Organic Housekeeping

I have received the Organic Housekeeping book that I recently ordered. I have finished a few chapters and have to say I agree with a lot of thing in this book.
Since reading this I have decided to give my mom most of my old cleaning products and have switched a home made vinegar base cleaner. To tone down the vinegar smell I add a little fresh citrus to the mixture. The cleaner works great and I have to say I love. I have very strong allergies and with all the chemicals in store bought cleaners, it's just simply NOT GOOD for anyone. It's also safe for younger children to be around.

Check out the book!

Jack Johnson

In my household we love Jack... and have him playing on the iPod often. Even more than his music Jack Johnson is very eco-friendly, which is great to see.

Well Jack recently created a "green" building complete with solar panels for power. The wall insulation made from 100-percent post-consumer waste (cotton from blue-jean scraps) and roof shingles made from recycled material.
Here is an article about the eco-friendly studio:
http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/01/29/jack-johnsons-new-eco-friendly-jams-to-hit-next-week/

Jack Johnson's new video:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20176513,00.html

5 cents

So I went to Festival the other afternoon to pick up some flowers and a few groceries. I had my own bag which I unfolded right before paying. The cashier asks, "Do you have your own bags?" Yes, I said. Ok... and he gave me a 5 cent discount. I know 5 cents is not much, but just think of all the times you go to the store 5 cent could add up over a life time. Plus the big thing is that you are saving on the environment. Which makes one feel good!

Quote

"If you haven't got your health, you haven't got anything." Ellen Sandbeck

The Automatice Millionaire

So yesterday my husband, daughter Bailey and I went to Barns and Noble for some coffee and shopping. We each decided we would get a book. Isaac's was involving history. I don't remember the name, since I was never a big fan of history. Bailey's was Quack Quack. A fuzzy book with different animals and how they feel when you pet them. Mine was The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach. I have wanted this book for several years now and finally made my purchase. I am happy to say that I finished this book yesterday. It was a good read that kept my attention. I highly recommend this book to everyone and will probably start giving it as part of wedding gifts because I believe it will really help anyone. The first thing I did after completing it was to up my 401k contribution from 8% to 10%. This is one of the first steps to Paying Yourself first and that is just what I did. My husband’s employer puts a little over 10% into a 401K plan for him without him contributing a dime. I need to get in there!! Anyway we are setting ourselves up for a great life when we retire.

I'm not cheap!

So being frugal is often seen as cheap, as statement below in its definition.
I did not always consider myself fugal, but do now. I don't just buy clearance items. Although I do like a good clearance buy, I think first. "Would I buy this item if it was full price?" If yes, then it's in the cart. Toiletries, cleaning products, and some home accent items are a few of the clearance things I will purchase. I use to purchase some clothing on clearance, but stay away from that now. Those items tend to have less quality and don't last as long. I love Banana Republic, but they are pricey, so I now shop the outlet. In Wisconsin Dells they have a Tanger Outlet mall, which happens to have a Banana Republic store among other great stores. I only pay about half the price that I would at the regular stores and still get the great quality. Now I buy the clothing I need, which lasts longer but a bit more expensive. Overtime I do believe this will save money.

Frugality defined

Also known as thrift or thriftiness, often confused with cheapness or miserliness, is a traitional value, life style, or belief system, in which individuals practice both restraint in the acquiring of and resourceful use of economic goods and services in order to achieve lasting and more fulfilling goals. In a money-based economy, frugality emphasizes economical use of money in meeting long term personal, familial, and communal desires.

Definition provided by Wikipedia... The Free Encyclopedia.