Cheapskate Review... Monthlies

This post is not for those who are trying to increase their monthly expenses. This is for the other group of humans who are trying to urgently reduce their monthly bills, so as to get a hold of their finances and have more money left at the end of the month.....that they can choose to spend freely in a manner that pleases them personally.

We live in an age of subscriptions. Everything can be ordered as a recurring monthly subscription program...... including cat food, online weight loss programs,  film streaming, social media memberships and gyms. If you don't pay attention, you may be paying for a lot more monthly subscriptions than you need or want.

So, let's pretend you are trying to completely eliminate your recurring monthly non essential services. What things can you do without?

Social media premium level memberships. Some social media platforms are requesting their users to buy a membership which "enhances" their usage to a "higher" level than the "freebie" loving general public. Do you really need this monthly bill? Is it really adding value to your life? I am not going to type in the actual name of these social media platforms, but you know which ones they are. You don't need to be paying for usage, if there is a basic "ad based" format still available.  That's maybe 2 or 2 monthly subscriptions gone from your monthly billing cycle.

(CHEAPSKATE HACK) I recently discovered a site which allows you to watch and enjoy everything that is currently on the ad-based format of a very popular social medial site.....but without the ADS! I was thrilled to discover this worked well. I noted that it did not have 100% of the same functionality of the ad based platform, but it worked well enough to allow me to watch and/or listen to many of my favorite recordings without the  distracting nuisance of ads. Ad blockers may also help you survive through other annoying ad filled apps. Be sure that the ad blockers are legit and do not add viruses to your laptop/PC.

Next, Do you really need to subscribe to a monthly film streaming service? Have you looked into cheaper and/or free options? There are several film streaming services that offer free or cheaper versions, such as Roku (with purchase of unit) or Tubi. I also just noticed an ad for a free streaming service called Plex. Is it any good? Have you used it?

Does your local public library have free access to streaming services? 

Does your local public library have free access to CD's and DVD rentals? Do you still own a DVD or Blue ray player that you can dust off and put to good use? Must we really pay a monthly fee for entertainment when free or really cheap offerings are all around us?

Thirdly, have you signed up for some kind of monthly delivery of certain goods? Certain foods, or hats, or wine or cheese tastings? There is nothing wrong with any of these expenses, as long as we can afford them. I have even seen monthly subscriptions to dress or clothing rental programs. Don't sign up for these type of things carelessly by just throwing them on a credit card. Use these type of services when you can afford to use them. These monthly bills add up. Do the math today and add them all up. Print up a statement, a hard black and white copy of one month of transactions on your bank accounts and credit cards. Write down each one that make a debit deduction on a monthly basis. Add them all up. How much is being deducted automatically from your bank accounts and/or credit cards? How many did you find?  

I want you to be sure that you really want or need the items that you are paying for on a monthly basis. When you take control of your monthly bills, you may discover that you have more funds left over at the end of the month that you can use for investing or vacations or for building up a reserve fund to pay for those things we can't always predict....such as car repairs or a new lawn mower, or a better health care option.

Make your money obey YOUR own  commands....not the expectations of the ad companies that have targeted you because of your income or lifestyle profile. Algorithms are ruthless in how they target us night and day. Use discipline and self control to choose when and how you spend/save your money. Make your money make sense.

Have you signed up for magazine or newspaper subscriptions that you rarely read? Cancel them unless you use them often. Public libraries offer free alternatives, many of which may now be accessed online in the comfort of your own home. You can also buy a newspaper straight from your local convenience store, without subscribing to anything. Keep freedom in your wallet, and buy things without a monthly commitment.

Charities may target you with their fund raising appeals because you live in a certain area code. They may specifically ask you to become a monthly automatic donor. Be careful of these type of arrangements. An automated charitable gift will have the right to take money from your account because you have authorized their organization to do so. The system then becomes dehumanized and will continue to take your monthly donations even if you find yourself in a tight financial bind. I am not telling you to become selfish. I am not telling you to not give. But I am telling you to give on your own time table and in your own style. Don't let the person or organization who is the receiver of your generosity, determine how you give. Don't be manipulated by promises of "special premium donor status" which try to convince you to give higher amounts of money. If you want to give large amounts of money away, please go ahead and do so, but do so because YOU have chosen to do so, not because someone has manipulated you into making you feel guilty for the blessings you have. Do the charities you sponsor show proper gratitude for your gifts? Thankfulness and gratitude for your generosity is essential. Make sure to expect and accept thanks from those whom have benefited from your charitable giving.

Give when and how you choose, and in the amount you can afford.

If you prefer to write an old fashioned check, because it helps you balance your budget, then do that. You don't need to give in the manner that a certain charity prefers. Give as YOU choose, because God has given YOU authority over your own finances. There is a reason that you have what you have. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Last, but not least, have you signed up for a gym membership that you never go to? I have heard a horror story about a woman who cancelled her gym membership only to discover that the gym still kept taking money out of her account every month. She finally had to go to the bank in person to have the matter dealt with. Some folks have had to cancel their bank accounts, because a gym refused to cancel their monthly bill payments. Be careful what you sign up for, especially if it requires a monthly payment. Some gyms allow you to pay up front for one day or one week of usage. This allows greater control over someone who only needs a gym once in a while.

