugal with her exercise budget.
Wide Open Wallet breaks down her budget to see where all the money is going.
Master Your Card gives us Top 10 Resolution Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.
Moolanomy gives 7 Tips to Stick to New Year’s Resolutions.
Almost Frugal shares Turning Resolutions into Reality in 5 Steps.
I’ve Paid For This Twice Already says Resolutions Are Just Goals With A Fancy Name.

Blog Carnival Partipation

This past week’s Carnival of Personal Finance, Fairy Tale Edition, was hosted at Clever Dude, who demonstrated his cleverness by formatting the carnival in prose. This is no ordinary litany of links to articles around the financial blogoshere, but rather each entry has a part in the story.

Freebies: Printable Paper Toy Soldiers Ornaments

Madoline Hatter — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:18:25 +0000

I remember when I was very little, flipping through a very old book and seeing a craft project for making toy soldiers with toilet paper tubes. The image has come to mind now and then and I got the idea to make printable toy soldiers. They come four on a page. Print on card stock or regular paper. All you have to do is cut them apart, roll them into a tube and secure with a glue stick.

My toy soldiers are adorable standing at attention with arms stiffly at their sides. You can display them on parade or leave one or two standing guard over your Christmas presents. Other uses include hanging as ornaments on your Christmas tree or wrapping around a jar or bottle to use as a vase.

These soldiers can be displayed year round to show your patriotism or love of military history. Here are four classic nutcracker or British soldiers, one naval officer, and one modern soldier in camouflage with green cheeks.

Modern American Toy Soldier in Camouflage

Classic Toy Soldier in Red Coat & Blue Pants

Classic Toy Soldier in Red Coat & White Pants

Classic Toy Soldier in Red & Blue with White Straps

Classic Toy Soldier in Red Coat with Double Buttons and Gold Trim

Classic Naval Officer in Blue Coat & White Pants

Gifts Cards Could Be a Blessing This Christmas

Penelope Pince — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:00:01 +0000

The practice of gift card giving for Christmas is highly debated, and from what I have seen in a lot of online forums, highly frowned upon as lacking in thought and effort. But I must confess, I am not one of those who frown upon gift cards for Christmas and actually like them. And I strongly believe that in the current economy, gift cards can be more of a blessing to many people than presents.

How Gift Cards Can Be a Blessing This Christmas

Many of us are worried about not having enough money for living expenses in the coming months and possibly years. A gift card to a useful store or a Visa or American Express gift card that can be used to purchase groceries and other necessities could be more helpful than say an Xbox or iPhone.

Multiple Gift Cards Into One Big Gift

Even in times without economic crisis, I don’t believe there is anything wrong with giving or receiving gift cards. Despite the common belief that gift cards are an easy way out and show a lack of thoughtfulness, I think that in a way, they can show thought.

For example, say a family wants or needs a new television (or computer or washing machine if you prefer the more practical) and their friends and relatives know about this. Instead of each person giving a gift, they could all give gift cards that can be pooled together and applied toward the purchase of the big item they really want or need.

This can be for things practical or non-practical. But the end result would be the recipient being better able to afford something more expensive they could otherwise afford on their own.

Why Not Just Give Cash?

While gift cards are almost the same as giving cash, they are a little more subtle and a step closer to the gift category. Giving cash for Christmas may feel a little blunt, and maybe even crude to some people. And while a gift card is just cash in another form, the name and implications are a little more gift-like. With a gift card, the recipient has a choice in regards to what their gift will be – be it food, clothes or a luxury.

Examples of Gift Cards That Can Be Helpful During Economic Crisis

Visa or American Express Gift Cards

These can be used to buy necessities such as groceries or household necessities anywhere Visa or Amex are accepted. They can be used in store, online and by phone, but be sure to include the accompanying instructions. I would recommend going with Visa as they are more widely accepted than Amex.

If you wish to add a personal touch to your gift card, GiftCards.com lets you design your own cards with custom images.
Amazon Gift Certificates or Cards

Amazon.com has a huge selection of merchandise including dry groceries, personal care items, household supplies, clothing, furniture and home improvement. An Amazon.com Gift Card or Gift Certificate can be used to buy anything through the Amazon website including those from the Marketplace (fulfilled by merchants other than Amazon).
Department Store Gift Cards

Department Store Gift Cards such as the Target Candy Cane Zebra Gift Card pictured below could be helpful to families with children who need to buy things like school clothes and shoes, as well as things for the house.

