I’m blessed to live in Southern California. The shiny brochures advertise it as the land of the sun, sand, and surf. That’s true – in the summer. For those of us who live here, winter is cold. Visitors from say, Iowa, may be content to walk around in shorts in January, but Southern Californians are …
The 111th Congress officially convened on January 3, but since that was a Saturday, they officially got to work today. Rather than waste time declaring national observances, I want them to hit the ground running, so I’ve prepared a to do list of things for them to accomplish in 2009: Fix the economy Fix the …
This year my mom proposed nixing one Christmas gift exchange. We cancelled another one last year. My husband and I will be out of town for the first of two potential white elephant exchange. I haven’t decided yet whether to join the second one, if it happens. Frankly, I’m relieved to be sitting them out. …
When to Say Yes or No to a Christmas Gift Exchange Read More »
Some people don’t believe Los Angeles has seasons, but we do. They’re just not as pronounced, and they don’t arrive on the traditional schedule, or always in the proper order. Nevertheless, my body seems to follow the traditional seasonal cycle, so I start craving fall foods when the calendar rolls to September, even if it’s …
In the next in my series of ponderings about what constitutes frugality, I tackle pets. Many people would argue that pet ownership isn’t frugal because it’s a 100% optional expense. Pets are more than a mouth to feed, though; they also provide numerous benefits to their owners. Although it depends on the type of pet you …
A few years ago, my husband and I spent a lovely nine days camping in Sedona, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Park. We hiked, we developed a new inside joke, and we ate dinner in our car because it turned out to be monsoon season. Despite the rain, it was a great trip, …
I’m about halfway through my pregnancy, so it’s time to turn my thoughts to baby gear. I still haven’t come to terms with the idea that I will actually have a baby in five months, but I can at least be prepared. We started with a budget. I will be having baby showers and getting …
Call me a Scrooge, but I hate Black Friday. I’ve only ventured out once, to a mall that wasn’t attractive to the hoards, but I’ve seen the news coverage and the whole thing is horrifying. The holidays are supposed to be about family, not about trampling people while saving masses of money on consumer crap. …
Once you’ve determined your new car criteria, it’s time to visit the new car buying websites. I’ve tested several and found a few that I rely on for the most reliable information as well as the simplest interfaces. Gas Mileage Ratings The government fuel economy site is simply the best. You can compare several cars, and you can …
The last time I bought a Christmas tree was six years ago. The five-foot tree cost me nearly $70. That’s when I decided my days of fresh trees had come to an end. Now that I live in a different apartment, I don’t have room for a tree anyway. I do have ornaments to hang …