Well friends, that's all for now. My rant is done. I hope that you are prospering and enjoying all the beautiful things and wealth that you have....on your own terms and on your own time schedule. Be well :)

Peace,

Carla. 

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If You Don't Want to be Monitored....

If you don't want to be monitored....buy a typewriter. Yes, one of those old fashioned clunky beauties that allows you to type without anyone monitoring and collecting the meta data on every key stroke you make.

You think I am kidding? I wish I were. But if you are sensitive to these things, these obsessions that the internet has with watching and "owning" everything you type....then YES, go ahead and buy a type writer. You may wish to get an electric typewriter instead of a manual one, as it will respond faster to your touch. The really old fashioned typewriters require quite a bit of manual physical effort...whereas the newer electric typewriters type faster and smoother.

But Yes, it will feel weird. Yes, you will need to buy ink cartridges and good paper and it might not be so easy to delete your typos as when you type on a lap top. But at least your words will be yours, and then you and only YOU get to decide who to share your hard copies with.

I heard a rumour that the Russian intelligence organization uses typewriters often so that their communications may not be hacked. I don't know if this is true. But I certainly would understand that type of strategy. 

Why should some multinational search engine or web browser company own the rights to anything you type into one of their "free" word processing program? Did you know that some social media companies have it in their fine print that anything you post, including words, videos and photos now become the permanent property of these companies? Yikes! Please be careful.

Don't forget the fine art of writing letters the old fashioned way. Don't forget about snail mail.

It is still a blessing to receive a snail mail from friends or family.

Well, that's all for now. It is not my intention to spread fear with this blog post, but to make you think. Maybe it is something you can pray about, so as to get God's leading in these very personal choices.

Peacefully productive,

Carla.

 

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Hey Employers! Here´s How To Keep Older Employees

Hi Employers! Yes, I am talking to YOU!!!

I am not speaking to employees today. Just to the people who do the hiring and managing and maintaining of workers who are considered part of the ¨older¨ aged workforce.

I don´t know if you are reading this blog from within North America, but within my home country of Canada, there has been hiring pressure over the last couple years. There have been more jobs than there were employees to fill those jobs. Therefore companies have adopted a more inclusive hiring policy, which thankfully is including more people who are considered ¨older¨. Older workers are dusting off their resumes and joining the work force to help meet the demands of expensive retirement costs and cost of living inflationary pressures.

Note  that hiring older workers is simply the very first step.

The next step and many steps after this..... involves figuring out how to keep older workers happy and stable in your workplace. You want them to stay and to thrive there and bring a joyful prosperity to the whole company. Older workers are precious and must be valued as precious gems.

So, shall I get to the chase? What are some ideas that employers can use to keep and maintain a happy employment of an older worker?

First of all, always adopt an attitude of respect and patience with older workers, who have many decades of life experience. They may not be specialists in your area of expertise, but there is a certain wisdom that comes with age, that can not be replaced by a formal education. A vast and lengthy life experience always carries valuable insight.

Secondly, try your best to keep ¨creature comforts¨ close at hand. For examples, are the rest rooms and break rooms within a close distance from the work setting? Older workers may require more frequent bathroom breaks and may not be able to walk as quickly to saunter down a very long hall way before they make it to the break room. Tyr to keep rest rooms and break rooms on the same floor level as the work space. Older workers may not be able or willing to navigate many stairs as easily as younger workers.

Make sure that your older workers have easy access to restrooms and break rooms and that they are given the time and space to get to them in a convenient time frame. Don´t rush them through their bathroom breaks or snack times. I am not suggesting that you allow inordinately lengthy breaks, but I am gently suggesting that it may take longer for an older worker to get to and from a break area and therefore may need a bit more time.

Thirdly, are there some things you can do to keep the work place pleasant in ways that uniquely please an older work force? If your older employees take the bus to your work place, do you let them leave in the time frame required to catch the most convenient bus or train or trolley? Do you make sure that the walk ways in and around your work place are free of snow and ice and safe for older workers to walk on? 

If your work place requires safety boots, are these footwear comfortable and provided at an affordable or free cost to the workers?

SIDE NOTE: Remember that older workers are much more safety conscious than younger workers and they may have very valid contributions to make to your safety committees and have helpful tips and constructive awareness of potential safety hazards in the work place.

Fourthly,

When older workers participate in your work place, do you acknowledge their successes? If they lead the way in sales or some other work place target, do you acknowledge them publicly with an award or reward? Older workers may not be as noisy as younger employees, but that does not mean that they do not need to be applauded publicly for the good work that they are doing. They need the same pats on the back. Consider good award systems and rewards that they would enjoy if/when they reach company goals for the week or month, or quarter or year.

Fifthly,

Mature workers rely on consistent financial rewards for their labor. They may be closer to retirement than you are, but that doesn´t mean they don´t care about the money. They care and they will count every penny. They will check and double check to ensure that you are paying them exactly what they are owed and more so.

Be sure to be clear and straightforward about what they can expect from the job financially and what bonuses they may earn if their performance meets the challenge.

Lastly, take time to speak with and listen to your mature and aging workers. They want to know that they have access to management....that their input is valued and that the place they have in the company is respected and secure.

