How To Save A Buck And Eat Well During Our Struggle.

[Greyfoxx]

In most phone books you will find "Human Services". Seniors will find titles: "Senior Services", Senior Centers" "Health Sevices". You will find "Children's Sevices".

If money is getting tight, or your health is suffering from the stress don't want until you are on your knees, seek help now from the sevices you have been paying your taxes to support over the years. These sevices are there to help when you need it. It's not a handout, it's HELP.

You can also call your City Hall to find the help you need.

Please don't let your health or that of your family suffer.

If you know someone who needs help call the related service and tell them you know someone who need help.

The rest is up to you Yellowbird.

 

[freightmaster]

This is a very important thread, thanks for starting this Greyfoxx.
Recycle your aluminum and copper and steel. The prices are pretty good in most areas...Call your local scrap dealer or salvage yards for a price list.

 

[yellowbird2525]

the reason I have been writing about saving on groceries: & how to shop: since the Gov, oil companies, & auto makers are offering $2.99 guarenteed for 3 years IF you buy a new car from them: the cost of fuel will not go down; I am not saying don't stop protesting; calling & emailing them: because we need to; however, realisically they will not go down; so: if I can get you to understand to CHANGE your way of life: & spend $150 to $200 tops for groceries for a month; can you do it & survive? Save your homes, etc? Because you CAN do it; & it looks like many of you MUST to survive; choices folks: I never eat at MacDonalds: or anywhere else where it costs $4.67 or $5 for 1 meal; because for that $5 I can get hamburgers, buns, & have 8 or 9 meals for the month; I have a friend who will not spend $2.00 for a box of cereal; it is simply to much; she will not buy prepackaged pancake mix: she makes her own, & says it is far cheaper; she never buys prepackaged anything; it is to expensive; she spends $150 a month & eats well; choices folks: you can buy generic but good graham crackers & have graham crackers & milk; I think it is 1 lb obx for 98 cents; or you can pay $4.00 for a lb of golden grahams which is exactly the same thing; choices; will you survive or go under? you can get meat bones & make soups; home made soups are excellent far better than any store boughten anyway & cost a fraction of the cost; make own barbque sauce; why pay $1.67 or $2 when you can easilly make your own for pennies? Sink or swim; this is the choice each of us must make: change the way you shop, buy, & eat; & actually, it will be healthier, cheaper, & better; then the cost of the fuel won't sink you. You can still stay afloat is what I am talking about; do you really need cable tv? how often do you watch it & how many channels? whittle it down; in every way, is what I am saying; and it is FUN to see how much you can save every month; & discuss ways you can keep above ground; & pass the info on to others; THIS is what it is about folks; by the way, when you get eggs if you get the cardboard ones not the foam; & don't put the shells in afterwards, save them & give them to folks who can use them to start seeds in; instead of having to buy planting containers it is free; & FREE is the best price of all folks;

 

[freightmaster]

Thank you YB... I buy fresh eggs from individuals and donate any old egg cartons to them too. Fresh eggs are still $1.00 a dozen or less and taste 100% better than store bought. Next plan is to raise some chickens and have my own source of chicken and eggs.

P.S. I all ready have a horse a pig and a garden....
Growing corn,tomatoes,broccoli,peppers,cauliflower,beans and potatoes. So far...

 

[Greyfoxx]

I just bought two pair of Hi-tic hiking boots for $22.95 a pair that normally sell for 60 to 70 bucks a pair. He-tic is an English company, but I'm sure these boots are made in Communist China (remember the communists the bastards we were never going to negotiate with). I've own a good number of hiking boots over the years and have found that dollar for dollar you can't beat Hi-tic for fit and quality, I still have two pair I bought ten years ago. Spostsman buys out of production items and sell them in many cases for less than half the Original price. There is almost nothing you can't find on their website.

To get ready for things to get worse in the U.S. I'm buying two pair of insulted hightop hunting boots for next winter. Firewood is going to get harder and harder to fine as fuel prices climb. I would also suggest you buy solar powered lights that you can use in your homes.

I'm almost finished building a solar heat-water heat. I've been going through our local metal scrap-yard in town to build a wind generator.

