Cones for Cash!

Believe it or not, you can earn extra cash by gathering pinecones and selling them to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It's true! Just make sure it is a cone from the right tree species or everyone on your Christmas list will be getting baskets full of them for firestarters. Get more information on the MN DNR's website.

Solving a Car Quagmire - Reviving your driving

After a particularly stressful few weeks, my husband and I learned a few very important things about marriage, communication and cars. First of all, we learned that if most of the money you set aside for a tune-up is gone, don't assume your spouse took the car in for a tune-up. A few dollars snuck out of the envelope here and there for lunch with the guys really adds up! We also learned that if your spouse isn't nagging you to bring the car in for a tune-up, don't assume that she did it herself - especially if you have been sneaking money out of the pot. Chances are, even if you are married to the most understanding and generous woman in the world, if you haven't been subjected to an interrogation about the missing money, she is not aware that there is any money missing. (Which means she did not have the tune-up done herself.) Finally, we learned that a tune-up is vital as it can catch a problem when there is a $400 repair instead of letting it grow into an estimated +/- $5500 repair.

So... our car overheated and promptly quit working a few weeks ago. We called a mechanic neighbor who, to save us money on towing and shop up-charges, was willing to perform a weekend house call - for cash, of course. (Okay, go ahead. Insert an ethics lecture here but desperate times call for desperate measures!) Unfortunately, because he didn't have all of his diagnostic tools, our neighbor caught only part of the problem. We bought a new thermostat and paid him $250 to install it on a car that was still not able to be driven. He did recommend we have it towed to his shop where he estimated that it would cost us around $3000 to repair unless the engine was trashed (which it was) in which case it would cost around $5500.

This was slightly problematic as we were working on our debt snowball and had only our $1000 emergency fund in savings - $250 of which had already gone to replace the thermostat. I work only 8 miles away from my home - an uncomfortable but do-able pedestrian commute (at least until the snow flies.) My husband, however, has a round trip of 46 miles each day. And, we live 12 miles away from the nearest bus stop. We made some phone calls and received some guestimates based on our neighbor's assessment and our car's symptoms. All of the other quotes we received were from between $4000 and $6500. The hobby mechanics we knew didn't want to touch it with a ten-foot pole.

We considered buying a cheap car until we had saved enough to bring it in for repairs. In fact, we found just such a car for only $500 on Craig's list that the owner claimed ran well - if we were willing to overlook the bullet hole and stains on the seat. (Seriously!?!) We considered moving closer to my husband's job - or at least the bus stop. We considered taking taxi cabs. We considered bumming rides off friends, family, and co-workers. We considered selling our household goods. We even considered performing a car jacking. But, none of these things seemed like very viable options. The only option that we felt we had left was to fix it ourselves.

Neither of us are mechanical (obviously!) but we bought a repair manual specific to our car. (Which we should have purchased as soon as we obtained the car as it tells you things like how often to get a tune-up and reminds you of the importance of things like monitoring the coolant levels instead of waiting for an idiot light which may never go off. Anyhoo...) We spent hours reading, contemplating, pricing parts, making phone calls for tools, estimates etc. However, we still didn't know exactly what was wrong for sure. So, we did what any self-respecting adult would do - we called in the parents. Luckily, my father-in-law is mechanically inclined and he generously shared the secret of his infinite automotive wisdom with us - a handy web service called Just Answer. To use it, you simply log in, type your question, indicate a price you are willing to pay for an expert answer (as cheap as $9.) An expert in the field generally answers your question within the hour and most times within minutes.

In our case, for $250, our car-mechanic neighbor told us that the thermostat was out, that the new thermostat we paid him to install may or may not be faulty, that the head gasket may or may not be leaking, that the water pump might or might not be out, and that the aluminum engine may or may not have cracked from driving it home too soon after overheating. However, for a mere $9, the expert on Just answer.com correctly predicted that our cooling system had an undetected leak which, if caught right away, would have been able to be repaired for under $400. This leak, left unrepaired, ultimately caused the thermostat to go out, a head gasket to blow, water to begin leaking into our oil, the contaminated (and slightly gummy since it wasn't changed in time) oil to flow through the engine, completely trashing it (not necessarily in that order.) Our expert indicated he would be willing to walk us through all of the repairs but did indicate that, as the repairs were complicated and would require specialized tools, mechanical expertise and tons of time, we may want to consider finding an independently owned auto body shop or mechanic in an outlying area or a mechanical friend willing to assist us. At first, we assumed our expert was drumming up regional sales and trying to frighten us but in the end, he was completely and entirely correct. And, we really appreciated his honesty, forthrightness, and advice.

