tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51807750262970396912024-03-23T05:07:18.349-05:00The Buck ListFrugal Tips and Money Making IdeasBuck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.comBlogger486125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-37256652955048806402011-07-20T16:12:00.000-05:002019-07-18T17:30:46.303-05:00Welcome to The Buck List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Welcome to The Buck List! This site is designed with two main goals in mind: providing you with ideas to help you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">save money</i> with proven frugal tips and helping you to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">make money</i> by giving you useful and sometimes unusual ideas. While there are close to five hundred pages on this site the following 60 plus are a good introduction to the money making and saving ideas you will find here. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Money Making Ideas</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2008/10/survey-and-reward-sites.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Survey and Reward Sites</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Are they worth the time and effort?</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2008/10/virtual-assistant-as-work-from-home.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Virtual Assistant</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Might be worth a try as a work from home option.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2008/10/mystery-shopping.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Mystery Shopping</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – If you enjoy shopping this could work for you.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-sell-on-craigslist.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Sell on Craigslist</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – A great idea and one I still use.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2008/11/selling-through-consignment-shop.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Sell by Consignment</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – How to squeeze that last bit of value from clothes no longer needed.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2008/11/find-your-missing-money.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Find Missing Money</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Where to look to find out if any of it belongs to you.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2008/11/finding-seasonal-work.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Find Seasonal Work</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Some ideas on finding extra side work.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2008/11/selling-your-books.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Sell Your Books</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Make money from your unwanted books.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/01/micro-loans.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Micro Loans</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Do some research to find out if this would work for you.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/01/sell-trade-or-cash-in-those-gift-cards.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Gift Cards</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Sell, trade or cash in your unused gift cards.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/02/some-work-at-home-ideas.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Work at Home</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Here are a few legitimate work at home ideas.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/02/offer-your-services-for-barter-or-cash.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Offer Your Services</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Assess your skills and offer them for barter or cash.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/02/sell-your-cds-dvds.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Sell Your CD’s and DVD’s</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Some online and offline ideas.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/02/investment-clubs.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Investment Club</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Sound interesting? Here are some resources to help you get started.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/03/10-interesting-ways-to-make-some-side.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Make Some Side Cash</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Ten interesting ways to make some extra moola.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/04/10-craft-selling-options.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Sell Your Crafts</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Here are ten options to make money from your crafts.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/05/nine-ways-to-find-job-or-work-at-home.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Find a Job or Work from Home</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Nine different ideas are offered here.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/05/sell-your-stuff-online-some-other.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Sell Your Stuff Online</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Nine alternative options to the big guys.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/06/six-online-options-to-sell-your-cameras.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Sell Your Cameras and Gear</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Make money selling your unwanted equipment.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-pick-up-cans-for-fun-and-profit.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Pick Up Cans</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Get some exercise, keep your community clean, and make a little money doing it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-make-money-from-vacant-homes.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Make Money From Vacant Homes</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – It’s unusual, but I have made money doing this.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/01/make-and-save-money-with-scrap-lumber.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Scrap Lumber</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Ideas to both make and save money with it. </span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/01/make-money-selling-vinyl-records.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Sell Vinyl Records</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Where to sell them online and off.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/04/make-money-selling-exotic-fish.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Sell Exotic Fish</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – A little different, but true.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/05/make-money-selling-plants.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Sell House Plants</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Make a little cash with that green thumb.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/06/make-and-save-money-house-sitting.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">House Sitting</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – How to travel, live rent free and make some money doing it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/08/make-money-with-focus-groups.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Focus Groups</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – What they are and how you can find them to make money.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/09/make-money-by-selling-your-bones.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Selling Bones</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Another weird idea that you can make money doing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/10/make-money-from-medical-tests.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Medical Tests</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – How to get paid to take part in clinical and medical tests and drug trials.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/11/make-money-with-metal-detector.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Metal Detector</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – With some patience and luck this could be a money maker.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-peer-to-peer-lending-money-maker.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Peer to Peer Lending</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Find out if this would be a good option for you.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/12/content-sites-review-make-money-writing.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Content Sites</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – If you like to write here is a review of some sites to check out, as well as some to avoid.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/01/two-unusual-ways-to-make-money-on.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Unusual Craigslist Ideas</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Two different (and free) ways to make money with the site.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/02/make-money-selling-homemade-candles.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Homemade Candles</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – How to make them and where to sell them. </span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/05/make-money-selling-homemade-goods.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sell Homemade Goods</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Some ideas and resources to get you started.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Money Saving Ideas</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2008/12/coupons.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Use Coupons</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Here are some sites you have to check out.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/01/do-it-yourself-clubs.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Form a DIY Club</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – A great way to save money on home improvement projects.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/01/dont-eat-out-find-new-recipe.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Don’t Eat Out</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> - Rather than eat out find a new recipe.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/02/use-your-library.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Use Your Library</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – How to get the most out of your library, including the Secret Library Tip.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/02/search-for-scholarships.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Search for Scholarships</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Some tips and ideas on how to find college scholarships.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/03/save-money-on-meds.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Save Money on Meds</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – How you can save money on prescription medication.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/04/save-money-on-sports-equipment.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Save Money on Sports Equipment</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Some frugal ideas to equip the sport players in your family. </span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/04/does-fishing-save-you-money.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Does Fishing Save You Money?</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – An excellent question with a surprising answer.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/05/20-ideas-to-keep-kids-busy-this-summer.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Frugal Summer Activities for Kids</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Twenty ways to keep them busy for little money.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/06/10-best-freebie-sites.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Best Freebie Sites</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Ten sites full of freebies and giveaways.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/06/cheap-summer-fun-ideas.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Cheap Summer Fun Ideas</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Some frugal things to do this summer.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-save-money-by-salvaging.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Save Money by Salvaging</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Lots of great ideas on how to salvage to save money.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-camp-on-cheap.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">How to Camp on the Cheap</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Packed full of ideas about how to save money when camping. </span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/07/food-banks-pantries-and-soup-kitchens.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Find Food in Times of Need</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – When times get tough these resources can help put food on the table.