Fwd: Simple Times - 1/05/09 - Saving money on dryer costs; debt reduction

[Guest guest]

I'll have to sign up for this e-newsletter. I loved the article about

no-clothesline drying. I absolutely love line-dried clothes but

unfortunately I'm not allowed to line dry at my apt

 

Thanks!

Annie

 

, cyndikrall wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> __

> dsimple

> Cyndikrall

> 1/7/2009 2:25:27 P.M. Pacific Standard Time

> Subj: Simple Times - 1/05/09 - Saving money on dryer costs; debt

reduction

>

>

>

> Simple Times

> ________________________________

>

> Vol. 11, No. 1 -- January 5th, 2009

> _http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/257/0/)

> _debi_ (debi)

> Copyright 2009 Deborah Taylor-Hough

> ISSN: 1527-1269 All Rights Reserved

> ________________________________

>

> Subscribe: _join-simple-times_

> (join-simple-times)

> Un: _leave-simple-times_

> (leave-simple-times)

> ________________________________

>

> Celebrating more than a decade of saving your time, money and sanity!

> ________________________________

>

> IN THIS ISSUE:

> -- " Dear Readers "

> -- Simple Living Quote

> -- Ten Simple Steps for Conquering Problem Debt

> -- Air Drying Clothes ... Without a Clothesline!

> -- Letters to the Editor / Reader Tips

> -- Assorted Information (archives, etc.)

> ________________________________

>

> < < < O.U.R S.P.O.N.S.O.R > > >

>

> " What the heck... I'll give it a try! "

>

> " I have to say I'm so glad I purchased your DebtIntoWealth

> System! I was skeptical at first, so I went to the website.

> It sounded good, so I figured " what the heck, " I'll give it

> a try. My goal was to pay off $5000 in credit card debt and

> a car loan so I could buy a new home, and get me and my 4

> girls out of our 2-bedroom apartment. It worked! It's now 9

> months later and ALL of my debt is paid off, and I just

> signed a contract on a new 5-bedroom house! There is no

> better feeling than to have NO debts, and a savings account

> too! Thanks to your system, my family is going to have a

> better life by not being enslaved to debt. "

> --Katrina S. in Houston, TX

>

> What the heck ... Give DebtIntoWealth a try, today!

>

> Click:

> _http://www.debtintowealth.com/simpletimes.html_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/321/0/)

>

> ________________________________

>

> Dear Readers,

>

> Did you know I have a mild obsession with umbrellas? Even to

> the point of having a small collection of Morton Salt Girl odds and

> ends. Just a random New Year's factoid about me. I actually

> made a blog earlier this year just for collecting umbrella-related

> photos and other pictures/paintings.

>

> The funny thing to me is that my “Brellie Blog†has received

10,000+

> hits … and now averages about 40 visitors each day. Who would’ve

> thought? :-)

>

> _http://mybrellie.wordpress.com_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/781/0/)

>

>

> Simply Yours,

>

> Debi

> (Deborah Taylor-Hough)

> Editor, Simple Times Email Newsletter

> --Author of the popular Frozen Assets series; A Simple Choice: A

> practical guide for saving your time, money & sanity; and Frugal

> Living for Dummies®

> --Editor, Simple Times and Bright-Kids email newsletters

> ________________________________

>

> Visit my simple living blog!

> _http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/257/0/)

> ________________________________

>

> SIMPLE LIVING QUOTE

>

> " The most precious thing a human being has to give is time.

> There is so very little of it, after all, in a life. "

>

> ~Edith Schaeffer

>

> ________________________________

>

> TEN SIMPLE STEPS FOR CONQUERING PROBLEM DEBT

> Copyright Deborah Taylor-Hough

> Used with permission. All rights reserved.

> _http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/257/0/)

>

>

> If you’ve identified a problem in the area of personal debt,

> you’ll need to set about remedying the situation. Here are

> easy steps to regaining financial control:

>

> 1) Seek help. If you’re not sure how to proceed or you’re

> feeling too overwhelmed to act for yourself, call a non-profit

> credit counseling program for advice and assistance in

> working with your creditors to set up a repayment plan.

> Consumer Credit Counseling Service has offices throughout

> the US. Call 1-800-388-CCCS, 24 hours a day, for an office

> near you. You can also find information about debt problems

> from your local church, library or bank. Look for information

> on-line, as well.

