Some nice ideas here.
What I do is somewhat the same... I buy things as they go on their sales or clearances ..buy the wrapping a week after Christmas sales are over, then I wrap the presents with peoples names on them for the following year. I am usually all set with Christmas by the time it arrives.

We, Jews, reserved a wall for that purpose. It looks not very much unlike a public urinal in Paris or any other European megapolis, but it's co-educational and it's outdoors.

Buy the starter house first and you will be able to save a bucket of money on financeing on the the debt to income ratio on the house and the financeing of the car.

Think of a car budget as a long term investment not just until you get the payments done. Read the darn owner's manual and spring for a Chilton manuel so you know when the mechanic is screwing you and what that "funny sound" is before it costs you a months grocery budget.

Figure what ever you pick is something you plan to drive for ten/fifteen years you won't be trying to fit a baby seat in a sports car or cram a walker in a micro trunk.

The difference in car cost is often in the insurance not the fuel mileage. You buy a frequently stolen or stripped model you are going to pay through the nose on insurance.

Think the better you care for your car the better it takes care of you; the longer it runs. Checking tire inflation, changeing oil and filters, putting car seat covers on from the start, changeing lanes less is not rocket science but it means your car won't drain you like a vampire.

If you start putting the payment away a year before you buy you lower your interest rate by almost half; keep putting the payment away after the first one is paid for you can buy the second one at half price because you are not paying cash for it instead of twice in financeing.

Always buy a used car; let some other fool take the thirty second thirty feet knock down in value of buying a brand new car.

Never EVER let anyone drive your car. If they were all that responsible they would have their own. And keep in mind everyone is your friend when you are a free taxi but you really know who your friends are when they don't suck down on the biggest expense in your budget besides houseing.

A good tell about how someone is going to treat you in a relationship is how they pick/treat their car. Think I am crazy? Look what kind of cars players drive and what kind of cars your best friend drive? Think what kind of cars "Bimbo's drive? Is it ever their car? Or their Grandma's, or some Ex, or some smuck they got to feel sorry for them? Nine to one they will be driving it without insurance since they figure some idiot will bail them out.

Oh geez, the answer to this one is so easy.

Chocolate. Chocolate chips, eat'em out of the bag. Brownie mix. Chocolate fudgsicles, the sugar-free kind if that impresses you at all. Chocolate syrup. Dove dark chocolate bars. Chocolate ice cream when all else fails (because however much I buy, it'll be gone the next day).

I'm going through chocolate withdrawal right now.

All right, here's another one, strangely related to the chocolate. I absolutely hate exercise. A lot of it is due to the counting you're supposed to do -- you know, count to 50 with the jumping jacks, count your breaths with yoga, everything is counting. Numbers are boring. But I also detest dancing so I stay away from that kind of exercise.

But one thing I can do is jog in place (or around the house) while the commercials are on. Now that commercial breaks run about 5 minutes at a time, this actually gives me some exercise. Maybe someday I'll do enough of it to lose some weight, even.

Bravalady...have you met Wux yet? :-)

I can't keep chocolate around for long either. I polished-off a bag of "Hershey Nuggets" in 2 days!..This is why I don't buy chocolate very often...I bought the "Nuggets" on sale but I went through them pretty fast this time. Guess I made them a substitute for what's "missing" and "lacking" in my life right now.

That's a good one, but it would drive my kids nuts to have presents lying around unopened all year...hmmmmm..on the other hand it could provide motivation for them to get those jobs done around the house. :-)

This one works....

If you gotta work with fiberglass or insulation or get drunk and walk into a cactus...

Wipe down with pantyhose or grandma's knee highs...catches and yanks out all the needles.

Just throw em away when you are done unless you really don't like your woman or your grandma. Then you just put em back.

Remind me later and I can show you how to boobytrap toilet paper with fiberglass needles.

The toilet paper trick might be a good thing to know for those people that think crapping in a mailbox is a good idea ;-)

Well; the first thing I did was buy some workout gear so I could work out in my basement instead of wasting time driving to a gym. I get up early and do my workouts; while also taking my laundry or anything else that belongs in the basement so I am not making extra trips. Sometimes when I work out; I put on a load of laundry. If I finish my workout early; I will wipe down surfaces from dust or sweep/wash the floor in the basement. I take my recycling out on a daily basis as I have to walk to the garage to get my car or bicycle anyways so it saves me from struggling with a large bag of recycling and garbage on garbage pick up day. I spot clean every day so by the weekend; my house work is all done. I cook a larger meal so I have left overs for the next day's lunch. I run errands on my noon hour so I am not wasting time after work fighting rush hour traffic. As I think of stuff I need to take with me; I leave it in a bag by the door so I don't forget it. I have a "To Do List" on my fridge and of course a packing list(s) for trips. I prepay most of my bills or have automatic withdrawal so I don't waste a whole lot of time with paying bills. I will lay out my clothing for a week so I am not figuring out what to wear. I organized my closet my types of clothing and colour coded my clothing in my bedroom dressers. I keep a spare sweater, shoes, pantyhose, toiletries and food at work. I have small appliances like coffee maker, iron, and curling iron with automatic shut offs to lesson fire hazards. If I am sitting down watching tv; I will sort out some things or fold my laundry; then put it away during the commercials. I put mulch down in my flower beds which slows down the weeds and keeps the plant beds moist. If I have to go to several different stores; I will plan out a route so I am not doubling back. I also do make up a shopping list which I will put in my wallet as soon as its done so I don't forget it. I removed all my carpeting and put down laminate flooring so my housework doesn't take as long. I label all my bins so I know exactly what is in each bin. I also keep a set of sensible walking shoes in my car or at work just in case the high heels start hurting my feet.

Now that is one organized household NG...love your work! And your new pic...looking good chick. :-)

Aww thank you for the compliment about my household and my picture. I just have a hectic schedule with work, playing one band, teaching another band, and renos; so I like to stay organized. Funny thing is I have less and less to do on a daily basis and actually having time to relax which was my ultimate goal.

I have breakfast at work with the guy who cleans our offices. He's interesting and funny to talk to and we take turns in providing breakfast each week. It's his turn this week, which means I have a little extra time to myself before work in the mornings. There's a gym at work, so I don't bother with lunch and use my lunch break to work out or go for a walk down to the shopping centre if I have an errand to do. I keep a bowl of fruit or dried fruit & nuts to snack on during the day to keep the pangs quiet.

Very true...being organized means less stress in an otherwise chaotic world :-)

Agreed.

Nuking the laundry detergent bottle after last pour yielded more as I use that concentrated liquid.

I enjoy friends, family outings, read, and volunteer for the less fortunate. I plan to travel some more this year. My schedule is my Own.
Retired and Lovin it.

dem days when like a country tune, a whiff of Play Dough can still cure what ails...but wait, there's more. Get the sixer. (-:

I just took a shower today so I'll be good for the reservation tomorrow.