5 Moves That Make You Look Cheap

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly

Reading the finance news I came across this article... hope you enjoy it.  In our lives we have all been "cheap" at some point probably, but when it is to the extreme then that can become a very ugly trait. 

Thanks to the recent financial crisis, frugality and thrift are increasingly becoming positive attributes. But if, like many people, you find yourself looking for ways to trim you spending, you may find yourself flirting with what can be a very fine line. You know: the one between making smart financial choices and being outright cheap. In fact, in many cases it's a line between thrift and outright thievery. You know you've hit it when your savings become someone else's loss - or your own. Here are a few common examples where thrifty become downright cheap. How far would you go?

Thrifty: Buying Items That Are on Sale
Cheap: Only Buying Items That Are on Sale

Seeking out sales can be a great way to help make groceries, clothes and virtually any other items you need fit into a tight budget. At the grocery store, for example, you might choose the cereal that's on sale, rather than the one that's on your list.

When people cross the line to cheap, however, is when they refuse to buy anything that isn't on sale. This can often backfire by causing you to buy things that might be of lower overall value or that you wouldn't have even considered buying otherwise. You may find yourself spending more than you would have had you just purchased what you needed. It can also put shoppers out of touch with the value of what they're getting for their money - and isn't that what thrift is all about?

Thrifty: Tipping According to Service
Cheap: Never Tipping at All

Common etiquette requires that customers provide tips for certain services. As a result, some of these service providers are actually paid considerably less by their employers, because they expect that tips will make up the difference. In some states, this may even be less than minimum wage. If you get rude or indifferent service, it may be fair to leave nothing, but if you never tip, ask yourself why. Is it really because you feel your waiter or taxi driver makes plenty of money, or is it just because you can't bear to part with it?

Thrifty: Putting Money Aside for Savings
Cheap: Saving Everything and Living on Nothing

Living a very Spartan lifestyle can a great way to achieve a big goal, but it's no way to live. If you're working toward retiring early, buying a house or taking time off work to spend with family, travel or pursue other goals, digging deep to make this happen just might be worth it. But if you find yourself saving nearly every penny and scrounging to make ends meet, it may be time to ask yourself just what you're saving for. If you don't have an answer, you've probably gone too far.

Thrifty: Taking Advantage of a Good Deal

Cheap: Taking Advantage



loser!!



If you find a great way to stretch a dollar, there's nothing wrong with making good use of it. For example, if you're in a coffee shop that provides free refills, stick around and enjoy a few cups if you're in the mood. But please, don't keep the cup and come back later (or every day thereafter) for more. A couple of extra cups of coffee probably won't put a dent in a business's bottom line, but if more people follow your lead, it might just quash its free refills.

Thrifty: Cutting Out Internet and Cable

Cheap: Stealing It from Your Neighbors

If you start cutting costs, you'll soon learn that you can get by with a lot less. But if you want to be able to brag about your frugal living ways, you have to actually do without. If you cut out your Internet but then log on through your neighbor's wireless signal, you're about as enviable as the guy who parks a Prius in his driveway but keeps a Lexus Convertible in the garage.

The Bottom Line

If you've cut your budget so far that you need to resort to taking advantage of others, consider yourself cheap. The same is true if your sense of frugality begins to look more like austerity or self-denial. Budgeting and saving money should be a measured approach to reach a financial goal or survive tough times, not an end in and of themselves. While being frugal may be trendy right now, taking this trend to its extremes may be no better than falling prey to overspending. After all, neither approach leads to living well, which is what smart financial planning is all about.

Nothing wrong with wanting the best deal available...who doesn't? 
However, it is possible to go too far...and this can definitely be a turn off rather than an asset.  Like the article says there is a fine line between being thrifty and being downright CHEAP!!!



most generous man I know:)



The generous man enriches himself by giving; the cheap man hoards himself poor....A miser grows rich by seeming poor;  an extravagant man grows poor by seeming

until next time



Day Off..:)

Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow....



working together:)



Sunday, time to take a break from all this strenuous work we have been doing and just relax doing little things we both enjoy. For Arvid the relaxing part of his day began with Brutus...now he is fixing my exercise machine which he says relaxes hm:) Very peaceful so far.

I have been doing little cleaning, laundry and in between have been catching up on some celebrity gossip...just total relaxation:)

For his part Brutus is catching up on some much needed sleep....AGAIN!!!

Hopefully later on today we will get to go a little to the Mall.  Have not done much of that lately.....and now that Christmas is almost here everything is looking so pretty. 

Always very nice to have a day off...clears the mind and energizes you.  Declare today “sacred time”—off-limits to everyone, unless invited by you. Take care of your personal wants and needs. Say no, graciously but firmly, to others’ demands:)

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen...

 

this is where I want to be right now:)

until next time



World's Most Romantic Islands.....



Eleuthera

 People always like things that seem exotic.....

Whether you’re after all-out luxury or sand-between-the-toes casual, there’s a romantic island for you. And while many of these dream destinations have “remote” and “secluded” as their principle selling points, others are surprisingly close to home. (One you can practically see from the Hollywood sign.)

After all that we have been doing any place seems perfect right now for a getaway.  We have been waiting to get away to Eleuthera for the longest time but unfortunately, so far we have no time:))

No matter whether you’re a new couple just getting to know each other or you’re celebrating your golden anniversary, these romantic islands will help you holiday happily ever after.




Rangali Island

 Rangali Island, The Maldives


Of the 1,192 islets that make up this island nation in the Indian Ocean, roughly 1,000 are uninhabited. Suffice to say, your chances of finding romantic seclusion are pretty high. Like most of the resorts here, the Conrad Maldives Hotel occupies its own private atoll, called Rangali Island. The romance factor kicks in before you even arrive, thanks to a seaplane ride over the shallow, impossibly clear lagoon. Soon enough, you’re dining in the underwater restaurant and kicking back in the over-water spa.



Molokai, Hawaii

 Molokai, Hawaii

A conspicuous absence of international hotel chains is just one reason this idyll—situated east of Oahu in the Hawaiian archipelago—draws romantics from all over. Hike to remote waterfalls, kayak secluded rocky coastlines, and ride donkeys into the lush valleys, or just laze beachside. (Head for the golden sands of secluded three-mile-long Papohaku Beach, at the far-west end of the island.) With just one traffic light on the island, the only gridlock you’ll encounter is caused by colonies of curious sea turtles frolicking in the outrageously clear waters.



Capri, Italy

 Capri, Italy

Sure, noon in Capri Town can be a tourist swarm, but the bulk of visitors depart on the last ferry back to Naples or Sorrento—leaving the island blissfully free for lovers. And this dramatically craggy outcrop, a Mediterranean Garden of Eden splashed with floral color and perfumed by lemon trees and herb gardens, has remained a magnet for the A-list since antiquity, when Emperor Tiberius set up camp here.




St. Lucia



St. Lucia, Caribbean

If the Caribbean Sea were a catwalk, St. Lucia would be its most bankable supermodel. This 27-mile-long island is lush, mountainous, and blessed with gorgeous beaches and verdant cocoa plantations. The jade-green twin peaks of the Pitons, jungle-swathed volcanic plugs that rise from a silvery ocean on the southwest coast, are the Caribbean’s most striking backdrop.



Bocas del Toro, Panama

 Bocas del Toro, Panama



 Located in the Caribbean Sea near the border with Costa Rica, this group of islands is all about low-key relaxation with a Latin American flavor, pitch-perfect for sybarites who don’t want to pack a designer bikini. The main island of Colon has a buzzy downtown full of waterfront bars and laid-back nightclubs, while the smaller islands offer deserted beaches, rain forests, mangroves, and coral reefs.

