Dear Me …

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Michelle

The Guardian recently posted an article called “Dear Me: Celebrity Letters to Their Younger Selves.” It was an adorable read with letters ranging from one of my childhood heroes (Stephen King) to amazing actors such as Gene Hackman. Given the professional accomplishments of these celebrities, it was a hoot to read what they had to say to their younger selves … what pitfalls to avoid and mostly, to remain kind to themselves. This past weekend, my husband and I went … Continue reading →

Posted in Debt Reduction, Everyday Living, Good Reading | 2 Comments

Thoughts on minimalism

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Michelle

I am not a minimalist. For those who know me personally, who have visited my house or have seen the interior of my car (two jackets, favorite sweater, pair of jeans, a bag full of shoes destined for the Goodwill and a broken personal scale) … you likely think that my interest in minimalism is a little bit … hmmm, ironic? But minimalism has been on my mind a lot lately. That’s been partly influenced by the recent purchase of … Continue reading →

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So long, farewell Netflix

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Michelle

Well, I did it … I finally cancelled my Netflix membership. No – it really has nothing to do with the price increase. I detailed some of my thoughts about Netflix’s price hike here. My decision has a lot to do with something I reference in that article I wrote in late July … that DVD that I referenced having since June? Up until I hit the “cancel” button on my account, it was still unopened and sitting on top … Continue reading →

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What’s your vision?

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Michelle

“You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.” – Yogi Berra After I transitioned from working in an office environment to working at home, I decided to join Rotary International. I had previous exposure to Rotary when I lived up in Northfield and I like their motto: “Service Above Self.” I was also looking for a networking opportunity and – barring anything else – my Tuesday AM meeting guarantees … Continue reading →

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The power of DIY

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Michelle

My husband and I are having some unexpected company this evening. And I’m out of toilet bowl cleaner. Under normal circumstances, the two situations wouldn’t be mutually exclusive, but it’s been awhile since I’ve scrubbed said bowl and decided that this is a perfect excuse to do a Google search on “How to make your own toilet bowl cleaner.” Because that’s something that I’ve wanted to do … phase out commercial/conventional cleaners in favor of greener alternatives (that don’t cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Everyday Living, Minimalism, Money Saving Strategies | 2 Comments

REALLY????

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Michelle

Every once in awhile, the dearth of common sense makes me want to bash my head against immobile objects. Like walls, my desk, doors … you get the picture. Today’s “duh” moment came courtesy of a blog that I read on a regular basis – it belongs to Chef Marcus Samuelsson – one of the best things to come out of Sweden, after Alexander Skarsgard, his father and Ikea. One of today’s topics is how the USDA is taking on … Continue reading →

Posted in Debt Reduction, Everyday Living, Inane articles | 1 Comment

Mourning the perceived death of the debit card

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Michelle

My husband emailed me this article today from Minnesota Public Radio. On the heels of Bank of America announcing they will be charging debit card users $5 per month, analysts are asking the question: Are debit cards on the downhill slope of their popularity? As someone who has used their debit card as a primary mode of currency for the past five years, this news makes me want to shriek. I mean – I rarely use anything else other than … Continue reading →

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Eating on $30 a week …

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Michelle

If there is one thing that has struck me through my financial journey, it is that I need to be more mindful about what is spent for our household’s groceries. With that in mind, it is no wonder that this article on CNN struck my eye – especially its question: “Could you eat on $30 a week?” The premise, of course, is that families on food stamps have about $30 a week to feed their families. It is quite the … Continue reading →

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The ABC’s of Me

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Michelle

Frugal Babe had this post the other day which detailed “The ABCs of Me.” Every once in awhile, I think it’s fun to do these things. They just go well with procrastination and coffee. A – Age. I’m 33 B – Bed Size. Queen. C – Chore I dislike. Dusting … I have no clue why I don’t like to dust, I just don’t – I’d rather clean the bathroom. D – Dogs. I do not consider myself a dog … Continue reading →

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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