I keep very detailed track of my finances in a Google Docs spreadsheet. This might sound tedious, but once I tried it, I became far less worried about money and much more confident in my knowledge of what I could afford. Periodically checking a bank account is dangerous, it is far too easy to miss [...]
Author Archive > Ava
Home-Made Booze, the Follow-Up
My home-made boozing adventure was a bit of a bust. I have not actually had any of it to drink after tasting it. Here are some things I have learned:
• Get professional equipment. The makeshift method I used with household materials led to problems. The biggest problem: leakage and residue of the sugary ingredients. Flies [...]
Internet access at home: Do you really need it?
Once upon a time everyone had land lines. They were so common that people just called them “phones”, and they were considered necessary expenses. Even after cell phones came out initially, most people kept the older “tethered” phones. I remember seeing a story on the local news about this eccentric guy who ditched his land [...]
Exploit your Unique Frugal Opportunities
Life is not fair. We all have certain advantages and disadvantages, both earned and by chance. When trying to be frugal, recognize your unique opportunities. Ignore advice and/or common thought that tells you *should* save money by doing things a certain way, even when you don’t.
Examples:
Most people assume that the big box stores are less [...]
Crawl before you Walk
I learned something recently: Curioisity is expensive. Every time I get excited about a new hobby, it costs me money.
Some hobbies are more expensive than others, but nearly all require money to get going. Often, the quality is crucial for your success.
It’s important to be able to step back, and think, what is the minimum [...]
Homemade Wine Update
The previous post, in which I discuss my homemade wine project, can be found here:
http://radiatortoast.com/?p=315#content
The Results:
Do not ever, ever, try to make mead in 2 weeks. The stuff I made for the two week mark is awful. Imagine taking the worst vodka you’ve ever had and flavoring it with honey. I also made a couple gallons [...]
How *Not* to Be Frugal
I see and hear of far too often people buying things for less than they had paid for them in the past, and concluding that this must have been a good deal. I will use fake examples to avoid putting anyone I know on the spot, but they should give you the idea:
• A hair [...]
3 Myths About Riding the Bus
I ride the bus almost daily. I would like to dispel some myths about riding the bus. Even if you do have a car, riding the bus can save you money on both gas and parking. There are some common objections people have to riding the bus that I believe are myths.
Myth 1: Riding the [...]
Homemade Booze
Here’s something that may surprise you: making wine at home is very cheap and easy. There is no shortage of internet-people willing to show you how. I dug up some link spam on the subject, but I would encourage you to do your own research before you try it.
First, learn to sanitize everything properly. The [...]
Getting your Caffeine Fix
I have been struggling with how to get my caffeine fix on campus. My requirements are that the caffeine must be cheap and convenient. Buying an energy drink is very convenient, but not cheap. Bringing coffee from home is very cheap, but not at all convenient, as I am on campus for sometimes 12 hours and I [...]
