Fwd: Simple Times - 1/05/09 - Saving money on dryer costs; deb...

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It's a fun newsletter, with something interesting to learn each time. I love the smell of line dried clothes, but I don't have anywhere to put lines here. :-(Cyndi

 

 

In a message dated 1/25/2009 8:14:38 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, anniebaibak writes:

 

 

 

 

I'll have to sign up for this e-newsletter. I loved the article aboutno-clothesline drying. I absolutely love line-dried clothes butunfortunately 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; debtreduction> > > > 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 > ________________________________> > 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’veidentified> 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 theresulting> lint in the dryer? That is the result of the fibers being rubbedthin. 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 forfive minutes> or so with some loads (just long enough to fluff the clothes). Iput one> load in the dryer and only leave then there as long as it takes meto 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 drywithout> 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 hangthings 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 therack and> there are a couple of inches left next to it I put a sock there. Ieven 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 heator 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 rackin 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 inhalf 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 likeputting 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 asingle mother of two, Jill Cooper> started her own business without any capital and paid off $35,000debt 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 ANDan 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 ofthe best> things she thinks we have done to help her education is thefollowing -- > going> on day road trips to places of interest in our state. We have abook on our> state and look up places we can go in one day. We stop on“landmarksâ€Â> 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. 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