Sportsman's Guide - Discount Hunting Gear, Discount Hunting Boots, Discount Shoes, Discount Ammunition, Discount Ammo, Discount Boots, Military Surplus, Outdoor Gear at The Sportsman's Guide

Sportsman Guide sell products from all over the world, unfortunately most are made in China. But if you need something to make you life a little easier right now this is the place to look.

You can also Google "Made In America" but you won't find much there anymore .... and it drives me into a rage.

 

[SilverSurfer]

I just bought two pair of Hi-tic hiking boots for $22.95 a pair that normally sell for 60 to 70 bucks a pair. He-tic is an English company, but I'm sure these boots are made in Communist China (remember the communists the bastards we were never going to negotiate with). I've own a good number of hiking boots over the years and have found that dollar for dollar you can't beat Hi-tic for fit and quality, I still have two pair I bought ten years ago. Spostsman buys out of production items and sell them in many cases for less than half the Original price. There is almost nothing you can't find on their website.

To get ready for things to get worse in the U.S. I'm buying two pair of insulted hightop hunting boots for next winter. Firewood is going to get harder and harder to fine as fuel prices climb. I would also suggest you buy solar powered lights that you can use in your homes.

I'm almost finished building a solar heat-water heat. I've been going through our local metal scrap-yard in town to build a wind generator.

Sportsman's Guide - Discount Hunting Gear, Discount Hunting Boots, Discount Shoes, Discount Ammunition, Discount Ammo, Discount Boots, Military Surplus, Outdoor Gear at The Sportsman's Guide

Sportsman Guide sell products from all over the world, unfortunately most are made in China. But if you need something to make you life a little easier right now this is the place to look.

You can also Google "Made In America" but you won't find much there anymore .... and it drives me into a rage.

3+ years ago, when I lived out west, Hi-tec had a manufacturing plant in the neighboring city. At that time they were still making their boots (work boots and outdoor sports boots) at that plant. But that doesn't mean they weren't getting their supplies from out of states...

-ss-

 

[Greyfoxx]

Find your nearest FOOD COOP....AND SAVE BIG BUCKS

I manage the local food COOP. As an example our members can buy; 25 pounds of raw shelled sunflower seeds for $24.00, 25 pounds of short grain brown rice for $16.45, 25 pounds of white rice for $15.40. 25 pounds of thick rolled oats for $11.00. We can still buy 25 cans of Wild Alaskan Salmon for $50, a (I haven't had fast food,processed food, or beef of any kind for over 12 years). We all make our own orders and it is delivered by truck to my barn where I have a room where members can come at their convenients to pick up their food. They sell garden seeds, ice cream, yogurt. The members have to order a total of $400 and $40 each to have the food delivered Free (and their warehouse is three hundred miles away), or you can have it UPS'ed to you. Most of their foods are certified organic, but you can have it non-organic as well.

You can contact Asure Standard Foods in Portland, OR at Azure Standard - Quality Bulk & Natural Foods you have to have an account to see the prices (I'm trying to get them to change that stupid idea.) Their phone number is at the bottom of the page. If you call them they may be able to tell you where your nearest Food COOP. They have a national list of Coops.

I have cut my food bill into less than half after I got smart.

To offset my loss in income from my artwork because of fuel prices I just started a coffee retail business where I can sell top quality hole bean coffee for $5.00 a pound. Our local Theftway sell the less quality coffees for $10.00 and Albertson's get $11.00 a pound.

 

[yellowbird2525]

Laundry soap: save a BUNDLE folks: cheapest at Walmart (supposedly cheapest store in town is a LIE folks!) was $12.99 for Sun generic; Fred Meyers cheapest in So. Ore $7.99 for 150 loads; Costco next 200 loads for $12.99; Walmart $12.99 not 200 loads; REASON laundry soaps ask for so much soap per load folks is it has "fillers" added to it; usually ground up corn cobs; this makes it appear much more than it is to justify the price, gentlemen; RECIPE: 1 c. soap (grated) I didn't have grater so daughter "shaved" with knife & 1 bar gave us 2 cups; 1/2 C. WASHING soda; is made by Arm & Hammer but NOT baking soda it is different; walmart didn't have it; winco did; 1/2 c. BORAX: cheaper again at Winco; got larger box for far less than Walmart did; total cost of all items was under $10.00; quite simply grate soap (bar of Ivory soap) or use food processor; mix with other 2 ingredients well; use 2 TBSP for lightloads; 3 TBSP for heavy loads; washed most excellent; do want to start water, add this & then add the clothes; simple, fast, cheap, save you a bundle; if want to make $ on the side & help other folks out; welcome to use this recipe; & if you use recycled coffee cans, mayo jars, whatever, is almost free to make & if make & pass with receipe on to other folks they can save a bundle also & Corps can take it in the pocketbooks;