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/07/best-free-movie-and-tv-sites.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Free Movie and TV Sites</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Over a dozen websites to watch free content.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/07/eat-out-on-cheap.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Eat Out on the Cheap</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – A list of ideas for when the budget is a little tight.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/08/save-money-by-foraging.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Save Money by Foraging</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – How to find food in the great outdoors.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/08/borrow-rent-or-share-those-tools.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Save Money on Tools</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – How to borrow, rent or share tools you need.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/09/ten-ways-to-save-money-by-staying-home.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Save Money by Staying Home</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Ten frugal ways to entertain at home.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/09/can-you-really-find-good-free-stuff-on.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Can You Find Good Free Stuff on Craigslist?</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – A weeklong study produced some interesting answers.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-buy-used-car-including-audacious.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">How to Buy a Used Car</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Some good tips along with one rule to never forget.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-save-money-by-using-locker.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Save Money Using a Locker</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – How to save some serious money on your food budget. </span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-find-free-or-cheap-health-care.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Free or Cheap Health Care</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – How and where to find it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/11/ten-outdoor-ideas-to-keep-kids-busy.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Keep the Kids Busy This Winter</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Ten ideas to get them outside and from under foot.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/05/save-and-make-money-by-curbing.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Curbing</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Save and make money with curbside freebies.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/06/save-money-with-csa.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Save Money With a CSA</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Another way to eat frugally and healthy.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/08/six-great-ways-to-save-money-on-wedding.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Save Money on a Wedding</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Six great ideas that we used to save money.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/09/four-leading-causes-of-overspending.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Four Leading Causes of Overspending</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – What they are and how to avoid them.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/09/join-time-bank-to-save-money.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Join a Time Bank</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – If you have more time than money this could be a great idea.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/03/money-saving-ideas-that-cost-you.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Save Money for Free</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Money saving ideas that cost you nothing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/03/save-money-by-conserving-water.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Conserve Water</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – The savings are potentially huge.</span></div>
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<a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-save-serious-money-on-vacation.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Save Money on Vacation</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Lots of methods we have used that should help you trim that vacation budget.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For additional reading make sure to browse the topics column on the left for many more money making and saving ideas, </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/search/label/Frugal%20Tips"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">frugal tips</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> as well as quality </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/search/label/Guest%20Posts"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">guest posts</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, thought provoking </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/search/label/Personal%20finance%20essay"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">essays</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, pithy and wise </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/search/label/Quotes"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">quotes</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, delicious </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/search/label/Recipes"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">recipes</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> and more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For links to hundreds of other useful websites visit the </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/search/label/Weekly%20Roundup"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">roundup pages</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thanks for visiting, make sure to bookmark this site and stop by again soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Buck Weber </span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">P.S. I have a new blog! <a href="https://offthebackporchblog.wordpress.com/">Off
The Back Porch</a> is a running commentary on country living,
gardening, cooking, history, people, folklore, writing, reading, art,
flora and fauna, photography, music, movies, traveling and whatever
else I might be pondering.</span></div>
</div>
Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-5025523562356264212011-06-29T13:10:00.000-05:002011-06-29T13:10:20.928-05:00Goodbye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBrjGLgvpat6yUYJ3_ExCBfZq_Nu1QaRO7ymJ8Q7UH5tNi9Fen_CIof2i3ilUeCI5Av6mMvT_Wcojp2x-MZ3Q5ayPJXItIaQiMt8B3EWiMKIm2sHwgehG3lMqc1ApkC7z0joEi-IOcFKt/s1600/goodbye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBrjGLgvpat6yUYJ3_ExCBfZq_Nu1QaRO7ymJ8Q7UH5tNi9Fen_CIof2i3ilUeCI5Av6mMvT_Wcojp2x-MZ3Q5ayPJXItIaQiMt8B3EWiMKIm2sHwgehG3lMqc1ApkC7z0joEi-IOcFKt/s200/goodbye.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">When I created this blog in 2008 it was sort of an aimless, mist of an idea. I had some vague notion about trying to make money on the web by writing, but it had to be on a topic I knew something about. As I plodded ahead my confidence grew and the blog began to take form, truly a “List” of money making ideas and frugal tips, “The Buck List.”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Close to three years later I have to say it was a fun, challenging and interesting ride. It is also over, and I have no regrets except that I will miss you. Not many people write just for themselves, never expecting their jottings to be read by others. Most of us <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want</i> people to read what we have to say, and I am no different. If a post meant enough to cause one, or more, of you to leave a comment…that was the best part of writing this blog. That we strangers could get to know each other just a little, and share some common bond…I don’t think I can fully explain how much that has meant to me. Thank you so much.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">As for why I am moving on, I think the blog has pretty much run its course. I have grown a little tired of writing on the same topic, and while I have really enjoyed it I want to experience new opportunities. I don’t know for sure what I will do next but I have a list of ideas and plenty of interests to pursue.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">I enjoy spending time with family, antiquing, freehand drawing, foraging, writing, target shooting, photography, fishing, reading, gardening, hiking, camping, cooking, traveling, curbing and, of course, making and saving money. So who knows what lies ahead…and isn’t that part of what makes life interesting?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Best Wishes,</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Buck<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-28877245282695761882011-06-27T11:27:00.000-05:002011-06-27T11:27:50.324-05:00Random Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHq3kDH2kogQiTebcJ2YNfwdDe-9wfGPzgEVNS3VJ3MCJDsoqfWK01qiQjqqjtMDUyv4jwHeLnXdiPwa6MZxEyl7Dh8DkPMEROAeSLJaf7JqrSfr-D1G9y-G664cMwzgKxgAZFwVqLZol/s1600/random+thoughts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHq3kDH2kogQiTebcJ2YNfwdDe-9wfGPzgEVNS3VJ3MCJDsoqfWK01qiQjqqjtMDUyv4jwHeLnXdiPwa6MZxEyl7Dh8DkPMEROAeSLJaf7JqrSfr-D1G9y-G664cMwzgKxgAZFwVqLZol/s200/random+thoughts.jpg" width="124px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">I was poking around in my ideas folder for The Buck List and came across some notes and blurbs that never got developed into full blown posts for the blog, and I figured why not just combine them all into one article of random thoughts. Sorry… </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t Dis Great Grandpa<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">I was reading something the other day about how lost our ancestors would be in the tech savvy world we currently live in. I don’t know if it was the smug tone that got to me or just the absurdness of making that kind of comparison but I got to wondering how well would we today fare if we suddenly had to live like our predecessors. While many of us today communicate with and are entertained by and even make a living using computers, watch lots of TV and can’t imagine life without a cell phone, most of our ancestors spent from before sun up to after sundown out of doors physically working. And while I imagine Great Grandpa would welcome a well deserved break to sit back and feed his face while watching American Idol he would probably soon grow bored and feel the need to get back to work and nature. Automation and technology have given we Americans so much leisure time that it is hard to imagine how much work our elders did and the knowledge needed to survive. Returning to the idea of having to do it that way again, here is a sampling of some skills needed just in the last 150 years. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Cooking on a wood burning stove, milking cows, plowing a field and harvesting crops by horse and by hand, making your own clothes, caring for and butchering livestock for meat, cooking three meals from scratch every day, living by lamp and candle light after dark, hunting for and cleaning small and large game, washing clothes by hand…the list really could go on and on. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">I bet Great Grandpa wouldn’t have too much trouble learning to text or use a computer mouse, if his big calloused hands could even hold them. How well do you think you would do in his world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Momentazations</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Some moments and realizations that I thought I could liven up some blog posts with by working them into similes or metaphors or whatever but didn’t end up using.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The moment when you return home from a vacation and walk into your still house and take in the abandonment before it all comes alive again.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The moment while you are listening to music you have never heard before when you realize you really like it.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">While driving the moment when you have almost been in an accident and then the realization that it did not happen.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The moment when, as a child, you see your favorite grandparent and anticipate the fun you will have, and the moment when you remember it years after they are gone and still feel the excitement.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">While watching a rain storm coming your way the moment when the rain just begins to fall. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Most Mysterious Things</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This was to be the first installment of a monthly series that I thought would be fun and different, but I put it on the backburner and forgot about it. I only wrote this one, and I honestly was not consciously trying to imitate Andy Rooney. By the time you get to the end it’s pretty obvious why I decided not to use it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” – Albert Einstein – </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">They say everyone likes a good mystery. While true for me as well, I also dislike a lot of them. Missing people, for example. I would rather know what happened to Jimmy Hoffa and Amelia Airhart. Missing links bug me too, such as the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot. How hard can it be to find a gigantic fish-monster in a 20 square mile lake, or an 8 foot tall 500 pound ape-thing running around in the woods? Since most species on Earth take two to tango to keep procreating it would only make sense there would be at least a small population of these things to detect. And how about missing mysteries? Whatever happened to the Bermuda Triangle and spontaneous human combustion? </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Pondering all this recently got me to thinking: what are the most mysterious things, phenomenon that truly cannot be explained? (Insert wife joke here. Or not.)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">First up in this series: Dogs</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">My family had a dog when I was growing up, and as an adult I am now on dog number four. It is said we are genetically closer to primates but socially much closer to dogs than any other species, due to thousands of years of living with each other, as well as the fact that we created them from wolves. (For some fascinating reading on the subject Google “Jozsef Topal) </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This intimate and ancient relationship between our two species still has its mysteries, though. Since most dogs can’t talk we can only speculate what might be the most mysterious aspect about us to them. My guess would be “Why can’t we just play and sleep all day?” If you ever get that questioning look from a dog, and you do every day if you own one, explanations of having to work or doing something else that does not involve them are met with sad eyes that show more pity for you than sadness by them. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">There is no doubt what my mystery question would be for them: “Why, oh why, do you eat poop?” Every dog I have owned, from the first one that ate poopy diapers out of the trash whenever he could to the current dog that eats deer droppings in the woods, they have all ingested scat. To make an already disgusting subject slightly worse, they really seem to enjoy it, like a drunk eating sloppy Buffalo wings at the end of a hard night. Which is grosser is a tossup, but you wouldn’t want either one to lick your face when they are done.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Further Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/05/walk-in-woods.html">A Walk in the Woods</a></span></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-52713764355731338002011-06-24T12:57:00.000-05:002011-06-24T12:57:46.247-05:00Weekly Roundup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUkUwnxW-Y2_wLx9t2qbSKaCTsZ4cGIopxPD6nWRoj2lEryCOUw-Ruj7UySyztBsBfekT2tLNE6tm3ORrsKIDCkhu8WCdmVfQvCSnvrJZaxDr2xd-_JJDRMUCE6o3ZlLe3tQjo81kGAoA/s1600/Roundup11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUkUwnxW-Y2_wLx9t2qbSKaCTsZ4cGIopxPD6nWRoj2lEryCOUw-Ruj7UySyztBsBfekT2tLNE6tm3ORrsKIDCkhu8WCdmVfQvCSnvrJZaxDr2xd-_JJDRMUCE6o3ZlLe3tQjo81kGAoA/s200/Roundup11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.lifesta.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Lifesta</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"> “is a marketplace for people to buy and sell deals from "daily deal" sites such as Groupon, Living Social, BuyWithMe and 300+ others. Missed a deal? Find it here. Need to sell a deal? List it here.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.pickyourown.org/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Pick Your Own</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> will help you locate a pick your own farm near you. They provide local listings of pick your own farms in the United States and other countries. They also offer crop calendars for each local area so you know what is available to pick throughout the year. If you need help deciding what to do with your pickings there are illustrated directions to show you how to make over 150 recipes with step-by-step directions to can, freeze, dry or preserve the harvest. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Use </span><a href="http://radiotuna.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">radiotuna</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> to locate a radio station online playing your favorite genre of music. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This small business owner writes about </span><a href="http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/how-i-learned-to-love-bartering/?ref=business"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">how she learned to love bartering</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://ubu.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">UbuWeb</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “is a completely independent resource dedicated to all strains of the avant-garde, ethnopoetics, and outsider arts.” This site is a huge, amazing resource that will be treasured by those who enjoy the unusual and underground arts. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Weekly Reminder – A reminder of a useful article you might have missed.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This post lists </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/02/power-of-peroxide.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">the power of peroxide</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Make it a great weekend!</span></b></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-27935497833524569082011-06-22T13:03:00.000-05:002011-06-22T13:03:57.818-05:00How to Save Serious Money on Vacation<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLShyT43m86DImXrzpFzf9X85G7kJdWc_onke3D34YcOSMEq9eFcnmvfaBcPSCSJqcMzXIBbGykqYOGFlNC7wWKKkfobBrjSLisJuztZcVQHcyAcqRD3GSAIpOHX5qxLEMkIFJpbaRA7M/s1600/vacation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="104px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLShyT43m86DImXrzpFzf9X85G7kJdWc_onke3D34YcOSMEq9eFcnmvfaBcPSCSJqcMzXIBbGykqYOGFlNC7wWKKkfobBrjSLisJuztZcVQHcyAcqRD3GSAIpOHX5qxLEMkIFJpbaRA7M/s200/vacation.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Over the years my wife and kids and I have been fortunate enough to be able to afford, and take the time off, for some pretty memorable vacations. We have camped all over our state of Iowa as well as quite a few surrounding states. We have vacationed in the Black Hills, the Grand Teton Mountains and the Rockies, just for some highlights. During all these vacations (and the extensive preparations for them) we got to be pretty good at staying within a small budget. Following are some of the ways we learned to travel and lodge frugally while still having a good time. These tips are primarily for those that travel by car, so if you like planes, trains, bikes, busses or boats they might not work for you.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Bring Your Own Food</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – Depending on how long you will be gone, and how many there are, you might be able to cover the whole trip. We have been able to survive for a week with very few additional supplements to our menu (2 adults and 2 kids) before we had to break down and hit a local grocery store. We would take along food that didn’t need to be warmed such as salads, the fixings for sandwiches, cold chicken, chicken strips to make wraps, chips, fruit, etc. We would also budget in a few restaurant stops to break up the routine. Hey, it’s a vacation, not boot camp! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Cook Your Own Meals</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – This one is usually not a problem when tent or RV camping, but it is worth asking if it is allowed before booking a stay in a cabin or hotel. Most of the cabins we have stayed in would allow cooking inside (many had their own kitchens) while a hotel will usually only allow you to warm up food in the microwave, so plan accordingly. If we know we will be able to cook inside we always pack our electric skillet, in our experiences the single most versatile cooking appliance.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Stay In a Central Location</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – Many times when planning our vacations we would decide what attractions we wanted to see and then try to find a place to stay that was centered among them. That way we could stay in one cabin, hotel or campsite for several days and not have to move while making small road trips in different directions to take in the sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Travel In the Off Season</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – If you have kids in school this might not be an option unless you can plan time off around teacher in service days or holiday weekends. If kids are not a problem you could save a nice percentage off of hotel and cabin stays, as well as some attractions. Check the web to find what the off season is for where you want to go. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Reward Programs and Membership Discounts </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">– Reward programs and membership discounts are offered by airlines, hotels, gas stations and AAA. Also make sure to check </span><a href="http://www.groupon.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Groupon</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> for discounts to restaurants, museums and other attractions where you will be visiting. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Have Your Car Tuned Up</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – There is nothing like breaking down in a strange town, or worse, in the middle of nowhere to kill the vacation mood, and if it is something serious the time and money spent to fix it could even kill the whole vacation. While some things can’t be planned for budgeting for a tune up just before you leave is well worth the money. It won’t hurt to also tell your mechanic where you are going, as he might pay special attention to certain parts. For example: do your breaks have plenty of life left, because you use them a lot while driving in the mountains? Or, will your vehicle coolant be able to handle desert temperatures and do you have decent tires for inclement weather?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Related Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/07/is-aaa-worth-it.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Is AAA Worth It?</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-camp-on-cheap.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">How to Camp on the Cheap</span></a></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-45647779022971911432011-06-20T13:29:00.000-05:002011-06-20T13:29:35.752-05:00Frugal Lessons From The Past<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRXX69vcOEhJltX0V2T_BlNbiW4kBCnFxlH7C04Ys-lWdgwE-u-Ls9RJEQ01OjjeODdDGCAixLK8d_qFXvMYxi5fahBFmn4WDOwmnpdGOctmjxuPguHYTiKvEbPcQ_T282ohdO8nRfEp9/s1600/frugal+lessons.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRXX69vcOEhJltX0V2T_BlNbiW4kBCnFxlH7C04Ys-lWdgwE-u-Ls9RJEQ01OjjeODdDGCAixLK8d_qFXvMYxi5fahBFmn4WDOwmnpdGOctmjxuPguHYTiKvEbPcQ_T282ohdO8nRfEp9/s200/frugal+lessons.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget. In this series we examined source materials for possible lessons from the past that we could learn to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/04/frugal-lessons-from-past.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">The Holy Bible</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Provides lessons on stocking up our pantries, saving leftovers, working hard, staying focused, moderating our habits and to pay as we go. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/05/frugal-lessons-from-past-frugality-in.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Frugality in the Spiritual Life</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> – This is an excerpt from a book that William L. Watkinson wrote. His plea from the year 1908 to open our eyes to the “common things” couldn’t be more timely, surrounded as we are today with so many distractions from what is truly important. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/06/frugal-lessons-from-past-art-of.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">The Art of Gardening</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> – This was written by Iowan and Pulitzer Prize winner Frank Luther Mott (1886-1964). He reminds us not only that gardening is a great frugal option to save money on groceries but also names some of the joys that come with growing your own food.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/07/frugal-lessons-from-past-soar-away-from.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Soar Away from the Vise</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Here is advice from a beat up little 46 page booklet I rescued out of a dumpster years ago. It was written by Fred Moller, Jr. and this passage is from the final chapter called “Our Secrets.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/08/frugal-lessons-from-past-seymour-on.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Seymour on Work</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> - John Seymour (1914-2004) was a soldier, miner, farm manager, fishing boat skipper, world traveler, author, radio and TV broadcaster, farmer, teacher, and protester and is known as the “Father of Self-Sufficiency.