Category Archives: Reader Input

Putting my money where my mouth is

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Michelle

I am susceptible to suggestion. This comment means a multitude of things to me, whether its following the vampire craze and reading the Twilight books in one weekend or going to those damn catalog parties and finding myself the owner of jewelry that I rarely wear. Then there was that time that I became a vegetarian for a year because I was honoring River Phoenix. Oh yes – I did that, just ask my poor mother about that one and … Continue reading →

Posted in Everyday Living, Reader Input | 1 Comment

Defending my choices

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Michelle

Ever since my friend and coworker Greg got this crazy idea to buy hens so he could sell free range eggs to his coworkers, I’ve been shelling out $2 a dozen to buy “Greg’s Eggs.” When I’m eating an egg a day (usually on workday mornings), a dozen usually lasts me about a couple of weeks – give or take what I’m doing for baking. And given that the $2 is on par with what organic eggs are at my … Continue reading →

Posted in Debt Reduction, Everyday Living, Minimalism, Reader Input | 2 Comments

Happy New Year! And a book giveaway

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Michelle

I don’t know if this is a sign of the times or if I’m getting older, smarter or what, but last year’s ball drop wasn’t witnessed by my husband or I. I was sitting in bed going through a mountain of magazines, clipping out what I wanted to keep and pitching the rest, while my husband was downstairs in the basement, playing a computer game. We were both drinking water, because we were slightly dehydrated … from the multiple pots … Continue reading →

Posted in Debt Reduction, Everyday Living, Good Reading, Minimalism, Random!, Reader Input | 5 Comments

A new way to save …

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Michelle

Now that I’m done working at the cab company, my husband and I have been fulfilling familial obligations and taking a fair share of road trips. And although we love to see our family members at the end of these journeys, one of the best parts about spending three hours in a car is that my husband and I just talk without the usual interruptions of our life. We talk about the things we need to do to the house … Continue reading →

Posted in Everyday Living, Money Saving Strategies, Reader Input, Where My Money Goes | 4 Comments

How to find a reputable charity

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Michelle

Goodwill seems to be everywhere these days. My boyfriend George Clooney is hosting a telethon to help Haiti that will feature my other boyfriend Robert Pattinson. (Oh wait … this is a public forum read by my husband. There’s no one but you, honey …) Irregardless of my Hollywood crushes, disaster seems to bring out the best in each of us – whether its donating blood or going on a mission trip for Hurricane Katrina efforts or the current Haiti … Continue reading →

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Staying warm on the cheap

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Michelle

My husband and I keep our thermostat set in the low 60s. Since it’s just us, we figure that we can wear layers of clothing around the house if necessary and if we have company, we’ll inch the thermostat up for their comfort, but we try to keep our heating costs down. So what do we do when our main family room (which also happens to be our basement) seems a bit on the chilly side? I wouldn’t say it … Continue reading →

Posted in Everyday Living, Money Saving Strategies, Reader Input | 8 Comments

Changes in consumption

Posted on October 17, 2009 by Michelle

One of my favorite “foodie” columns is Bitten by Mark Bittman which may be found in the New York Times. Mr. Bittman’s latest column is “What We’re Eating” and featured this chart from Information Resources, Inc. The data for this chart was mined between June 2008 and June 2009 and measures the Top 10 grocery items that are bought by American consumers. It is interesting to note that real “food” doesn’t make the list until slot 3 and comes in … Continue reading →

Posted in Good Reading, Money Saving Strategies, Random!, Reader Input, Where My Money Goes | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

This weekend’s awesome article roundup

Posted on October 4, 2009 by Michelle

Regular readers of this blog know that I have a second job on the weekends – working a 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift at the local cab company. One of the reasons that I like this job (since I’m not entirely fond of waking up at the buttcrack of dawn) is that the eight hours I spend at my job are spent in front of a computer, answering phone calls and setting up cabs for people in my fair … Continue reading →

Posted in Debt Reduction, Everyday Living, Good Reading, Money Saving Strategies, Reader Input, Where My Money Goes, work | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ever done the Proust Questionnaire?

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Michelle

I don’t get Vanity Fair anymore, but when I had a subscription, one of my favorite pieces was “The Proust Questionnaire” featured at the back of the issue. Every month, they would talk to some luminary and ask them these questions. I did this because I always loved how random the questions were. So if any of you complete this on your blogs, leave me a comment and post the link! I’d love to know more about you all! The … Continue reading →

Posted in Good Reading, Random!, Reader Input | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Confessions of a Pack Rat

Posted on June 25, 2009 by Michelle

It’s no secret – just ask my mom or my dad who put up living with me for 18+ years. Ask any of my college roommates, ask my beloved husband … my name is Michelle and I have a problem – I’m a pack rat. First and foremost, there’s the college papers that I hated writing and probably would never read again. So why are they in a box in my closet? Then there’s the tiny pair of patent leather … Continue reading →

Posted in Everyday Living, Random!, Reader Input | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments