What to do when Dollar Stretchers and Junk Car Buyers come to call!

Junk Cars

Thank you for stopping by.  If you like what you read, beam me up on twitter, google+ etc.  It helps a lot!

I write a blog online and I make a little money when people place ads in my sidebar for financial services or pay for a link to a business in a guest post.  In order to do what I do I belong to social websites like Linkedin, twitter and Facebook.  They are necessary.  As a result I get contacted by a wide variety of people that earn a living online. It is as though I own a store and they want to place their product on my shelves.  That is not what I expected to happen with this blog but that is how it has evolved.

This morning I was contacted by two websites that were related in a small way.  They were both related to money...not big money, or insurance.  These websites are focused on people that love to have a little extra cash in their pockets.  One person owns a website called Dollar Stretcher.  This business is in my Linkedin contacts.  You will find information on everything from economical travel to buying and selling a house.  One stop shopping...my idea of a very good idea!

The second was from a website called Junk Car Buyers.  I know!  This one made me smile.  But here is the thing...it may be just the service you are needing.  If you have a car you have inherited but just won't start or a car you never use, what do you do?  Well, I guess you call Junk Car Buyers and they will give you some cash AND take the thing away.  I love it when a charity or a buyer not only wants my stuff but actually shows up and carts it away.  I don't know anyone personally that has a junk car parked in their drive or the vacant lot out back but maybe you do.

So there you have it...a day in the life of a typical retired kindergarten teacher turned into an ecommerce whatchamaycallit!  I hope your day has been full of smiles.

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Euro Beads (Pugster.com) -- an Inexpensive "Pandora" Look for Christmas!!

Pugster Winter Jewelry

Pre-made Euro Bead bracelet.
Pugster (I found one of these
locally.)

If you gift list included women of all ages, I think I have found the perfect gifts for you.  This is the years of the "Pandora Charm Bracelets and Necklaces".  Every jewelry store worth it's salt has a beautiful "Pandora" jewelry display.

I love this style of jewelry but I don't like the price.  Chains for charm necklaces or bracelets can go for around $40 up to $1400.  It all depends on what precious metal you select.  After that purchase you will need to select charms.  The birthstone charm will run you anything from $45 up to $85...each.

So this morning I went on a search for a website for "Euro Beads".  On a website called Pugster.com you will find a very large selection of beads and chains.  These beads are advertised as "Pandora" compatible.  The only difference is the price.  They look very expensive but they are not!

They have a page of beads that go for around $1.99.  I am satisfied with the variety on this page but if you want to go to the best sellers you will find them priced at around $13.00.

The euro bead accessory chains begin at $5.99.  The selection included silver chains and silicone lanyards.  I gave my granddaughter the lanyard and beads for a necklace for her birthday and she wears it daily.

I even love the idea of a charm bracelet.  These make a nice statement, are reasonably price and every woman on your Christmas list needs one.

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Technorati Tags: gifts, shopping, frugal, EuroBeads

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SAVE lots by being a snow birding?

Being a snow bird is not something most of us rush into lightly.  We count our pennies first and then fly south.  It occurred to me this morning that in a lot of ways leaving our home in winter is saving us a lot of money.  How?  Well here is a list:

Image by Always at Home via Flickr
1. First of all I am healthier.  I don't know if that is a savings but it certainly could be.
2. We don't heat 1500 square feet in bitter cold.  
3. We turn off the water heater to save more electricity/gas.
4. Our second car goes in storage and we only insure it for storage.
5. We only use one car in Arizona.  
6. Groceries are cheaper in Tucson than they are here...and more fresh vegetable are available because of the location.
7. Our entertainment is mostly taken care of in our RV resort.  We do not spend much to keep ourselves happy.
8. I do not have a winter and summer wardrobe.  Because the summer temperature in Portland is very similar to the winter temperature in Tucson I only need one set of clothes.  I buy all of those off season when they are on sale.
9. Just turning off our TV cable, computer and telephone save us a lot of money.  ($160+ this last month.)
10. Garbage, computer service, vampire lights all go away here in Oregon.  
    Image by Always at Home via Flickr

This is the all important departure list that we use:

1. Mail...the post office with forward mail with a beginning and ending date.  If you are in one location, this works perfectly.  If you are on the road you can have a family member forward you mail occasionally or you can have your mail forwarded to a service and they will take care of this for you.
2. Turning off the water if possible...I know, you think this is a no brainer.  You need to consider that if you turn off your water you also need to turn off your water tank.  The tank could burn up without water.   Draining pipes might be necessary if you are from the frozen north!  But, no matter what, you need to find a way to have your water turned off.  Water damage is a horrible thing and it happens a lot!
3. Have the insurance for you second car changed...this can save you a lot of money.  The insurance company will change the cost for you if you have the car in storage.  Cutting the cost for car insurance for six months out of the year saves around $400. 
4. Keeping the bad guys out...I know people that turned on an alarm system and walked away feeling very secure.   Be very careful.  We have someone check in occasionally.
5. Make your home look lived in when it is not...(see keeping the bad guys out).  
6. Make choices about turning off garbage, TV, internet, phone service, etc.  Most of these services have a "vacation/hibernation" setting.  That means that they don't disconnect you entirely and all you need to do when you return is give them a call and they turn your service back on.  Talk with your servers for more information.
7. Decide on a wardrobe.  It has taken me years to learn what to take with me and what to leave behind.  If you are a total newbie, check on the temperatures during the months you are going to be in a locality.  Arizona is NOT hot in the winter.  Locals and experienced snowbirds do not dress like it is 90 degree when the temperature rises to the mid 60's during the day.  
8. If you leave the electricity on, UNPLUG EVERYTHING that can be disconnected...the vampires can cost a lot!!! 

Hope you find this helpful.

b

Technorati Tags: travel, winterizing, frugal, retirement, savings

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Fall-to-Winter Decorating...RetireInStyleBlog's Way

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I don't think that bringing the season into the house is all that difficult.  In the world of interior design it seems that each seasons needs it own style or new "stuff".  Really, for those of us that live in a world dictated by finances and space, the need to be creative takes the front seat.  It is only logical.

For example, the wreath on the front door.  I know, I have seen those beautiful dried hydrangea wreaths and I have also looked at the price tag and gasped.  Most of us have a wreath from days gone by hanging in the garage, attic or in the box of Christmas decorations.  All you really need it a can of spray paint.  I had an old rose vine wreath that had shed leaves everywhere.  But, I had paid a fortune for it originally (6 years ago) and I could not think about throwing it away.  I needed to get one more season out of this beautiful piece before it went into the garbage.  Enter Home Depot spray paint department.  We were looking for a copper pipe to use for a pot rack in the kitchen and I passed through the spray paint aisle.  Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of this beautiful red/orange color in the shiniest texture ever.  On a whim I bought the paint and brought it home for the weath.  It is perfect for fall.  It will hang on the front door until Christmas and be embellished with seasonal decorations.

With a little spray paint and a lot of creativity fall can be hanging on our front door in an afternoon.

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