Utilities make up a dependable expense in a family’s budget. Along with grocery expenses, it’s also a place that usually has a bit of slop that can be removed if things get tight. And if cleanliness is next to godliness, certainly we all take regular showers or baths. The extent to which we do this … Read more
New dishwashers and clothes washers are stylized and sleek, with electronic sensors, LEDs, and digital displays. They’re quiet. (“Is it on?” advertises one of the upper-end dishwashers.) The newer paired washers and dryers really are nicely designed and even talk to one another. One might even say they’re pleasant to look at. (Tea and crumpets … Read more
When it’s time to cut back on family expenditures, a prime place to start is with the food budget. Once the “easy” savings are implemented — first by eating out a lot less, then by buying store brand or bulk, and then by preparing meals more from scratch — then it becomes more of challenge … Read more
I discovered something last night. Maybe this is old news for you, but then again, maybe not. A little less than a year ago, sixteen states banned the sale of dishwasher detergents that contain more than 0.5% phosphorus. My state is one of those states. (For the record, the states are Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, … Read more
This book caught my eye at Borders, so I flipped through the pages a bit and bought the book off of Amazon when I got home. (I’m probably not doing my part to help Borders out of bankruptcy, but oh well.) Jeff Yeager’s The Cheapskate Next Door is a well-researched 231-page tale of his trip … Read more
When we moved from our old house to the new one, we left a house with a septic tank and went to one that was served by our county’s sewer service. Having one over the other isn’t that much different, I suppose. They both do the job. Having a septic system requires maintenance (regular pumping) … Read more
Yesterday we spent a wonderful New Year’s with great friends. They’re the kind of friends that you can enjoy sharing time with, without the need to put on appearances or impress. It’s incredibly relaxing. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that we scored some great Mr. Rebates savings with our purchases at The Disney … Read more
After giving myself a giant environmentally-friendly pat on the back for how green it was for me to buy a used washer and dryer, a big hole was pointed out in my argument. I had considered the costs of electricity and manufacturing, but neglected to consider water costs. Commenter “First Step” points this out: I … Read more
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