To make a long story a little shorter (and a lot less whiney), we found a mechanic outside of the suburbs with a privately owned auto body shop in his immaculate pole barn, a stellar reputation and all the proper certifications. He charged significantly less for labor than any of the suburban shops we had received quotes from. We rented a car dolly for $40 and the fil, with his Silverado, kindly towed it to our new best friend's shop. The mechanic (Quatmann Auto Service in Jordan by the way - I'll give him a plug since he was so kind to not ridicule us, to our face anyway, for letting this happen.) confirmed what Just Answer told us and recommended replacing parts on or rebuilding a used engine to save money. In addition, he had a list of reputable used parts suppliers who were able to not just sell us a used engine but were able to tell us about the car it came from, how it had been maintained and how it came to be available for sale. Quatmann's replaced the engine - with another with similar mileage, as well as all the sensors (except one), the spark plugs, the serpentine belt, the air filter and more for a total price of $2, 447.89 - parts, labor, tax, one-year warranty - provided it gets regular tune-ups - and all. Although we are now somewhat indebted to my fil and will be eating peanut butter and Ramen for a while, this repair was less than half the price other shops were quoting.

While the repairs were ultimately cheaper than other quotes, it was still a very expensive lesson to learn. Establishing a regular maintenance schedule, agreeing on whose responsibility maintenance and repair is, clearly communicating with your spouse and not making assumptions are vital to your pocketbook. In addition, educating yourself about your car, its parts and basic mechanics has nothing to do with automotive inclination but has everything to do with intentionality and thriftiness. Spending time doing some research - especially before you have a problem - is definitely worth your time and can help you make good choices.

If towing your car to an outlying shop is not an option for you, try using Just Answer. They provide an honest opinion and good advice at a very affordable price. Just a few days ago, a co-worker used Just Answer and was told NOT to bring his car to a shop as the repair was simple and would only cost a few dollars and a little bit of time. Also eHow has some good suggestions about how to save money on car repairs and how to locate used or price-reduced car parts yourself.

...You can belittle every voice that told you so
And then the time will come when you add up the numbers
And then the time will come when you motor away
Oh, why don't you just drive away? ...

From "Motor Away" by Guided By Voices

FREE MN Orchestra Tickets

If listening to the Minnesota Orchestra is something you think may enrich your kids lives, register TODAY for their FREE ticket lottery to be granted tickets for their November 22, 2009 American Salute concert or their December 5, 2009 Hansel and Gretel concert. This offer is limited to one set of tickets per household (up to six) per concert year. As such, if the March 13, 2010 Carnival of the Animals concert or the May 9, 2010 Four Seasons concert appeals to you more, wait to register for the spring ticket lottery from January 13 - 20, 2010.

Battle Boredom and Banish Back-to-School Blues

Egads! The summer is more than half over. If like mine, your kids and teens are counting down to doomsday and moping around the house, here are some ideas to battle boredom and banish those back-to-school blues.

• Concerts in the park are everywhere. The kids will have fun with the playground, the crowd, and the energy even if it is something like Goodrun and the Golden Oldies Orchestra. Check with your local parks and recreation department to obtain a concert schedule.


• City festivals and county fairs can be a little spendy but if you do your research ahead of time, pack a picnic lunch, and choose only a couple of things to spend money on, they can offer a lot of inexpensive family fun. Check the events listings in your local newspaper, visit the Explore MN website or check out the Star Tribune's Summer of Fun map to find out what is happening when.


• Explore the MN Children's Museum FREE on the third Saturday of every month courtesy of Target (no, they didn't pay me to say that. I just try to credit people whenever appropriate.)


• If your kids are too old for that or if you are looking more for a cheap date night, check out the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) for FREE on the third Thursday of every month from 6pm - 9pm and one Sunday a month (August 9th is the next one.) Yes, MIA does not charge admission regularly. However, they do request a donation and on these special days you can enjoy the art without feeling guilty or getting nasty looks from the donation giving patrons.


• If modern art is more your style, take a stroll through the Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens. If you haven't been for a while, you should go check it out. Afterwards, you can cool off in Walker Art Center which is also FREE on every Thursday night from 5pm - 9pm as well as the first Saturday of every month.


• Of course, you can check out a different museum every week from now until Christmas with the FREE Museum Adventure Pass program offered by Macy's and Twin Cities public libraries.


• Wanna catch a movie? The Mall of America offers Free Family Flicks every Tuesday and Saturday. Be sure to get there early as it is first come, first serve. And, be aware that the concessions still cost an arm and a leg.

Last Rites for Your Tights? Not Tonight!