>

> 2) Contact your creditors. As soon as you’re aware you won’t

> be able to make a payment, contact your creditors. Creditors

> are more likely to work with you if they’re contacted before

> the payment is actually overdue. Debt collectors are trained

> to solve payment problems, so don’t be afraid to be honest

> with them about your financial situation. Stay calm. If you

> commit to paying the bill by a certain date, be sure you follow

> through on that commitment. The creditor won’t be likely to

> work with you again if you don’t keep your payment promises.

> If you can’t make your minimum monthly payments, write to

> each creditor individually and see if you can work out smaller

> regular monthly bills. Be sure to explain to them why you fell

> behind in your bills, your current income, your other financial

> obligations and the exact amount you can pay them each

> month.

>

> 3) Cut up all credit cards and send them back to the issuing

> companies immediately. Officially close all credit accounts.

> The temptation when you start seeing lower balances on your

> accounts could lead you to charge the credit limits right back

> up again if the accounts remain open. Don’t take out anymore

> loans or open any new credit accounts until back bills are paid

> in full.

>

> 4) Set a frugal budget and live within it. It’s usually easier to

> decrease spending than increase income. Don’t make any

> purchases above and beyond the absolute basics until you’ve

> made some headway in catching up on your back bills. Consider

> selling assets to find more money for your debt repayment. Even

> just holding a large garage sale can sometimes generate enough

> money to help pay an immediate bill or two.

>

> 5) Prioritize debts. Mortgages, child support and any debt that

> has gone to a collection agency is a priority. After you’ve

identified

> the first priority debts, look for the credit companies that are

> charging you the most interest.

>

> 6) Pay each creditor something. No matter how small the amount

> you’re able to pay, it will show good faith on your part as you try

> to negotiate payment arrangements.

>

> 7) Track personal spending. It’s important to identify any holes

> where your money is draining out. Keep a detailed record for one

> month of every expenditure, no matter how insignificant. Little

> expenses on a regular basis add up quickly. Carry a small

> notebook with you and write down every single purchase. Now

> you’ll know where your money’s going.

>

> 8) Plug up any holes discovered from the spending record.

>

> 9) Plan ahead for annual expenses (i.e.: insurance, car licenses,

> medical deductibles, etc.).

>

> 10) Set long term financial goals. After setting concrete, definite

> goals for future financial health, make all current financial decisions

> with your future well-being in mind.

>

> Keep the end result in mind -- debt-free living!

>

>

> ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

> --Deborah Taylor-Hough is the author of several popular books

> including Frugal Living For Dummies® and the Frozen Assets

> series. She’s also the Outreach Director at her church in the

> Seattle area. Visit Debi: _http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/257/0/)

> ________________________________

>

> O.U.R S.P.O.N.S.O.R

>

> S t a r t Y o u r N e w Y e a r O f f R i g h t!

> Organize Your Finances - With EasyFile Home Filing System!

>

> Disorganized records are perhaps the biggest obstacle in taking

> control of your finances. Simply managing receipts, records

> & household paperwork can make a big difference in both your

> personal & financial life. Simplify the task, with EasyFile.

> Because ... A paper saved has no value if you can't locate it!

>

> EasyFile Home Filing System - & - Homeschool Filing Kits!

> _www.easyfilesolutions.com/AIDLink.php?BID=11 & AID=36265_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/782/0/)

>

> Garage Sale Kit - Preprinted price stickers & colorful arrows!

> _www.easyfilesolutions.com/AIDLink.php?BID=12677 & AID=36264_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/324/0/)

>

> ________________________________

>

> AIR DRYING CLOTHES ... WITHOUT A CLOTHESLINE!

> Copyright Jill Cooper & Tawra Kellam

> Used with permission. All rights reserved.

> _http://www.LivingOnADime.com/_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/436/0/)

>

>

> We all know that if we don’t dry our clothes in the dryer we save

> on electricity, but many of us don’t think about how the dryer

> reduces the life of our clothes.

>

> For a long time I couldn’t understand why so many people were

> buying scads of socks and underwear for their families every few

> months. When my children were growing up, they almost never

> wore out their underwear and socks and we owned only about a

> quarter as many pair as most people. No, I didn’t buy some name

> brand known for its child proof quality. I usually bought the least

> expensive ones I could find.