That´s all the tips I have for today. Enjoy the changes of employing workers in today´s corporate environment! Peace on and may you enjoy the vast diversity in today´s modern work force!

Peacefully productive,

Carla.

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What Do You See?

When u look at this photo...

depending on who you are will determine what you see.

I see a beautiful rug crafted from the discarded clothing of seasons gone by. I see hands learning by doing..

by touching and feeling the weight of the cloth. I see  a new skill being honed with upcycled raw materials and creativity.

What do u see?

Do you see the result of "fast fashion" and are reminded of the mountains of second hand clothing that sits outside in developing countries?

Or do you relish the thought of what you could possibly knit or weave or braid or macrame from the free or low cost second hand fabrics in your city?

Is a business being birthed in your mind and heart this morning? Are you trying to remember where you put that huge back of clothes that your family no longer wears?

Do you know how to cut useable strips from those old clothes that someone or you....can use to create a new rug or wall handing or basket?

Or are you someone who thinks a lot about what fabrics are made of? Natural fibers preferred? Or are synthetics like polyester your choice?

May God bless your creativity and allow you to see some of the endless possibilities in what appears to be a simple item placed before you.

Peacefully productive,

Carla.

For Those Who Went To Work Today

For Those who got up from bed with their alarm today...rolled out ...grabbed a coffee, brushed your teeth and washed yourself before brushing the snow or sand or leaves off your car and made your way to work... I see you.

For Those who started the day´s tasks before the boss arrived, I see you.

For those who filed the papers in order and made sure they were stayed secure....I see you.

For those who watched the supervisor walk in late and didn´t mutter under their breath... I hear you. For those who did their job when no one was looking.....I see you.

For those who picked up the pieces when a colleague called in sick....I see you.

For those who covered for a colleague when their loved one passed away, I see you. For those who were given the privilege of handling a difficult client, and didn´t lose your cool and exceeded their expectations, I applaud you.

For those who shared their lunch with a colleague who forgot theirs, I see you.

For those who went to work, when you could have stayed home....I see you. 

The world is better because you chose to go to work today. Money flows better in our economy because you chose to go to work today. Your boss slept peacefully because of the work you went to go do, today.

Thank you for all you do in your work place. May the favour you have given to others flow freely back towards you and your family. May God bless the work of your hands.

Peace out,

Carla.

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You Got This

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Friends....I want to have a chat with you today. In Northern Ontario the leaves have almost finished their falling. Suburbia is a flush with folks dragging out their favourite rakes or leaf blowers and the almighty extra large brown paper leaf bags to hoard the leaves until the next trash day.

Folks have been watching the news....perhaps still a little too much, but definitely not as much as during the onset of the pandemic just over 2 years ago.

Canadians struggled a lot with the strict measures that shut down major swaths of our vibrant economy. We take great pride in our national economy. We believe in hard work and earning your keep. 

And now, by God´s grace, the restrictions have lifted and wearing masks is optional in public. Only highly confined and vulnerable settings such as doctor offices still command adherence to a mask wearing policy.

Another big miracle of deliverance was the cancellation of the  app that was foisted upon Canadians to use whenever they tried to travel across a Canadian border. It was and is a welcome relief that this  computerized travel tracking application was scrapped. It was intrusive and very much too ¨big brother-ish¨.

Well, I myself, did go ahead and get more than one Covid 19 vaccine. 

The vaccines I took, made me feel horrible for 2 days or more, and then it was pretty much back to normal life. 

A lot of folks in my city got Covid19, and most did not wind up in the hospital. Most just felt like they had a bad cold, or flu and bounced back within a week or so.

There were a few people I heard of in our corner of town.... who were hospitalized with severe experiences with the virus, but gratefully, both recovered and were released.

The saddest part of the pandemic in our northern Ontario city, was the experience of the virus that blew through several of our city´s retirement facilities. The number of those who got very ill and succumbed to the illness was so high...... the numbers are too painful to dwell on at the moment.

But we must be able and willing to talk about these things at some point. I understand it is hard....heart wrenching and disturbing. But it is a part of our city now, and a part of our shared experience of community.

What have we learned from the lock downs? What have we learned from the vaccines and their effects? What have we learned about how these kind of viruses affect those of us considered in our ¨golden years¨?

What have we learned about the social needs of us all? How did the lock downs and economic stress affect us mentally and emotionally? 

How can we do things better if/and/or when there is ever another pandemic?

I am grateful to have made it through to the other side. I am free to go where I please and to wear a mask only when I choose. I am free to get whatever vaccine I choose to get as well. This is freedom of living and I give God the glory for this blessing. 

If you are reading this, you are blessed too. You have access to the internet and you have the ability to read or have access to a device/person that reads this for you. You are greatly blessed.

You will someday speak about this pandemic in hindsight too. You will explain to some youngster what it felt like to be told you couldn´t go to school or work of the store for weeks on end. You will help them understand  how and why......some folks didn´t make it.

As time and experience moves us forward in time and we put this global pandemic in the rear view mirror of our lives, we may just look upon one another with a sense of camaraderie and encouragement.

