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Back in the late 1980’s I was accused of stealing money from the pizza place I was working at. I had been promoted to manager and had hired three people so far, none of which was met with approval by the owner. She even believed the young lady I had hired was pregnant. Not wanting to pay maternity leave she quickly fired all three, with me not far behind on the stealing charges. I am not a thief and had stolen nothing from the restaurant but I suppose I was being made an example out of for the other managers and employees because of my hiring decisions. Accusing me of theft just sealed the deal. I remember for several years after of word getting back to me about how terrible I was at the job, with the stories growing until I became known as sort of a pizza manager version of The Bad Lieutenant. If you have ever been accused of something you did not do you know how that felt.
I turned to Manpower to help me find a job. I ended up working through them at something like 18 different assignments for around a year. I dug ditches, performed a lot of warehouse work and even helped a Canadian auction company prep a factory for liquidation. It was fairly hard work but I was young and didn’t mind too much. At my last assignment they ended up hiring me and I worked there for over 18 years.
The money I made was always above minimum wage, usually by several dollars. There were no benefits that I remember, although there might have been some kind of minuscule vacation point system. The money was good enough for me at the time, but I was relieved at getting permanent work when I did because the stork was circling our house carrying a little bundle of joy.
Flash forward to today. My nephew Toby has worked for temp agencies off and on for several years, including during The Great Recession. His opinion is you can make pretty good money, but you usually still have no benefits and the job can end at any time, which is of course the nature of the beast.
I am interested in your opinion on the subject. Do you agree that you can make good money working as a temp? What has been your experience?
After a year and a half of posting on this blog I am in need of a little time off. I’m taking a Spring Break.
Until I get back if you are interested take a look at the archives to the left. Unless you have been with me from the start I imagine there are some articles you have missed.
Best Wishes, Buck
Update: Thanks for the nice comments and emails, they really mean alot to me. I will be back to my regular posting schedule on Monday the 29th. See you then!
March is National Peanut Month. To celebrate go visit the recipe page at the National Peanut Board website.
Use Barter Quest to trade goods, services and real estate. Pay a one time only verifying fee of $1.99 and then barter, swap and exchange for free to your hearts content.
I didn’t know until a few weeks ago the Wall Street Journal is online. Make sure to check out the Personal Finance section while you are there.
Post of the Week – A personal finance post I found to be exceptional.
I like these ideas on frugal getaways.
Deal Catcher is “an online community that helps shoppers save money and make educated purchases. On the site you will find online coupons, products, sales, reviews, and rebates. The site is updated throughout the day by its staff and forum members.”
iVillage is “the first and most established media company dedicated exclusively to connecting women at every stage of their lives.” They offer articles from experts on health, parenting, pregnancy, beauty, style, fitness, relationships, food and entertainment. Make sure to check out their extensive message boards as well.
Weekly Reminder – A reminder of a useful article you might have missed.
I wrote this little piece pondering if fishing saves you money.
Write for The Buck List – The Buck List is looking for articles, 250 – 500 words long, on making or saving money ideas. To answer your first question, no, I can't pay you, but you might get some traffic for your blog or website from your contribution. The end of the article can include a two or three line bio with a link to your site. If you are trying to sell a product or service or include affiliate links you won't be considered. Drop me a line at BuckWeber@gmail.com and let me know what you have in mind. I look forward to hearing from you!
When we bought a new laptop computer last year I was amazed at how much faster it ran than our (around) six year old desktop. After a while of using both computers I decided I had to try and speed up the creaky old desktop. After running through these ten tips I can honestly say it made a big difference. If you have an older model that just putts along give these a try and let me know how it turns out. Since I used these on my desktop running Windows XP the instructions are for that system. I imagine they are similar for Vista, but I have no idea about 7 because I haven’t used it yet.
1) Defrag Your Computer
Defragging your hard drive pulls together all of the fragmented files that are scattered all over the place, making them easier and quicker for your computer to open. To defrag your hard drive go to: Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter. Before defragging make sure to turn off your screen saver and the standby power option if you are using them. Because defragging can take so long I installed a free auto defragging app and have it set to run at night every two weeks.
2) Clean Out Temporary Files
Windows leaves temporary files permanently on your hard drive that will continue to accumulate until you delete them. To clean up temporary files go to: Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup. You can also use the Disk Cleanup option to empty the recycle bin and remove Windows programs and components that you don't use.
3) Clean Up The Registry
Your registry might be corrupted if you start receiving error reports and your system is moving like molasses. I use a free registry cleaning utility to keep my registry clean. There are plenty of them out there, just perform a search for “free registry cleaner.”
4) Run Anti-Virus Software
I have my free anti-virus software running on auto update and scan and I have not had a problem for a long time. The only times I have had computer virus issues is when I did not update my anti-virus software, which is why now I always have the auto update and scan running.
5) Run Anti-Spyware Software
If your anti-virus software does not include spyware detection you could have little critters in there slowing your system down. Again, there are plenty of free versions available. Search for “free anti-spyware software” and pick one out.