 

[yellowbird2525]

a man on c-span talking about book "the superclass" stated that the same person could be on as many as 175 boards of Corps; so: the 1st thing to be aware of is that everyone is after 1 thing: your money. When you go to the store for groceries keep in mind that someone has to pay for the electricity, employees, etc; & they still want to make a profit. DON"T let YOU be the one giving them that money. Let someone else do it folks, not you. Get wise as an owl, & sly as a fox. They want gas to be high: hit them in the pocketbooks everywhere else. Always buy your bread items at a thrift bread store; they freeze up to 3 months; choices: you can pay $4.15 at the store for MY brand of bread which I love Orowheat 100% whole wheat; moist, not dry & stays fresher longer; OR you can go to the bread store: get same for last time I paid $1.59 buy one get one; sliced extra sourdough bread 89 cents; package onion hamburger buns 89 cents; you can buy what is considered day old but is close dated not past dated; you can buy new there, or old; or older still; but nothing from there is stale ever. Because I am a tightwad I buy the 89 cents whenever I can; I get a seniors discount; they give you cards which they stamp; once full you get free items; I let grandkids get treats there. ex: entemann's cakes, donuts, etc; they usually always give you a free item, last time it was a package of 8 wholewheat hamburger buns. With discount I paid $3.37 for everything. I make garlic bread, using butter & garlic powder, which I got from $1 store; you can feast like a king & pay minimum for everything.

 

[yellowbird2525]

Everything in a package or bottle can easily be made at home for pennies; if you google recipe mixes you will find things like budget101 etc; if you have been recycling like you should be, you should have lots of coffee cans, etc, to put these in. If not, hopefully you belong to a group in your area or several: like freecycle.org; simply ask if anyone has any; on this group you can ask for & offer things freely; I belong to yahoo groups: frugal moms living; which gives great tips on saving $; & fiftyplusandkids which is a great source of gardening & lots lots more; they asked to be a part of our So. Ore Cafe group & give great tips on more than you can imagine; great resources folks; recycling is huge in our area & hopefully in yours; ex: I save used coffee grounds for gardeners, & metal coffee cans for rabbit growers for waterers; FREE is the best price going folks! Take advantage of these groups locally; If you are a miser like I am & watch prices constantly everywhere while I may not have the item you are looking for I may be able to email you & tell you where to find it cheaply (ex:coach looking for baseball mitts was at Salvation Army in Phoenix, excellent ones for peanuts);

 

[yellowbird2525]

Most stores expect you to do ALL your shopping there: if you do, you will pay more, & YOU will be the one paying for the electricity etc; you need to find someone in your area on a group or whatever, that is knowledgeable about prices in stores; I walk a lot & price everything; I have done so for years; I still do; it is great exercize & I can tell you just about who has the best buy on everything. Make your own is cheapest & keeps the $ in YOUR wallet & not the Corp's. They say American's are lazy, incompetent, everything disparaging: how much do YOU want these lying weasels to have of YOUR money? It is quick, simple, & easy to make mixes; you can make basic mixes; & then add whatever you need to to make ex: pancake mix, muffins, biscuits,: basic mixes with flour etc that is made up AHEAD of time, to simply add a few items to like milk, sugar, eggs; & VOILA you have it! by the way, at the store: be sure you are paying the LEAST amount of money for the basics; & that again has to go with shopping the stores or stalking the stores & comparing prices; no way around that one folks; you need a miser advisor. Select one with tunnel vision determined to get the most $ for their buck. Then everyone can get the scoop; every store has what is called "leaders" to get you into their store & hope you will buy there. They HATE it when someone like me comes into their stores & walks out with only special buys. Let someone else pay the higher prices; we are paying to high at the pump. You have to KNOW what the regular price is in stores to KNOW if the "sale" is really a sale or not. A common mistake I see people making: the 10 for $10; many times most of the items are LESS than $1 at other stores in town. So you may be paying HIGHER for the "sale" item; the only way to know is to KNOW the prices.