We have been there....in that fire...and we made it through.  We can be proud of one another. For some it is still too soon, to even speak of closure or ¨moving on¨. The experience is too fresh and painful. I feel for you. I feel your discomfort and also respect your need for silence. May no one force you to speak before you are ready. 

In closing, I just want to say this....that whatever challenges your life encounters, may the past 2 years remind you of just how strong and resilient we are. We can do anything. You got this.

Peace,

C.

Cheapskate Hack to Avoid Buying Expensive Jam for Sandwiches

I don´t know about you...but I find these ¨ extreme cheapskate¨ shows to be great entertainment. Most of the tips are not practical and pretty dangerous....but I have not lost my appetite for a great frugal life hack.

So here goes. If you have a big family...or a small family with BIG appetites, then you may sometimes wondered why even the discount grocery stores still charge a handsome dime for any kind of red jam.

By "red" jam, I mean any kind of jam such as strawberry, raspberry etc....

So, the other day when I was preparing the Canadian Thanksgiving turkey dinner and I opened the can of jellied cranberry jelly, I thought to myself....hmm....I wonder how this would do as a frugal substitute for jam on a peanut butter & jelly sandwich. And so, I tried out the jellied cranberry sauce in every way that I normally use raspberry jam....and was pleasantly surprised.

How does the taste compare? Well, jellied cranberry sauce has a tartness to it, which adds a bit of a kick to it...but it still has enough sweetness to  balance it out. The tartness makes it quite refreshing.

So....if one were to use canned jellied cranberry sauce as a raspberry jam substitute, you could store it in the fridge once you open it and put it into a seal-able glass jar, such as a mason jar with a tight lid.

That´s it. Pretty simple huh? I have not done enough experiments using this to know how long it would stay fresh when stored in a glass jar in a refrigerator, but I have enjoyed trying it out for the first time. Does this sound like something you could see yourself or a family member trying out in the future? Or would you file this idea under something you would do only if you ¨had¨ to?

Well, that´s all for now. Enjoy your days and frugal ways, and not so frugal ways. It´s all good.

Peace,

Carla

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Craziest Cheapskate Hack You Have Ever Seen or Done or Heard Of?

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There are some frugal tips and tricks which seem pretty normal....pretty every day....and common.

 Last year I was listening to a lady who had a new and  unusual frugal trick that she used in order to continue to be able to knit her beloved crafts, no matter her income or the state of the economy.

So, what was her trick? Her trick was to go to her nearest thrift shop and look for the wooliest sweaters to buy....NOT to WEAR! The reason she would buy these thrift store sweaters was so that she could cut open the seams and unravel the precious yarn and form ¨new¨ balls of yarn that she would then use to create her own new knitted or crochet fashions.

Is this something that you would do?  Does it remind you of something perhaps a relative did back in the Great Depression to continue to afford to knit hats and mitts and sweaters when brand new yarns and wools were out of reach?

Some folks think that an economic recession or depression is on the way...if not already here? What do you think? As for me, I can not predict what is around the bend. I only know that those who refuse to give up....don´t give up and they make the best of what they have, whether that is a little or a lot.

Be blessed my friends, with all you have and own.

Peace,

Carla.

It's Going to be Ok

The stock markets are rumbling again. Just when we feel like we can shrug off some of this covid chaos.....we feel the threat of financial bullying. The governments that were so quick to send us money when the pandemic rose to power.....are now forcing the populace to its knees ....to fight the creep of inflation.

First things first friends. Don't panic. Panic prevents u from seeing the good in the day. Panic prevents u from seizing opportunity.

So my advice is this: 

Don't panic. Most of us are in the same situation. We will get through whatever life throws at us.....together.

That's my humble pie for today......

Peace,

Carla.

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Writing Terribly and Often

Some of you are writers....in the midst of trying to monetize your writings.

I must admit I have listened to an awful lot of motivational speakers and professional writers who have taken the time to share their best tips for how to grow your audience and marketability.

One of the most common tips I hear from globally famous authors is quite surprising.

It is simply their advice to ¨Write Terribly and Often¨

Why on earth would a famous author suggest we simply just turn out more volumes of words and focus less on perfection?

Well, it turns out that experience shows that it is not always the ¨best ¨ writers who make the most money from their writing.....It is more likely that the folks who simply WRITE the MOST OFTEN wind up making a space for themselves in creative writing.

This makes every literature teacher wince, because it simply goes against all the classical writing theories.

Literary professors tend to promote whatever form of literature that they are teaching. They don´t often promote the practices that produce the best selling or wealthiest authors.

Sometimes it comes down to this.... Do you want to be a perfect writer who can´t pay the bills....or do you want to become a mediocre writer who can build up a high net worth that can support their whole family and leave a healthy inheritance for the next generation?

Sometimes, itś about just getting up..... having a cup of coffee and churning out some more words.....not perfect words....and definitely not very pretty words....but words on paper....or on screen....by the hundreds.

Don´t count the words.....just keep going. You will know when you are done. Same way a  musician knows when the song is complete and time to exit stage left....you will simply know when you are done.

Friends , I wish you success in your creativity.....even if you feel alone and feel your work is not up to par. 

Don´t give up on your creative genius.

Peace.

Carla

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Flashfood App bragging rights !

