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Archive for December, 2009

Went Purse Diving

December 24th, 2009 at 05:11 pm



I went purse diving looking for something in a purse I'm not carrying at the moment and found $.78 cents in there. Taking it to the challenge.

$20 CHALLENGE

$20.25 balance
+00.78 pearls
______
$21.03 MTD

2009 Challenge Total $1036.83
Cumulative Challenge Total $2090.59

Keeping ImaSaver Company

December 19th, 2009 at 03:41 pm



Well, I've been busy. Elsewhere.

But to keep ImaSaver company over there on the upper right $20 Challenge corner, I did manage to have that $20 left over at the end of the last month, so I'm adding it to this month's $20 challenge, plus I found a quarter the other day. Adding that in as well.

$20 Challenge

$0000.00 Dec balance
+0020.25 keeping good company
________
$0020.25 Dec MTD

2009 Challenge Total $1,036.05
Cumulative Challenge Total $2,089.81

Hotel de'Frugalis - It Costs How Much??

December 1st, 2009 at 12:49 pm

Tried to make this post last night and it went to blipdom. Trying again!



How much does it cost to stay the night in the Hotel de'Frugalis? Or put another way, how much does it cost to live here each day? $13.68.


Mortgage $000.00 (pd. off 9/21/09)
Insurance $001.59
Taxes $001.66
Utilities $010.43
____________________
Daily Rate $013.68*
Monthly Rate $410.40
Yearly Rate $4924.80

I am not unhappy with this figure.

Cheaper than most hotels I can think of.

And, we just lowered our rates when we reshopped our house insurance. And costs may go down further this year as my heating bill just came in way under last year's balanced payment plan figures.

However, it does go to show you how much even a paid for home can cost you.

"You paid off your house! AWESOME - now you're on easy street baby!!!"

It might blow somebody's mind to think it still costs to live here if they don't consider true costs. The actual rate above would be higher still if I'd of managed to figure in upkeep, repair and maintenance dollars.

It's here where I get to thinking of something many of us ofteN overlook or just gloss over:

Cost vs. price.


Figuring out the true cost of home ownership.

And then I get into thinking about Use Value vs. Exchange Value.

In many countries a home isn't thought of for it's dollar value like it often is here in the US, but more for the tradition or use value as a home to flourish in that is purchased for generational use, rather than flipping potential or investment potential.

That being considered, here's a nice calculator on the buy vs. rent debate.

Text is http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/10/business/2007_BUYRENT_GRAPHIC.html# and Link is
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/10/business/2007_BUYRENT_GRAP...

This gentleman's article goes on to help you figure out, if you're in the shopping conundrum of rent vs. buy, how to understand the Rent Ratio. A way to effectively compare apples to oranges. Yes, the article is a bit dated, but the ratio will still work.

Text is http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/business/28leonhardt.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1259672607-LbSBif5NPj/m7wXet7y/sg and Link is
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/business/28leonhardt.html?...

Okay, so now that begs the question, how much does it cost you to stay in the Hotel of YouAndYours-dom?