 

[yellowbird2525]

When I go into town, I stop by Fred Meyers. Normally higher on most things, I scout out the prices; numerous times they have chicken marked down, lower than I can find elsewhere; ex: chicken breast w/ribs 89 Cents a lb; I buy the family packs; they are cheapest; I have found twice there packages of ribeye steaks 3 steaks for $8.00; that is 3 in a package for $8.00; $3.39 a lb; I always get those but leave the individual steak that is $5.45; that is way to high. 3 steaks at $3 a piece is a bargain; however, their milk is $5 & eggs $3.99; so I do NOT buy those or any other item; many times I buy nothing. But I check them out if my freezer if not full; ALWAYS use FREEZER wrap, butcher paper it is sometimes called; far cheaper than ziplocks & keeps freezer burn out. Quick easy snap to do: tear off strips of freezer tape, & put 1 end on oven door handle: tear off strips of paper sized to wrap meat in; have pen & write what it is & date on it; instead of paying $2.99 for packaged ham for sandwichs go to the store in town that sells Corn King hams for $6.75 or less; the butcher will always cut for free to your specifications; wrap the same way & freeze; example: you might want 1/2 done in sandwich slices; balance ham slices for breakfast; if you get for $4.75 & have room in your freezer; you can have 1 left whole to cook, or sliced, whatever your preference is.

 

[yellowbird2525]

Know what the Farmers Produce stands prices are as well: potatos there were $1.29 for 10 lbs; cheaper stores in town were $2.78 & $2.15; when $1.29 & other places higher, buy 8 bags or so; store in garage where is cool; make own potato chips easily instead of giving Corp's YOUR $: you will need a heavier skillet like mine is cast iron; put oil in it & let heat up a bit; flick water on it when sizzles its ready; having simply sliced the potates thinly or using food processor let them cook & turn brown; drain on paper towels, or if you are like me, & thrifty, you will use napkins: work just as well & considerably cheaper; season with Lawry's season salt; garlic salt; what have you; DON"t let kids do this one folks: to easily distracted; & always keep baking soda (large) & open near in case of grease fire; now you can always use deep fat fryer to do the same; same with french fries folks: in fact, you can make ahead of time & freeze (just like the ones you pay THEM for); KEEP the $ in YOUR pockets; remember: we want to nail THEIR pocketbooks 175 times;

 

[yellowbird2525]

when Folgers got to be $9.99 a can I just would NOT pay that much; having tried many other brands which were horrid; I turned to Fred Meyers to try THEIR brand cuz I knew they had 3 lbs of coffee for $3.99; I was going to try another store brand which every single one I had tried was horrid; but I am to much of a tightwad to pay $9.99; I got Breakfast Blend which is a light coffee which is what I like; they also have Colombian & other varieties; It was drinkable which is more than I can say for other store brands; I guess I got used to it cuz I tried the Black Silk when $6.99 & Freddy's is $4.99; & Folgers is now not good to me. Crazy as it seems the coffee actually is an aquired taste apparently; I didn't care for it; you can try it if you want to; I know Western Family even adding salt for the bitterness was just to nasty for me. Grocery Outlet has coffee beans which are I get as a treat $4.99 now for Hazelnut creme; & 2 lbs of other kinds of coffee which I found to strong for my taste & gave to someone who was out of it; after I ground it for her. She loved it. I think the 2 lbs is now $6.99; orig it was 1 lb for $3.99; 2 lbs for $5.99; both went up but they are the absolute cheapest in town. I have found Tully's coffee beans at Bread Store $3.99 for 12 oz; I got one that had FAIR TRADE marked on it & found it interesting; like in afternoons. But I wouldn't buy it again, cuz I am a tightwad. A special treat for me is Hazelnut creme beans ground & made into coffee with half & half; haven't had any for about 8 months; I have the beans; but they are reserved for special treat. For creamer I usually use milk in my coffee; have since milk has gone up used generic coffee creamer; also have chocolate coffee creamer (powder) which I use to make mochas. Do have a blender & keep thinking one of these days maybe in summer I will make blended drinks like at Starbucks; got at a yard sale (osterizer) for 75 cents. and yes, it works;

