From Joleen:
my hubby and i go without cable and internet(for the house) to save money. what else you think we could go without in the household to save the bucks?
Hmm...It's hard to say without knowing what your bills are. Here are a few things to look at:
-Mortgage/rent: You could try and get your interest rate reduced or negotiate your rent price.
-Utilities: This is easy--reduce consumption. We try to use as little electricity as possible, which works by unplugging everything we aren't using (even TV, modem, etc.). For water, the less you use, the better! Also, some electric companies have programs that discount your monthly bill if you qualify income-wise. We save $17 a month on electricity by falling into the lower income bracket.
-Phone: Since you use your data plan, could you reduce texting? We got rid of our texting plans ($20/month) and use Google Voice (FREE!) for texting instead. You could just leave the Voice tab open on your phone to receive texts that way instead of paying for texting through your provider.
-Insurance: Whether it's car, house, or health insurance, there are usually options. You could shop around and consider a higher deductible to reduce your monthly payment.
-Groceries: Meal planning helps some budget their money better. Coupons are also an option to save some dough.
This is by no means an expansive list, but something to get you started! Hope that helps :)
Christine asks:
My question is about blogging with kids. How do you fit it in? What do your kids think about it? I get a lot of moans and groans when I'm on the computer and I'm trying to figure out how to strike a balance. However, my oldest is fascinated by the blog and wants to read every post.
This is a tough one. I too receive a lot of frustration from children when on the computer. One such small child goes so far as to sit on the computer just to sit on my lap. Generally, I get blogging done during nap or after they go to bed. Otherwise, I have been known to turn on a show or movie to keep them distracted long enough to get my thoughts down before they dissipate and get taken over with what to make for lunch. I'm sure once they are a bit older, it may get easier. But, kids want attention when they want attention. If all else fails, I give the oldest a time limit (because he's old enough to understand), like, "Mommi needs to finish her work. Give me twenty minutes, then we'll go play dragons in your room." This is usually enough. Good luck! It's definitely a hard balance to find!
Through FaceBook, Brandy wonders:
What are your must have beauty products?
My number one beauty must have is L'Oreal Double Extend mascara. Hands down. Mascara is just one of those things I refuse to leave the house without. And for the days I rush out and forget to apply, I keep one in my purse. Otherwise, I try to keep the other necessities to a minimum. Granted I'm no minimalist when it comes to the beauty department, but after years of working in the beauty industry, I've found a few staples. My staples? Mascara (can I advocate for this enough?!), two tones of neutral eye shadow, eye liner, chap stick and/or clear lip gloss, blush, face powder, blow dryer, round brush, hair ties, bobby pins, razors, and soap.
Danita ponders:
How long have you been vegan. Was it hard? What were reasons?
Firstly, I'm just vegetarian. I do eat eggs and some dairy products. I was vegan off and on for a few years, but I was a horrible vegan. As for why I choose such dietary restrictions, it comes down to compassion. I spent my college career researching animal behavior and cognition. Knowing that animals experience pain similarly to humans, I can't fathom putting any being through the pain of death. Plus, I figure I wouldn't want to be killed and eaten, so extend that courtesy to other beings.
Carrie was kind enough to submit not one but three questions:
name the top 3 places you would live & why. What's one of the most embarrassing thing that have happen to you? Do you plan to go back to school or work? If so when?
1. The three places I would live are easy: Austin for school & the beautiful hills, trees, and everything else about that city; Tucson for the mountains, awesomeness, smallness, atmosphere, & nostalgia; Portland for its beauty and eco-friendliness. I would consider other countries, but I have only been to Canada for less than a day and to Rocky Point in Mexico--not enough knowledge, but am open!
2. Hmmm...a lot of embarrassing things happen to me. One I can remember off the top of my head is when I chose not to dress out for dance class in high school and ended up splitting my pants like a good ruler length from the butt to the knee. I had to wear the lovely skin tight dance pants of a friend for the rest of the day. I was mortified to say the least (especially since I was a good 30+ lbs heavier).
3. YES!! I'm dying to go back to school. I'd go back to work in a heartbeat if I could find something that pays well enough for me to not stay home AND is something I love. Unfortunately with my degree, I need a graduate degree, but that's why I chose my major. As for when, the answer is as soon as we can move to Austin. However, I'm already feeling brain-dead, so am looking for options here just to stave off the boredom.
Meredith wants to know:
How do you do with kid food wastage? Do you bring it upon yourself to feel the need to eat the junk they leave behind to reduce waste?
Kids and food. This is a BIG reason children frustrate me--they're wasteful. We work at this from a few angles. Firstly, we initially give them less food. However, since Noah is an especially light eater, there are usually leftovers. Sometimes we'll save half-eaten meals and give it to them later. If not too much is left or it's something I know they won't eat, it goes to the dog (as long as it's safe for her to eat). The Hubs occasionally picks food off their plate, but I never do. I have a rule that I don't eat food or drink things other people have nibbled on or sipped from because I'm a germaphobe like that. I would say the majority of the time, food goes to the dog. And this is about 40% of why we got her.
Finally, we have Heather's dilemma:
If there were a zombie outbreak.. Do you think zombies would prefer the flesh of vegans or meat eaters?
This is a tricky one, but my guess would be the omnivores. Their flesh would probably emit a stronger, meatier scent. Oh yeah, and they probably have more muscle mass. However, I am assuming that zombies prefer meat over veggies. Time will tell on this one!
Have a better answer? I'd love to hear it!
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