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Are You Really Considering Travel with a Grandparent?
Are You Really Considering Travel with a Grandparent? Why?
It was the middle of the night. I had awakened to the sound of my mother and grandfather. They were sitting on the front seat of the Buick, looking at a map by the light of a flashlight, and speaking about where we might be.
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.
After a long discussion the driver and passenger decided that we were on the wrong road. Instead of heading northeast towards Las Vegas, we were now on a more southern highway heading for Needles California on the California/Arizona border.
Thus began one of my childhood memories, the only time my brother and I traveled from California to Minnesota with a grandparent.
Years later, my mother explained that my grandfather, the navigator, had directed her to take off where the highway divided. She hadn't wanted to disagree with him.
I don't remember much of the rest of the trip. We were so used to traveling the route that everything looked familiar. Eventually we arrived in Minnesota where we spent the summer visiting with relatives and playing with our cousins.
Have you ever considered traveling with a grandparent?
Every family has different wants and needs.
In our situation, my father was unable to come with us . He was mired in business and couldn't leave. My grandfather had volunteered to accompany, us.
Although we were used to spending time with one of two sets of grandparents when we arrived in the St. Paul/ Minneapolis Minnesota area, This was a definite departure.
My brother and I had some questions:
- Where would we sleep?
- Where would we eat?
- Would the trip last a lot longer?
- How would we spend our time?
Eventually all of our questions were answered, we developed a routine and worked things out as the miles rolled by. We arrived at our destination calm, cool, and satisfied with the trip.
How about you?
Would you consider taking a grandparent on Family trip?
Do you think there are advantages?
Would the presence of a Senior enhance your experience or would it lead to family tension?
The decision
Everyone has a different situation. Multiple ages of passengers has been known to work out well. Parents and children can learn more about the life the grandparent has led. Memories can build that will not be forgotten.
In other situations there may be stumbling blocks that will impact the trip and it may be better for parents to only take their children.
I leave it up to you.
Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, thrift advocate, and retired nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.
Are you a Senior? Do you have a friend or relative who is considering retirement or has already retired? Check out this web site: Retire and Renew:
Are You Really Considering Travel with a Grandparent? Why?
It was the middle of the night. I had awakened to the sound of my mother and grandfather. They were sitting on the front seat of the Buick, looking at a map by the light of a flashlight, and speaking about where we might be.
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.
After a long discussion the driver and passenger decided that we were on the wrong road. Instead of heading northeast towards Las Vegas, we were now on a more southern highway heading for Needles California on the California/Arizona border.
Thus began one of my childhood memories, the only time my brother and I traveled from California to Minnesota with a grandparent.
Years later, my mother explained that my grandfather, the navigator, had directed her to take off where the highway divided. She hadn't wanted to disagree with him.
I don't remember much of the rest of the trip. We were so used to traveling the route that everything looked familiar. Eventually we arrived in Minnesota where we spent the summer visiting with relatives and playing with our cousins.
Have you ever considered traveling with a grandparent?
Every family has different wants and needs.
In our situation, my father was unable to come with us . He was mired in business and couldn't leave. My grandfather had volunteered to accompany, us.
Although we were used to spending time with one of two sets of grandparents when we arrived in the St. Paul/ Minneapolis Minnesota area, This was a definite departure.
My brother and I had some questions:
- Where would we sleep?
- Where would we eat?
- Would the trip last a lot longer?
- How would we spend our time?
Eventually all of our questions were answered, we developed a routine and worked things out as the miles rolled by. We arrived at our destination calm, cool, and satisfied with the trip.
How about you?
Would you consider taking a grandparent on Family trip?
Do you think there are advantages?
Would the presence of a Senior enhance your experience or would it lead to family tension?
The decision
Everyone has a different situation. Multiple ages of passengers has been known to work out well. Parents and children can learn more about the life the grandparent has led. Memories can build that will not be forgotten.
In other situations there may be stumbling blocks that will impact the trip and it may be better for parents to only take their children.
I leave it up to you.
Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, thrift advocate, and retired nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.
Are you a Senior? Do you have a friend or relative who is considering retirement or has already retired? Check out this web site: Retire and Renew:
Whan a Senior helps a Junior
To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent - that is to triumph over old age.
Thomas Bailey Aldrich Brainy Quote
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.
Have you ever considered all that Senior Citizens do for you and your family? You may not realize it but your friends and relatives may help you with services that would otherwise cost you money or prevent you from saving for the future.
Here are two examples of activities which might be helped by a willing Senior relative or friend.
Child care quickly comes to mind. You may be looking for someone to care for an infant, or small child while you are working, shopping, spending time with an adult, or just needing a break. Who can you call upon for help? Try a Senior. Maybe you are lucky enough to have a relative who will take on the task. An older friend may be available and appropriate.