 

[yellowbird2525]

Only buy meat when it is on sale & you know it is a good buy; I got chicken thighs 68 cents a lb buy one get one; that equals 34 cents a lb folks: for best value for your money buy ones that are nearly equal in price; example: 2.35 & 2.34; instead of 2.95 & 2.34; i walked into the store for milk; saw the savings; walked out of the store with 10 pgks of chicken & milk & paid $18.00. Chicken is not just chicken folks; we made barbque sauce with items on hand; & put in crock pot; excellent; chicken soup; easy & more delicious than that bought in a can; I never fry, always cook in oven; dip in egg, bread crumbs (you make yourself very easy); with lawrey's season salt which is most excellent also on potatoes, fries, & almost everything; garlic salt; I marinate with homemade salad dressing; WHY pay someone ELSE to make something SIMPLE folks? KEEP your $ in YOUR pockets & not theirs; in WW11, the women went to work; in this war of Corp greed against the citizens of the USA, lets get busy in the kitchen women! (not that the men can't to); it is simply to expensive NOT to; I did buy a George Forman for $19 at Penny's at Christmas time; & use it a LOT! It tastes like grilled; cooks both sides at once; & is a snap to use, clean, & even grandkids love using it; can grill veggies, etc; mine is smaller; saw one at Goodwill looked not even used; for $10; or you can buy new for around $40; or say you would like one on freecycle.org; many folks have them sitting in their cupboards not being used; same with waffle iron's folks; fantastic cheap meal you go to Elmer's & pay $7 or whatever for a pecan waffle & you can make them for peanuts at home! If you use Kruztez mix you only have to add water: the eggs & milk etc are all in the mix; that is why I keep THIS mix on hand; in case eggs & milk get to high; $4.69 for 10 lbs at Costco; instead of paying a lot of $ for garbage folks: LISTEN: use the plastic ones everyone is making such a fuss about; they fit easily into most garbage pails you have like in bathroom, & bedrooms; in kitchen, you can easily screw 2 small cup like holder screws into door; & hang it there to put garbage in; hopefully with recycling you don't have to much. Then simply tie a knot in it, & voila; folks: i used to ASK folks for them! they would throw fits about them, & then they would go to Walmart or whereever & pay $2.25 for a BOX of them! They couldn't see my point of view & I thought they were nuts for not reusing them & paying MORE $ for the same thing! You can double bag easily if you need to; & actually I have been known to hang on the corners of the cabinet; & put things in; my sister left hers on the counter til full; just space the screws to the handles fit easily & its out of sight. FREE folks! The BEST PRICE OF ALL IS FREE!

 

[yellowbird2525]

I am probably on the most limited income of anyone here. This has been a way of life for me; the thrift stores: why are you embarrassed to go to thrift stores? Folks: brand new cars are there that cost more than 5 times the amount of $ I get every year! THOSE folks aren't embarrassed; they are there looking for bargains. WHY on earth should YOU be? One time I was in a thrift store & a group of women came in; 3 or 4 of them; these women were so wealthy folks: just 1 of them could have bought the whole block of businesses! If THEY are not embarrassed & think it is smart not to pay full price for things why on earth should YOU be? and let me clue you in; there are women who are incredibly wealthy & have nothing better to do than spend money on things; then they clean out their closets & you can buy them for pennies; ex: instead of paying $79.95 & S&H for embroidered Victor Costa sweater coat I paid $4.99; WHO was wiser? I certainly was not embarrased by saving $70.00+; brand new items tags still on them many times for fraction of the cost; beautiful framed oil paintings 2 for $12.00; cuz they were 1/2 off at Salvation Army; originals folks! Original water color paintings $1.00; 2 of them folks; I love Lena Liu's paintings; got 1 $5.00 framed Salvation Army; it was 1/2 price; cuz I am a tightwad and would not pay $10.00; even for lena liu! besides the painting was all dusty & I hoped no one else would buy it; it worked out for me; got it for 1/2 price; took it home & cleaned it & now it has a place on honor on my wall; another one of hers I got for $3.99 at Goodwill; if you are not utilizing these; you need to. You will NOT feel deprived for long trust me; Birkenstocks; brand new $1.99; You aren't deprived at ALL: CHANGE your THINKING folks! Change is in the air; this has been my way of life for a very long time. A pregnant gal was on the bus & i started talking with her; I told her there was a great thrift shop called the ARC & where it was located & they had baby clothes 4 for $1.00; she said oh, I want everything new. I said: oh, tell me then; if you were rich & bought an outfit for $1,500,000.00; what has to be done to it or any new item before the baby ever wears it? She didn't know; I said: it has to be washed! And then:it is used. So what difference is there between it costing 25 cents or $1,500,000? NONE. Babies hardly even WEAR some of the items; and besides it is just flat foolishness to pay more for anything than you have to. Cuz then you will always be able to help others. On an income of $1100 a month I paid my brothers car payment of $360; & paid for a lot of medicines, etc to the tune of aprx $3,000.00; in a years time; and I did not feel deprived at all folks. Cuz I wasn't.