Hi Friends....what´s the fun of saving money on groceries if you can´t brag about it once in a while?

Yes, I know....I´ve blogged about the FLASHFOOD app before....but i feel like so many people just don´t realize how much it can help them....especially if they have a large household to feed.

So, on the left is a screen shot of this week´s tiny shopping savings. Not a huge amount of items, but the prices were right on the money!

The bottle of 100% pure Sunflower oil was no where near expiry and the  bottle was almost a ful liter....measuring at 946 ml. Being able to pay $2.23 cdn for a full bottle of sunflower oil is a great bargain! Yay!

It´s always good to buy enough pasta to stock up once in a while....and so, to get my hands on a box of pasta (454 grams ) of high quality pasta for only 84 cdn cents per box....was definitely a win win.

So, I bought 3. 

Years ago, it used to be quite common to be able to buy groceries priced at under $1 cdn. But not anymore.....it is harder to find things under a dollar and so when you see something like a staple such as spaghetti noodles, it is a ¨no brainer¨ to decide to go ahead and buy some at only 84 cents a box.

What is the greatest deal you have discovered lately? Do tell!!

Well friends, if you have access to a smart phone or any device upon which you can download the FLASHFOOD app....I highly encourage you to do so. It will save you money on feeding your family and it allows the grocery stores that participate in the FLASHFOOD program to save a lot of  items from going into the landfill.

Thanks FLASHFOOD!

Have a great weekend all!

Peace,

Carla

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CANADIAN residents Only---High Value Coupons from Chapmans

https://www.chapmans.ca/coupon/chapmans-annual-coupon-2022/

Above is the current link for chapmans Icecream coupons.....available for Canadian Residents only.

I know that some of my readers are frugal folks and appreciate a reminder now and then of opportunities to get things for free or lower cost. 

Therefore, I thought I´d refresh your memory....yes Chapmans is still giving away high value coupons.  Give it a whirl if you are a Canadian resident.

Best wishes to you and yours as you provide for yourself and your household.

Peace,

Carla

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Why You...Yes YOU! Should upload some Youtube Videos

Friends, have you spent quite a bit more time that you´ll admit....watching youtube videos during the pandemic?

Have you noticed something? 

Now, be honest.....let´s be honest here.

What is the quality of the videos that you currently watch  on Youtube?

Be brutally honest here.

Ok, I am going to start. Most of the videos I have watched on Youtube over the past 2 years of pandemic madness........have been really terrible......like so terrible, you want to go to the time bank and get a refund on all that time you spent watching those videos.

So, am I such a snob that I need to criticize youtube creators that are actually making something creative on youtube? No, not really. I am saying that the quality is pretty bad.......for one reason only.

That reason, is that I want you to admit to yourself, that you could probably make something just as good, if not better than most of the crap that is currently on youtube! Yes, there is room for all of us, who have any kind of creative bug. 

You don´t need any kind of fancy equipment just to get started. A simple smart phone will do the job.

IF you discover that you enjoy making videos, you can always upgrade yourself to be using better equipment, and invest in a fancy camera or editing software. Heck, if you really want to go whole hog, you can hire someone to do the editing for you, so that your videos appear more professional and visually appealing. 

There I said it. There is room for you.....and there is room for me.....on youtube. Maybe you only want to make one tiny little video, to share with your world. That´s ok....you don´t have to do anything.....no one has to do anything. This is about helping more human beings realize their potential in today´s market place.

This is a great season for creatives in the earth today. There are so many platforms. So many ways we can monetize our creative outlets. 

So, this little blog post is just a wee suggestion, to my friends across the world, who needed to hear.....that yes, there is room for you too.....on youtube.

Take a chance. Make a video.

Be surprised, when people actually watch it.

Peace,

Carla

 

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Warren Buffett: Be Cheap to Get Rich?

I never tire of hearing rehashings of Warren Buffet´s habits that have created and maintained his wealth.

He is not only a master of personal discipline....he is also a master sales person. He uses his frugality to help compel more people to invest in his companies because everyone feels more comfortable investing their hard earned money with someone who values every nickel, than with someone who spends foolishly or carelessly.

Do you agree?

It was Playing Aloud in Public

I had the pleasure, this long Labour Day weekend  (yes in Canada we spell Labour with a u) to meander for a few brief minutes by the waters of Kempenfelt Bay. Although the beaches were busy, they were not insanely so....

Perhaps because of the new parking policy, which charges ¨ out-of-towners¨ a stiff $10.00 per hour for the luxury of parking close to the beach. Or perhaps it is simply because the weather is trending away from crazy hot...to pleasantly mild.

So, today I wanted to mention something I noticed as I walked the board walk in bare feet...swinging my fake berkenstocks in my left hand. I walked by a gent sitting peacefully on a large rock, backpack on his back, sunglasses and bball hat ...gazing into the waters of Kempenfelt Bay. Then I recognized a voice, a familiar male voice. Who could that be? I listened closer, and then realized that it was a narrator, either Alexander Scourby or Max Maclean, speaking in an audio bible version I recognized. What a pleasant surprise. I presumed it was the peaceful gent perched on the rock who was sharing the recording with the public, ..... but really it could have been anyone sitting on the sandy beachside knoll with an audio device or phone on playback mode. I had no interest in staring or disturbing the tranquil moment to bring attention to whomever was sharing the good book. I certainly wanted to say thank you in some way, to acknowledge the courage displayed to play aloud that holy book. However, sometimes.... it is better to just enjoy a special moment than to break the ambience with loud guffaws of gratitude.

