Author Archive
Buying a Home: is it worth it?
The one major goal most families in the USA have traditionally held is to buy a home. They have worked hard to achieve home ownership.
Welcome to Thrifty Living Today. A special way of life for the Twenty-first Century.
My name is Lori Blatzheim and I am your host.
February, 1996.
It was Valentines Day. My husband was still working back in California, finishing off work projects and arranging for the placement of our belongings in a moving van. He would be joining me shortly.
Together, we had made the momentous decision to leave Southern California and move 2000 miles away to the State of Minnesota. As part of the move, we promised each other that we would buy a house.
I started my new job in Minneapolis and stayed with relatives. My responsibility was to view and visit those homes in our desired area. Few were for sale during the cold snow filled Minnesota winter. Fortunately, a Real Estate Agent/ friend of my cousin and another relative living nearby helped me in this venture.
We viewed those homes that were available and selected the one that matched our criteria (less than 10 years old, 3 bedrooms, well maintained neighborhood).
On a sunny February day I presented the signed documents and closed on the house. Standing before the house, I inserted the unfamiliar key, opened the red front door and walked through.
The house was nine years old and seemed sound. Looking out a window at the pleasant neighborhood, I wondered whether we would be happy here, if the house would prove sound over time, and whether this had been a good decision.
Immediate findings
Minnesota prices were lower than those on the West Coast. This house was much larger than the place we had been renting in California. We knew we would have to buy more furniture and supplies. But, we couldn't have known how many items that would turn out to be.
- roof
- washer and drier
- furnace and air conditioner
- hot water heater
- garage door and opener
- painting of the house
- trimming of three large trees
- pulling of stumps for 3 trees lost in storms
- replacement of 1 tree
- tear down of our chimney due to wood rot
- major repair of the area of the exterior of our home following the chimney tear down
- fireplace replacement
- new carpet
- water softener
- shower repair
- dishwasher
- window covering
- window replacement
- stove replacement
- Establish an emergency fund.
- List projects to be done.
- Look for the best possible home repair available in our area. Interview the repair personal and determine their cost.
- Consider the climate in planning. Some projects cannot be done in winter.
- Determine whether a repair is an emergency. If, so, break into the Emergency Fund, not a Credit Card.
- List those projects we can reasonably do ourselves.
How Can Thrift be Useful for People About to Retire? How Can it Help Those Who Are Retired?
Do you have a friend or relative who is getting older? Do you know someone who is retired? Have you ever thought of retiring yourself? Do you plan to work as long as you can? These are issues people consider as they get older. Some day, you will as well.
Welcome to Thrifty Living Today. A special way of life for the Twenty-first Century.
My name is Lori Blatzheim and I am your host.
One of the largest issues, faced by people today, is how will I support myself in my retirement?
Some people fee ill equipped to take on the future. I urge you to consider this carefully and to explore what opportunities are out there for you. I am certain that your interest in Thrift will help you. "Dollar Stretcher" has a lot of information on the topic and is a terrific place to start.
Another issue is what will I do once I retire? How will my life change? Consider this now, even if you are years away from retirement.
Join a club, or start one yourself! I have done it and this can be rewarding. For example, I came to the conclusion that a lot of people know nothing about Thrift. So I asked my local library if I could start a Thrift Club. After some discussion about what Thrift is, the Library Staff allowed me space and I started a club where people of all ages attend. It is now the only Thrift Club meeting in the USA! (verified by the Institue for American Values) In a way, I think this is sad. There are a lot of people who might be helped by a place where they can discuss frugal living, ways to save money, buying for less, saving, and where people support the idea.
In the mean time, I would like to share some information with you. I have decided to retire myself. Feb. 16, 2012 will be my last day as a clinical nurse.
In honor of that I have decided to start a new blog. It is called:
This will be an interactive blog. I sincerely hope that people will send in their comments, share their experiences and support each other with their thoughts and suggestions.
I will continue to write for "Thrifty Living Today,"and for the "Virtual Thrift Club" on "Dollar Stretcher." Note: if you haven't read the "Virtual Thrift Club" give it a try. Scroll all the way down the column that says Forums and look for the topics. Click on one that interests you.
Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, retired nurse, writer, and thrift advocate. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.
Creativity: is it needed for a Thrift Centered Life?
People who are living a Thrift centered life will be more successful if they approach things in a creative way.
Welcome to Thrifty Living Today. A special way of life for the Twenty-first Century.
My name is Lori Blatzheim and I am your host.
People with ingenuity and the ability to think in a different way may try a different approach to get what they want. Some have the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have not been created by others. Or, they may try a simple solution. If it works, great. If it doesn't, try again.
Let's look at a typical wife and mother. She checks her kitchen cupboard and realizes she is missing an ingredient for the dish she is preparing for dinner. She considers what she does have in her cupboard, and substitutes that. She goes on to have dinner with her family without dashing to the grocery store.
She has demonstrated resourcefulness and ingenuity.
Or, how about the family that has other uses for their spendable income. The mother wants a footstool to place by a favorite chair. She grabs the red seat cushion from the chair and puts it in the trunk of her car.
She drives to a second hand store and buys an inexpensive table of low height. Next, grabbing the red seat cushion from the trunk of the car, she walks into a fabric store and picks up a small uncovered square pillow the size of the table top. She also selects a piece of strong material, the color of the red chair.
After driving home, she shows her purchases to her creative husband. He takes the pile of pieces, ensures their strength and assembles them. Now this family has a footstool. It cost almost nothing and will provide a place of rest.
Would you do this? I did. I am currently sitting in the chair with my feet on the footstool. I admit it is an unusual solution, one that not everyone would take, but it worked for us.
Why does creativity help?
The person who follows Thrift will seek the least expensive but best solution possible. He or she is flexible and does not always stick to the status quo.
He or she might try to save money by:
- using a tool designed for another task, to help with an associated activity
- hosting a party or celebration in a park rather than at a more expensive place
- check personal resources to see if a new item (dress, tool, book etc.) is required
- find a needed item on sale
What is there to be creative about?
Many things in life can be altered by a creative intervention.
Thrift centered couples, just starting out, can find furniture that needs a bit of work (a screw, some paint, or slip covers). They can look for pieces that work in their home. In the future they can replace these pieces if they want to but, for the time being, they can furnish a room or apartment together.
They may try some do it yourself projects such as renting a carpet shampoo machine and trying it on their carpet. Or, they might try making a simple repair.
Sometimes people feel hesitant trying to fix something or cooking something new. They may not have done this in the past and now doubt whether they are up to the task. They may worry about what others will say especially if they fail in the attempt.
Trying something new requires courage, a willingness to try, and the willingness to fail. On the other hand, without trying, a person will never know if he or she can succeed. That person will miss the opportunity for success.
When is it needed?
It is impossible to say when an opportunity will present. It is probably better to ask the question "if an opportunity occurs, will you take up the challenge?" For example, if you run out of gas and there is a gasoline station ahead would you go to the station, negotiate with the Attendant for a container, pump some gas into the container, return to the car, and pour it into your car? For some of us that might be a real challenge
Sometimes the challenge takes longer to consider. For example, what if your family wants to take a long distance trip. Would you drive or fly? Why would you travel that way?
How is someone creative
We tend to consider a person creative by the way he or she thinks
The person uses ability to put two and two together, come up with an organized plan, attempt to fix a problem and come to a positive conclusion
Can you learn to be creative?
Some people believe that you can. If you practice some of the hallmarks of creativity, you may find yourself becoming more confident. You may try new things, new strategies, and work at things in your own special way.
Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, nurse, writer, and thrift advocate. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.
Below is an addresses for a site discussing creativity. You may want to check it out.
http://www.copyblogger.com/highly-creative-people/
Spending or Saving? You Make the Choice
"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like." - Will Smith (from "Wise Bread" - Glen Stansberry)
Welcome to Thrifty Living Today. A special way of life for the Twenty-first Century.
My name is Lori Blatzheim and I am your host.
I really like the quote above. It reminds me that there are a lot of ways to spend money. One day you have it. The next day you might not. A lot depends on what is important to you, spending or saving.
One of the hallmarks of a Thrift centered life is saving. Usually this refers to money, but it can also apply to keeping and maintaining other things of value.