6) Review Your Startup Options
The programs that Windows starts every time you boot up your system could be slowing down your startup time. My old desktop took so long to start I could get a cup of coffee, check the newspaper and start a load of laundry before it was fully up and running. If your computer is experiencing the same startup issue you might want to take a look at what all it is loading. To manage your list of startup programs click on Start then Run, type MSCONFIG and press enter. Select the Startup tab and uncheck any items you don’t need to run at startup time. Click apply and then reboot to see how it works.
7) Use Windows Defender
This is a Windows built-in application that helps your computer fight against malware. Click on Start, All Programs then Windows Defender. Click on Tools then Options then auto scan and you’re all set. While you are at Tools also click on Software Explorer to see and manage what programs run at startup, programs that are currently running and network connected programs.
8) Keep Windows Updated
A couple of years ago my brother asked me for help with his computer, which had so many problems he was at his wits end. I agreed to take a look at it and six hours later we had it fairly stabilized. One of his biggest problems was he had not kept Windows updated because he did not have an Internet connection for a few years. It is imperative that you keep your PC up to date with system security patches lest you want to invite an invasion of hackers. To receive the latest fixes and configure your system for automatic updates right click on the My Computer icon on the desktop, select Properties and click on the Automatic Updates tab.
9) Remove Unnecessary Software
Remember all those icons that were on your desktop when you first bought your computer? You probably eventually ended up deleting most of them to tidy things up or because they were programs you didn’t need. Guess what? Unless you removed the software as well as the desktop icon they are all still taking up space on your hard drive. You could also have software that was secretly installed when you downloaded toolbar add ons or file-sharing programs. To remove these unwanted programs click on Start then Control Panel. Click on Add or Remove Programs and take a look at what is lurking around.
10) Increase Virtual Memory Settings
While buying and installing more RAM will probably speed up your computer better than any of the above tips, I have to stick to the “free” theme of this article. Increasing your virtual memory capacity on your hard drive can work as a temporary fix once you have run out of RAM memory. How much virtual memory Windows will use can be adjusted. Go to Start, Control Panel, System, click on the Advanced tab and then Settings under Performance. Click on the Advanced tab then Change under Virtual Memory. Under paging file size increase the maximum size by 500 MB, click Set and see if that makes a difference. Installing extra RAM is the best way to go but increasing the virtual memory can help until you buy and install the extra RAM.
Related Reading:
Giveaway of the Day
Eight Useful and Free Phone Apps
Five Free Software Programs for Everyday Use
Whether traveling, camping, or just because it sounds good, homemade trail mix has been one of our favorite family treats for years. My wife, the lovely Lady Lon, agreed to share her recipe for this delicious, mixed up snack.
Ingredients:
2 packages Corn Nuts (there are many flavors but my family prefers the original flavor)
1 medium size box of raisins
1 jar salted peanuts
1 can mixed nuts
1 can cashews pieces/halves
1 package sesame sticks (I find these in the health food section of my local grocery store)
1 package sunflower kernels
M & M candies, yogurt or chocolate covered raisins (I usually divide my trail mix in half & only put the chocolate in half of the mix)
Pretzels (If desired; I find they go stale quickly so if we are traveling I usually leave these out)
Directions:
I mix everything together in a large bowl and put in air tight containers. If we will be traveling I put the mix in snack size baggies to make it more convenient to snack on the road.
Related Reading:
Frugal Recipe: Baked Potato Soup
My last 9 to 5 job was an IT position. I had my own office in the front office area and in the same building was the company’s in-house print shop and the supply department warehouse. Paper for the printing presses and supplies for the warehouse all came on wood pallets. What was not taken home by employees was stacked outside the building with the hope that others would come along and take them away.
Enter the scruffy guys in old beat up pickup trucks, driving their daily routes looking for pallets to resell to pallet companies. If we happened to be outside while one of them was making the rounds we were always amazed at both the tenacity the searchers had and at how they could double stack pallets twenty high or more without losing their load. While I have not tried picking up pallets to resell them I did learn after talking to a few of the old boys that they made $1 to $3 per pallet, depending on the size and condition.
Even if you don’t work at a place where pallets are readily available there are plenty of places to find them for free. Think warehouses, manufacturers, print shops, feed stores, woodworking shops, department stores and shopping malls. I also see them all the time in the free section on Craigslist.
If gathering and reselling pallets is not to your liking, here are a few other ideas on how to both make and save money by using pallet wood. Most involve sawing them apart with a hand held circular saw or a sawzall. Gloves and eyewear protection are two safety must haves. Some kind of crowbar or pry bar and a ball peen hammer can also be necessary for dismantling.
Ideas I Have Actually Tried
Burn them. Before I made anything with pallets I used to break them up and use them for bonfires and campfires. Still do!
Build bookcases and shelving. The planks are a perfect size to accommodate CD’s, DVD’s and books.
Use them to make outdoor benches and tables. I have made these for family, friends and my own backyard and this year I am going build some and try to sell them on Craigslist.
Make a doghouse. I used a half pallet for the floor of a doghouse I built last fall.
Use them to store items off of the ground. Pretty obvious, I know. I use them in my basement to store things on and outside I use a couple to stack my firewood on.