You see, churches in Simcoe County, sometimes give the impression of having a line demarcated between what is their´s and what is the public´s. And yet here, on a gentle breeze, on a gentle day, on a gentle sandy beach..... the rich fabric of the Word of God blanketed us all. It wasn´t loud....it wasn´t soft......it was just there. God´s word......unashamed and unabashed....there for us to absorb.

Thank you....back pack guy, or whomever you are, for sharing a great gift. You may be forever anonymous....but your gift was truly appreciated.

from the curly haired lady with the fake birkenstocks.

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The Horror and Beauty of Goal Setting

Alas, I was transfixed....when i finally began to grasp the innate power of setting one´s own goals.

How powerful I felt, that I could write and craft a precious list of life goals, that I could hold tightly and recite aloud daily, and often.

It was liberating....it was the ultimate flex, to emancipate myself....from my own meandering. To harness my artistic soul and force it to form itself into something resembling direction and ambition....and dare, I say......a  career.

That was many years ago. Many goals later..... I proudly was able to assign a few large check marks and gloat at my accomplishments.

To be able to say....with some authority...¨I am going to do this, by this date....." and actually mean it and believe it was possible........was and still is an intoxicating drink.

But now, friends, I also must speak of the horrors of goal setting.

The biggest disappointment of writing down my life goals, was that it was simply not whimsical at all. I had always danced through life....both literally and figuratively......enjoying the surprises and emotional roller coaster that is the common experience of most Canadian women.

I liked not knowing what was coming around the bend. I liked not knowing who I was going to meet. I liked not knowing what I was going to earn. I liked not knowing what I was going to eat.

To then, do a sharp personal turn and declare that I would control my every move in life....in order to accomplish a list of written goals......was, on a certain level.....an unspeakable horror.

How would God surprise me.....if He wasn´t on  my list? How would I fit my family onto my rather lengthy list of personal goals? How would my children´s journeys fit into my own rather complex list of written goals?

Must I always be rewriting my list of goals when I uncover yet another delight in life, that I had not yet written down on paper? How do I include my husband and my friends on this battle weary list? Did they even want to be trapped into my favorite font?

Lord, I do not have the answers. When I think I have the answers.....I feel that the books I must write are many....too many to utter....too thick to describe.

Lord Jesus, how do I dance through life....if I must write every line upon a list? There are no brownie points for the big green check marks on my list. There is only the personal satisfaction....of a fait accompli.

And so now, having uttered these horrid truths...I must run and hide....for I fear I have betrayed....my best friend.....my list.

C,

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Extreme Cheapskates Flashfood Style

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How can a mom not like a food haul for less than 20$ ....loaded with veggies??

And so today, my fellow frugal bugles....Flashfood App won again.....allowing me to score the above listed food items for just under $20 🇨🇦.

I don't know if the Flashfood app is available worldwide...but the last time i checked it has grown by leaps and bounds across North America.

What do i like about my local Flashfood app ?

The food is kept safe and at appropriate temps.....either chilled or frozen or at room temp if shelf stable.

The Flashfood app is easy to use. 

You easily prepay your food order...so no need to even bring your wallet into the store.

You can make your food dollars stretch farther than ever.....all the while feeling grateful that the Flashfood app has diverted thousands ( probably millions) of pounds of food from being wasted. Talk about a win win!!!

If you are a true cheapskate or a gentle frugalista...you are going to love the Flashfood App.

Simply download the app to your Smartphone and it will allow you to explore which stores closest to your location have discounted foods currently available for purchase. Then simply prepay thru the app and collect your items instore during store hours! 

What's not to love?

Have a great frugal friday my cheapskate friends. saving money never tasted quite this good😁👍

This is Why You are NOT Making Money Selling Covered Calls

Selling covered calls is a simple and ¨not so simple"option trading concept which 

option traders often begin with. It attracts people because of the appearance of juicy option premiums and yet often befuddles those who mistakenly believe it is an effortless way to gather ¨free" money.

So, I have compiled a simple list of reasons which causes failure for those who 

try to earn regular income from the practice of selling covered calls.