For simplicity, lets stick with money. You acquire it somehow, either by earning, selling, finding, or receiving it as a gift.
Once you own money, you have to decide what to do with it. You may:
- place it in a savings account
- create an emergency account
- invest it
- buy something: property, an education for yourself or another
- loan it
- give it to another person
The list goes on and on.
When we think of the word Thrift most of us first think about buying for less by using coupons, watching for items on sale, going to second hand sales, or anything we can think of that will reduce the cost of an item.
Thrift is like a two sided coin
There is another side to Thrift. And, that is to save money in the first place.
People forget that by saving, they are improving their future, and they are giving a gift to themselves.
Why save
Actually there are a lot of reasons. Planned saving can lead to a more disciplined life. It offers a fund to handle unforeseen events and emergencies. It is there for purchase when a new appliance or piece of household furniture is suddenly needed. It also allows people to select what they want to do with the money they have saved.
My favorite reason for saving is to fund something I really want to do. This usually has something to do with travel. My husband says I was born with "roller skates on my feet." I seem to be happiest when in motion, when meeting the citizens of the earth.
Don't think of Thrift as some sort of behavior that prevents having fun. Actually, it leads to a more balanced and happy life. If you fund your activities in advance rather than by credit card you will have a much better time.
What does it take to save
Basically it takes planning, time, and discipline to put money into savings. It isn't easy and you may have to try different strategies.
Try looking at what you are currently buying. Keep track, for one day, what you spend. Try using cash. Count you money when you start out and when you return home. What's the verdict?
Next, think about what you could change. Did you really need the extra special coffee or lunch you bought?
Could you have brought anything from home? Would you feel out of place bringing a lunch?
Remember the Will Smith quote above at the top of this post. Don't spend money to impress or fit in with others.
I have a question. What's more important, the opinion of others or your own dreams? To make a dream happen, you have to take the first step.
Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, nurse, writer, and thrift advocate. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.
Time: the invisable resource
Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.
Carl Sandburg
Welcome to Thrifty Living Today. A special way of life for the Twenty-first Century.
My name is Lori Blatzheim and I am your host.
What did you do today? A simple question, isn't it? But I am serious. What did you do today? Was your time occupied by a rushed breakfast, travel to work, a day spent doing what you have been trained to do? Was this followed by travel home and, at last, resting on a chair and trying to clear your head?
Do you ever think about how you spend your time and whether there are other opportunities or strategies out there?
Time is one of your most important resources
Brainy Quote, a web site, lists thoughtful quotes on this topic. Let's explore some of them.
Who decides if someone is wasting time? Hopefully it is the person involved and not a bystander. Everyone needs time for rest and contemplation.
Life is full of opportunities and people are presented with a lot of choices. We think, we consider, then decide how to proceed.
Sometimes this works out well. At other times, in retrospect, we wish we had gone another direction.
What opportunities might we have had if we followed a different path. We hear comments, "if only I had studied more while in school," "if only I had moved to another place," "if only I had saved more money, used my credit card less, and worked more, I would be in a different situation today."
Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away.
Charles Caleb Colton
It is amazing what can be done. A young mother can take a look at her cupboards and refrigerator and plan frugal meals. A homeowner with a lawn can turn on the sprinkler, keeping the grass in good condition.
Time moves in one direction, memory in another.
William Gibson
As we grow older, we tend to reflect on who we are and what we have done. We remember those who helped us and those who did not. Did we appreciate this at the time? Did we thank them?
As a young married person with a small income, I thought we needed every dollar we made. I had an Aunt who felt a need to educate me on the finer points of saving and how a particular fund worked. In the end, to stop her telephone calls, I looked into it and signed up. Years later, I took out money from this fund for the down payment on our house. Did I ever thank her? I sincerely hope so. I honestly can't remember.
Carl Sandburg
My name is Lori Blatzheim and I am your host.
What did you do today? A simple question, isn't it? But I am serious. What did you do today? Was your time occupied by a rushed breakfast, travel to work, a day spent doing what you have been trained to do? Was this followed by travel home and, at last, resting on a chair and trying to clear your head?
Charles Caleb Colton
Time moves in one direction, memory in another.
William Gibson
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