Catalina Island, California



Catalina Island

 Just 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles, Santa Catalina has a certain Mediterranean flavor. Yachts jostle in a glinting harbor, sorbet-colored homes cascade down the hillside, and the secluded coves are ready-made for romance—including the aptly named Lover’s Cove, east of Avalon.





Santori, Greece

 Santorini, Greece

Sweeping views over a picture-perfect caldera—the result of a volcanic eruption around 1600 B.C.—is just one factor in Santorini’s romantic charm. Gorgeous, striated cliffs and black-sand beaches don’t hurt, either. Head to the famously picturesque village of Oia (book a room at the 18-suite Mystique) with its classic whitewashed, cliff-edge architecture, blue-domed churches, and stone houses overhung with bougainvillea canopies.



Barbuda, Caribbean

 Barbuda, Caribbean

If your idea of Eden is unpaved roads, truly deserted beaches, and nary a nightclub, this 68-square-mile island in the Eastern Caribbean is for you. Barbuda features just a handful of high-end hotels, including Coco Point Lodge, on its own 164-acre peninsula fronting glorious pink-sand beaches. Take a boat trip to the Frigate Bird Sanctuary on a lagoon in the island’s northwest and ogle the 5,000 namesake birds that call it home.

 Laucala Island, Fiji


Laucala, Fiji



The South Pacific fantasy of swaying palm trees and extravagantly lush scenery reaches its fullest expression here. There are just 25 cottages on this privately owned resort, which occupies the entire island, each with a private pool, dining pavilion, and outdoor hot tub and shower. While the resort attracts deep-pocketed travelers, don’t expect glitzy lobbies. The emphasis is on rustic, pared-back luxury; every detail seems crafted to appeal to couples, including the lagoon pool with its man-made “islands” big enough for two.

 Pamalican Island, The Philippines



Pamalican Island



You’ll find only one resort here—Amanpulo, set on its own private island southwest of Manila with just 40 secluded pitched-roof traditional villas, strung along a pristine beach with sand so white it’s blinding. Beachcombers can navigate the entire island on foot in less than two hours, keeping their eyes out for baby sharks, kingfishers, and sea turtles, which lay their eggs here between March and October.



eleuthera

 Our romantic getaway is Eleuthera and hopefully we will soon be there.  Once the houses are done we will probably be spending at least 2 weeks a month in Eleuthera...this way we get the best of both worlds...then come summer and it's off to Chicago.  The best of all!!!

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind....one’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things...

until next time...

Black Friday...

A bargain is something you can't use at a price you can't resist.....whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping.....

Black Friday is the discount shopping day that follows Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.  Because Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, the day after usually occurs between the 23rd and the 29th of November.  On this day many U.S. retailers open very early, with most of the retailers typically opening at 5AM or even earlier, at midnight. 

 

So far I have never been one of the early shoppers...my sister on the other hand has tried it and yes the deals are awesome but, so are the lines and the aggravation.  Just about all retailers have huge markdowns on this day. 

Electronics and toys are popular Christmas gifts and are often the most sought-after bargains during Black Friday shopping excursions. Retailers often slash prices on the latest electronics and toys by as much as half or even one third of their suggested retail price.

Retailers know consumers will respond to such enormous opportunities to save on Christmas shopping costs. Jewelry is another popular Black Friday item that shoppers look for discounts on, although gigantic discounts on jewelry items are not usually as common as drastically slashed prices on toys and electronics are......

 

No matter what is being slashed or not the consumers make the line from the night before just to get in early because some of these specials run something weird like from 4am until 8am....too much for me but if you don't mind  the crowd then it is worth going and experiencing at least once:))  On the other hand beware as well..

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/111366/black-fridays-dirty-little-secrets

Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like.....I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist.....

until next time....

Another Blonde Joke:)

Paris Hilton on her career choices: "First wanted to be a veterinarian. And then I realised you had to give them shots to put them to sleep, so I decided I'd just buy a bunch of animals and have them in my house instead....."

Every so often we come across a "dumb blonde" joke.  Here's another one.  Do I think all blondes are stupid?  No more so than most people.....