1.  Taking profits before your position is closed. Option premiums may be hundreds of dollars falling into your account with the click of a few buttons. Resist the temptation to ¨count your chickens before they hatch¨ by waiting until your covered call position is closed or assigned before you consider the profit or loss to be realized. The Market is constantly changing. While this volatility is the best friend of an option trader, we must ALWAYS use patience and wait until positions are closed before we consider the gain/loss as REAL.
2.  Selling covered calls on an underlying asset that is about to go through a reverse split. Don´t sell covered calls on underlying equities that you do not fully understand. A surprise, merger, a negative earnings report, or a shocking news report can cause an unexpected loss in your covered call position. Do your due diligence and research the companies before you bet your hard earning money on a covered call position.
3.  Not choosing the most profitable strike price at which to sell the covered call at. Choosing strike prices is an art in my humble opinion. There are those who calculate complicated formulas to determine which strike price at which to sell a covered call at. However, I prefer the tried and true method of relying on many years of market experience.....reading tape...as they say.
4.  Choosing low quality underlying equities upon which to sell covered calls. Although, people can and do, sell covered calls on lower quality stock, it is inherently more risky to do so. Risk can lure in option traders with juicy high option premiums. But it can be very painful to your wallet to pour good quality money into a low quality equity position just for a very temporary boost in option premium. KNOW your underlying assets....and choose wisely.
5. Using margin debt to finance the selling of covered calls. The stock market can be volatile, and using debt to finance your covered call option trades can be tempting, and can sometimes be profitable. However, any usage of leverage (debt) must be done wisely and with the understanding of risk, reward and interest rates. Not all investors have the temperament to manage debt wisely. Those who have a ¨gambler´s mindset may not want to even entertain the idea of using debt to ¨play¨ options with.  Debt is a great tool in the hand of a master, but a deadly weapon in the hand of a fool.

Well, friends, that´s enough caution and warning for a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Be blessed in your investing and trading.

Peace,

Carla

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Unlimited Opportunities are All Around You

As I was driving along a road on the outskirts of town...the broad swaths of corn fields met with a golden blowing field of wheat. Heaven. These fields just seem to go on forever. I just want to run through them, 

with my pool shoes on, so no bugs will bite my toes. But alas, I restrained myself, so the farmers will not be angry with me.

Anyway, back to the purpose of this post. I posted this photo because the enormous fields and skies that seem to go on forever, remind me of one thing....UNLIMITED possibilities.

I have heard some pretty heart wrenching stories over my lifetime, of when folks were looking for a job and they just gave up. They stopped believing in themselves, in life, and in the opportunities all around them.

The more I reach out and see what is around me, on the internet and beyond, the more I see that there are UNLIMITED possibilities all around all of us. For those who make stuff.....content....or works of art, or songs, or wooden birdhouses, or financial plans.....I just want to help you understand that there are really unlimited platforms on which you can present WHATEVER it is that you make.

If you are a self publishes writer, I know of at least three free platforms upon which you can publish your own written manuscripts, at no cost, other than your time and creativity. The three that come to mind are

Kindle Direct Publishing, Smashwords and Draft 2 Digital. From what I understand, Smashwords is in the process of merging with Draft 2 Digital.

What are some other platforms that you can use to promote your artworks?

Kijiji, Craigslist, local art stores, local flea markets, yard sales, garage sales, estate sales, museums that feature local artists, as well as the galleries located in bigger cities.

What about local tv stations? Would they allow you to do a short segment explaining how you make your particular art works? What about youtube videos? It is so easy to film yourself for a simple youtube video to explain how you do what you do best. 

There is facebook, facebook marketplace. There is Twitter. You can use these social media sites to promote your content. 

There are so many platforms that require no upfront fees in order to start uploading your works. Redbubble is a good place which photographers and graphic artists can bring their best works and designs  to be featured on ¨print on demand" merchandise. There are no financial costs to uploading your special designs to these type of websites.

Reading Seth Godin´s writings really encouraged me to understand that with the way that the world has become such a global village, that it is easier now than ever before to find the particular type of fans that would find your works valuable. You no longer need to appear to a mass audience. You can stay unique and just keep spreading your art works and ideas until your tribe finds you by osmosis.

It  really doesn´t matter how unusual you are. You don´t need to force yourself to fit in. You don´t need to change your artistic style, or way of content creation to try to keep up with the ¨Joneses.¨

You really can be yourself. Be proud of who you are as an individual creator. 

Believe that some day soon, you really will and CAN be PAID to be YOU!

May God´s unlimited blessings begin to reveal themselves to you this week!

Peace,

Carla

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Countless Income Streams

Now now...you might say...she's waaay too cocky. She's out of her league.

Nope..... increase is indeed unlimited. Abundance is unlimited.

It's all about your imagination...It's all about your positive mindset.

When you are a content creator....know that there will always be new multiple platforms upon which you may place your content. New publishers, both for the self published artist and the more traditional publishing houses. They are all growing and learning how to put more good work out into the cosmos. They are morphing to find more work....just like what you create. Someone right now is looking for you....for what you have just the right now to express and put into words, or inventions, or songs, or artworks.

The world needs you. I don't know any other way to say this. You were born into this generation because you have something that needs expression that this generation requires. You were born for a reason. Make it happen. And don't lose faith.

Just as some social media platforms have their time in the sun....so others will be invented and rise up to take their place. Your content can be boosted onto all these spreading platforms....There are only the limits that you place or "refuse" to place upon your content.

Yes, you can create content for one platform....or for 100 platforms.

And then there are the platforms that will hunt you down and pitch and beg you to be on their platform.

Stay original....observe copy right laws and don't allow discouragement to stop your creativity from flowing. Keep creating. Stay artistic. Use your words. Use your colors, use your music. Stay confident. Adapt....learn how to navigate new software as often as possible, or pay people to do this for you.

Believe in your work! Do you know you have quality content? Do you "make good art" as Neil Gaiman would say? Don't stop now....don't slow down.

