Halloween - Cheap and Cheerful

I found Halloween suncatchers on sale for less than $2 each... a paint it yourself kit with plastic suncatcher, color chart, tiny pots of paint, and a brush. My inner child said "I want that!" I snagged two different designs -- total expense less than $4 -- and went home to have Halloween fun.

When I discovered that the white paint I needed for the ghost had dried up in its little pot, I used a glitter glue stick and filled in the ghost with silvery white glitter glue. That ghost shimmers! The suncatchers hang in my kitchen above a row of glow-in-the dark Halloween Pez containers standing like little soldiers in front of the cookbooks lining my kitchen counter. Atop a book is a small ceramic pumpkin eerily lit by a battery operated candle.

Sunday I'll be baking brownies, topped with Halloween sprinkles, as a trick-or-treat for friends at work. Last year I baked brownines in a pumpkin muffin pan, and made orange Jello shots in a skull motif tray. You couldn't really see the pumpkin design on the brownies, and the Jello shots had to be scooped out of the skulls... a major mess, but it all tasted okay.

What are YOU doing for a cheap and cheerful Halloween?

Penny Pincher

If cash is king, why are debit card users acting like royalty?

There's an old saying that royalty does not carry money... whether it's fact or myth, doesn't matter. What interests me is the trend of debit card users not to carry cash. They blithely sail out of their homes in the morning with only a debit card tucked in a pocket... "Cash? I don't need cash, I have my debit card."

I just don't get it. Forget that banks are starting to charge monthly fees for debit card use, why rely solely on debit cards for daily expenditures? What happens if the electronic system goes down or there's a problem with your account and your card is denied? It's happened... imagine standing at the grocery store checkout with egg on your face because your card was denied and you don't have cash in your wallet.

I believe in cold hard cash for day to day living. Cash for gas, groceries, laundry, trips to the flea market, a hair cut or a cookie. All paid for with cash. I give myself a bi-weekly allowance... when that's gone, no more spending until the next bi-weekly draw. No sneaky trips to the ATM for more cash or credit card use because my wallet is empty.

Does plastic -- credit or debit -- lead to overspending? What do YOU think???

Penny Pincher

Let's Get Serious About Our Money

It's been two years since I began this blog, and time to talk turkey about our money! How has your money situation changed in the past two years? Better? Worse? The same?

If you're thinking about retirement and don't have a hollow tree filled with $$ acorns to supplement your retirement benefits (pensions, 401K, social security)... here's a tip for you. Live NOW like you're living on your retirement income... it may be a real eye opener. Can you meet all your current expenses? Is there any gravy for treats? You can get a projected benefit figure from social security here: http://www.ssa.gov/estimator/

Lately I've been hearing a lot of whining about electric bills (where I live power is $0.48 per KWH). Some people would rather pay and complain than do anything to reduce their bills. I look at utility bills as money poured down a rat hole. I'd rather have more $$ for treats than give it to the wasteful power company. Here's what I've done to keep my bill in the $50 monthly range. Caveat: I live in a very warm climate where winter heating is not a necessity.

First... I removed an old air conditioner and did not replace it. Instead I bought table fans. I have a ceiling fan that twirls lazily 24/7/365 to keep air circulating. When there's no breeze, I turn on the fans, one in each room. But only when I'm home. Jalousie windows are always cranked open for breeze and cross ventilation.

Second...I turn off /UNPLUG the power gobblers when I leave for the day...including computer, television, and cable box. The only appliances running are refrigerator, ceiling fan and two clocks. When I switched from a desktop computer/flat screen monitor to a laptop that goes to sleep when I close the cover, I was pleasantly surprised to see a drop in my power consumption. Who knew that old desktop was a power pig?

Third...the water heater. Mine is UNPLUGGED. Permanently. When I moved into my condo (which had been vacant for several years) I had no idea how old the water heater was and didn't want to take a chance that it had rusted out inside and would spew water all over the floor. Rather than replace it (down the road I may buy a tankless heater), I decided not to use it at all. The tap water is tepid... like Goldilocks' porridge, it's not too hot, not too cold, mostly just right. Since I pay for water by the gallon, not having hot water for showers helps conserve my water bill as well.

How do YOU cut your utility bills?

Penny Pincher