I was talking to a co-worker this morning (yup water cooler talk) about how expensive it is to comply with dress code and cover those bare legs in the summer. Tights are too hot to wear but being limited to pants is no fun. She said she wouldn’t mind paying for nylons if they didn’t snag so easily and have to be thrown away so quickly. Being of the generation who is typically found sporting bare legs and flip flops, she had apparently she never heard about the "stop-the-run-by-painting-the-ends-of-the-run-with-clear-nail-polish" trick or the “Snag-a-leg? Cut-it- off-and-wear-two-pairs-to-make-a-whole-pair” trick. She also had never heard of/thought of all the other things you can use ruined nylons/tights for. As such, this entry is dedicated to … well, you know who you are.

=D

• Cut off the torn/ripped/snagged leg. When you have two like this, wear one on each leg and presto – you have an instant new pair with a tummy flattening top.


• Fill a torn leg with onions from your garden, farmer’s market, or grocery store. Tie a knot between each onion to contain the peelings and keep the onions from touching. Simply clip one off when you need an onion. This works to store flower bulbs over the winter as well.


• Put used up bits of soap in a toe, tie it off and use it in the shower.


• Put a bar of soap - used or new – in the toe. Tie it to the handle of a clean milk jug filled with water. Poke holes in the cover of the milk jug (think shower nozzle) and tie the whole thing to a tree to make a hand washing station when camping, picnicking, or gardening.


• Cut it into strips and use it to tie back plants in your garden. (You can use strips from an old cassette tape for this, too.)


• Cut it into strips and use the strips for stuffing to fill (or repair) stuffed animals and/or pillows.


• If you lose an earring etc in the carpet, cover the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner hose with a cut off leg. Fasten it securely and start vacuuming. The lost item will be sucked up with the hose but will not go into the canister because of the nylon.


• Drain the water in the fish tank (after safely temporarily housing the fish elsewhere) and use the vacuuming method described above to clean the gravel in the bottom.


• When repotting your plants, put a circle of old hose in the bottom of the pot. It will prevent soil from being washed out the hole when you water and will help retain moisture in the soil.


• Tie dried herbs or potpourri in small sections of old hose to make quick and easy sachets. You could also do this with moth balls or cedar shavings and place them in your closet or clothing storage box. Or, you could use kitty litter or charcoal – real charcoal, not the ones with lighter fluid added - and place in old shoes, the basement or any other place moisture and odors may need to be absorbed.


• If they are very clean and sanitary, if you are a die hard spendthrift, and if it doesn’t gross you out too much, use clean hose instead of cheese cloth when making jelly. (Or… use it to strain the lumps out of old paint.)


• Cut narrow strips off of the legs (keep them as circles) to use them to tie back your hair instead of rubber bands .


• Cut them into strips, braid them and sew the braided strips into rag rugs. (ala grandma but softer, neutral and hip because you made it yourself.)


• Stuff them and use them to make a scarecrow for your garden (or Emma Krumbee's annual scarecrow contest.)


• Secure a leg to the end of the hose from your washing machine. It makes a nifty lint catcher.


• Fill a small portion of a leg with catnip and tie it securely closed. It makes a great cat toy (although I would make sure you then hide the rest of your hose or you will get more run and snagged pairs than you bargained for.)


• Use them for dusting cloths.


• Slip a leg over a roll of wallpaper, a rolled up child’s drawing, the blueprint of your house etc. It will protect it from everything but water damage.


• Snip off the waistband and cover it with fabric (either new or from an old something) to make an elastic headband.


• Use strips to replace the elastic drawstring in your favorite PJ’s, sweats or granny pants.

Do you have more ideas for using old nylons/panythose/tights? Please share!

Slurpee Day & Mocha Mondays

Starting this Monday, McDonald's will be giving away one free Mocha - iced or not - to each customer from 7am - 7pm each Monday through August 3, 2009. No purchase necessary. Just drive through and grab a cup of joe. Okay, okay... it's only 7 ounces but hey... it's free! And, if you are traveling this weekend and happen to drive near a 7 Eleven, don't forget to stop in and grab your free slushy on Saturday (07-11)!

Student Loan Relief

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act is providing individuals who have high amounts of Federal Student Loan debt relief through two new programs.

Income-Based Repayment is a program in which loans for undergraduate and postgraduate work are consolidated, monthly payments are capped based on income and family size, and after a certain number of years of repayment (I don't know that number, sorry!) the balance of your loans are forgiven. Yup. Completely forgiven. Written off. Null and void. Cool, huh. You can now afford that doctorate!

