Manage Your Life
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Jarring Times Call for Jarring $olution$
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- by Nancy, on Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:38pm PST
<p><span lang="EN"></p> <p><a
rel="nofollow" href="http://www.linensandlaurel.com"
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href="http://www.linensandlaurel.com"
target="_blank"></a><img height="400" alt=""
src="http://a323.yahoofs.com/phugc/oClMefAlrjZ4/photos/cf4705d3d3fae1678b7d44657a727990/mr_10d52c98db82eb.jpg?ug_____Du88ez7ci"
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border="0"></a>We are all a little bit JARRED by the
economic crisis our nation is facing. A little scared
about what the future might bring to our personal
finances. If you are like me, you are
looking for any extra coin$ you can find to get through this
holiday season without $tre$$ng an already $trained
budget. I'm determined our family will work
together to make-do, do without, and $ave every way possible this
year <em>just in case</em>. Here's
how we are going to do it, one jar at a
time....<br><br>My friend M recently told me
she has more faith in The First National Bank of the Mayonnaise Jar
than any of the established banking institutions for her
“extra“ money right now. While I'm
certainly not qualified to give financial advice, I am
looking for “money we don’t have” in all nooks
and crannies for our own jar. Our family FNBMJ is
being filled in creative ways.
<br><br>Saturday we took our old
bicycles to </span><a rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.oldspokeshome.com/"><span
style="TEXT-DECORATION:underline;"><span lang="EN">The Old
Spokes Home</span></span></a><span
lang="EN"> and received a little reimbursement for them. It was
a bittersweet parting of ways, but the bikes weren’t being
used. <br><br>Today we cleaned out our storage room. We
found a couple of items to list on eBay. As an eleven year seller,
</span><a rel="nofollow"
href="http://stores.ebay.com/Linens-and-Laurel"><span
style="TEXT-DECORATION:underline;"><span
lang="EN">linensandlaurel</span></span></a><span
lang="EN"> and </span><a rel="nofollow"
href="http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/lachambrerose_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ"><span
style="TEXT-DECORATION:underline;"><span
lang="EN">lachambrerose</span></span></a><span
lang="EN">, I know these will bring in a little bit of
cash. If you have anything worth at least $10 to sell, eBay
receives lots of traffic at the holidays. <br><br>Those
items we no longer want or are going to sell, will go to charity.
In the current economy, more shoppers will be going to thrift
stores. Some happy person will find a great deal. You may request a
receipt for your donation which isn't real cash now, but
could diminish your tax obligation. The </span><a
rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-text-dynamic-arrays/D477340FFA28755C8525743D0049D1EF?openDocument"><span
style="TEXT-DECORATION:underline;"><span
lang="EN">Valuation Guide for Salvation Army
Donations</span></span></a><span lang="EN">
is very helpful in determining the value of your contribution.
<br><br>If you are lucky enough to be in a warm
climate, organize a community garage sale. This is an especially
good time to pull out those Christmas decorations and get rid of
the ones you don’t need anymore. You just might find an
excellent present or two in your neighborhood. Although a bit out
of the ordinary for the holiday season, the sale could double as a
holiday party for the block. <br><br>We
gathered all the loose change lying around. I am naturally thrifty
and usually have the savings in my "mayo" jar
earmarked for a personal treat, possibly a new pair of shoes,
casual clothes or even a hair cut. This year I am rethinking the
potential for my found money. <br><br>I am encouraging
the kids (in their tweens) to save for entertaining their friends
or to pay for their own music downloads or video games. After all,
learning to save is a childhood skill that they need to develop. My
hubby is a real D.I.Y. kind of guy who loves to splurge on tools,
so he'll need a jar as well. I'm going to really
try to be enthusiastic about all of this "saving"
and hope, for my personal well being and peace of mind, that it
helps. </p> <p>How will you make it through the
holidays in this economy? Raid the change jar? The sugar bowl? Will
you need to get more serious about making “extra” money
count? </p> <p>Let me know what works for you.
<br><br><em>(Nancy is a blogger and artist living
in Stowe, VT and New Orleans, LA. Her online store,
</em><a rel="nofollow"
title="Vintage and vintage style embellishments"
href="http://www.linensandlaurel.com/"><em>Linens and
Laurel</em></a><em>, offers vintage and
vintage style embellishments for the home seamstress and
mixed media and altered couture
artist.)</em></span></p>
Related: wellness, tweens, tips, shoes, organizing, music, hair, entertaining, d.i.y., clothes, childhood
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Posted by Devonia Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:56pm PST
Tee hee, the ol' jar. My mother still uses a sugar jar, a friend tucks money in the legs of her ironing board, and and *we* have a huge water jug. Gotta get to work planning how to fill 'er up - good tips.
Thanks for the post.
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Posted by Angela Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:37pm PST
Christmas for us will be pared down, as well, and I actually like that it forces me to be more thoughtful about gift-giving. I'm a decorative artist, so I will probably turning to my paints more than catalogs. My family has already discussed setting limits on our shopping. We've told our sons that we will be budgeting in our usual contributions to the USO, Salvation Army, etc. so cuts will come in our gifts. They're in their early 20's and understand there are people whose real need exceeds their desires.
Great idea about selling stuff. I have so much stuff that I don't need! I'd love to either make a little money selling it, and as you say, donate what's left to the local thrift store.
I don't work in an office any longer, but that's a place that can be a real drain on the wallet. Maybe suggest that office parties, Secret Santas and other gift exchanges can be given a pass in favor of a pot luck! Try to eliminate gift-giving out of obligation and keep it focused on real meaning and need.
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Posted by Nancy Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:56am PST
bad_ol: Such a good idea to remember the "giving" jar! Each family member can assign 10% or more if they choose to the USO, Salvation Army, etc. Charities are going to need everything we can collectively muster. Its another lesson for the kids, tweens, and teenagers that is so important.
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Posted by Devonia Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:21am PST
I agree, bad_ol_puddytat13: I've already suggested that my son's co-workers might enjoy a huge banana pudding and small tins of homemade treats for each rather than token gifts. I'll bake for him/them.
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Posted by Nancy Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:58am PST
Great idea, Many Shades of Shabby! A special family recipe that everyone helps to prepare.
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Posted by Paul Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:54am PST
Great ideas! One of the silver-linings of difficult economic times is the resetting of fiscal responsibility it forces us to do that continues to bear fruit when things eventually improve.
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Posted by Devonia Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:20am PST
lol Nancy - I'll count it a big help if he stays out of my way and doesn't take little tastes as I'm cooking for him.
Interesting about Charity Needs: My mom is scared that we are facing a redo of the depression years she remembers so well. She mentions repeatedly that folks wore their shoes out and couldn't replace them so made cardboard soles. I keep reminding her that, in our material oriented society, I can't imagine anyone having to go barefoot - to go check her closet and count her shoes. Enough to last a lifetime...
I don't have those memories nor do my children. I may start washing and recycling my tin foil though - "let me count the ways I can $ave".
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Posted by Devonia Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:29am PST
lol and one more thing. I'm going to collect and put all of the coins I find in the washer, seat cushions of the car and the sofa - in my JAR!
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Posted by Nancy Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:39am PST
Since the hunt is part of the fun for me, even if I am gifting my found money, or giving it to charity, when I find cash in the washer, sofa, and car, I'm still thrilled.
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