 

[yellowbird2525]

Always buy out of season for the greatest savings folks; with kids you buy the next size larger; Summer clothes go on sale starting July 5th; Winter clothes go on sale in Jan.; Fred Meyers has addl percentage off; in Feb usually they have an addl 70% off the lowest marked price; I bought grandkids 3 of them $798.00 worth of clothes (at full price) for $100.00; they have them in women's & men's as well; sometimes back in the back of the store not just in front; if you can get a top there you want or need for $4.00 that is about what you would pay at Goodwill; it is only a good buy if you NEED it; also, returning something to Quest Kiosk in Mall which I seldom go to at Fashion Bug they had similar already marked down & more percentage off; because it was a terrific buy I found 5 tops I liked & would wear for under $20.00; I took home & hung up in closet; didn't need them right away but had the $ & it was a terrific buy; when I wanted something new instead of going looking for one; it would be in my closet; friend came over & was having company coming & feeling rattled cuz they were well off & she isn't; I gave her 3 of the new tops to wear; they look terrific on her & she has used them well in her gallery showings; she is an artist & I am happy to have some of her originals on my walls as well.

 

[yellowbird2525]

People: stop thinking that Walmart has the best buys! Cuz they DON"T. Trust a tightwad! They have generic prescriptions for $4.00; YES, take advantage of that! They have the cheapest prices around on school supplies: YES, take advantage of that! (but watch carefully other ads as well; many times STAPLES will have great buys on school supplies CHEAPER than Walmart; this is what our community does: Walmart has notebooks 10 cents a piece; buy a case of them for $2.40; they have pens 50 cents for 10 of them; buy them then; keep them for personal use cuz you will pay far more than that afterwards; buy 6 packages of pens for your home; don't open them all at once; then you are not paying 98 cents or more later in the year; we also give them to the principle at the schools; our schools keep the extra school supplies & hand them out to the students as they are needed. If you don't have this in your home town, maybe you could start it IF you have a Walmart or whatever near you. Otherwise the teachers are down paying for a lot of supplies cuz parents don't always have the $; & YOU do, cuz you are a tightwad. Folks, my daughter & grandkids are here; went & picked them up & they came over for the day & are spending the night & tomorrow with me; they are both taller than me; & teens; because of their appetites I call them giants. Instead of them baking themselves 2 or 3 potatos each & arguing over who gets the biggest of the potatoes I buy the HUGE bakers for $6.99 for 20 lbs; I said these are GIANT potatos for GIANTS! They are 35 cents a lb that way; but trust me, those kids eat them! And we laugh & joke all the time; THEY know if something is a good bargain or to much money. I trained them up that way. They could care less if it came from Fred Meyers or Goodwill; I have bought them brand new shirts the kind THEY like individually at Goodwill for 99 cents; I also picked them up a hat & glove set at Walmart for 25 cents; this spring. AFTER SEASON CLEARANCE; Walmart did NOT make any $ off me; I was able to take ADVANTAGE of THEM. If I can get you to see this: went with daughter to Mall one year near Easter: we went to JC Penny's just to look cuz this is what I do: they had a clearance on boy's & men's size jeans; orig $48 & up marked down & again a percent off making them less than $4.00; So cheap in fact that they had some pants that the legs zipped off & I bought them extra for SHORTS for the summer. THIS was their Easter present. Did they feel deprived? NO. They KNOW that when I have the funds THAT is the time they will get their presents! Actually think I got them water guns to cuz we like having water fights; (I got one to; the BIGGEST!) we have a ball folks; CHANGE your way of thinking; if you have the internet: I know my sister had AOL & paid I forget how much for it & complained all the time cuz she hardly used it; I told her go with dial up for $10; she called AOL & told them to disconnect it; felt she was paying to much & was going to go with dial up cuz was cheaper; they agreed to lower her bill to $9.95 a month as long as she didn't download music which is nothing she would have done anyway. She got a great deal; Folks: these people do NOT want to lose your business; they WILL lower the monthly rate if you tell them you can't afford it or are going to go with a cheaper company. And those "bundled" savings are NOT always a savings! I pay $25 for phone thru Quest; I pay $33 with taxes added for basic cable & internet & rental of their modem; They offered me $10 for basic cable; & then $37 a month for internet with rental of their modem; I went into the office to pay my 1st bill & said gosh, I may have to cancel the internet & go with dial up cuz it's so much cheaper & I am only on disability. (remember how many boards these weasels are on) She said oh, we have all kinds of different options let me see what I can do for you. She LOWERED it for me. Now i have for a year at this rate; & when HDTV comes, I will no longer have a working TV cuz I am a RESISTER & will not pay extra or be ordered to have to watch HDTV. Scoop behind that was they went to Congress & said folks have paid long enough for cable it should be free; Congress agreed; then immediately issued law for HDTV; you have to pay extra for it; I will not. & I won't because of the PRINCIPLE. When they are hurting the people of this country, economically, and not giving them a break when they should be doing, I will not watch tv, because I am a RESISTER.