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/09/frugal-lessons-from-past-hillard-green.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hillard Green</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> – In 1972 the first Firefox anthology was published. Here are a couple of excerpts from an interview with Hillard Green, who at that time was around eighty years old.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/10/frugal-lessons-from-past-economy-in.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Economy in the Home</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> - The following is taken from Book Two of The People’s Home Library, published in 1920 and written by Mrs. Alice Gitchell Kirk.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/11/frugal-lessons-from-past-college-during.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">College During the Depression</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> – This is taken from the book The Great Depression by David A. Shannon and is a list of some of the ways college students made and saved money during the 1930’s.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/01/frugal-tips-from-past-old-mike.html"><span style="color: blue;">Old Mike</span></a> - In the book “Little Heathens” there is a chapter on how the author and her family practiced thrift. After describing such things as homemade cleaners and health remedies and the many life cycles of socks she ends the chapter with a recycling technique probably not used by many anymore.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/02/frugal-lessons-from-past-carl-faber.html"><span style="color: blue;">Carl Faber</span></a> – This “desert rat” and artist describes his lifestyle and lack of need for money while living in a little house in the Mojave Desert.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/03/frugal-lessons-from-past-harlan-hubbard.html">Harlan Hubbard</a> - In this excerpt from his book about drifting down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River to New Orleans in a homemade shantyboat Harlan explains why he wanted to undertake the journey.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/04/frugal-lessons-from-past-kate-sanborn.html">Kate Sanborn</a> - Kate Sanborn (1839 – 1917) purchased and moved onto an abandoned farm in Massachusetts in 1888 and here she writes of some of the pleasures and advantages of country living.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/05/frugal-lessons-from-past-mail-order.html">The Mail Order Catalog</a> - Carl Hamilton wrote about history and his own memories of growing up on a farm. The following excerpts follow the lifespan of a mail order catalog on the farm.</span></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-6371743472329012582011-06-17T15:25:00.000-05:002011-06-17T15:25:13.502-05:00Weekly Roundup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RF6n2O33Tpk_EgHVcMdZcERpQWh4tpQmkbBHXJDEpNxMT3hjVH_GDSx1nobWdahwIOEwd0IHCNOryZxdRFLhvP5nsMIF4IXKPt-AEP5w8DZZ7QvSFO3g3iUPZnzy-1Zi2DV-SyKO2lKk/s1600/Roundup10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RF6n2O33Tpk_EgHVcMdZcERpQWh4tpQmkbBHXJDEpNxMT3hjVH_GDSx1nobWdahwIOEwd0IHCNOryZxdRFLhvP5nsMIF4IXKPt-AEP5w8DZZ7QvSFO3g3iUPZnzy-1Zi2DV-SyKO2lKk/s200/Roundup10.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.costhelper.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Cost Helper</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"> “is a growing online community which provides objective information on more than 1,000 products and services, and lists what people are actually paying nationwide.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.idealist.org/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Idealist</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives. Our work is guided by the common desire of our members and supporters to find practical solutions to social and environmental problems, in a spirit of generosity and mutual respect.” So what does that mean to you? Click to find out!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Clinical Trials</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “is a comprehensive resource for trusted information about medical research studies, also called clinical trials. Whether you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial or want to become a clinical trial investigator, find out how you can help advance health.”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This article addresses some of the </span><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304392704576380163308141544.html?mod=WSJ_PersonalFinance_RightMostPopular"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">financial mistakes newlyweds make</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.writers-free-reference.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Writer's Free Reference</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “was first published in August 1992 with 12 links to other websites providing free information for writers. Over the years, it has grown to over 200 links to a wide variety of information, not only for writers, but also for students, teachers, businessmen and women, researchers, and anyone looking for any type of data.”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Weekly Reminder – A reminder of a useful article you might have missed.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This post explores how </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/02/older-you-get-better-deals.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">the older you get the better the deals</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Have a good weekend!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-71540125596610344392011-06-15T17:28:00.001-05:002011-06-21T15:28:31.318-05:00Increasing Your Net Worth: The Measurement of Real Wealth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbq9urYMkq-X0lGht_1H8lyd-z1QEErtxgm-pcH94-pQnR0K6kdr9wGLkxHrJ3q5qgBG1MVHRUNpDQmZHmiTFM74RXSOYioaiOGmDV2nicJ2EBQbaweRoUBRRzPNBl1BoOH055q_IAwix/s1600/net+worth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbq9urYMkq-X0lGht_1H8lyd-z1QEErtxgm-pcH94-pQnR0K6kdr9wGLkxHrJ3q5qgBG1MVHRUNpDQmZHmiTFM74RXSOYioaiOGmDV2nicJ2EBQbaweRoUBRRzPNBl1BoOH055q_IAwix/s200/net+worth.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The following is a guest post contributed by Tom Cleveland, who writes for Forex Traders.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Each year, Forbes magazine publishes a list of the wealthiest people in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, the names at the top of the list are household names—Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forbes rates the wealthiest people in the world by their net worth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Net worth is simply a person’s total assets minus their liabilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although you may not be fighting to get your name on the Forbes’ list, chances are good that you have a definite interest in building your net worth.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Practical Step to Building Net Worth</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Let’s return to the definition of net worth once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is defined as a person’s assets minus their liabilities. Now, this is important to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t really matter how many assets a person has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they have too many liabilities, the inflated assets will not mean anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see this play out in the business world all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A company may have hundreds of millions of dollars in assets, but it attempts to expand too fast and takes on unsustainable debts, which are liabilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In corporate America, this eventually leads to bankruptcy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A company that has hundreds of millions of dollars in assets, but also has $2 billion in outstanding liabilities, is headed for total collapse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, the way to build net worth is not to necessarily focus on building assets or a </span><a href="http://www.forextraders.com/forex-account.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">forex account</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">, but to rather eliminate liabilities.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Eliminating Liabilities</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The three primary liabilities that most middle-class Americans have are a mortgage, a car loan, and credit card debt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The real way to build true, lasting wealth is to focus on eliminating the most destructive of these three types of liabilities—credit card debt.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Credit card debt is a major hindrance of wealth creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately, it is wise to buy assets in order to build net worth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When hundreds of dollars are being spent each month paying credit cards off, this money could be going toward purchasing those assets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, one of the first steps that must be taken to </span><a href="http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/retirement/start-with-10000-and-retire-a-millionaire-1302199246299/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">build real wealth</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> is to pay off all credit card debts in order to eliminate this liability.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Adjust the Budget</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The most practical way to quickly pay off credit card debt is to honestly analyze your monthly spending habits and discover every area that could be cut back and eliminated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you find out how much can be eliminated each month, then decide to shift this extra capital toward paying down your credit card debt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will not necessarily be fun and exciting, but it will help put you into a place of financial strength once the liability is eliminated and you can direct that extra capital into purchasing assets.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Further Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-fight-credit-card-interest-rate.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">How to Fight a Credit Card Interest Rate Change</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/03/should-you-spend-money-on-budgeting.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Should You Spend Money on Budgeting Software?</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-77072535531195712272011-06-13T12:27:00.000-05:002011-06-13T12:27:34.036-05:00Frugal Recipe: Potato Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKByeUEUh9yzTy8T4Z0jM_5tEYtcV8iv2g3QAomIIafpi2mW791nv-nTuGEZdbk4xB7M_NW7XTLzW3Lshhw7gzO51VhXWbQLdMSaiIOp95JMas7ibZLAC29r0S2JabaRtwwrGkZrEYocXm/s1600/potatosalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKByeUEUh9yzTy8T4Z0jM_5tEYtcV8iv2g3QAomIIafpi2mW791nv-nTuGEZdbk4xB7M_NW7XTLzW3Lshhw7gzO51VhXWbQLdMSaiIOp95JMas7ibZLAC29r0S2JabaRtwwrGkZrEYocXm/s200/potatosalad.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This side dish probably has as many variations as chili, and as with my own chili recipe I don’t use measurements for the ingredients of my potato salad. In my family it’s usually called into action for picnics and summer holidays, but we have been known to whip up a batch any time of the year we get the desire.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Ingredients:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Red potatoes, diced and boiled until tender</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Vidalia onion, chopped</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Hard boiled eggs, sliced </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Mayonnaise</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Ranch dressing</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Mustard</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Parmesan cheese</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">To taste: ground thyme, dill weed, black pepper, paprika, caraway seed, parsley, celery seed.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Directions:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl and chill until the big event. One note: I know some folks like to add bacon but I usually don’t, unless it is extra crispy. Nothing can ruin potato salad for me like the anticipation of a delicious bite only to find myself chewing on a big hunk of bacon fat. Yuck! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Related Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/05/frugal-recipe-mac-n-beef.html"><span style="color: blue;">Frugal Recipe: Mac ‘n’ Beef</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-8130247814647441372011-06-10T17:31:00.000-05:002011-06-10T17:31:11.906-05:00Weekly Roundup<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8cLWsGuHnDbvftHTI3HNrIAxHa6ax41D2MenUy99kxBjB8N3vSLAk4sFtIVu9TWkQj6Ir4AClT7yJBMD_9G22UG1OPSzgfHHX_7WAPVjX_z7N3n_KDFrw-ZSCEZalW3bkctLHsegMuzB/s1600/Roundup9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8cLWsGuHnDbvftHTI3HNrIAxHa6ax41D2MenUy99kxBjB8N3vSLAk4sFtIVu9TWkQj6Ir4AClT7yJBMD_9G22UG1OPSzgfHHX_7WAPVjX_z7N3n_KDFrw-ZSCEZalW3bkctLHsegMuzB/s200/Roundup9.