Thoughtful Gift Cards

If you want to show that you do put thought and effort in the giving of a gift card, purchase one from a store or type of store that sells niche items for your recipient’s personal interests or hobbies. Many stores these days sell gift cards – it’s no longer just the big department stores:

Toys and Games
Books
Music or iTunes
Electronics
Clothing
Home improvement
Restaurants
Specialty and niche stores such as our own custom dog clothing and costume business. The recipient can select the item and have it customized to his/her pet.

Of course, if you’re just not comfortable with giving gift cards, there is nothing wrong with a traditional gift. After all, the Christmas tradition is one of luxury, and gifts should be luxuries. Only this year, and every year until the current economic crisis is past, I believe gift cards might be more well received than in previous years.

Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #12

Penelope Pince — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:09:51 +0000

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Mine was so nice that I’m not ready for it to end – and in fact it hasn’t really because I’m still eating turkey twice a day – a 22 lb. turkey between 2 people and 2 medium sized dogs means we will probably all be eating turkey till almost Christmas at which time we’ll probably get another. But I blame the turkey for the laziness I’ve been feeling since Thankdsgiving day and as the reason my roundup is 2 days late and shorter than usual.

Master Your Card reports that UK Credit Card Owners are to get an Extra 60 Days to Pay. The banks’ intent may be dubious, but I sure wouldn’t mind having an extra 30 days to earn some interest in my savings account.
Wide Open Wallet offers an interesting Holiday gift suggestion: Put stocks in their stocking. While not as fun, this might prove a more useful gift in the long run than a Nintendo Wii.
Living Well on Less reminds us: Christmas presents, not status symbols. Your friends and family wouldn’t want you to go into debt buying them big, expensive gifts. Remember, it’s the thought that counts.

Tips for Staying Healthy This Winter

Penelope Pince — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:00:27 +0000

While cold weather has it charms – pretty white snow (for some of us), excuse to drink lots of hot chocolate, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. – with it comes some less charming side effects: colds, flus, etc. Not only is it no fun to get sick, it can be expensive. When one is not feeling well, one is often willing to spend whatever money it takes to feel better as quickly as possible, so the best medicine for you and your wallet is to avoid getting sick altogether.

When our cousin Mabel visited us this past spring, she had the misfortune to catch cold on the flight over. The first few weeks of her visit were spent buying and taking all sorts of medication for her cold. She began by spending $30 on Theraflu on her first day here. A few days later, she spent another $30 on more Theraflu, lozenges for sore throat, vitamin C and Zinc drops. After suffering cold sores for a couple of weeks, she spent another $20 on cold sore medication. And then about 3 weeks after her arrival, she gave in and went to the doctor – another $110 for the office visit and another $20 for antibiotics.

While we are very fond of our cousin, one thing that bothered Madoline and me to no end during her 3-month stay with us was her lax food safety and hygiene habits, which we believe contribute to her frequent illnesses. I’m not talking about showering and teeth brushing (though also important), but something even more basic – hand washing. (Something about which I talked a great deal in Warm Weather Food Safety Tips.)

Mabel does not have a habit of frequently washing her hands, a habit we developed in our days working food service and maintain to this day. She might take out the trash or water the yard and then come back inside and not wash her hands. She might touch the floor or play ball with the dogs and then eat without first washing her hands. Sometimes she would have a certain food for breakfast and leave what she couldn’t finish on the table, where it would sit all day until she would heat it up and finish it for dinner. (Read my Warm Weather Food Safety Tips for why this is not good practice.)

Mabel gets seriously ill several times a year; her illnesses start as colds or flus with severe sore throat, and always advance to bronchitis, at which point she must get prescriptions for antibiotics. It could be that she is just naturally susceptible to illness, but we believe her lax habits play a part.

So here I will offer a few tips for helping to stay healthy (and therefore happier) this winter. These are things I’ve learned over the years from food services experience, reading news articles online and common sense.

Tips to Prevent Getting Sick (Especially in Cold Weather)

While these habits should be observed year-round, you should be especially careful when the weather is cold and your immune system is more susceptible. Call me obsessive compulsive if you will, but I haven’t had a cold in 3 years, and you will decrease your chances of catching something if you follow some or all of these suggestions. Also, you never know what the people went before you might have touched or what germs and viruses they might be carrying and leaving in their wake.