 

[Greyfoxx]

People: stop thinking that Walmart has the best buys! Cuz they DON"T. Trust a tightwad! They have generic prescriptions for $4.00; YES, take advantage of that! They have the cheapest prices around on school supplies: YES, take advantage of that! (but watch carefully other ads as well; many times STAPLES will have great buys on school supplies CHEAPER than Walmart; this is what our community does: Walmart has notebooks 10 cents a piece; buy a case of them for $2.40; they have pens 50 cents for 10 of them; buy them then; keep them for personal use cuz you will pay far more than that afterwards; buy 6 packages of pens for your home; don't open them all at once; then you are not paying 98 cents or more later in the year; we also give them to the principle at the schools; our schools keep the extra school supplies & hand them out to the students as they are needed. If you don't have this in your home town, maybe you could start it IF you have a Walmart or whatever near you. Otherwise the teachers are down paying for a lot of supplies cuz parents don't always have the $; & YOU do, cuz you are a tightwad. Folks, my daughter & grandkids are here; went & picked them up & they came over for the day & are spending the night & tomorrow with me; they are both taller than me; & teens; because of their appetites I call them giants. Instead of them baking themselves 2 or 3 potatos each & arguing over who gets the biggest of the potatoes I buy the HUGE bakers for $6.99 for 20 lbs; I said these are GIANT potatos for GIANTS! They are 35 cents a lb that way; but trust me, those kids eat them! And we laugh & joke all the time; THEY know if something is a good bargain or to much money. I trained them up that way. They could care less if it came from Fred Meyers or Goodwill; I have bought them brand new shirts the kind THEY like individually at Goodwill for 99 cents; I also picked them up a hat & glove set at Walmart for 25 cents; this spring. AFTER SEASON CLEARANCE; Walmart did NOT make any $ off me; I was able to take ADVANTAGE of THEM. If I can get you to see this: went with daughter to Mall one year near Easter: we went to JC Penny's just to look cuz this is what I do: they had a clearance on boy's & men's size jeans; orig $48 & up marked down & again a percent off making them less than $4.00; So cheap in fact that they had some pants that the legs zipped off & I bought them extra for SHORTS for the summer. THIS was their Easter present. Did they feel deprived? NO. They KNOW that when I have the funds THAT is the time they will get their presents! Actually think I got them water guns to cuz we like having water fights; (I got one to; the BIGGEST!) we have a ball folks; CHANGE your way of thinking; if you have the internet: I know my sister had AOL & paid I forget how much for it & complained all the time cuz she hardly used it; I told her go with dial up for $10; she called AOL & told them to disconnect it; felt she was paying to much & was going to go with dial up cuz was cheaper; they agreed to lower her bill to $9.95 a month as long as she didn't download music which is nothing she would have done anyway. She got a great deal; Folks: these people do NOT want to lose your business; they WILL lower the monthly rate if you tell them you can't afford it or are going to go with a cheaper company. And those "bundled" savings are NOT always a savings! I pay $25 for phone thru Quest; I pay $33 with taxes added for basic cable & internet & rental of their modem; They offered me $10 for basic cable; & then $37 a month for internet with rental of their modem; I went into the office to pay my 1st bill & said gosh, I may have to cancel the internet & go with dial up cuz it's so much cheaper & I am only on disability. (remember how many boards these weasels are on) She said oh, we have all kinds of different options let me see what I can do for you. She LOWERED it for me. Now i have for a year at this rate; & when HDTV comes, I will no longer have a working TV cuz I am a RESISTER & will not pay extra or be ordered to have to watch HDTV. Scoop behind that was they went to Congress & said folks have paid long enough for cable it should be free; Congress agreed; then immediately issued law for HDTV; you have to pay extra for it; I will not. & I won't because of the PRINCIPLE. When they are hurting the people of this country, economically, and not giving them a break when they should be doing, I will not watch tv, because I am a RESISTER.