You may want to start a new activity such as fishing. You have seen a Senior neighbor carry his poles and other equipment to the car. Chances are this person, when approached, will help you to find where to get a fishing license, poles and other equipment. Not only that, he may be able to show you a few good fishing sites.
In their journey through life, Seniors have come across a lot of experiences. They have talents and sometimes these can be shared with younger people who need assistance but don't know where to find it. They can guide us and help us find solutions. Just ask them. See what they say. Build a friendship or get better acquainted with your relatives.
Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, thrift advocate, and retired nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.
Are you a Senior? Do you have a friend or relative who is considering retirement or has already retired? Check out this web site: Retire and Renew:
When We See Senior Citizens We See Our Future
Senior citizens deserve respect and the opportunity to make, or participate in making, their own financial decisions.
My name is Lori Blatzheim and I am your host.
My name is Lori Blatzheim and I am your host.
Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, thrift advocate, and retired nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.
www.retireandrenew.com
Take good care of your clothing. Maintain it and you might not have to fix or replace it.
I was bent over the washing machine staring at the grease on one of my favorite cotton long sleeved shirts. Small black spots of grease made an unusual pattern over the green cloth. "Ugh" I muttered "not again." Why oh why didn't I cover up the shirt when I had a chance. Now I would have to treat the cloth before washing it. There was a chance I could not salvage the shirt.
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.
In the olden days, women wore aprons which covered the front of their outfits and protected them from getting spotted. Then in about 1963, when Betty Friedan had written The Feminine Mystique and the feminist movement started rolling along, women took a look at their aprons and decided to abandon them. They wanted to be seen as people with skills and abilities which could be used outside the confines of the kitchen and laundry. Products designed to obliterate spots became very popular.
What does this have to do with Thrift?
If you can maintain your clothing and shoes in reasonably good condition, you can save quite a bit of money.
You can:
- protect your clothes and shoes
- buy washable garments if possible
- read labels and follow instructions for washing and drying
- use an effective laundry detergent
- wash items with similar material and colors
- presoak any cloth that might shed strong color (if the color leaks, wash it alone)
- consider not placing delicate material in the dryer
If you follow these suggestions, your clothes have a longer life and a chance at a better life.
What about the shoes?
What about selecting the shoe with the weather and activities in mind? Tennis shoes for tennis, running shoes for running. Spiked heels for….whatever seems appropriate.
Don't forget about men.
Have you ever disposed of clothes and shoes because:
- they are missing a button
- a zipper is broken
- a seam has split
- a shoe heel has been ground down
- something has been spilled on the material
Please note, in cases involving the above, you will consider the cost of repair versus the cost of replacement. By thinking it through, you will come up with the right answer.
Further ideas:
There are posts on the Internet which suggest ideas for keeping clothing in good repair. I would like to share a few web addresses with you. All of these present different strategies. I hope that you find them helpful. Here they are:
How to maintain your wardrobe.
http://www.wikihow.com/Maintain-Your-Wardrobe
How to maintain clothes
http://noguiltfashion.com/2011/10/10/guest-posthow-to-maintain-clothing/
The First Apartment
Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;
Sir Henry Bishop (Wikipedia)
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.
Graduation from colleges and universities will soon be here. It occurs to me that a number of young people will be looking for a place to work and live as they start their careers. They will have to find a place they can afford as well as furniture and equipment needed to make it livable.
Where will they find the furnishings they need?
If they have been saving for awhile, they may be able to furnish an apartment with the furniture, linens, dishes, glassware, silverware, cookware and equipment they will need by purchasing this at local stores. This will, of course, place a large dent in what savings they have. I don't recommend it.
My idea is that, once the apartment or other residence is confirmed, they take a look around for second hand items they can use. I like the thought of buying at:
- rummage sales
- tag, yard, garage, or estate sales
- thrift stores
These are great opportunities. Attending a second hand sale is like a treasure hunt. Those at the event never know what they will find.
Shopping requires some preliminary work. There must be a list of what will be needed in the new place of residence. Another help is to include the dimensions of the kitchen and bedrooms, the size of the beds, windows, floor, and tables.
A tape measure, old blankets for packing, bungee cords, and a vehicle which can be used to transport furniture are great additions.
Those planning to shop need to determine where sales will be held. This information may be found in local newspapers, on signs, or special online web sites.
O. K., so what about those people who are not about to travel the second hand route. What options do they have? Well, they can get to know their friends and relatives better and in the course of conversation they can mention that they are open to taking any unwanted items off there hands. Sometimes this can work.
Attitude helps
Let's face it. Nothing in life, or very little, is perfect. Few first apartments, or other places of residence, will be noteworthy. What they will do is provide the young person with a learning experience. Some things gathered will be kept for a while. Others will be traded, sold, or discarded very early in the life of the buyer.
I wish you good luck, good fortune, and the development of a new skill, buying second hand supplies. The experience will result in a memory. One you won't forget.
Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, thrift advocate, and retired nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.
My name is Lori Blatzheim and I am your host.
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