Build window boxes and planters. Last year I built and painted a replacement window box for the front of my house that looks store bought.
Make a workbench. I have three workbenches I built that I used pallet 2 X 4 pieces for the frame and legs.
Ideas I Have Not Tried Yet
Build a fence. One of my former coworkers built a rabbit fence around his garden using pallet wood.
Make a compost bin. I have seen these before and I might end up making one but right now our compost pile is just a heap on the ground.
Use the planks to make rustic picture frames.
Build a garden shed. I would consider this but I currently don’t have the space for one.
Build cages and pens for small animals.
Make a deck. I saw this idea on the Internet but I can’t quite picture a beautiful deck made from rough pallet wood.
Use them to build raised garden beds. Another idea I might try.
Cut the planks to size and use a wood burning tool to write sayings or names. I have wanted to try using a wood burning tool and this would be a simple way to get started.
Almost all of the things to be made from wood pallets described above could not only be built for your own use but also to sell. Your cost, if you already own the tools, is usually your time and a handful of screws or nails. That makes for a pretty big profit margin.
What have you used pallets for?
Further Reading:
How to Save Money by Salvaging
Can You Really Find Good Free Stuff on Craigslist?
Ten Ways I Have Made Money Since Loosing My Job
How to Find Free Firewood
2 Car Pros offers free car repair advice by certified ASE technicians, as well as a forum, videos and an archive of questions and answers by manufacturer and topic.
Bonanzle promotes their site as a quicker, easier and cheaper way to sell your stuff online.
If you like to travel and prefer the local eateries Roadfood is the site for you. Register for free to post in the forums and write reviews of restaurants you enjoy. Also use their search engine to find restaurants along your travel route.
Post of the Week – A personal finance post I found to be exceptional.
I got a few chuckles reading this post about 10 easy ways to go broke, but also found myself nodding in agreement.
I have never been a big fan of Walmart (their stores are full of strange people and stuff made in China) but freebies are a different story. Stop by their freebie page and see if there is anything you can use.
Didn’t attend enough lectures in college? Or maybe you didn’t go to college and you want to know what you missed out on? Check out Lecturefox for free videos (some are in mp3 format, too) of lectures from Princeton, Yale, MIT and other universities.
Weekly Reminder – A reminder of a useful article you might have missed.
This post is about how to save money on sports equipment.
Write for The Buck List – The Buck List is looking for articles, 250 – 500 words long, on making or saving money ideas. To answer your first question, no, I can't pay you, but you might get some traffic for your blog or website from your contribution. The end of the article can include a two or three line bio with a link to your site. If you are trying to sell a product or service or include affiliate links you won't be considered. Drop me a line at BuckWeber@gmail.com and let me know what you have in mind. I look forward to hearing from you!
Not too long before the Great Recession hit I was looking for another mutual fund to invest in. I had been reading about how well the markets in India and China were doing and decided to look into a global fund, thinking that would add a little more diversity to my portfolio. I finally settled on one and was happy with my decision…until a few months later as I watched its value drop by two thirds. Most of my other investments were cut in half, but the global fund really hurt. I didn’t cash out, though, keeping in mind a loss is only a loss on paper until you do. I still own it and while it’s slowly regaining value I still regret the timing on that one.
Another recent mistake I made was the result of doing nothing. We noticed after a heavy downpour a little water was seeping through a wall and part of the ceiling of a first floor bedroom. It didn’t happen every time it rained, just during the really heavy rain storms, and after it happened a few more times I called a roofer. He looked around and couldn’t see anything obvious until he put his finger all the way through a rotted window sill right above the leaky bedroom. It was like a sponge and once it was full it started passing water through into the house. I ended up replacing the second floor windows with new but from the time they were ordered until they were installed it continued to leak into the bedroom, adding to the damage. We ended up having to replace the ceiling and repair the wall. The damage would not have been as bad if I had done something when we first noticed the leak, instead of stupidly wishing it would go away.
Sharing our money mistakes might help others to avoid doing what we have done. Or maybe not, but at least we can get it off our chests. What recent money mistake do you regret?
The following quote by Charles DuBois is a powerful, one sentence reminder of the potential that is in all of us.
“The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”
A few years ago while casually chatting with my next door neighbor the subject of what was for dinner that night came up. She said they were having Mustgo. Having never heard of it I asked what it was. “Any leftovers we find in the fridge must go. So we call it a Mustgo Night.” She went on to explain that they would try to get creative and mix up a batch of leftovers into some new concoction or just eat what was there as it.
Since then, while we already ate leftovers, we have made it a point to try and have an all out Mustgo Night once a week. They tend to be at the end of the week, and anything that has survived being eaten for lunch is targeted. If we don’t eat the leftovers separately we have three usual options: making a soup, making a casserole, or mixing it together with scrambled eggs or as a bake.
The next time you are facing a variety of mystery containers staring back at you from the fridge just pull them all out, get creative and have a Mustgo Night.
Further Reading:
The Leftover Queen
What To Do With Leftovers
Recipes For Leftovers
Don’t Eat Out, Find a New Recipe
Why a Weekly Menu Matters
