Tucson AZ: Revisiting My "Penny Pincher" Days

Spending the winter in an RV or in a small apt./park model for 3-6 months is a test of your survival skills. It is a bit like going on a very long camping trip. If you can imagine that, you can get the picture. If you have never been camping or anything close to it, you will have some adjusting to do.

Our space here is around 400 square feet. When we began doing this, we took the bare essentials with us but over the years we have managed to accumulate all the good stuff.  However, our bed is not comfortable and the furnace is on the fritz. Don't let it be said that we are not tough and creative. We know how to overcome most problems that we come face to face with.

Even if I were camping I would be rearranging the tent and making the table beautiful. That is just my nature. A beautiful table cloth can make the worst table look wonderful.

Doing Without or Making Do
Several years ago we bought a little fake fireplace that runs on a light bulb. We have it installed in a corner cabinet that sits under our TV. That little baby has kept us warm through the last cold spell. Honestly, we were just fine. We giggled because we remember huddling around the heat in our childhood.  It was really kind of fun.

The bed really does need to be replaced but we now have a memory foam pad that goes on the top. It is a bit like settling into a feather bed I think. The real problem is that we both roll toward the middle of the bed...just like the bed we were gifted when we were first married. That one has us giggling too. When we went camping we slept on a 2-3 inch foam mattress so this is a real upgrade for us.

Planter made out of a freight pallet. I found it
at the nursery. I loved it!
We might do this in Oregon. Pallets are general
free or very cheap.

Aesthetics on the Cheap
Yesterday we bought our plants for our winter stay. We always buy a few geraniums and herbs just to keep me happy.  We live on a corner here and it is worth the little expense just to have people stop and visit for a few minutes as I pull a weed or two.  But you need to know that I line my hanging flower baskets with brown  paper bags and put a plastic garbage bag filled with potting soil inside. It looks ok and is very cheap! I spend a little over $4.00 on potting soil and I am good to go. (Most of my pots or baskets are things others did not want.)

Furniture
Because people leave or change their furniture, we have managed to accumulate all of our outdoor furniture for free. We spray painted a plastic table and two chairs in Arizona colors. They look very classy for only cost of a can of spray paint.  I have even given some away.  

Eating Out
Groupon is our source of restaurant coupons and our favorite restaurant, Taco Gyro, is very cheap. It was recommended by our neighbors from Mexico. We also like Zona 78 on Tanque Verde...the best and cheapest happy hour in Tucson for 3 years running has us going back over and over.

Entertainment
We dance in the park for a minimal fee and our friends are our main source of entertainment.  I know people that spend a lot of time being tourist or going to shows. They have a lot of fun on very little money. We have a National Park Lifetime Pass so we can come and go for free in the Saguaro National Park that is very near us. I never get enough of that place.

It is kind of fun to live simply and cheaply for a few months each year.  It leaves us with more money for golf. (We alway use EZLinks for tee times.) Life is good!

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10 Rules for Shopping - Don't Gamble with your Money

We have public information spots on TV about gambling here in Oregon. People get carried away, get in debt and do crazy things.  I think shopping is a lot like a game of chance. That is why I am giving you 10 rules for shopping to keep costs down. I do these things:

1. Go to the bank and get the cash for what you can afford to spend.
2. Limit the number of stores you will visit...make a list.
3. Limit the amount of time you will spend in each store.
4. Don't go shopping unless you have a specific need. Shopping when you are frugal cannot be your entertainment.
5. Make a list of the items you need.
6. Pre-shop for those big items online so you can make sure you are getting a good price at the store. Take shipping into account when you jot the price down on your list.
7. Look for coupons online and in the paper. Always take into account the distance you will have to drive for a good deal. Gas is expensive.
8. If you love something but it costs too much, wait for a while and shop outlet stores. Marshalls, Home Goods and Ross can have that very item for much less.
9. Think outside the box...if you are shopping for light fixtures, for example, be sure to check outdoor lighting. Look in the men's department for unisex clothes...they charge men less for the same items
10. Never throw a receipt away...not for a long time. An item that doesn't work or breaks after a short period of time can be returned. I am told that places like Costco will take things back after the warranties have expired no questions asked.