Hand Washing

As mentioned before, hand washing is one of the most basic ways to prevent illness through ingestion. You should always -

Wash hands with antibacterial soap and hot water before eating or handling food.
Wash hands after going outside, shopping and getting home.

Wash or sanitize hands after:

Pumping gas and/or using windshield cleaners at the gas station
Using ATM machines
Using a public pay phone
Handling cash
Touching a public doorknob
Touching a public service counter i.e. post office, library, bank, etc.

Environmental Precautions

Carry your own pen for signing credit card slips or writing checks when shopping.
If your grocery store offers sanitizing wipes, wipe the handle and basket of your shopping cart before use.
Carry hand sanitizer in your purse and car so you can clean your hands before eating while you’re out.
Regularly clean the contents of your purse and wallet – wipe things like cell phones and credit cards (be careful of the magnetic strip) with rubbing alcohol and wash whatever is washable – keys, lotion bottles, makeup, etc. – with soap and warm water.
Regularly wipe down your workspace: wipe phones, computer (keyboard, mouse, power switch), contents of your drawers with rubbing alcohol, especially if you apply lotion on your hands regularly, as the residue sticks to things and vice versa – including germs.
If you use the library, wipe down books with rubbing alcohol before reading, especially if you like to read in bed.

Health & Nutrition

Observe food safety guidelines.
Take Vitamin C and Zinc to help boost your immune system during stressful times when it might be more susceptible.
Wear a hat. Almost 50% of your body heat is lost through the head. Wearing a cap when you sleep can help you stay warm more easily.
If you exercise, cool down properly and put on a dry sweatshirt or jacket afterwards to prevent catching a chill.
Get enough sleep. Sleep is one of the most important elements in preventing illness.
Don’t overtax yourself. If you’re tired, don’t push yourself. Stress is one of the main contributors to illness.

These are good habits to keep in mind and practice if you are concerned with your health. Your body may be able to resist a few viruses or illness, but it can get worn down and more susceptible over time if it must constantly work to fight them.

Bacteria and viruses can be anywhere – a pen, a doorknob, a counter, including the dreaded Staph virus. They may not be able to survive for long on a surface, but in busy times and locations, such as during the Holidays when public places are full of people, a bacterium wouldn’t have to stay in one place for very long before being picked up by a hapless person. And that hapless person could be you. A few precautions could save your health, money, and perhaps even life.

Interesting Reads from Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #10

Penelope Pince — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:00:44 +0000

I know we have been terribly remiss in posting lately; again, apologies. The Halloween rush is over and we can breathe again (until the Christmas rush starts). To be honest, we were more than a little surprised at the amount of business we received for Halloween considering the current state of the economy. Our sales are nothing compared to other bigger businesses, but still enough to keep the two of us jumping for a few weeks. So, we found it very interesting that there are still people out there who could afford to spend a bit on costumes for their dogs and horses. We’re certainily not complaining, though, and happy for the business.

Blog Carnivals

We participated in 2 carnivals within the past week, or would it be more accurate to say we participated in the same carnival two weeks in a row? Either way, we’d like to thank the hosts for including our posts.

Last week’s Carnival of Personal Finance – Financial Armageddon Edition! was hosted at Master Your Card and included our Tricky Treats for Trick-or-Treaters: Healthy and Useful Alternatives to Halloween Candy.
This week’s Carnival of Personal Finance No. 177 was hosted by The Sun’s Financial Diary and included our post It Saves to Be Nice Part 1: It’s Business but it’s Also Personal.

That wraps up today’s roundup. Happy reading!

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Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #13

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Welcome to Frugaltroph!

A brief explanation of our project title and motto

Frugal, Unique and Meaningful Valentine’s Day Gift & Date Ideas, Plus Budget Tips

Table of Contents

Valentine’s Day Budgeting Suggestions

Gestures

for Her

for Him

for Each Other

Date Ideas

Romantic Foods and Treats

Gift Ideas

Gifts Under $10

Gifts Under $20

Gifts Under $30

Gift + Date Ideas

Valentine’s Date Movies

Under $10

Under $20

Related posts:

Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #14

Pecuniary News