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a></div><a href="http://www.dealradar.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Deal Radar</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> provides “a free, fast and convenient way to stay on top of great savings opportunities and experiences available in your city. Each day we follow, index and categorize local deals to create a simple, time-saving way to find great savings in your city.” Subscribe, follow or visit the site to find your own local deals.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.localdirt.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Local Dirt</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> “is your place to find and buy fresh, local food directly from the family farm.” Click the link to find out how it works. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.hotelspy.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Hotel Spy</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> claims they can find the best deals on cheap hotels. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This article lists </span><a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/onthejob/archive/9-ways-for-parents-to-help-their-job-hunting-kids.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">nine ways for parents to help their job hunting kids</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://recalls.justia.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Recall Warnings</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> doesn’t list just auto recalls, they include everything from toys to clothing and operating equipment to musical instruments. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Weekly Reminder – A reminder of a useful article you might have missed.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This post gives advice on how to </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/02/clean-it-before-you-replace-it.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">clean it before you replace it</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Have a good weekend!</span></b></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-38022537918814490382011-06-08T13:59:00.000-05:002011-06-08T13:59:33.926-05:00My Favorite Personal Finance Sites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTqr4elyETM01Slltpat1xS_pP07GpgxFB7RhDUjXyvZ0-HMVrbN0gAdjIsX036LEaiydJ32a_VrzGgQsFQGxU7mZtWBYUqIuDm_rxrlgMF4tL05ZaNKOg3BNlEvUyK8edh_mZdhW0DiQ/s1600/personal+finance.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTqr4elyETM01Slltpat1xS_pP07GpgxFB7RhDUjXyvZ0-HMVrbN0gAdjIsX036LEaiydJ32a_VrzGgQsFQGxU7mZtWBYUqIuDm_rxrlgMF4tL05ZaNKOg3BNlEvUyK8edh_mZdhW0DiQ/s200/personal+finance.png" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When I was pondering what kind of a blog I was going to start I of course first thought about what I liked to read online, and that included several personal finance blogs and sites. Considering my attempts at the time to make money since losing my job I guess the subject matter sort of popped right out at me. I don’t consider this a “personal finance” blog because there are gaps in the subject that I don’t write about because they don’t interest me as much, such as credit cards, insurance, taxes, investing. I personally am interested in taxes (If the subject is lowering them! Otherwise it’s nap time) and investing (I have a tidy sum in my old 401k, mutual funds and a Roth IRA) but not enough to write about it. So The Buck List was never a traditional personal finance blog, just what interested one guy enough to want to share with others. Some of the sites on my list are like that, and others are a little more structured. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you have any to add I would love to know about them!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Dollar Stretcher</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – I found this site not too long after getting online in 1996 and I have been a newsletter subscriber ever since. The simple design and ever changing reader contributed content have kept this site at the top of my list. And to top it off editor Gary Foreman is a pretty nice guy, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Yahoo Personal Finance</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – They cover it all, and also offer calculators and how to guides to go along with their catchy, clickable headline stories. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Wise Bread</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – You just never know what to expect in your inbox from this group of close to fifty contributors. With that many points of view you can be assured that they keep it fresh and interesting. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.unusualwaystomakemoney.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Unusual Ways to Make Money</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – Steve Gillman is all about marketing, making money and self-promotion…all of which he shares with his readers. I have lost track of how many sites he has but I have bookmarked some of them, and I think this one was the first I came across. Beware: reading his stuff is VERY addictive.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://pfblogs.org/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Personal Finance Blogs Aggregator</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – As of this writing this free aggregator of personal finance blogs has 22,150 entries from 716 blogs, and counting. If you are looking for something new to read or a different voice in the field take some time to browse this site. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Further Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/08/politics-and-personal-finance-what-can.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Politics and Personal Finance: What Can One Tell Us About the Other?</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/08/does-financial-education-matter.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Does a Financial Education Matter?</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-24125672158410462292011-06-06T13:01:00.000-05:002011-06-06T13:01:42.652-05:00Quick and Painless Ways to Start Saving Money Regardless of Income Level<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1fbrYryfBWVw_Pw2Ej5_xBA1XcxDH8Thau6ZlJQnadaTkV4eCULozWZMZ_HedqGRaclGdClG6B7wccTisdgZRmD8pqKlj57C0ctGjzNfZ35mq11SMiHndHfAembzm7wL5p2jAMJtnQTG/s1600/saving+money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1fbrYryfBWVw_Pw2Ej5_xBA1XcxDH8Thau6ZlJQnadaTkV4eCULozWZMZ_HedqGRaclGdClG6B7wccTisdgZRmD8pqKlj57C0ctGjzNfZ35mq11SMiHndHfAembzm7wL5p2jAMJtnQTG/s200/saving+money.jpg" t8="true" width="169px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The following is a guest post by Mick Archard.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">With gas prices rising and the job market and economy unstable, most people are doing whatever they can to save money. There are some big changes people can make, such as renting a cheaper apartment, or small changes such as brown bagging lunches instead of eating out. Even people with small incomes can usually find a way to save, and small savings add up. Even just $10 per month adds up to $120 per year. The savings add up even faster if they are earning interest in a savings or investment account.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Rent a Smaller Apartment</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Renting an apartment is a great way to save money. Renter's insurance is usually way cheaper than homeowner's insurance. The </span><a href="http://www.rentersinsurance.net/michigan.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">National Association of Insurance Commissioners</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> reported that rental insurance in Michigan costs an average of $164 year. This breaks down to just $13.67 per month. According to the Insurance Institute of Michigan, average premiums for homeowners insurance in MI were $797 in 2004. This breaks down to about $66.42 per month. If you are already renting, moving to a smaller place will usually result in lower monthly rent and lower utility costs because there is less space to heat and cool. There are many </span><a href="http://www.rentedmonton.com/Default.aspx"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Edmonton</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> apartments for rent that are in great locations and have low monthly rental fees. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Budget</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Creating a budget is important whether the income level is $1,000 per month or $8,000 per month. Listing all monthly bills with amounts and due dates paints an accurate picture of your finances. Treating savings like a bill is important. There should be a line in the budget for savings, even if it's only $25 per month. Budgeting also gives consumers an idea of how much money they have available after the essential bills. It helps people to not overspend when they know there is only $75 a week in the budget for groceries, for example.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Pay Off Debt</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">According to </span><a href="http://outlawfinance.com/how-to-save-money-on-a-low-income/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Outlaw Finance</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> freeing yourself of debt is one of the first steps you should take. Paying extra on your debts is will free up money faster and you will pay out less money in interest and fees. When one credit card is paid off, the payment you were making can be put toward the next debt to get it paid off sooner. Talking to credit card companies may not help, but it won't hurt. The companies may agree to lower interest rates or take less money than you owe in a lump sum payment. Credit card companies can be difficult to work with, but they don't want you to go bankrupt, so they will sometimes work with you on a payment plan. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Taking back items that still have tags on them or having a garage sale is a quick way to make money for debt payment. Many people are selling used items on online auction sites for extra money. It may not seem like much at first, but any payment that is more than the minimum usually goes straight to lowering the total amount owed. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Invest in a 401K</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Having money taken out of each paycheck before it's deposited is a great way to save. This money is not part of the budget, so it's easier not to spend it on something else. Increasing 401k contributions with each raise adds even more money to savings without making a dent in your monthly budget. Many companies have a fund set aside to match the amount of money that employees deposit into their 401k accounts, up to a certain percentage. Talk to the human resources department of your company if you're unsure about a company match. This is free money that employees often turn down by not investing.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Set Goals</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Saving money can be difficult, especially for people who need most of their income for necessary bills like rent, food, and gas. Setting a goal to save for something you really want makes it easier to save money. For example, people may be faced with the decision to buy a new pair of shoes or save that $75 toward the car they really want. Having pictures of the savings goal in prominent places will remind you what you're saving for. It's also helpful to break down the goal into manageable amounts per month. If the goal is to have $5,000 saved in a year from now, this breaks down to $416.67 per month or $96.15 per week.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Trim Expenses</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Even small amounts of money add up. If someone spends $2 every week on movie rentals, this money adds up to $104 after one year. Switching to a cheaper cell phone or TV plan is another way to save money. Many people are not using the services they are paying for and can easily make cuts.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Eating out is one expense that most people can cut. Bringing lunch to work instead of buying lunch every day can save most people around $50 per week. Eating out is a social event for many people. Inviting friends over for dinner or drinks and rotating houses each month is a fun way to spend time with friends and save money. Soup and bread is a meal that feeds a large amount of people on a small budget. It's also nice to not have people you don't know interrupting the conversation of your group. Your house never closes, so friends can talk all night if they want to. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Additional Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-avoid-crisis-living.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">How to Avoid Crisis Living</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/01/saving-in-2011.