Thrifty Living Today : maintaining a home

What do you remember about money managed by your parents?

Lori Blatzheim — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:21:00 GMT

Shortly after starting the Virtual Thrift Club, I wrote a Dollar Stretcher Forum entry on this topic. It turned out to be one of the most answered and heartrending entries I ever wrote. People shared their memories, and opened our eyes to what they had lived through as children.

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.

Here is the opening paragraph.

Find a quiet space in your life and take a few minutes to reflect on your childhood. What do you remember about your parents or guardians while you were growing up? Did your family have a consistent source of income? Who paid the bills, mother, father, someone else? Were you included, and did they show you what was spent for food, clothing or utilities? Were you completely excluded from the process? How did this influence your current spending habits?

I would like to suggest that you do the same thing.

I have tried doing this and here are some of my conclusions.

I had no idea:

· how much money my father made

· where he banked

· what he owed

· whether he paid his bills on time

· if he had a budget

· his financial goals

I didn’t know:

§ Who provided my mother with money.

§ When she received it.

§ What she did with it.

§ Whether she saved it.

§ How she spent it.

By the age of nine, I had never:

· Had an ongoing allowance

· Learned the reason for banks

· Understood what a check was

· Realized that water, heat, electricity, telephone, and lodging cost money

· Reviewed a budget

· Held bills of different denominations in my hand

What Do You Remember About Money Managed by Your Parents?

Is this what you want for your children? Is this what you want for children everywhere?

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:

http://retireandrenew.com

What to do when your home needs major window repair?

Lori Blatzheim — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:06:00 GMT

When we bought our house I appreciated the light streaming in from all the windows. Later I would come to regret some of my enthusiasm.

I had a dim understanding of what Minnesota weather can do to the exterior of a house.

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.

My husband was frankly worried. A year ago we had a major problem with wood rot due to problems with a chimney. Now he found some exterior signs of softness in the window sills. I watched him walk around the house, pinching the sills and wondering what was going on underneath.

Windows became the prime talking point in our home. We discussed the why, what, when, where, and how of the situation and realized that our understanding of window replacement was miniscule.

How did we find the company that would replace our windows?

We:

· used a search engine and took a crash course on window replacement.

· studied advertisements, with special attention to price, quality, and design.

· invited salesmen from window replacement companies to visit our home and give us quotes.

· discussed arrangements for payment. We had decided we wanted to pay by the time the windows were installed.

There are several companies that install windows for people in our area. The prices vary a bit. We spoke of what we wanted and hoped to receive.

We decided to choose a company which cost slightly more than another. It seemed to offer better quality in product and in those who would install the windows.

Minnesota winters are brutal. Once we made the decision to purchase the windows, we wondered when this major event would happen. The contract was signed in late fall. It would take time before the windows would be prepared.

Based on the contract, and information from the salesman, the installation would occur in early January. I wondered about the timing. Would men walk around the back yard in foot deep snow? Where would they put the ladders?

The role of Justin, our salesman

The company we selected spends time with customers.

Our salesman presented a class on the topic “what to expect when you are having windows installed.”

Measurements were taken. Window design was selected.

The windows had to be fabricated at a different site and brought in.

The workers would come to our home and set everything up. The installation would take one or two days. They would place plastic sheets around every window site, and covering on the floors. They would explain what was being done every step of the way.

When the windows were installed, and everyone was satisfied, they would do a thorough cleaning of the site.

Our responsibilities

I never thought of who would prepare the home window sites and remove furniture, wall hangings, and pictures from site. That turned out to be our job.

We would have to remove all blinds, shades, and drapes. My husband would have to do most of this.

How the Workmen helped

It is nice to have promises fulfilled. We had been told what to expect. Everything promised was accomplished.

The workers came on time and left on time.

They carefully prepared the surrounding sites.

The windows fit and worked well.

Following the installation, one workman removed the temporary floor covering and vacuumed all areas involved. He didn’t stop until all was cleaned.

Before leaving they gave us a five minute class on how to position the new windows so that we could wash them from the inside of the home.

In retrospect

We are glad we had new windows placed. One large old window had some evidence of decay. The others had no evidence of dry rot. My husband is now more relaxed. We seldom mention the windows.

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:

http://retireandrenew.com

Thanks to Renewal by Andersen the company that helped us install quality windows and frames. They demonstrated a friendly, thoughtful approach to meeting our needs every step of the way.

Talent: your own personal resource

Lori Blatzheim — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:30:00 GMT

One of the tenets of Thrift is to recognize our resources; to identity them, to care for them, and to use them for ourselves and for others.

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.

What is a talent?

It is a gift, an ability to do something well.

Sometimes people hide their abilities. They don’t want to show off. They are so “busy” doing other things, or working, or not knowing what to do with this gift, which they don’t bother to acknowledge. They may think that everyone has this ability and not mention it to anyone.

Here are some examples:

1. You may have the ability to cook a fine meal. You think anyone can do this, but you are wrong. With time and experience, you develop your learning of food; what dishes taste good together, what to serve with certain cuts of meat, what makes a healthful vegetarian meal, how to bring a complete dinner to the table with all dishes ready at the same time.

2. You may have a musical ability. You can play an instrument. You know the notes and melody, how sounds fit together on the scale, how a song with many voices can blend in for the greater good of the piece.

3. Can you put oil in your car, fix a flat tire, dig your vehicle out of a snow bank, listen to the sound of the engine, check the tires, and realize something is wrong with the car? What gives you the ability? Is it from knowledge, experience, interest in how a car is put together, or something more? Trust me, there are a lot of us out there who jump into our vehicle and expect it to perform perfectly………and it doesn’t.

4. You may have a sense of color. You inherently know what shades, tints, pigments, work together. You enjoy and celebrate the ability to dress a room with colors that just seem to go together. People entering a room enjoy the way items go together. They feel more comfortable, seldom recognizing that it is color that brings it together.

These talents are important. They are personal resources. You can bring a special ability to your life and that of others. Don’t hide it. Don’t flaunt it. Use it.

Think about yourself. Your gifts may lead to a family that would rather eat your food than a neighborhood take out, that may be entertained by your musical ability, that is sure the car is working well and can be trusted while driving down the road, and that the choice of paint color will enhance a room.

What does a talent have to do with Thrift?

Think about the examples above.

The good cook can select those vegetables and fruits that are in season and include them in the meal. Vegetarian foods may be grouped together to provide a thoughtful and complete meal. Less expensive meats may be prepared so they taste just as good as the expensive cuts. Dinner does not depend on a neighborhood take-out.

Music in the home can result in home entertainment. Family members appreciate each other. Children and adults may join choirs, bands, or even orchestras.

How much does it cost to have a car towed? I suppose it depends on the distance, and how the car is functioning. Think about it. The person who keeps the vehicle in good, workable condition, or knows when it is time for service, is a real asset.

What if you paint a room and then discover that the color is wrong, wrong, wrong! How much does it cost to paint a room? How much work has been done? Think about it. If someone in the home has a real color sense, they are a real asset.

Helping others

You have a special gift. Do you want to share your abilities with others?

From a monetary standpoint, you may be able to make money from it. Use it if you need the income or if friends and family will benefit.

But…………..you may also be able to help someone who lacks your talent and ability. Whether you travel down the road of volunteering publicly or just helping out a friend.

Don’t sell yourself short. Whether it is sewing on a button or badge, entertaining others with musical ability, or preparing a meal for those less fortunate, you do have talent. What can you do with your abilities?

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:

http://retireandrenew.com

The latest post is: The Goodwill Organization

Accidents

Lori Blatzheim — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 02:01:00 GMT

According to the Dictionary. com, an accident is an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage or loss.

How can we prevent accidents? How can we prevent injury to people of any age?

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.

Mishap, calamity, misfortune, unexpected event

People can be the victim of an accident at any age. If you see a hazard ahead, say something. If the danger is eminent, shout out the danger. Prepare your home and property for visitors of any age.

Our youngest citizens

Children are just that, children. They have limited experience with cause and effect. They do not realize the consequences of their actions. One minute they are happy and playful. The next they are crying as a result of something they didn’t expect.

Adults have accidents

As we reach adulthood, we learn routines and we become familiar with activities. We feel confident and skilled. We expect the environment to remain unchanged. We might not see a hazard until it is too late.

Seniors may be the victims of an accident

They may not be as strong or mobile as they used to be. Vision, hearing, and other senses may not be as acute as they were in the past. An older person may not notice barriers in their way or other hazards.

Please don’t leave it up to someone else. If you see a hazard ahead, say something, if the danger is eminent, shout out the danger.

There are many reasons we should try to anticipate, and prevent accidents. Here are some of them:

To prevent:

· Injury

· Pain

· Inability to work

· Emotional cost

· Property Damage

How we can prevent accidents

· Assess the environment.

· Watch for hazards and do something to eliminate or alert appropriate people.

· Follow directions.

· Follow rules and regulations.

· Provide what is needed.

· Don’t take chances. Consider the age and ability of others (children are impulsive; adults are busy, seniors less strong).

· Be watchful.

· Use common sense.

· Teach your children well. Explain to them how accidents happen, and why they need to be careful.

· Make it a family event to look for hazards. Give a prize to the child who makes a good suggestion.

· Don’t punish a child who has experienced an accident, teach.

I invite you to read 3 posts I wrote dealing with accidents. These are found in Retire and Renew, a post dealing with Retirement and Senior living. They suggest strategies for preventing accidents in people of any age.

http://retireandrenew.com/?p=404

http://retireandrenew.com/?p=409

http://retireandrenew.com/?p=411

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.

Did We Really Need Another Television?

Lori Blatzheim — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:27:00 GMT

Back in December of last year, my husband decided he wanted a newer and larger television. The one he had been using worked all right but it was a twenty inch and he had trouble seeing some of the football plays and the arc of a golf ball after it was hit. For contact sports, it was sometimes difficult to read the important numbers worn by players.

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.