Bob, a handsome dude, walked into a sports bar around 9:58 pm . He sat down next to a blonde at the bar and stared up at the TV...


The 10 pm news was coming on. The news crew was covering the story of a man on the ledge of a large building preparing to jump.

The blonde looked at Bob and said, "Do you think he'll jump?"

Bob said, "You know, I bet he'll jump."
The blonde replied, "Well, I bet he won't."
Bob placed a $20 bill on the bar and said, "You're on!"

Just as the blonde placed her money on the bar, the guy on the ledge did a swan dive off the building, falling to his death.

The blonde was very upset, but willingly handed her $20 to Bob, saying, "Fair's fair. Here's your money."

Bob replied, "I can't take your money. I saw this earlier on the 5 pm news, and so I knew he would jump."

The blonde replied, "I did too, but didn't think he'd do it again."

Bob took the money...

Hope you liked it.  Someone sent it to Arvid:))

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind...

until next time.....

The One I Love:))



the one I love:)



Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.....

Even though things have been hectic in our lives the last month the one constant has been Arvid, my husband.  With his positive attitude and his never ending energy he has been the one I look forward to coming home to everyday.

When I am down or feeling blue he is always by my side encouraging me even if he may sometimes also feel the same....and he says to me "if I am down you have to bring me up".....that I do gladly for him every so often as well.  Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.....Not so long ago Arvid said something more or less like this to me "the most beautiful view is the one I share with you".  I really love this man:)

I have seen changes in him that sometimes leave even me in awe.  One of the nicest things I have seen in Arvid is his patience and love for Brutus.  He has never had a pet and when we got Brutus his initial reaction was...I am not taking care of him.  Today he takes as much care of Brutus as I do.

I have never seen this man leave whatever work he's doing for anyone...but he does for Brutus.  Brutus comes up to him meows and automatically Arvid gets up and follows him to his food.  Brutus has brought relaxation into our lives and mainly to Arvid.  Arvid is a much more calmer and relaxed person and this is largely because of a kitty cat:))

One of the things I love about Arvid (and there's many) is that no matter what he always holds my hand...it's like as if he does not want to let go of it ever....I am happy:)

He makes me laugh like no one can.  He says the same about me.  Arvid said that I brough back laughter into his life and that he has never felt this way before:)  He says I am one of a kind and that he wants to spend forever with me...my feelings exactly.  Never ask why I love you, just accept that I do, and that I will for the rest of my life...

When I say, "I love you," it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman.”  To him I say you are also a man in a million and I love you with all my heart.

I have a wonderful life and I am lucky to have a very kind, loving, thoughtful, hard working and generous man to share it with....Here's my love, take it. Here's my soul, use it. Here's my heart, don't break it. Here's my hand, hold it and together we will make it forever......

I love you, not because of what you have but because of what I feel.. I care for you, not because you need care but because I want to.. I'm always here for you, not because i wan't you to be with me but because i want to be with you....

I love you Arvid Hvidsten:)

until next time....

Progress:))

No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance

House number one is still a work in progress where as house number two is soon done.  Arvid and I work very good together to make things flow easily.  I am doing the painting and cleaning and he is doing the drilling and fixing....

Tiles already installed in Fur House and now working on the kitchen:)  I even have my own screwdriver for my minor jobs. 

I really do not enjoy painting that much but it has to be done.  I get paint all over me and it stays for weeks on my hair:)) 

While all this is going on Brutus is quite happy relaxing and sleeping away.  He has lots of fun looking at people passing by the house.  Yesterday the Mail Lady totally kept him captivated.  Arvid said if Brutus were a dog he would have probably bitten her silly:))

It has been a few challenging weeks and still is but getting there soon.   Challenges come so we can grow and be prepared for things we are not equipped to handle now. When we face our challenges with faith, prepared to learn, willing to make changes, and if necessary, to let go, we are demanding our power be turned on.

Looking forward to soon being settled:))  like Brutus is:))

Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal.......

until later...