Public Service Loan Forgiveness is the one I am most excited about (since I am a government employee when not blogging.) In this program, individuals working full time in the "public service" arena (a 501(c)3 organization, any federal, state, local, or tribal governmental entity, military, public schools and colleges, AmeriCorps or Peace Corps position) will have the balance of their student loans forgiven after 10 years of eligible payments. (Please forgive me while I do my two second whine/correction of public perception thing: Contrary to popular belief, not all government employees make a ton of money and have good benefits. As a local government employee, I make approximately $7,000 - $10,000 a year less than a similar position in corporate America. Additionally, while I do have some benefits, local Governments in Minnesota are not required to even offer health insurance to employees. As such, it costs me $469.84 each month for health insurance for my children. My husband is not covered as adding him would result in another $450 (approximate) per month which would result in half my take-home salary being used to pay for medical insurance. Eeks! Anyhoo...)

For more information about these and other student loan forgiveness/reduction, visit IBRinfo, a nonpartisan, nonprofit project on student debt.

A Little Bubbly on a Hot Summer Day

Summer is all about having fun, relaxing, and playing and blowing bubbles is a perfect way to do this. Unfortunately, those little bubble containers are messy, don’t last very long and don’t allow for a lot of experimentation. Large containers are inordinately expensive. For example, a 64 ounce container of Gazillion Bubbles mix costs $9.99 at Target. Why not make tons of the stuff yourself and treat the whole neighborhood to a bubble blast?

Simply mix 2/3 cup Joy or Dawn dishwashing liquid with 1 gallon of water and 3 Tablespoons of corn syrup. (Yes, most recipes say to mix it with glycerin but corn syrup works just as well and you probably have it on hand.) Mix it together gently and let it sit overnight uncovered (or covered lightly with a clean dishtowel to prevent dust, pet hair etc from getting into it). Make bubble wands out of pipe cleaners, wire coat hangers, Tupperware lids, strings and straws, found items etc. If you have older kids who are curious about the science of bubbles, check out the San Francisco Exploratorium on-line.

National Parks - FREE family fun!

In an effort to boost tourism for neighboring communities, the National Park Service announced today that entrance fees for all National Parks will be waived for one weekend each month this summer. So, mark your calendars for June 20 - 21, 2009, July 18 - 19, 2009 and August 15 - 16, 2009. Drag out your tent (camping fees start at $8 per night) and break out the marshmellows!

Pulling the Plug

The connector cord for my son's electric guitar had a broken wire. Although he could technically play his guitar, he couldn't connect it to the amplifier to hear what he was playing. At one time, this would have been a really good thing in our house. However, he recently expanded his repertoire to include more songs than just "Bad to the Bone" and is getting fun to listen to. When you are 13 years old and are practicing for your rock debut (as long as no one looks at you), not being able to connect to your amplifier and shake the windows is a very big deal. We examined the cord thinking it might be possible to remove the broken section and splice the plug back in. Unfortunately, we determined that the wire break was in the center of the cord. Unless he wanted a two foot connection, this wouldn't work. We took a field trip to the Guitar Center and found that a six foot 1/4" male to male amplifier cable (what he had) was $34.95. A ten foot 1/4" male to male cable (his desired cable) was $39.95. We left the cords there and continued on to Radio Shack. Radio Shack had an eighteen foot 1/4" male to male cable for only $23.99. Unfortunately, on-line product reviews indicated that the available cable had a $23.99 sound with a lot of extra pickup noise and feedback. I remembered someone in one of our Financial Peace University classes had mentioned that pawn shops could be a good place to get electronics. So we continued on our way to the local pawn shop where we found the same cord Radio Shack carried for $14.95. I get enough extra noise and unwanted feedback at home. I did not want or need any more even if it was now in the price range. The pawn shop employee recommended that we check on-line as sometimes the cable manufacturers will ship directly to the customer, eliminating the middle man and reducing the price. With some on-line research (about 15 minutes), we were able to find, on eBay from a seller with a 99-percent satisfaction rating over a five year selling history, the same brand of cable the Guitar Center sold. We bid the minimum bid and won it. My son received in the mail last week, two ten-foot 1/4" male to male cables with a dynamic sound and no feedback to speak of. My total bill for both cables including shipping direct from Hong Kong was $8.98. My house is filled once again with the sound of happy teenage son (Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Metallica's "One," and the occasional "Bad to the Bone.")

The FREE lunch lives

MSNBC published an article on its website yesterday listing places to get free grub, samples, handouts etc. Many of them do not apply in Minnesota but overall it offers very good ideas and resources. Why not check it out?