Be sure to check the related articles below. You might find something that interests you there too.

Have a wonderful week.

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Stylish Simple Living...what should you keep!

Bob Lowry wrote a post the other day about living simply but not having a simple life. He spoke of people going over board with the "simple living" principal stripping their life of all those things that are not needed. I began to think about that idea.

Rooftops of Sapa (edited with Snapseed on ipad)

We have just returned from a trip to Viet Nam where we visited a community in north Vietnam called Sapa. Here children played without shoes or even pants on days when I was wearing a coats and scarves. The people that lived in the countryside lived on the bare minimum. But, they still gathered things of beauty around them.  Native costumes with lively colors adorned the women and they spent their days weaving and embroidering things that they sold in markets. In fact, beauty surrounded them. On some level it was as though the difficulties of their life was made more bearable because of the colors that they embraced. I think that we can take a lesson from this. Not all the things in our life are disposable. There are things we should never get rid of; beauty, cleanliness, friendship, learning and family.

Native Women bartering!

Bob talked about the person that rid themselves of all but 15 things.  He thought it was a bit "silly". I think that if you are going to take away all but 15 things, the 5 things I listed above had be the things that stay. So of all your personal possessions that you can live without, those things that make your heart sing because they are beautiful should not be let go.  Hang on to what you can because, even when things get bad, they will make your life better.

I invite you to read Bob's article and see what he has done. Simple Living Can Become Silly is one of the best I have seen recently.

Really GOOD Free TV and Movies

Image via Wikipedia

We share one TV right now.  It is that time of year when my husband really NEEDS to watch football/golf/baseball all at the same time.  Our one TV is busy-busy-busy.  I am beginning to sympathize with Bob Lowery over at Satisfying Retirement.  He and his wife decided to cut the cord and eliminate cable TV.  I too am basically without cable tv right now.  But, after I began tuning into Hula on my computer, my hunger for more choices was taken care of.  I actually think we could do the same thing as Bob.

This is the way it works.  You go to Hulu.com and start clicking.  If you are willing to add a little money ($7.95 per month, one month free) and increase your choices you can sign up for HuluPlus.  I do have a free account but you can also sign in with Facebook or not sign it at all. It is easy and did I mention FREE!

I watch cooking shows on my kitchen computer when I am working there.  It is just comforting for some reason.  When my husband is watching games on the big screen, I just find a show on Hulu and watch it on our laptop.  I will be catching up on Fringe and Bones. It is a whole new tv show/movie world out there.  And FREE is good so we will stick with that!

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Pot Light Conversion Kits & Spray Paint...like new again!

Conversion (retrofit) kit from Lowes
transformed can light!

We just moved into a different house...new to us!  But it was built 15 years ago.   We are very impressed with the quality material but it is just a little bit out of style.  All it needs is some paint, cleaning and a few cosmetic changes.  You know...a light fixture here and a can light there.  So, instead of buying new stuff right off the bat, we went and bought a can of silver spray paint and a pot light conversion kit (a light fixture retrofit kit.)

My husband disconnected the light fixture from the ceiling and removed the decorative glass shades.  He taped the sockets with blue painter tape and hung the light fixture from the ceiling of our garage.  He took great care and time to apply light coats to cover the light fixture and chain completely.  When the old brassy light fixture was rehung with it's new silver paint we were very pleased.  Now the chain needs to be longer but that will come another day.

We purchased a pot light conversion kit as Lowe's the second day we moved in.  It was a matter of removing the light bulb, screwing in the fixture and tightening it to the ceiling.  No one will be the wiser and it really does look very sharp over the kitchen sink.  The bar you see above the windeow is the beginnings of a pot rack that will hang there.  I love my pot racks!

Brassy light fixture after spray paint changing
it to silver...much better!

Have a wonderful day.

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Links: Tech, Style, Free Stuff, Cosmo for Men & PDX Happy Hour

Note:  All these links came from site I follow on Twitter.  I will provide a list of the Twits I follow.