>

> Fast forward a couple decades. One day after folding my grandson’s

> new underwear, I noticed that the waistband was terribly rippled.

> After doing some research, I discovered the answer: The dryer was

> destroying the rubber elastic in the socks and underwear. I rarely

> dried my family’s clothes in the dryer, so the elastic never broke

> down.

>

> It doesn’t just happen with underwear. Have you ever noticed pilling

> (those little fabric balls) on your clothes and linens and the

resulting

> lint in the dryer? That is the result of the fibers being rubbed

thin. The

> dryer also shrinks clothes and sets in stains.

>

> The two reasons I think most people don’t line dry their clothes are

> that they think it is inconvenient or they’re just not sure how

to do it.

> Here are some of the best tips I have found to air dry clothes without

> a clothes line.

>

> Though I don’t use the dryer to dry my clothes, I do use it for

five minutes

> or so with some loads (just long enough to fluff the clothes). I

put one

> load in the dryer and only leave then there as long as it takes me

to load

> the washer with the next load.

>

> If you have no clothesline, you live in an apartment or your homeowners

> association won’t allow clotheslines, here are a few ways to dry

without

> a clothesline.

>

> Using a clothesline to dry your clothes can save lots of money!

>

> You need at least one drying rack and some type of clothes rod. You can

> buy drying racks at most discount stores or hardware stores. You might

> locate a clothes rod in your laundry room above the dryer, use a sturdy

> shower curtain rod in the bathroom or get a metal clothes racks that

> hooks over the back of a door. You don’t need much. I can hang two

> loads of laundry on one drying rack and 2 feet of clothes rod.

>

> Hanging on a Clothes Rod

>

> Hang as many items as you can on clothes hangers, beginning with

> the obvious things like dresses, dress shirts and blouses and hang

> the hangers on a clothes rod to dry. Be sure not to put the hangers too

> close together or the clothes will not dry. You can also hang

things like

> pajama tops, t-shirts, small kids shirts and one piece outfits.

>

> Lightweight pants, pajama bottoms, skirts and sweats can be pinned

> on clothes hangers and even sheets can be folded and hung on them.

> If you are really short of drying rack space, you can hang socks,

under-

> wear, wash rags, hand towels and towels on hangers and add them

> to your clothes rod, too.

>

>

> Hanging on a Clothes Rack

>

> When hanging clothes on a drying rack, I start at the bottom with socks

> and underwear, wash rags and baby clothes. Young children’s clothes

> and hand towels go on the middle layer and the top rack is for towels,

> jeans, pillow cases, sweaters, sweats, pajama bottoms and t-shirts. I

> try to use every inch of space, so if I put a pillow case on the

rack and

> there are a couple of inches left next to it I put a sock there. I

even hook

> bras on the corners of the rack.

>

> Drying racks are handy because they can be moved to speed up the

> drying process. Place them outside on a sunny (but not windy) day.

> Inside the house, try putting them over a vent and the heat or air

> conditioner will dry them faster. If you don’t have central heat

or air

> then you can place them in front of your heater or a fan. Don’t place

> clothes close enough to heaters to be a fire hazard.

>

> If you are short on space and don’t want to look at a drying rack

in the

> middle of the room, do the laundry before bed, hang it and in most

> cases it will be dry by morning (especially if you set it above an air

> vent).

>

> Try hanging large king sized sheets or blankets over your shower rod,

> over the rail of your deck, between two lawn chairs or folded in

half or

> quarters over your clothes rack. When you fold large items, you must

> flip and turn them every 5-10 hours so that each side gets dry.

>

> Sometimes it is useful to hang a clothesline in the basement or attic.

> Be sure to check out your department stores and hardware stores for

> other ideas. They have many clever items like retractable clotheslines,

> things to hang over doors and some not so new ideas like extra large

> drying racks that can hold two loads of laundry each.

>

> Even though this may sound complicated at first, once you do it a few

> times it becomes second nature to you. Pretty quickly, you will

discover

> the most efficient way to hang your clothes on the rack. I know auto-

> matically that three wash rags fit across the bottom bar of my rack and

> the two socks will fit next the that particular t-shirt. It’s like

putting a

> puzzle together -- the first time takes you longer than the times after

> that because you know where the pieces fit.