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Saving in 2011</span></a></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-47073458573384574072011-06-03T11:05:00.000-05:002011-06-03T11:05:22.549-05:00Weekly Roundup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsszPiYzmNjNRwX3RspYk8fbO1M4e4lHJ2aF8sKGA4jJ39xaBl2BrTUnachsy18EHSv3QT_vwk9hyphenhyphenKociUmaLvNwQTQZbmfapsotUVEGFBltAzja33JKBBb1T6APMaGe6inRK922JFcamm/s1600/Roundup8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsszPiYzmNjNRwX3RspYk8fbO1M4e4lHJ2aF8sKGA4jJ39xaBl2BrTUnachsy18EHSv3QT_vwk9hyphenhyphenKociUmaLvNwQTQZbmfapsotUVEGFBltAzja33JKBBb1T6APMaGe6inRK922JFcamm/s200/Roundup8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">June is </span><a href="http://www.funoutdoors.com/taxonomy/view/or/125"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Great Outdoors Month</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">, National Camping Month and </span><a href="http://answers.usa.gov/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION_ID=1&CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=11864&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=US"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">National Rivers Month</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">. You know what that means…get outdoors and camp by a river!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There is something about signs and symbols that are intriguing to all of us at some level. Check out </span><a href="http://www.symbols.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Symbols</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> for “more than 1,600 articles about 2,500 Western signs, arranged into 54 groups according to their graphic characteristics.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://yipit.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Yipit</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “aggregates and recommends the best daily deals in your city. We collect all the great daily deals from 528 services including Groupon, LivingSocial, Buy With Me, Tippr, Yelp and many more. We recommend the best of the daily deals to our users based on the preferences they have expressed to us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In his last Cheapskate column Neal Templin says </span><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303591204575169901608927636.html?mod=WSJ_FamilyFinance_Cheapstake"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">goodbye to all that penny-pinching</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thriftytimes.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Thrifty Times</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> offers all kinds of articles about how to save money, budgeting tips, finding free stuff, coupons and even inexpensive recipes. Worth a peek! <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Weekly Reminder – A reminder of a useful article you might have missed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This post explores what to do </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/02/when-coupons-arent-enough.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">when coupons aren’t enough</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Have a good weekend!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-65541913262646662972011-06-01T10:20:00.000-05:002011-06-01T10:20:02.422-05:00Happiness Is a By-Product<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHVz8EE5BUG5Wp6rIdRozToOmptEKh1Zqm2t6QY4dyT3Hqi5X9ZslxEn3UniaxXXm4oNkV31FBeVEjRlDFduRymHr9QFdostwlEE4HS7vF2WH_Ar80PZg_oDaYLq5D_sVIvY8NfnNwnBG/s1600/happiness.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHVz8EE5BUG5Wp6rIdRozToOmptEKh1Zqm2t6QY4dyT3Hqi5X9ZslxEn3UniaxXXm4oNkV31FBeVEjRlDFduRymHr9QFdostwlEE4HS7vF2WH_Ar80PZg_oDaYLq5D_sVIvY8NfnNwnBG/s200/happiness.png" t8="true" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) wrote this short but insightful line about how we achieve happiness.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities.”</span></b></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-81575471482194074552011-05-27T14:08:00.000-05:002011-05-27T14:08:43.677-05:00Weekly Roundup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7ZNtvvcglKM27xdnuuhhNeyLq_5mq8_bUBwhikwUIbjXw1fxXdyLdnshKwzvnmgXIijUWVco_slj5cTWsHJndWuiL27XRyu5H4Iljr19OptvPjXGOhXYFAnKqQT1DuBU2wYbiBoU399u/s1600/Roundup7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7ZNtvvcglKM27xdnuuhhNeyLq_5mq8_bUBwhikwUIbjXw1fxXdyLdnshKwzvnmgXIijUWVco_slj5cTWsHJndWuiL27XRyu5H4Iljr19OptvPjXGOhXYFAnKqQT1DuBU2wYbiBoU399u/s200/Roundup7.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Uncyclopedia</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> is a parody of Wikipedia that publishes user content that contributes to their “giant mass of misinformation and utter lies.” Visit the site and find out what it takes to become an “Uncyclopedian.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.travelblogs.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">TravelBlogs</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “brings you travel advice and stories from those who’ve been there and done that. We’ve brought together the internet’s finest travel bloggers and asked them to share their unique insight into all things travel.” Worth a peek for some interesting interviews with travel bloggers and plenty of travel content.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you would like to search some U.S. online newspaper sites </span><a href="http://www.newspaperlinks.com/voyager.cfm"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">NewsVoyager</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> is a good starting place. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This article proposes </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-why-women-earn-less-than-men/2011/04/11/AFXFn4iE_story.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">five myths about why women earn less than men</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://chowhound.chow.com/boards"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Chowhound</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> is known for its “voracious devotion to hyperdeliciousness!” This is a great site where “food-lovers worldwide gather here to swap expert tips about restaurants, foods, stores, and bars, as well as cooking, wine, beer, cookware, and more.” As they say, “Dig in ... and be prepared to get very, very hungry!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Weekly Reminder – A reminder of a useful article you might have missed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This post lists </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/01/nine-ways-to-find-cheap-or-free.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">nine ways to find cheap or free performances</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My wife and I are leaving town to visit family during this long holiday weekend and I won’t be posting on Monday. Make it a great weekend, and don’t forget to </span></b><a href="http://www.usmemorialday.org/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">honor our fallen heroes</span></span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></b></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-62622762331162986372011-05-25T15:18:00.001-05:002011-05-25T15:21:16.049-05:00Five Frugal Flicks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2U-oLISLmD2LuUlSVUkG6y5QqGle9Ybp8QJOzBoIaIS5C4u1S-TpSrwJVOnFs5MQR5WUxf2-bxEbqhR3Z_W5erGw25fD7p88J51OiwgsA14CgC3mtS_dXNsNkpM5Ih309xVZ853ebdrc/s1600/frugal+flicks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2U-oLISLmD2LuUlSVUkG6y5QqGle9Ybp8QJOzBoIaIS5C4u1S-TpSrwJVOnFs5MQR5WUxf2-bxEbqhR3Z_W5erGw25fD7p88J51OiwgsA14CgC3mtS_dXNsNkpM5Ih309xVZ853ebdrc/s200/frugal+flicks.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">You wouldn’t think it would be hard to come up with five flicks that deal with frugality, but most films that came to mind had frugal living as just a subplot to the main point of the movie. The following five picks either deal with frugality as a main theme or they offer it as a background to the story. If any of them sound interesting make sure to frugally check your library for a copy first, or search to find them online.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O52np-6X7Vg"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Immaterial John</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – This 2004 documentary</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">is about how John van der Harst lives in a small apartment in Detroit on around $3,600 per year. He does not own a car but instead runs everywhere, recycles or reuses almost everything, forages for food, cuts his own hair, and on and on. He works when he wants to and devotes the rest of his time to his favorite environmental and social causes.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332285/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Off the Map</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – This quiet little 2003 movie is not really about frugality, but the subject does make its way through the storyline. A husband, wife and their daughter live off the grid in the desert gardening, salvaging and making do without. The plot is really what will pull you in, and it includes friendship, coming of age, crippling depression, spiritual and artistic awakening, death, and credit card fraud among other things. Maybe it doesn’t belong on this list but, hey, it’s my list!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYJKd0rkKss"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Alone in the Wilderness</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – When Dick Proenneke (1916 – 2003) decided to retire in 1968 he didn’t head for a little house in Florida or Arizona (as many Iowans do) to play golf between naps. Instead he made for the mountains of Alaska, built a cabin and enjoyed the wildlife and scenery for the next 30 years. During his stay he wrote journals, took photos and shot a lot of film, which was turned into several books and a fascinating documentary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0920467/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – I watched this 2007 documentary last year and found myself increasingly fascinated with the story of how a group of people that includes misfits, patriots, survivalists, addicts, runaways, war vets, environmentalists, and various kooks lived their lives and ordered their “society” living off the grid in the New Mexico desert.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1659269/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Frugal</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – This short 2010 documentary follows Kimberly Clancy and a friend as they hunt a grocery store searching for deals with coupons galore, until they finally checkout and you see how much money they saved.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Further Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/07/best-free-movie-and-tv-sites.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Best Free Movie and TV Sites</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/11/five-interesting-frugal-videos.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Five Interesting Frugal Videos</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-406313970815630332011-05-23T10:49:00.001-05:002011-05-23T10:52:18.261-05:00Sales Tax Meets the Internet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hZ5HSCuxdT0-JlKINVfQG3vE7dDXHjUwBTgJm92at9lVtnXeIGKoHMqSk19Ufmyq5mGR7WnvOQEvIPfSvGeSg65PRR4S355emE6JApJEy_aBRNlrbQ5T0m4J0gyhyQ9VPnM9KzdC4E0y/s1600/sales+tax.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hZ5HSCuxdT0-JlKINVfQG3vE7dDXHjUwBTgJm92at9lVtnXeIGKoHMqSk19Ufmyq5mGR7WnvOQEvIPfSvGeSg65PRR4S355emE6JApJEy_aBRNlrbQ5T0m4J0gyhyQ9VPnM9KzdC4E0y/s200/sales+tax.png" width="200" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The following is a guest post by Mariana Ashley, a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about <a href="http://www.onlinecolleges.net/"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">online colleges</span></span></a>. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Over the past few months, several states have been pushing legislation designed to tax online businesses. While online companies already pay state sales taxes to the state of their headquarters, <a href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h5660/show"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Main Street Fairness Act</span></span></a>, as named by Illinois Senator Dick Durbin (D), proposes to collect taxes on all purchases made in states that have company affiliates.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For example, companies like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Amazon.com</span></span></a> with affiliates in Illinois, which already has the Fairness Act in effect, will experience tax for all sales to Illinois residents. Amazon severed its ties with affiliates in Illinois immediately after the bill, to escape the effects of the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Many fear that the effects of this bill nationwide will cause some companies to leave the United States, thus removing jobs from the company. Others are worried that the tax will decrease spending and destroy online retailers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Proponents of the tax argue that tax-free online sales give an unfair advantage to Internet retailers that don't maintain operations in every state. And with some retail businesses closing down their brick-and-mortar locations but continuing online sales, states are looking for ways like this to retain any revenue possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I'm by no means a member or supporter of the Tea Party Movement. In fact, I support taxes in most cases. But this bill poses some problems that are a bit more alarming than simply paying another sales tax. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Think about the pros and cons of shopping online versus in a store. In a store, you get to test and touch merchandise, you have the item in your possession as soon as you buy it, and you can easily return it by going back to the store. Online, you have many resources for research and comparison (although those with smartphones have these in stores as well), but you have to pay for shipping, wait for the product to ship, and deal with the hassle of return-shipping if something is broken. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Consider how the added sales tax will affect people's shopping habits. There would be no benefit to shopping online unless online vendors had extremely low prices. Otherwise, you're pretty much paying the same price or more to have something shipped to your home instead of having it immediately once you leave a store.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Online retailers would also have to use more resources to simply comply with the bill. Online companies would be flooded with significant paperwork and periodic audits regarding all the new taxes from each state; this might be enough to make online retail simply out of the question for small or up-and-coming businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While this proposed bill is aimed at providing fairness for small local business, its biggest supporters and lobbyers are paid by huge brick-and-mortar retailers like <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/al-norman/walmart-sales-tax_b_846986.html"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wal-Mart</span></span></a>. This is yet another reason to question who this bill will really help and whether it's worth the amount of businesses it may significantly hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The bill has some time before it's in any position to come into effect, but in the meantime, I suggest people get their online shopping out of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Further Reading:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/06/five-great-catalog-shopping-sites.html"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Five Great Catalog Shopping Sites</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/09/four-leading-causes-of-overspending.html"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Four Leading Causes of Overspending</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-87314187113944230302011-05-20T12:26:00.000-05:002011-05-20T12:26:33.522-05:00Weekly Roundup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Zn-aOFI3catB41XvmZ7pcvLGToTwNMuyLRM-EiiIge5RA59BDIDR7fup98mX0sSptnG0DyTSjZVA4B1Zl4i5zw1hPYj_7qNTVXn_xR1UuxKXcINaCH7oT01q6DwbS_PYGPaaASvS7gSh/s1600/Roundup6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Zn-aOFI3catB41XvmZ7pcvLGToTwNMuyLRM-EiiIge5RA59BDIDR7fup98mX0sSptnG0DyTSjZVA4B1Zl4i5zw1hPYj_7qNTVXn_xR1UuxKXcINaCH7oT01q6DwbS_PYGPaaASvS7gSh/s200/Roundup6.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">If you keep backyard chickens, or would like to find locally produced eggs, check out </span><a href="http://www.eggzy.net/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><span style="color: blue;">Eggzy</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">. The site helps you to “manage your flock, share pictures, eggs and stats with your friends and family, or, if you're a foodie, find local eggs — the freshest most delicious local eggs.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.storkbrokers.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">StorkBrokers</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> is an online marketplace that allows you to sell your no longer needed baby & kid items, or to buy used items you are looking for. You can also put in a request if you don’t find what you are looking for and they will notify you when someone lists it.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">If you are interested in art museums, theater, classical music, opera, jazz, dance, and film make sure to visit <a href="http://www.artsamerica.us/"><span style="color: blue;">Arts America</span></a> for more than a thousand recommendations across more than eighty cities. They also list over 100 national and regional summer events and news about what's happening in the arts from more than 100 newspapers, magazines, blogs and RSS feeds.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This video shows how to <a href="http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/video-make-the-most-of-daily-deal-sites-25249683"><span style="color: blue;">make the most of daily deal sites</span></a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.ready.gov/"><span style="color: blue;">Ready</span></a> can help to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan in case of a natural or man-made emergency.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Weekly Reminder – A reminder of a useful article you might have missed.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This post examines how you can </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/01/make-money-selling-vinyl-records.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">make money selling vinyl records</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Have a good weekend!</span></b></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-75420740719467289142011-05-18T10:16:00.000-05:002011-05-18T10:16:54.828-05:00Frugal Lessons From The Past: The Mail Order Catalog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuXKGHDa-6YFrjc6VREMq-rOan9kNsAA98F5PAwAUM5IMqa-ly6r0Acue5ZXxfH6iCMHY0jSgvZZ92A9IAxYxsglvZ7kE4aUhLnPz5xn-RJ1njDlX-QsnyZYUqfsNAVup4vl1OIyobyVC/s1600/outhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuXKGHDa-6YFrjc6VREMq-rOan9kNsAA98F5PAwAUM5IMqa-ly6r0Acue5ZXxfH6iCMHY0jSgvZZ92A9IAxYxsglvZ7kE4aUhLnPz5xn-RJ1njDlX-QsnyZYUqfsNAVup4vl1OIyobyVC/s200/outhouse.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Carl Hamilton (1914 – 1991) served as vice president and administrator of Iowa State University, was an editor and publisher and late in life wrote about Iowa history and his own memories of growing up on an Iowa farm. The following excerpts are from one of his books, In No Time At All, and follow the lifespan of a mail order catalog on the farm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“When the average farm home, uncluttered by radio or television, had only a weekly and possibly a daily newspaper and some magazines, the arrival of a Montgomery Ward or Sears and Roebuck catalog was a major event.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“It was carefully studied by parents as they compared prices in their never-ending struggle to match resources with necessities. “Making out the order” was a project that might go on for some weeks and would include everything from long underwear to farm tools. Clearly desires must have been stimulated beyond means by the long hours of studying the vast array of merchandise with prices which ranged from Good to Better to Best.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“The arrival of the catalog was even more of an event for the kids. Hours and hours of long winter evenings and rainy Sunday afternoons were spent thumbing through the catalog – a page at a time!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“But what an ignominious end it had. One so in keeping with the times: waste nothing! Where did that valued, much-treasured book end up? In the privy! There, of course, it served a double purpose. It served as “tissue” – although hardly of the scented, soft textured brands of milady’s toilette. Also it provided one last chance to review the well-studied pages. And, providing the weather was right, meaning it wasn’t so cold as to bring chilblains to unaccustomed places or so warm as to encourage flies, the catalog added interest to that interlude in the day’s activities. Of course, it did have limitations even for that final purpose. Even under the most extreme circumstances, when nothing was being wasted, the slick paper sections did leave something to be desired as “tissue.” There came a time when the remains – the high fashion section – was consigned en masse to the lower regions! Ker-plop!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Related Reading:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/04/frugal-lessons-from-past-kate-sanborn.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Frugal Lessons From The Past: Kate Sanborn</span></span></a></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-56069625784311810812011-05-16T13:41:00.000-05:002011-05-16T13:41:30.375-05:00How Do You Haggle?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaf36ankhugp_GUXsUPBbfQHWFApYq1tunkf5JVc7jwl-FmS6AhFNJh-IcXgmK_ifs_-x9PcdTiPEirPJIrQD97CX3Rea44X-FrtkHwU9YiVvTl-FlFfBYOH0wMZJa-VIiAa15o049Y0_/s1600/haggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaf36ankhugp_GUXsUPBbfQHWFApYq1tunkf5JVc7jwl-FmS6AhFNJh-IcXgmK_ifs_-x9PcdTiPEirPJIrQD97CX3Rea44X-FrtkHwU9YiVvTl-FlFfBYOH0wMZJa-VIiAa15o049Y0_/s200/haggle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One frugal trait that I learned in childhood from my parents was to try to bargain around paying full price for something. They called it haggling, and the techniques they taught me worked amazingly well. Mom and Dad were antique collectors, buyers and sellers for both fun and profit, and this hobby of theirs took us all over the state on weekends to flea markets and antique shows and shops (this was before antique malls existed). Their passion wore off on me and I began collecting various things as well.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Their main advice was:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Know the true value of what you want to buy and offer a fair price.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t be afraid to walk away if the answer is no. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I don’t know how many times I have turned to walk away, after saying thank you, only to have the seller stop me and agree to my offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Those two haggling tips have served me well over the years, but I’m curious as to what kind of haggling techniques you might use. How do you haggle?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Further Reading:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/09/do-you-keep-budget.html"><span style="color: blue;">Do You Keep a Budget?</span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/02/when-coupons-arent-enough.html"><span style="color: blue;">When Coupons Aren’t Enough</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-9154357679537656982011-05-13T13:36:00.000-05:002011-05-13T13:36:25.469-05:00Weekly Roundup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPjCVBYPAlKe_F2BlH952y9bB6IdwCDNNQ3SUlopoBHJB9qWvJT183PvnvU1k4c7I4rLLWexwghlrSJj9BDarfx395OPg6Ust8nloK30WfmTDeFH8n8v6KSJAkGFVq-bdkHFixGxDGlAO/s1600/Roundup5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPjCVBYPAlKe_F2BlH952y9bB6IdwCDNNQ3SUlopoBHJB9qWvJT183PvnvU1k4c7I4rLLWexwghlrSJj9BDarfx395OPg6Ust8nloK30WfmTDeFH8n8v6KSJAkGFVq-bdkHFixGxDGlAO/s200/Roundup5.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Visit <a href="http://healthyrecipe.net/"><span style="color: blue;">Healthy Recipe</span></a> for lots of recipes that are gluten or sugar free, high fiber, or are low in calories, carbs, cholesterol or fat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">If you are looking for part time work consider <a href="http://www.groovejob.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Groove Job</span></a>, which focuses on part time jobs, teen and student jobs, weekend jobs, summer jobs and internships for students. Just type in your zip code to find what’s available.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Use <a href="http://www.8coupons.com/"><span style="color: blue;">8coupons</span></a> to find deals from “your neighborhood restaurants, bars, salons, and stores so that you can easily find the best deals near you. We have everything from exclusive mobile coupons that come directly from the restaurants, bars, salons, and stores themselves, to deals that are shared by you.” Search for specific deals or just type in your zip code.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Is Walmart really </span><a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Is-WalMart-returning-to-its-cnnm-4175755050.html?x=0"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">returning to its Buy American roots</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://blackandwtf.tumblr.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Black and WTF</span></a> is an addictive photoblog of strange black and white photos. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Weekly Reminder – A reminder of a useful article you might have missed.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This post ponders whether or not you can <a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/01/can-you-save-money-by-hunting.html"><span style="color: blue;">save money by hunting</span></a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Have a good weekend!</span></b></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-68278012800529111832011-05-11T12:15:00.000-05:002011-05-11T12:15:20.090-05:00Frugal Recipe: Mac ‘n’ Beef<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZlTtCRL3qbIjrn6LrYfGcQbqkr0OBADCNcJ6VNa0QVSPftaeWVBetaHzXLEC5NdqKV-HNRiHfaskgjib7zu5uE8Z7-fiBECmTnieoyenhy1TPepEmSv-kEQGu3dhHayLHMfHjk7RN0u-/s1600/mac+and+beef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZlTtCRL3qbIjrn6LrYfGcQbqkr0OBADCNcJ6VNa0QVSPftaeWVBetaHzXLEC5NdqKV-HNRiHfaskgjib7zu5uE8Z7-fiBECmTnieoyenhy1TPepEmSv-kEQGu3dhHayLHMfHjk7RN0u-/s200/mac+and+beef.