Faster Internet: with Clearwire:  My husband and I have used Clearwire for two years now.  When we began using the service we were given $20 monthly price for life...a good thing it seemed.  Clearwire would reset the modem when the speed dropped and we got by for 6 month of the year.

But I did not like it.  It was not fast enough to suit me.  The last spring I finally went to the Clearwire website myself and began looking at what was available to me.  I found lots of good idea for checking on speed, coverage area and plans for service.  In fact that was where I found the Global Speedtest. After I ran the speed test I called Clearwire and upgraded my service!  The pace of my connection was so bad I wondered why we were being charged at all.

Now we have moved to a new location in Hillsboro.  After an initial surge of speed on the first day the download speed has dropped off to .88 mbps  and upload is now at .06 mbps.  When I look at the comparison of the speed to the national average we are at 8% and globally we are at 14%.  Should we expect better than that?  Well I think so.  Comcast is coming tomorrow so we will see how they stack up to the averages.

Computer Setting for Apple TV:  We have a Apple TV in the park model we own in Tucson.  We can connect to Flickr through our computer.  This post on Unplugged over at Apartment Therapy is something I will be referring back to and using to increase the streaming speed for movies.  Hopefully, we will not get hiccups in the stream if I follow the directions.

Lovely Clusters:  Blogger chose Lovely Clusters as Today Blog of Note.  If you love beautiful clothes and colors that make you want to sing, this will be a good stop for you.

Free Stuff:    I love free stuff and coupons!!! I can't help it.  The Frugal Girls are on the ball when it comes to the good things.  Check it out and follow them on Twitter...I do!

Cosmopolitan Magazine now has a magazine for men called Cosmo For Men:  It is ONLY available on your ipad.  I just thought you needed to know!

Donate your Brain:  TechSoup's Donate Your Brain (DYB) is a microvolunteering initiative. It allows anyone, anywhere, to help nonprofits and other community organizations with quick answers and suggestions for their Internet, software, and other tech needs.

Facebook Portland Happy Hour:  Now I am done!

Happy Monday!

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Moving Advice - How to Keep Costs Down

 Background
    In a blog post I wrote back in February, I spoke about aging in place.  Should we AGE IN PLACE or Are There Other Choices? was the title of the blog.  I wondered at the time if I would know when the time had come to find a home that reflected my age and not my youthful dreams.  We wanted to make the move to a one level home when we could enjoy the move and getting to know new people.  The thoughts I was mulling over in my head back in February must have taken root.  We are making the move and we are very excited about the choice.
     Back in 2001 we moved into a multilevel condo with soaring views and three beautiful deck for my plants.  During those ten years we made this our home, watched our grandchildren grow up and enjoyed a beautiful retirement lifestyle.  It has been a very happy time in our lives. Then this last spring I fell on the golf course and twisted my ankle severely.  We were in Arizona at the time so I was able to heal in our little park model.  Still, I was given a taste of what it might be like to live for a length of time with limited mobility.  It was a wake up call for my husband and I.  We both knew that the time had come.  When we came home to Oregon, we listed our home.  It sold at the beginning of July.  We will move this next week.
Moving Tips
    The last time we moved our choices were limited...you hired a mover or you rounded up a bunch of friends and family or you moved yourself.  We chose to use a mover that time.  The process of moving has changed since those olden times 10 years ago.  I guess I haven't been paying much attention. Now people are doing things a lot differently.  They are learning to save money on the moving costs because a whole world of new resources are available now.  This is what we found:
Image via Wikipedia

• Angie's List:  This a service that provides rating and listings for local service providers.  Member join in order to get access to the list but service providers do not pay to be listed. Getting on Angie's List is a major thing for service providers. You can find everything from a painter to a dentist and then read so see what others have said.  

"Before Angie's List, selecting a service provider was like throwing darts blind folded. Those who report on Angie's List have helped me make informed, logical, educated decisions. I am truly grateful."
- Nancy B., St. Paul, Minn.

"When I had a problem with a service provider, Angie stuck up for me, and I got action immediately. I wish I would have called earlier!" 

