Categories
Follow Us
Subscribe by email:
Category Archives: Reader Input
Summer Dating on the Cheap
My husband and I were friends long before we got married, so instead of the awkward dating period, we just hung out for about 10 years before we decided that being drinking buddies had transitioned to something more meaningful. So now I’m into date night. But I have to be honest – there is nothing more frustrating to me than going to a restaurant, spending an outlandish amount of money and be served subpar food. Because that’s when my hubby … Continue reading
Posted in Debt Reduction, Everyday Living, Money Saving Strategies, Reader Input, Relationships, Where My Money Goes
Tagged cheap, date night, husband, ideas, movies
2 Comments
Quick question for my readers …
I was at Staples today getting some ink for work and the guy printed off my receipt which came with a survey that I could complete over the phone or on the Internet. The gist of the survey was to give feedback how the customer service was (I adore the guys at Staples – almost all of them know me by face and by my paper preference … sick I know) and to enter myself for a chance at a … Continue reading
Crockpot Chicken Stock
No, you haven’t accidentally stumbled upon a cooking blog. I found this recipe the other day and it was so easy that I felt compelled to share with all of you. I’ve been looking for a good chicken stock recipe for awhile. When I cook rice, I like to cook it in chicken stock or broth and since rice is something of a staple in our household, it gets pricy to buy it off of the shelves. So I buy … Continue reading
Posted in Inane articles, Money Saving Strategies, Reader Input
Tagged cheap, chicken stock, crockpot
2 Comments
What do you do?
One of my dearest friends in the world right now has been unemployed since the first of the year (she’s a casualty of the newspaper crisis – one of many talented people that I know who have been targeted by cutbacks) and I can tell through her emails that she’s struggling mightily and I got to be honest – my heart is just aching for her. I’m sure I’m not the only person out here who has friends who have … Continue reading
The importance of credit cards?
My dear friend Melanie weighed in on the last post I wrote about how the economy is reviving a “fix-it” nation. And Mel asked a good question – the gist was that she found a pair of shoes at Sears on clearance for $20. The checkout person pitched Mel additional savings by opening up a Sears card and Mel was able to pay cash for the shoes. “… As we left I explained to my husband that I always apply … Continue reading
Frugal honeymoon ideas?
Just call me the “anti-bride.” This moniker is not to be confused with “Bridezilla” (although Lord knows I’ve had those moments), but is reserved for those woefully underprepared brides who should have really just eloped and gone to Vegas instead of having some elaborate wedding. As of the 18th, Future Husband and I have two months until we get hitched and wow … everything is coming together – including the wedding invitations that I addressed by hand. Nothing says love … Continue reading
Posted in Everyday Living, Reader Input
Tagged Amtrak, cheap travel, frugal, honeymoon, plane tickets
6 Comments
CAD: Being satisfied with what you have
CAD is another college friend who hails from a small town in Iowa. One of the things that has always struck me about CAD is her practicality – then again, she’s a scientist (and a PhD to boot!) What’s interesting is that sometimes I feel like CAD and her husband are the “Jones” that Future Husband and I aspire to be someday – this might be influenced by the fact that CAD’s husband was my Future Husband’s roommate in college … Continue reading
Posted in Good Reading, Reader Input
Tagged keeping up with the Joneses, poor, retirement
2 Comments
D: Poor means having no choices
D is my ex-editor and is my former “work spouse.” These days, D lives way the hell near Fargo and is living life as a single dad to his two sons. During our tenure together when we worked at the newspaper, I had the pleasure of meeting D’s mom – the formidable Mama D. I met Mama D shortly after D separated from his wife and was constantly impressed by this amazing woman who had left a bad relationship when … Continue reading
Posted in Good Reading, Reader Input
Tagged commodity food, luxuries, Mama D, poor, work spouse
1 Comment
Victor: Keeping up with the community
Victor is one of my best friends from college (second only to Future Husband although I’ve known Victor longer.) Victor grew up in an affluent suburb of the Twin Cities and continues to be an active community member in his hometown and owns an independent bookstore. Victor’s sense of poor is influenced by the community around him … “I think that the definition of “poor” depends on one’s own relationship with the community around them. I, for example, am also … Continue reading
Posted in Good Reading, Reader Input
Tagged bookstore, credit card debt, keeping up with the Joneses, People
Leave a comment
What it means to be poor …
Last month in a moment of writer’s block, I asked readers to submit questions to me and I would do my best to answer them. (And THANK YOU to you guys who participated … you’ve made my life easier by your ideas.) Emily asked me a question that even gave my Future Husband pause. “What does it mean to be poor?” Actually – I do her question injustice by summarizing the gist of her question – here’s the whole text … Continue reading