Skip to content
Home » The Frugal Life News 2001 Index » The Frugal Life – Living Well With What You Have

The Frugal Life – Living Well With What You Have

The Frugal Life Newsletter

The Frugal Life November 26, 2001 125th issue o The Frugal Life* (TFL) is published every Thursday by, Keren Wells, publisher. TFL is intended for subscribers only. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or, change your subscriber data, see the instructions at the very end of the newsletter. To view the HTML version of this newsletter please go to: https://www.thefrugallife.com/current.html =====Adv ****** A TOUCH OF NATURE – Subscribe Now! ****** Get critter facts, character qualities learned from nature, enviro and recycling tips, musings on nature, and more. A wonderful way to foster a love of natural science. All homeschoolers welcome! If you’re touched to your very soul by the incredible wonder of the natural world around you and have an interest in the “simple things,” this newsletter is for you! Visit the website: http://www.theherbsplace.com/atn.html =====Adv + CONTENTS: o A Note From Keren o Love Is Blind, But Creditors Aren’t –by Gary Foreman o The Importance of Balance –by Staci Stallings o ZERO DOWN, ZERO PAYMENTS, ZERO PERCENT INTEREST …and a 100% Debt. –by Greg Moore o Recipes o Readers Needs o Readers Tips o Disclaimer o Subscription info ~~~~~ A Note from Keren We have received a lot of recipes and I have included them in a new page in the website, please go to https://www.thefrugallife.com/recipe.html  I did not classified the recipes by appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, desserts, etc.  Ran out of time, but maybe in the future we will have a more organized webpage.  I want to thank all the readers that shared their favorite recipes; I have already tried a few and they are wonderful :-)   Well, Christmas is here and would like to know what are your ideas for Christmas gifts (inexpensive, meaningful, creative, etc), we will include them in the newsletter.  And, please share with us your Christmas traditions, we will post them throughout the month of December.   For those that order the Ginsu knives last week, your orders have been processed, please know that due to the holiday season, the mail is a little bit slower.    Blessings,   Keren Wells editor ~~~~~ Love Is Blind, But Creditors Aren’t –by Gary Foreman Dear Dollar Stretcher, I am getting married next year and have a question concerning our individual credit histories. I have good credit and my Fiance does not. I have worked hard to maintain a good credit rating, paying more than the minimum amount due each month. My Fiance however is not good at paying his bills and unfortunately his credit is suffering because of it. I basically have to remind him what’s due, how much, etc. If we get married will whatever he has owed previously (before me) affect my credit or not? I don’t want responsibility for something I had no involvement in. I understand that whatever we do together after we are married is “ours” but what about before? Can you please tell me what is right? Amber Amber’s right that just by getting married you do not assume the credit history of your spouse. His bad record will not automatically contaminate your good one. Your credit rating is only affected by what you do. Anything that you do yourself or jointly with someone else will be reflected on your record. But Amber is also correct that events after the marriage will effect both of their credit files. And as time goes by their credit histories will begin to look similar.   To read the article go to: https://www.thefrugallife.com/blind_love.htm ~~~~~ The Importance of Balance –by Staci Stallings As a stay-at-home mom, I have had the distinct privilege of being involved in several “mom-lifestyle” discussions. Most focus on the roll of mothers in society today. Generally there are two camps. One says that a mother should stay at home, be there for her family exclusively, and be willing to sacrifice her very life and happiness for the happiness of the family. The second group says no, a mother should be able to pursue her own career, and although the family may suffer some, her dreams and goals should be paramount. In discussing this paradox with several people (including my own mother), I have come to this conclusion-neither one works long term. For a moment, I’d like to back track and see how….   To read the article go to: https://www.thefrugallife.com/balance.htm ~~~~~ ZERO DOWN, ZERO PAYMENTS, ZERO PERCENT INTEREST …                                            and a 100% Debt.   I was driving back from the grocery store last Wednesday, listening to the radio. The Mitsubishi car commercial with the gravel-voiced announcer starts playing:      “ZERO DOWN, ZERO PAYMENTS, ZERO PERCENT INTEREST …”   on what’s left of their 2001 cars.   “Wow!”… I thought. “Free cars! Now that’s patriotism.”   Then I realized that the “ZERO PAYMENTS” were only until 2003. But, darned if this didn’t sound like a great deal, anyway.   According to the October Retail Sales reports released Nov. 14, so did thousands of other Americans. October retail sales rose 7.1%. New car sales accounted for 85% of this rise — that’s 6.1 percentage points out of a total of 7.1 percentage points of the rise are the result of new car sales.   Why were so many people buying so many cars in October?   You guessed it… no-interest financing offered by manufacturers.   I’m as patriotic as the next guy, but can a business really borrow money at 3 percent, build a car with it, lend you the car at 0 percent, and stay in business?   Not for long. Unless…   Suppose these car manufacturers are messing with the math. Suppose they inflate the price of the car to cover at least a portion, if not all, of their interest cost.   