• Hire A Helper:  We need some help with a few very heavy furniture pieces that are in our upper level.  When we looked for movers we found a website called Hire a Helper.  They have a list of movers, day laborers or cleaning services.  This website not only allows you to hiring a mover online,  it also has a section for people looking for work.  I really liked the review and rating system.  We hired movers for three hours to move large pieces of furniture.  This service does a lot for charity and 1% of their gross revenue goes to the International Justice Mission.
• Boxes:  We bought one large bundle of moving boxes from Costco.  The boxes were called Scotch Moving Kit for around $50.  It included bubble wrap, tape and 25 boxes of assorted sizes.  We also bought a bundle of small boxes from Uhaul.  Uhaul will take any boxes back you do not use.
• Pods:  We have having a Pod delivered the day before our mover come.  These portable on demand containers can be rented by the month or in some cases for only two weeks.  The company will set the container in the location of your choice and you load it at your own pace.  They then come and drop the Pod at your new location and you can unload without worrying about an extra charge from your movers.   Our family has used this service before when they were having hardwood floors installed.  The containers served as a storage unit in their driveway while the work was being completed.
• Moving Trucks: We will use a moving truck from Uhaul to supplement the Pod.  There are a number of different companies renting moving trucks.  What amazes me about these trucks is how reasonable they are.  Uhaul, Penske and Budget were the companies we compared online.  We are going to use Uhaul because they have a location close to us.  We will also rent a hand truck from them.
• Movers:  Why didn't we use a moving company?  We had a bad experience with movers last time so we are trying to do this on our own with our young family's help.  I can only advise you to check references carefully, buy the insurance that they offer and be available to watch the move itself.  We were told by our home owners insurance the move was covered.  When movers broke one box of antique china, the insurance company refused to pay citing movers negligence. Just check the options our carefully. 

     The fact that we can actually find people to work for us on a short term basis is a wonderful change from the situation 10 years ago.  When so many people are unemployed we were delighted to find that someone had been ingenious enough to gather people together that want to work even for a day.

     I will let you know how this goes.


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How to Move! Tips gathered from experience! +Info Links

We are in the process of packing to move...we hope.  Even though there are a few problems with the sale, the closing is is scheduled for July 22.  Talk about being the pickle in a sandwich...this has got to be it.

So we are putting things in boxes, sorting out and disposing of unused or wanted clothes.  We are trying to simplify our lives and make this move easier. We have moved in cars, farm trucks, pick-up trucks, u-hauls and moving vans.  There has been the dorm room to apartment rental move, apartment rental to small house rental move, small house rental to small house purchase move.  Moves up and moves down only to move back up again!  For most of those moves we have used old stuff from family or bargains I have found.  We have very few valuable things.

There are a few things I have learned as I traveled "around the block of experience."  Just in case:

Moving Van?
Image by Andrew Torris

1. When you hire movers, always buy their insurance.  Your insurance may say they will cover it but we learned the hard way that their exclusions were our problems.  A box of china  was crushed by careless movers and my insurance company would not pay!
2. Check on the movers carefully.  If you are storing items, insurance becomes more important that ever. 
3. Buy a package of boxes ( at Costco) that are sized correctly.  This makes loading a van easier.
4. Don't assume that bedding, towels and clothing are lighter.  Those boxes can be very, very heavy.
5. Mark all boxes carefully.  Note what order you want them taken into the new house.  Some things can be left in boxes for a few days (or until you move again!).
6. If you are moving with your partner or husband try to pack together. Both people should know what is in each box. This can be a stressful time and cooperation really helps.
7. I like to downsize before I move.  I do not want to do any sorting when I move into the new house.
8.  Pack suit cases as though you were going on a trip so you have the necessities on those first days.  
9. Accept that your storage areas and garage is very full of things. Allow room for those things.
10. Remember, when you think you are through packing, you still have a lot to do.  I once forgot how much room our gardening supplies could take up.  What looked like a pickup load turned into much, more.

We are not young and we are eating an elephant just one bite at a time.  The trick is to take it slow and easy.  Gulping does not work.

Just a thought.

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Moving Day Checklist

Frugal Texas Gal: Going Off the Reservation

I thought you might enjoy reading Frugal Texas Gal's blog.  Here is the link:

Frugal Texas Gal: Going Off the Reservation: "It seems that in the next week or so I will be breaking my ever so limited budget, and more than a couple times. Usually when I jump off th..."

8 VALUABLE Tips for All Thing Frugal...from someone that knows!

Photos enlarged become beautiful art work!  by Barbara

If you are retired you have all been around the block many times.  Your pool of living wisdom is so deep and wide it can overwhelm.  That is why I have hesitated to WRITE about living frugally...I am sure you all have tips to share with me!  So I have decided I will share with you and you can share with me.  It seems only fair. (Leave a comment and I will add your idea to the list along with your website link.)

1. CLOTHES SHOPPING  I learned a sweet secret when I was very young and thin.  Those days are long gone but this secret has been invaluable to building a wardrobe on a budget.  Sales are wonderful but if you shop for your size only your are missing the best bargains.  I just scored a beautiful pair of Eileen Fisher linen slacks last week for 75% off.  By looking on the rack of one size up and one size down, I will find very expensive clothes that are sized wrong or are made by a designer label that will cut clothes differently.  The last stop for those clothing is where you will find the best deals so go to a Nordstroms Rack or a store that is up scales in your city.  Shop in the clearance department.  You will be surprised.
2. ENTERTAINING ON A BUDGET  If you are like me, you love to entertain in style...candles, table cloths, napkins, beautiful food.  The short version here is a list of the best places to find these items:  Dripless candles, Trader Joe's dripless candles are so cheap and beautiful.  They self extinguish and absolutely will not drip.  Table cloths can be a simple piece of fabric cut to a square....54" wide buy 54" of fabric. You can simply buy fabric glue or tape and iron a hem.    Napkins that look like cloth but do not need to be washed.  Tuesday Morning has beautiful expensive paper napkins at a very low price.  Food can be elegant without breaking the bank...I love Sandra Lee's Semi- Homemade.  Always remember a small amount of something out of this world can be supplemented with basics like seasoned rice or quinoa and vegetables.
3. DECORATING  Always remember paint is a lot cheaper than tearing out walls.  Design Remix on HGTV has wonderful ideas for using what you have to dress up a room.  But paint is cheap! especially if you go to the sale shelf at Home Depot.  True there are a lot of colors that you DON'T want or had never thought about.  Check every time you go in.   Basic white with a slight tint will be there occasionally and that is always a good choice.  PAINT CAN BE EVEN CHEAPER THAN YOU THOUGHT!
4. TRAVEL AND EATING  First remember that most motels have wifi now and your computer is going to be your friend.  If you don't travel with one, most motels have a computer station in the lobby that you can use.  Take advantage of the information a search like best food in Seattle can show you.  This is so basic but sometimes we forget how travel can be affordable.  Seniors generally don't eat as much as a construction worker...going to the truck stop is not a good health choice and is probably not a good value.  This is what I think.  Breakfast does not break the bank but it can smash a healthy diet.  Bacon and eggs is not a good choice at least not every day.  A quick visit to the grocery will get you what you need...yogurt, fruit and a whole wheat bagel.  Or stay at a motel that serves these things as part of the price of the room.  I think lunch is the meal we should eat as our main meal.  The lunch menu always less and has basically the same dishes as the high priced dinner meal.  You can eat at a nice restaurant with good service for a lot less.  I think that happy hour at up scale restaurants makes good sense for your evening meal.  You can order a soda or iced tea if you don't drink wine and buy a happy hour item or even two, be well nourished and not break the bank. The thing to remember here is that a mixed drink can be expensive so check on the happy hour specials.   Besides that you can get dressed up if you want so elegance has not flown out the truck stop window. Most restaurants are willing to split a meal for you is you desire.   Remember to check online for Groupon and Restaurant.com.  We eat for 1/2 at some very nice places.
5. RECREATION   GolfNow.com is a great place to find discount golf at the last minute.  If you are traveling most motels have a computer station somewhere.  Give it a look before you book that full price golf outing.  You will not feel like a dope when you check in and find the guy next to you is paying a lot less than you because he booked a tee time online fifteen minutes later than you.  There are other similar sites that work just a well.  Sometimes local websites have great deals.
6. BIG PURCHASES There are some things that just take your breath away.  A car purchase for example.  I am not as good at this sort of thing as most people.  For example, we have gotten a lemon car before and traded it in as soon as we could.  So I don't like to buy second hand.  I know someone else bought that AWFUL car!  We purchased a new car this spring and saved quite a bit by going to our credit card website to see if they had any tips.  It turns out that American Express card company has agreements with car dealers fora discount which turned out to be their bottom line.  It saved us the pain of dealing with the back and forth of dealing and put money in our pocket.  Look it up, find your car and ask your car salesman if they participate.  Go away if they deny you.  It is in everyone's best interest so I can't imagine them turning you down.  IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK! 
7. ALWAYS BARGAIN...WHAT IS THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN?  We have traveled to countries where bargaining is a part of all shopping experiences.  We have learned that the bargain is simply in the asking.  Cash will give you a discount for furniture...but you need to ask.  While Starbucks won't bargain with you, a barista may sell cups for less if you buy more than one.  IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK!  I have grinned or chuckled with all sorts of merchants because I was not afraid to ask...the answer may be NO but who cares.  Life is too short to be too serious!
8. SHOP FOR QUALITY NOT QUANTITY  We all have our quirks.  Mine happens to be an aversion to cute rate stores.  I have found that in the end I usually paid more because the merchandise was shoddy and I needed to replace things long before I should have. I don't know about you but I like for the things I buy to last a while.  Buying cheap is a lot different than buy very good quality for less.  I much prefer to buy expensive sheets that don't match from the sale table.  I have done this all my adult life because I love beautiful things and I was a teacher.  Teachers do not get rich!

