Pecuniarities

I recently learned a very important lesson about the pitfalls of complacency. Since June 2004, we had been with an auto insurance company called South Coast Auto Insurance/Anchor General, which we had chosen for its competitive rates in the Los Angeles area. When we moved to a more remote area in December of 2005, we [...]

How to keep your home cool with basic scientific principles and thermodynamics. Save money on utilities and air conditioning with logical and simple methods.

Merriam-Webster defines the word “vacation” as “a respite or a time of respite from something”. Well, if that “something” from which one is taking a respite is “peace and quiet” then I would have to agree with the definer. Otherwise, gathering from my 2 recent “vacations” (one to Disneyland, one [working] vacation to Las Vegas [...]

Here is simple home decoration project to spruce up your walls or sides of cabinets that have an electrical outlet or light switch plate. This electrical outlet pictured to the right is in a conspicuous place in our house and I found the yellowish white plastic color rather offensive, so I came up with the [...]

Having a mini home gym can save you hundreds of dollars a year and get you more exercise in the long run.

Having a whole house to ourselves, Penelope and I often feel like a couple of kids when the parents are absent. We play fetch with the dogs in the hallways and let slobbery tennis balls bounce off the walls. We push furniture around and rearrange the rooms on impulse. We call every meal or break [...]

It is generally accepted that buying in bulk is the best way to save money and the backbone of a frugal lifestyle. I do agree with this, but not for all things. With products and foods we regularly or quickly use and consume, I almost always buy in bulk without question. But there are cases [...]