If the car manufacturer borrowed $20,000 at 3% for a year and built your car with it, his interest cost is $600.   Would it be feasible to offer you a brand new car, sticker priced at $21,000 with “ZERO this” and “ZERO that”, and have you practically panting for that car?   Seems feasible to me. There’s even some room in there for the dealer to let you “beat him down.”   Tack on some rustproofing, undercoating, extended warranty, loan processing fees, and other profit options, and suddenly what looked like a patriotic sacrifice is just clever marketing.   Meanwhile you get… debt.   Even at ZERO percent interest, you still owe monthly payments for 24, 36 or 60 months. A lot can happen in 24, 36, or 60 months.   What happens if you are late on a payment? ZERO Penalities?   If you need another vehicle, you need another vehicle. Just don’t think that you’re necessarily getting a deal when all you’re getting is ZERO.   RECIPES This reader needs your help to find a recipe, please read her request:   I am looking for a recipe that I have used years ago and have lost it. It is a frozen cranberry relish using canned whole cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple, and sour cream. Maybe someone will still have the recipe.  Thank you   –Nancy Hensley   Do you have such recipe?  Please send it to editor ~~~~~ Readers Needs Q. Does anyone know of anything that repels mice?  we have mice in our attic and the exterminator charges high fees to come and distribute chemicals.  is there a natural alternative that we could put up there ourselves? Thanks!  Lisa Send your answers to editor   Q. My son always has cat hairs on his clothes, even after I wash them they still have cat hair.   Is there any way to clean this?   Thank You.   My son always has cat hairs on his clothes, even after I wash them they still have cat hair.   Is there any way to clean this?   Thank You.   Send your answers to editor ~~~~~ Q. One reader mentioned filling jars with ingredients for cookie or cake recipies to give as gifts,I have seen these in stores and yes they are expensive. I would like to make my own also, and decorate the jars and lids with material ribbon etc.  I would love to hear from other readers what recipies they suggest to put in the jars. Thanks and Have a Good Day! Dawn Read the answers at: https://www.thefrugallife.com/gift_jar.htm ~~~~~ Readers Tips o I live in a large Amish community, and I also shop at the bread shop. The Amish here have a salvage grocery store.  We have been shopping here for years and if you don’t mind the dented cans, you can save alot. When I shop I can go in there and spend 40 dollars and walk out of there with a huge lettuce box overflowing with groceries.  We have never been sick with anything that we have purchased there.  They check everything very carefully.  I hope this helps for those on a tight budget.   My husband and I are on disabily and it is hard to buy enough food for 1 month.  With this store we now have more than enough. Sandra Thompson   o My family doesn’t like bread crusts so I save them at end of every loaf, put in freezer and have my own bread ready for stuffing for holidays.   Just found a great product, when my dishwasher quit rinsing out the soap compartment.  I ran Lime-a-Way thru it several times.  Couldn’t believe how much lime Came off the racks, soap dish and agitators after about 6 years. Also used it on my clothes washer.  I intend to do this periodically so it doesn’t get so bad next time. –Ruth   o  I always appreciate the energy saving tips you include. I wanted to add one that I have learned: Unplug things when you’re not using them. Things like TVs and VCRs use a lot of power even when you aren’t using them (especially if they are older models). My rule is: “If it feels warm when it’s turned ‘off,’ unplug it.” We plug things into power strips and flip the strip off when we’re done watching. I covered up the electronic clocks with electrical tape so we don’t notice them blinking when we turn them back on. It may be that it’s just about pennies a month, but a penny saved is a penny earned! ~ Happy Thanksgiving! from Patti   o  Comments on using kitty litter to keep rabbits away from gardens.  Two points – be careful not to place too close to plants, it can damage them (and never use near edibles – there are organisms in cat waste that are harmful to humans (that’s why it can’t be added to compost piles).  Also, by leaving kitty litter in the garden, you run the risk of attracting neighborhood cats who will then use your gardens as supplemental litter boxes. Carol   Please post your questions/answers to our new bulletin board. You can find directions here. ~~~~~ + DISCLAIMER – Information in TFL has been derived from sources believed accurate and reliable. In no event shall *The Frugal Life,* Keren Wells, or the TFL staff be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of information herein. TFL does not knowingly accept ads from advertisers deemed detrimental to TFL’s readers, however, publication of an ad in TFL does not constitute an endorsement for such product or service. There is no remuneration for suggestions, tips, or ideas submitted by readers, other than occasional prizes offered by TFL and awarded at the sole discretion of TFL and it’s staff. All suggestions, tips, and ideas, submitted for publication in The Frugal Life, become the property of The Frugal Life, notwithstanding similar rights of the reader submitting such suggestions, tips, or ideas. TFL publishes readers name with their suggestions, tips, and ideas unless a reader requests otherwise at the time of the submission.

Leave a Reply