>

>

> ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

> --Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the

editors

> of _http://www.LivingOnADime.com/_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/436/0/) . As a

single mother of two, Jill Cooper

> started her own business without any capital and paid off $35,000

debt in

> 5 years on $1,000 a month income. Tawra and her husband paid off

> $20,000 debt in 5 years on $22,000 a year income.

> ________________________________

>

> Feel free to forward this newsletter to your family and friends. :-)

> ________________________________

>

> LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / READER TIPS

> We'd love to hear YOUR tips and ideas for simplifying daily life.

> Send your simple living comments/tips to: _DSimple_

> (DSimple)

>

>

> Re: Writing contest

> I'm running a contest for young writers. It might interest your

readers and

> their budding writers! This time we have both a visual prompt AND

an audio

> prompt. Can't wait to see what they do with these! Details are here:

> _http://www.threeleggeddragon.com/tabatha/2009%20contest.htm_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/765/0/)

> --Tabatha

>

>

>

> Re: Family road trips

> My family and I live in Kansas on a small farm. Our son is a freshman

> and our daughter is in the 6th grade. My daughter says the one of

the best

> things she thinks we have done to help her education is the

following --

> going

> on day road trips to places of interest in our state. We have a

book on our

> state and look up places we can go in one day. We stop on

“landmarksâ€

> mentioned in the book and visit museums along the way. We also read

> about those subjects if books are available. (We started this when they

> were young so they did not think anything about driving for a couple of

> hours or visiting museums, just something normal to do. Not normal to

> them is families that do not go to museums.)

> --Michele P.

>

> ________________________________

>

> SIMPLE TIMES RECOMMENDED BOOKS

> Book list for frugality and simple living

> Go to: _http://snurl.com/simplebooks_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/326/0/)

> _______________________________

>

> < < B E . O U R . S P O N S O R > >

>

> Would you like to place an ad in this newsletter? Contact

> Laura at _marketing_ (marketing) Subject

> line: simple-times

> Discover the modest rates for reaching this targeted market.

> ________________________________

>

> As always, a special " Thank you! " goes out to Gary Foreman

> and the friendly folks at The Dollar Stretcher for making this

> mailing list possible!

>

> == _http://www.stretcher.com/_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/211/0/) ==

> ________________________________

>

> EDITOR'S BOOKS AND AUDIO RESOURCES:

> Books and resources by Deborah Taylor-Hough

> Editor, Simple Times Email Newsletter

> _http://snurl.com/debisbooks_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/327/0/)

> ________________________________

>

> DEBI'S ON-LINE RESOURCES:

> Personal Blog: _http://dsimple.wordpress.com/_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/267/0/)

> Frugality/Simplicity: _http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/257/0/)

> Cooking Ahead: _http://frozenassets.wordpress.com/_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/328/0/)

> Bright-Kids: _http://brightkids.wordpress.com_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/269/0/)

> Tupperware®: _http://snurl.com/DebiTupperware_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/279/0/)

> Kids' Books: _http://snurl.com/books4kids_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/329/0/)

> ________________________________

>

> NEWSLETTER INFORMATION

> Subscribe: _join-simple-times_

> (join-simple-times)

> Un: _leave-simple-times_

> (leave-simple-times)

>

> Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think

> might be interested. This is a private mailing list which isn't sold

> or shared with anyone else. Tips and articles are printed for

> entertainment purposes only.

>

> This free service is brought to you by _www.SimpleMom.com_

> (http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/t/3362371/3503451/400/0/)

>

> Copyright 2009 Deborah Taylor-Hough. .

> 3930 A Street SE, Ste 305-119, Auburn WA 98002

> Contact us at: _DSimple_ (DSimple)

>

>

> ---

> You are currently d to simple-times as: _Cyndikrall_

> (Cyndikrall)

> To

>

_http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/u?id=3503451.60696484ec9b77a0c50800fa74be268d\

& n=T & l=simple-times & o=3362371_

 

>

(http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/u?id=3503451.60696484ec9b77a0c50800fa74be268d\

& n=T & l=simple-ti

> mes & o=3362371)

> (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is

broken)

> or send a blank email to

> _leave-3362371-3503451.60696484ec9b77a0c50800fa74be268d_

> (leave-3362371-3503451.60696484ec9b77a0c50800fa74be268d)

>

> **************New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making

> headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026)

>