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When we first came across this recipe our kids were still living at home and it became a real crowd pleaser. This meal is very quick to prepare and cook and hopefully your crew will like it too.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ingredients<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1 pound ground beef<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1 onion, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1 can tomato soup<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">¾ cup water<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1 tbsp prepared mustard<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1 small can mushrooms, drained<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">4 cups cooked elbow or shell macaroni<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We have also added, in various combinations (depending on what we had on hand at the time): Velveeta cheese, parmesan cheese, green peppers, fresh garlic, 1 can whole corn, 1 can stewed tomatoes.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Directions<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Cook beef and onion (and green peppers and fresh garlic if you decide to add them) until done, drain. Add the remaining ingredients and heat through. Yummy!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Further Reading:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2011/04/frugal-recipe-chicken-creole-with-chile.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Frugal Recipe: Chicken Creole with Chile Cream Sauce</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-6465447192523442922011-05-09T12:40:00.001-05:002012-12-03T21:23:17.964-06:00Ten Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1_0yAK1vWagE2-9_GZM6QQEkJtp4_ILXhTRL07-yC-utXvuRuSK_01KXwI3s4b4GslyGhH58gcWpfVqYcI7UrXXy-9yZigiI6S2YZwy9NMgrJFTm_guO1L7FkEwjzooE3FYMb1YBmhDS/s1600/kids+eat+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1_0yAK1vWagE2-9_GZM6QQEkJtp4_ILXhTRL07-yC-utXvuRuSK_01KXwI3s4b4GslyGhH58gcWpfVqYcI7UrXXy-9yZigiI6S2YZwy9NMgrJFTm_guO1L7FkEwjzooE3FYMb1YBmhDS/s200/kids+eat+free.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The following is a guest post from Bailey Harris, who writes on many topics. This post is <span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">about free meal specials for kids. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Taking the entire family out to eat can turn into a very expensive event. Fortunately, there are several restaurants that offer free meal specials for kids. Taking advantage of kids' meal deals can make family meals out more fun and frequent, and it will be easier on the wallet at the same time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The following are 10 popular restaurants that offer free meals for kids. Some of these offers may vary depending on location, and not all restaurants may participate. It's always a good idea to call ahead of time to verify information with your local restaurants--this will save you time and money. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.goldencorral.net/locator/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Golden Corral</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> - </b>At Golden Corral, children ages three and under can eat for free from the buffet with the purchase of one adult meal. This offer is good every day. On Mondays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., kids ages 10 and under can eat for free. Two kids can eat for free for every adult meal that is purchased.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.dennys.com/en/default.aspx?title=Denny%27s+Home"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Denny's</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span>- </b>On select nights that vary by location and restaurant participation, kids ages 10 and under can eat for free between the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For every two kids eating free, one adult meal ($2.50 or more) must be purchased. Check with your local Denny's restaurant to find out which night this special is offered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.ihop.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;">IHOP</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> - </b>On Monday evenings, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., IHOP offers specials for children 12 and under. For every adult entrée purchased, one child can eat for free. Beverages cost extra and are not included in the free meal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.quiznos.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Quiznos</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> - </b>At participating Quiznos locations, with the purchase of one adult meal, one Quiznos Kidz meal is free. This offer is for kids ages 12 and under--and the day that this special is offered varies depending on location.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.chick-fil-a.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chick-fil-A</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> - </b>Tuesday nights at Chick-fil-A are family fun nights! On Tuesdays only, one kids meal is free per every adult combo meal purchased. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.mariecallenders.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Marie Callender's</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> - </b>Select Marie Callender's restaurants offer kids ages 12 and under free meals. One kids meal is free for every adult meal purchased.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.planetsub.com/flash.html"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Planet Sub</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> - </b>On Tuesday evening from 4:00 p.m. until close, one kids meal per one adult meal purchase is free. This offer is good for kids ages 11 and under.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.damons.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Damon's</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> - </b>At Damon's Sports Bar & Grill, Wednesday night is "kids' night!" With every adult meal purchased, one kid's meal is free.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.applebees.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Applebees</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> - </b>On Monday night at Applebees, kids can eat for free. With the purchase of one adult meal, one child's meal is free. If only one adult is present, each additional child's meal costs only $1. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.cicispizza.com/_template.php"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cici's Pizza</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- </b>At Cici's Pizza, children ages three and under can eat for free from the buffet. This offer is good all day every day. Some locations also offer free meals to older kids on specific days of the week--call your local Cici's Pizza and find out more details. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Going out for dinner doesn't need to cost a fortune. With free meal deals for kids, the whole family can enjoy delicious meals out at some of your favorite restaurants!<a href="about:blank" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Further Reading:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2009/06/10-best-freebie-sites.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The 10 Best Freebie Sites</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/01/nine-ways-to-find-cheap-or-free.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nine Ways to Find Cheap or Free Performances</span></a></span></div>
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Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-22002182161059553922011-05-06T17:24:00.000-05:002011-05-06T17:24:15.255-05:00Weekly Roundup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dimHjYzRfxEuzHXJ7zLFx_NvhCTk_KDXMtydrILTEG1rMwJDNDLYqdZ138PTfwZyEXCM7kNJ2QCgBgQnvi1AkgXWcXK88tkbmz_o4HBb8yk65zBXT32yYsPuJ4NuM8QNcWuzHdu6RlM4/s1600/Roundup4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dimHjYzRfxEuzHXJ7zLFx_NvhCTk_KDXMtydrILTEG1rMwJDNDLYqdZ138PTfwZyEXCM7kNJ2QCgBgQnvi1AkgXWcXK88tkbmz_o4HBb8yk65zBXT32yYsPuJ4NuM8QNcWuzHdu6RlM4/s200/Roundup4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">May is National Barbecue Month. Before heading outside and firing up the grill check out some of these </span><a href="http://www.hpba.org/consumers/barbecue/national-barbecue-month-2011-summertime-and-the-grilln-is-easy"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">barbecue facts</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">, as well as a variety of </span><a href="http://www.barbecueweb.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">barbecue recipes</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.homestarrunner.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Homestar Runner</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> is a fun little site to visit if you are looking for replicas of old school video games or short cartoons. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you are looking for a part time job check out </span><a href="http://www.tentiltwo.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">10 til 2</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, a staffing firm “specializing in placing college-educated professionals into long-term, part-time positions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This article says there are two reasons why for the first time in 20 years the </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/business/media/03television.html?src=me&ref=business"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">number of homes</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> in the United States with television sets has dropped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For English language news sites and magazines from around the world, sorted by country and region, check out </span><a href="http://www.world-newspapers.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">World Newspapers</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Weekly Reminder – A reminder of a useful article you might have missed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This post lists many reasons </span><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-you-need-wd-40.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">why you need WD-40</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Have a good weekend!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180775026297039691.post-50640610504980957462011-05-04T11:27:00.000-05:002011-05-04T11:27:50.621-05:00Make Money Selling Homemade Goods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwArZmq_OJo3axXVTuQ6Zu8_eI4IKMOqcrEOWinUqMqIt-gMxvf6FdJJifS4l6spVkvBvilOgawxmDC8_PI8aLj6HXziejqQtFihQcb09bhb_s3oLq7XiIM0ZBVf7I8M-DKIEbATOq2WZ/s1600/homemade+goods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwArZmq_OJo3axXVTuQ6Zu8_eI4IKMOqcrEOWinUqMqIt-gMxvf6FdJJifS4l6spVkvBvilOgawxmDC8_PI8aLj6HXziejqQtFihQcb09bhb_s3oLq7XiIM0ZBVf7I8M-DKIEbATOq2WZ/s200/homemade+goods.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">There is a large indoor flea market in our area that always has homemade goods spread out on certain strategically placed tables. There are usually pies, brownies, cookies and bread and sometimes jars of salsa, honey, jams and jellies, all homemade. During a recent visit while looking over that day’s spread I got to wondering how much money one could make producing and selling such items. While my wife has baked various things for potlucks and fundraisers over the years we have not really thought seriously of selling homemade goods for profit. I suppose it’s always a possibility if we ever decide to pursue the idea.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">I have also seen homemade goods for sale at craft shows, farmers markets and local fairs and festivals. Some other homemade items you could consider making and selling are soap, candles, jewelry, woodworking projects, extra vegetables from your garden, the list could go on and on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Make sure to check with your state’s health department for any applicable regulations and with local officials concerning any licenses or permits you might need. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">If this is something you are interested in check out the following resources for some additional, more in depth reading on the subject.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.pickyourown.org/sell_your_homecanned_food.htm"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Selling Your Home-Canned Salsa, Jams and Other Preserves</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://news.change.org/stories/states-ease-restrictions-on-selling-homemade-foods"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">States Ease Restrictions on Selling Homemade Foods</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://foodzie.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Foodzie</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Etsy</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Related Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/09/make-money-by-selling-your-bones.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Make Money by Selling Your Bones</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thebucklist.blogspot.com/2010/05/make-money-selling-plants.html"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Make Money Selling Plants</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>Buck Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01539959664771740038noreply@blogger.com1