Do whatever you need to do to get back on that horse and make some more cool stuff.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF BECAUSE GOD BELIEVES IN YOU!

Carla.

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Is it Possible To Be Too Focused?

There is a story about an interview that was done with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Both gents were asked the same questions...."what is the single most thing important thing for success"?

They both answered with precisely the same word ..."Focus!".

I always feasted on that thought....as it one thousand percent was in alignment with my own mode of operation. 

When I became a "written goal setter" I noticed there was more spring in my step....and a more pointed look in my eyes. I knew where I was going....and whenever I was unsure...I would simply dig out my goal list from my purse or phone and recite my written goals.... Instantly I would feel my peace restore itself and I could walk confidently.

Knowing where you are going is refreshing. How else will you know you've arrived if you don't have a destination?

But, now for the sake of a good argument, let's assume, that it isn't always a good thing to be hyper focused on one's goals. Could it be that when humans are too focused...that they forget the simple pleasures.....like riding a bike or singing a song in the car ride to work? Can it be that goal setting transforms us from people who dance .....into people who simply march like soldiers towards a goal?

Is it good to march through life? Or is it better to dance?

 I am simply stirring the pot. It's good to take both sides of an argument to help assess the pros and cons of both sides of an equation.

One might also suggest that being too "goal oriented" can be challenging in a marital and family setting. If one or both parents are very focused on goals outside the home...will they still have enough time and energy for their spouse and children? Or does the spousal time and children time need to be written into their written list of goals? These are good things to consider.

Being uber-focused is definitely a powerful tool to accomplish virtually anything in life. But let's not forget to enjoy and appreciate those unwritten aspects of human life which don't make it onto your list.

Let's not forget to smell the roses....and appreciate the scent of the grass after a morning rainfall.

Let's not forget to commune with our Creator...the one who understands us and wants to help craft our written goals. Let's not walk alone.

Peace,

Carla.

 

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My Argument with Extreme Bulk Buyers

Today is my story of my argument with extreme bulk buyers. By extreme....I mean the ladies who insist on shopping only in large quantities even when they are trying to stick to a budget.

And so today I brought an example. See to your left the lovely photo of a box of garbage bags I purchased this week at Dollar Tree in Ontario, Canada. If my memory serves correctly, I paid precisely $1.50 Canadian funds plus 13% tax for this box of 5 garbage bags.

Now, my extreme bulk buying friends are already pooo-pooing my choice...because they  say ¨ Why on earth would you pay good money for only 5 bags....when I shop I buy big boxes of garbage bags with at least 40 bags in a box!¨

But my comment to them is this ...Why on earth, if I am trying to stick to a predetermined grocery budget, allow such a large portion of my expenditure for the week to be allocated to the purchase of garbage bags.

I know, I know....people like to stock up.. People dont like to run out of things, and they really dont like shopping as often as I do. 

But, I must assert, that if you have a certain dollar figure that you try to stick to with your grocery shopping, then you need to discipline yourself not to splurge on a certain category, just because it happens to be a good deal. Do you understand what I am trying to say? 

Sometimes I see extreme bulk buyers go and spend 100$ on bathroom tissue because there is a good sale on....but they dont buy enough food for their children to make it to their next grocery shopping trip. Does that make sense? Is  it really a good deal if it leaves someone without the calories they need to function well during the week?

The painful part of disciplined shopping means being willing to pass up great deals, in order to stick to your preplanned budget. It may not feel like you are winning to buy a small box of garbage bags at your local Dollar store.....but you will most certainly feel a great sense of accomplishment when you realize that you can actually stick to the list you wrote to yourself and stick to the budget that you and your spouse or family members have agreed to. 

I can hear some of you saying....well, if you were rich, you wouldnt need to budget your grocery shopping. And to that I would tell you a little story about the great Mr. Warren Buffett...who is still one of the richest men in the world. I have watched ( several times over) the HBO special biographical film of Mr. Warren Buffett in which we, the viewers, are permitted a small peak into Mr. Buffettś daily habits.

One part of the film, shows Mr. Buffett with a handful of change his wife gave to him before he left the house, to spend on a preplanned breakfast sandwich from McDonalds on his way driving to the office. He knew exactly how much the breakfast sandwich cost and his wife gave him exactly that amount to pay for it. How wonderful! How disciplined and modest he is! 

If even, one of the richest men in the world, sees fit to preplan his modest  drive-thru breakfast meal, then certainly it is adviseable for us also to consider such a habit.

What is this habit? Simply the habit of planning what you are going to spend each day or week based on your income and outgoing expenses and savings and investing plans, and charitable giving.

Planning is good. 

Sometimes folks who are recovering shopaholics get their shopping fix by overspending on sale items in bulk purchases. They presume that they will not feel guilty for overspending because they got such a good deal! They soon figure out that they still feel guilty, because they have spent more than they planned to spend.

Well, thatś all for now. I apologize for the lack of ¨ apostropheś as this keyboard is hiding them from me as I type today :) Ha....lol!

Well friends, have a great day....and plan to succeed.

Peace,

Carla.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Full Movie)

The story of Mother Theresa is awe inspiring. No matter your religious convictions, you will be touched by her story. Enjoy...