There you go...8 tips from a frugal but stylish shopper!
Note:  This list may grow...check back later!
LEAVE A COMMENT AND I WILL ADD YOUR IDEA TO THE LIST WITH A LINK TO YOUR BLOG OR WEBSITE!

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10 Things About Buying a New Car...we saved some money!

     We just bought a new car today.  Phew!  Trust me there is a reason why we only do this every nine years!  But there were a few things that were different this time around.  We actually enjoyed the experience.

1. Interest rates for those of us with good credit are REALLY LOW!
2. The gadgets on cars are absolutely amazing.  Because the interest is low we can afford better stuff.  Blue Tooth, Alarm Systems, Tire Pressure Warnings, Sound System that searches for the kind of music you want, 4 wheel drive, etc.
3. More power!  We purchases a Subaru Outback Limited. We found the size and configuration to be perfect and the 2.5i  4 cylinder had a lot more power that the old Forester.
4. Our American Express Credit Card paved the way for Fleet pricing on the car saving us several thousand dollars.
5. We discovered that we we could do most of our research and decision making before we even left home.  By going to American Express Auto Purchase Program, we could compare prices, amenities and view the interior of all those cars we felt might be in the running.  That site is available to you even if you don't have a card.  This is good information to have even if you don't have the card.  More information makes you a better bargainer. 
6. The warranty we got this time was 6 years.  We both like that a lot.
7. We are a lot smarter...we did not get the service package when we found out it would only save us $70 over the length of it's use.  Ask how much it will save you.  The service package was only good at the dealership we bought it at.
8. Sales practices by car salesmen may have changed in the last nine years...for the better.  At any rate it worked that way for us.
9. We discovered that you can get a good price even if you don't trade your car in and it is a whole lot easier.  We liked that a lot.
10. Dealers will take your credit card for $2000 on the down payment.  Airline miles are a good thing.

    I don't know about you but I hate to feel like I have been taken.  This is the first time in many years I have walked away from the purchase of a motorized vehicle that I have had a good taste in my mouth.  That, my friends, is a very good thing.
     Incidentally, Brian at Royal Moore Subaru in Hillsboro, Oregon is a very good person to deal with.

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