READING THIS IS NOT FUN ..... WOULD YOU PLEASE START USING PARAGRAPHS. WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR POSTS, IT'S FEELS LIKE I'VE BEEN HIT BETWEEN THE EYES WITH A 2"X4".

 

[Greyfoxx]

Buying a Bicycle?

For those of you who are thinking of buying a bicycle I have some advise.

I've been riding bikes for over 45 year. Twelve years on a road bike, but after being hit three years by drunks and little old ladies and switched to Mountain Bikes. I've ridden on damned near every mountain bike trail from the Rocky mountains to the trails up and down the west coast.

I've met over the years dozens of people who have bought a hybrid bike that after a while end up at the back of the garage rusting away. Hybrid are not useless, but are in the middle of the river and are not the best of both worlds. Road bike will lay you flat on the highway if you hit gravel, or a crack in the road surface, and rail tracks are a sure killer. When a friend (Mike Neel) who was on the Olympic Road bike team in 72 brought up Gary Fisher's first mountain bike proto-type to the ranch near Mt Shasta. I went nuts, He let me take it up in the Marble Mountains on trails where we rode our horses, for five hours. For years I had been thinking there has to be a better way to get out of the way of the nut on the road who always say I didn't see him.

When you go into a bike dealer, he or she is going to ask you what kind of biking do to plan to do? They expect you to say a little of this, and a little of that. and they will always come back with "you need a hybrid" knowing that in two weeks you'll be back to trade your hybrid in for a mountain bike, or maybe you'll get use to suffering from road-rash, or binding rims trying to get out of the way of nutcakes.

A mountain bike allows you to jump street curbs to get out of the way of nutcakes. It will allow you to ride through gravel, it will allow you to ride over rough road surfaces. BUT!!!!! don't buy a cheap Huffy, or a Costco piece of crap. You want to but the best frame you can afford, and that means going to a real bike dealer. As parts ware out you can replace them with better, higher quality parts that will last for years as long as you keep the bike maintained that means if it doesn't shift right take it back to the dealer and have them adjust what needs to be adjusted, if you don't know want your doing, don't try to fix it yourself. AND!!! always ask the dealer to teach you how to jump curbs and get around other obstacles, and if they won't go else where. And remember a good dealer will give you a free first tune-up, but always wait at least 30 days before you take it in for the tune-up. If something goes wrong before the tune-up take the bike it and expect them to fix, but don't let them call it a turn-up.

I've owned six mountain bike over the years, and the best builder is Gary Fisher period! My last fishers coast $4000, but unless your an expert, or pro rider a $600 bike should do, but remember first you want the best frame you can afford.