I was balking at the thought of another expense. After all, it impacted our savings and the current television did work.I finally gave in and we decided to go shopping with him. The store we selected was filled with the latest and greatest in large flat screen televisions. We looked and looked and had just about decided on a brand known for clarity. While walking around, we saw a group of boxes with televisions inside. They were placed on the floor next to a counter. We asked the clerk why they were just sitting there. He replied “they are left over from Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). They have a few less features than the ones on display.” We noticed that the television sets on the floor had a price almost half as much as the ones on display.

My husband and I decided to compromise and took the box on the floor. It was a good brand and came with a month long return policy. Maybe this wasn't the best use of Thrift (we paid cash) but it has proven to be a very helpful addition to our family.

Lately I have been thinking about television and how it has changed in the last sixty years. We now have so many features built in that they fit almost every need.

I have also tried to balance the time we have devoted to just "sitting there" absorbing the entertainment television tries to present. If we spend money on all the bells and whistles, we can see almost everything we could wish for. Programs can be saved and we can, actually, watch them over and over.

I am interested in the thousands of commercials presented to all of us, children, adults, and Seniors, during the course of a year. And I am concerned about a few of the programs children are watching.

Seniors seem to enjoy certain programs. Some were created when they were younger adults raising families. There is no documented evidence, but I frequently hear that "The Price is Right" is still a national favorite among the older crowd.

I find myself wondering "what will they think of next." Keep your eyes open.

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:

www.retireandrenew.com

http://retireandrenew.com

The First Apartment

Lori Blatzheim — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:41:00 GMT

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.

Buying a Home: is it worth it?

Lori Blatzheim — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:59:00 GMT

The one major goal most families in the USA have traditionally held is to buy a home. They have worked hard to achieve home ownership.

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.

February, 1996.

It was Valentines Day. My husband was still working back in California, finishing off work projects and arranging for the placement of our belongings in a moving van. He would be joining me shortly.

Together, we had made the momentous decision to leave Southern California and move 2000 miles away to the State of Minnesota. As part of the move, we promised each other that we would buy a house.

I started my new job in Minneapolis and stayed with relatives. My responsibility was to view and visit those homes in our desired area. Few were for sale during the cold snow filled Minnesota winter. Fortunately, a Real Estate Agent/ friend of my cousin and another relative living nearby helped me in this venture.

We viewed those homes that were available and selected the one that matched our criteria (less than 10 years old, 3 bedrooms, well maintained neighborhood).

On a sunny February day I presented the signed documents and closed on the house. Standing before the house, I inserted the unfamiliar key, opened the red front door and walked through.

The house was nine years old and seemed sound. Looking out a window at the pleasant neighborhood, I wondered whether we would be happy here, if the house would prove sound over time, and whether this had been a good decision.

Immediate findings

Minnesota prices were lower than those on the West Coast. This house was much larger than the place we had been renting in California. We knew we would have to buy more furniture and supplies. But, we couldn't have known how many items that would turn out to be.

As the first few months went along we needed equipment to care for the exterior and the interior of the house. We started buying snow equipment including snow shovels, and a snow blower and, eventually, as spring came, a lawn mower.

Looking around the interior we catelogued needs and made lists for furniture, cleaning supplies, and paint.

Learning curve

In terms of money, within months the honeymoon was over. We learned that it took money to equip and care for a home. It would require more time and effort than we had realized.

We split our responsibilities. My husband took over anything and everything having to do with the home's exterior. He worked very hard using his "do it yourself skills."

We watched for estate, yard, and rummage sales and dragged home a lot of furniture which needed refinishing. My husband turned out to be a master at that. Gradually the interior began looking like the eclectic home we had planned.

Reflection

We have lived happily in our Minnesota home for the past 16 years.

We have ridden with the tide, learning to repair and provide those things that we needed to maintain the home.

Here are some of the projects we have funded and had replaced the:

roof
washer and drier
furnace and air conditioner
hot water heater
garage door and opener

We have also funded:

painting of the house
trimming of three large trees
pulling of stumps for 3 trees lost in storms
replacement of 1 tree
tear down of our chimney due to wood rot
major repair of the area of the exterior of our home following the chimney tear down

Current Plans

We do have a current list of improvement goals. These include:

fireplace replacement
new carpet
water softener
shower repair
dishwasher
window covering
window replacement
stove replacement

I think this is a very long list. We will need to plan the best possible schedule with attention to timing and cost.

What have we learned?

There is a great deal more to buying a house than the purchase. Suddenly you find that you have a new and possibly expensive responsibility.

As in life, we can't anticipate the unexpected. Appliances don't work properly, trees are blown down, exterior paint starts to peel.

Staging: what is it and why

We have learned the importance of preparing for home improvement.

We need to save, in advance, for home maintenance and repair and for any future emergencies

We must:

Establish an emergency fund.
List projects to be done.
Look for the best possible home repair available in our area. Interview the repair personal and determine their cost.
Consider the climate in planning. Some projects cannot be done in winter.
Determine whether a repair is an emergency. If, so, break into the Emergency Fund, not a Credit Card.
List those projects we can reasonably do ourselves.

Final thoughts

Despite the planning, energy and work needed to maintain a home, there are many advantages.

I have discovered that anticipating and staging repairs can result in a much more pleasant life.

Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, writer, thrift advocate and retired nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.