Hunting the best deals

Along with generating income and trying to be entirely free of working for "the other guy", I also spend some time (and money) finding the best places for my current income to go besides the run-of-the-mill bills.

For instance, I shop the best deals for my auto coverage, I use my company's 401k and stock options programs, and now I'm looking for the best term life insurance rate and health insurance rate. (The cost of health insurance where I work is prohibitive.)

Of course, I also look for the best deals possible when doing regular shopping. For instance, I haunt the clearance racks at most clothing and discount stores. Even if something is not right for the upcoming season, I can use it next year when it is appropriate. Fashions don't evolve so drastically from one season to the next that there's no difference at all if I buy it a few months in advance.

How do you shop for bargains?

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Amazing bit of technology

One of the fascinating tools where I work is the receipt printer. Not so fascinating, you say? Well, think about this:

• It prints out customer receipts.
• It prints out store data on request.
• It prints out the opening and closing data.

There is a lot of information shooting out of it any time we need to view something. The whole system depends on those little printers to be available on demand.

We even have one in the kitchen area that is designed to take sticky-back printer paper so we can attach special requests to each order. All the printers take thermal paper, so there's no need for ink. I think it's a great advance!

Technorati Tags: work

Business trips

Every month I make a trip to visit my Mom. It's about 100 miles away from my house so I always have to plan pretty carefully. Along with visiting her, I scope out things I can put on eBay.

The town where she lives has some pretty interesting shops with unusual items. A little shopping around can pay off later. In fact, since it's getting colder weather now, I'm going to be looking at electric blankets. If I can find them at a low enough price, I'll get one for myself to cut back on heating expenses, and I'll get a couple more to list on eBay.

Because I write reviews, shop for items to sell, and conduct other business while I'm visiting, I can usually write these trips off on my taxes. In fact, rarely do I go anywhere that doesn't have business as the goal.

Last year, I took a trip to Branson for a week. That was entirely unrelated to business and purely for pleasure, so it could not be written off. But these shorter trips, a few times a month, are when I really am looking for items to sell or topics to write about. It's when I take some pictures, too, so you can see what I've been up to.

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Freelancing

If you look over at the right sidebar, you'll see a feed related to ways to earn money. Those are primarily aimed at people in less fortunate countries, but many of the ideas could be used by just about anyone.

There are companies out there who are looking for freelancers to do some work for them instead of paying full time employees. This is known as outsourcing and is becoming a real industry. With many companies downsizing in order to stay in business and cut costs, freelancing could be the way to go for many professionals.

Photographers, writers, graphic designers, maintenance persons, cleaning people, and others can start a good cottage industry from their own homes or from a small office by offering bigger companies the services they need. For example, a freelance writer could publish colon cleanse reviews for a health magazine or website. A freelance photographer could submit photos of interesting places to magazines and newspapers. If you are a photo-journalist, the pay increases since you can also conduct interviews that go along with the pictures.

Some states even have programs for artists to become involved in education through workshops they conduct at public schools, museums, and other government supported agencies. You are paid for your time, materials, and travel/lodging for these efforts.

Think outside the box. What do you know how to do that could be offered from home in today's market?

Technorati Tags: work,job,freelance

Under control

There are a lot of things in life that are completely out of our control. For instance, I have to have a repair made to my truck. A part wore out. That's out of my control. Parts do wear out after awhile and my truck is almost 10 years old.

Other things are within our control, though. We can't do a single thing about the rates for electrical consumption, but we can control to a large extent how much electricity we personally consume. Thus, reducing our electric bill and saving money is somewhat within our control.

This goes for a lot of other things, too. While we can't dictate the base cost of consumer goods, we can reduce our spending on them in a variety of ways. Making thrifty choices boils down to a few things:

• Asking ourselves if this is something we really need.
• Figuring out the best value for our hard-earned dollars by comparison shopping.
• Checking to see if we already have something similar in our possession that will do just as well for a long time.
• Finding out if what we have can be repaired instead of just tossing things out.
• Shoot for lower goals for possessions and higher goals for long range financial planning.

Stop and think before you buy. Sleep on purchases before making a commitment. For example, be sure the treadmills you've been looking at have the options you need and will fit your space and lifestyle. While one person may want all the bells and whistles to get the most use from time spent on the treadmill, another may just want a simple, straightforward machine for quick walking sessions a few times a week.

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Give to Heifer

While you're busy making money, don't forget that there are those in need whom you can help. Even if it's only in small ways, give. Give your time. Give your money. Give your prayers. Give your gifts and talents. Do something to improve the world.

There is a saying that the poor will be with you always, and to some extent that's probably true. Because of natural disasters or war, there will always be people who need some help. Also, because some people just don't have a desire to better their lot in life, they will remain poor. However, for those who just need a little boost to improve their circumstances, there are ways you can help.

What I'm referring to is the work that Heifer International does around the world. They work with individuals and families in the US and in foreign countries to educate them and give them a start to a self-sufficient life. They teach sustainable agriculture, offer a beginning to farming that's right for their particular area, empower women, and guide families and communities into a life of success. They teach people to share with others so that communities benefit.

There are a number of business ideas they have for people who are only willing to work and make themselves a success. From farm animals to bees to bunnies, these folks could probably show families how to use stainless steel drums to store water as well as store feed for whatever animals they are raising.

If you're thinking of giving back, this is the place to make the most impact globally.

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Chill air brings warm thoughts

Fall is definitely in the air around here. The leaves are already changing colors so it looks like we'll have a blazing fall landscape soon. We've had a rather wet summer and now are having a really wet fall. In the last week, we've had one day of sun, and that was today - not even all day!

It's overcast and chilly again.

I spent part of my day cleaning house (my day off) and another part just relaxing with a cup of hot cocoa while listening to music. Of course, a real winter past time would be to spend a week or so in Cozumel Mexico, soaking up the sun and playing in the city. But that's not in my fall lineup right now, so I'll be content to spend days off dreaming of it all and thinking that maybe next year...

Technorati Tags: vacation

Living life

Let it be known to all that the kind of house you live in is not as important as the kind of life you live there. It doesn't matter if it's a site-built home, a manufactured home, or a cabin you built yourself, how you live your life is ultimately the most important thing.

• Do you give more than you receive?
• Do you appreciate what you have?
• Do you strive to better yourself intellectually and morally?
• Do you share with others even when you have but little?
• Do you try to maintain a positive outlook?

It's not really so important to "keep up with the Jones'" - it's very important to be true to yourself and your own set of ethics.

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Oil business

I thought you might like to see a short QuickTime video of an oil well near us. I took the video at night because it's the gas vent fire they keep going all the time. The well is already in place, so there isn't anyone much around at night.

See, in this part of the country there is a lot of shale. That has led to a booming oil business since oil can be extracted from shale. There are natural gas pockets in the shale and the vent is to prevent those pockets from exploding. The shale oil business has supplied a lot of good paying jobs for folks who are willing and able to work long, hard hours.



When the wells are first drilled, the place reminded us of Area 51. There are lots of bright lights going up a tower where the drilling rig is being used. It's a pretty eerie sight at night.