Homemade Salad Dressing recipes

Some crops of lettuce are nearly ready and when it is ready to harvest, you will be eating salad every day. You could watch for salad dressings on sale and stock up in anticipation of this. However, commercial salad dressings are expensive and filled with corn syrup and salt. Consider stocking up on ingredients to make your own dressings instead. Homemade dressings taste better, make more for the money, and are much easier to make than you think.

Ranch Dressing

1/3 c plain nonfat yogurt
1/3 c mayonnaise
1/2 c buttermilk
2 Tbs finely chopped green onions, tops only
1/4 tsp onion powder
2 tsp minced parsley
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Mix well. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

(Add fresh ground pepper to taste for Peppercorn Ranch or 1/4 c grated cucumber for Cucumber Ranch)

Catalina - Style Dressing

1 c ketchup
1/4 c sugar or to taste
1/4 c red wine vinegar
1 - 2 tsp garlic powder
1 - 2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/4 tsp paprika

Place in blender and process until smooth. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 90 days.

Thousand Island Salad Dressing

1 c mayonnaise
2 Tbsp sweet pickle relish
¼ c chili sauce or ketchup
3 Tbsp finely chopped green bell pepper
3 Tbsp finely chopped onion
1 Tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp sugar
¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 hard boiled egg finely chopped

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Italian Dressing

1 c red wine vinegar
1 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
2 Tbsp of water
1/2 Tbsp garlic salt
1/2 Tbsp onion powder
1/2 Tbsp white sugar
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp celery salt
1 Tbsp salt

Store covered in the refirgerator for up to 90 days.

Thrifty Traveling

I just returned from a conference in Chicago. It was an amazing experience and I got to talk with people in my field from all over the world - everywhere from East Sussex, UK to Amsterdam, Netherlands to Durbin, South Africa and Essen, Belgium. I got to hear Captain Jim Lovell (of the famed Apollo 13), Jeffrey Taylor (founder of Monster.com) and Laurence Gonzales (journalist, author and National Geographic editor). However, I am on a budget and none of the meals (save one) was covered by the conference fee. The old “buy stuff at the grocery store and cook in your hotel room” trick didn’t work as I wasn’t familiar with the area, had no idea where a grocery store was, and didn’t have sufficient time to locate one and travel there via public transportation. Neither did I have a courtesy microwave or even coffee pot to use.

I got up early every morning and walked a half mile to the nearest college campus where I ate in the cafeteria for about $3.50 every morning. Lunch, I generally skipped as even a house salad in the conference restaurant ran $14.95 and a glass of water was $3.50. For dinner, I walked back over to the college campus area where I could pick up a fairly decent dinner for $7 - $8. Being a complete cheapskate, my family and I don’t normally do this type of traveling but it made me think – what do people do when you have to travel for business? I realize most people get reimbursed for these types of expenses by their company but really! There must be traveling tricks I don’t know. What do you do? How do you save yourself and your company money?

Save on Health Care Part II

When we are ill, we wonder whether or not we should be treated by a doctor. Many times, insurance plans have a nurse line that you can call and a professional will help you decide whether to go in or not. But... what do you do if this isn't offered by your insurance or if you don't have insurance?

Try the Symptom Checker on the Mayo Clinic website. It asks you to select a symptom, identify specific factors related to your symptom(s), indicates when seeking medical care from your regular physician would be advisable, which symptoms would require immediate emergency care, and provides you with a list of possible causes. For each cause, the Symptom Checker lists associated factors and symptoms, potential causes, risk factors, how to prepare for your appointment, tests and procedures that may be used to make a diagnosis, complications that may arise if you have this condition, treatments and drugs that may be prescribed, information about how to prevent the condition and, if not dangerous, lifestyle changes and home remedies. While it is a website run by professionals in the medical field, they acknowledge some homeopathic remedies that may help. In the three conditions that I investigated, one indicated immediate medical attention was required and offered no alternative solutions. One suggested an entire alternative treatment program consisting of yoga, massage, meditation, acupuncture, dietary supplements and a TENS unit. The third condition I reviewed offered simple common sense advice like experiment with fiber, drink lots of water, exercise, reduce stress by listening to music reading, or soaking in a warm bath, and get support from your family and friends.

To really save on medical expenses, stay healthy in the first place. This means:

**Eating right (the United States Department of Agriculture offers a customized pyramid plan that tells you the exact amounts of each food groups you need)

**Excerising (Inexpensive home workouts and playground routines are fine. Expensive club memberships are not needed.)

**Washing your hands frequently

Save on Health Care

The cost of health care is becoming more and more of a concern as more companies are offering reduced health insurance premiums with an HSA (Health Savings Account) and as more people are unemployed/underemployed without health insurance at all. Several people have sent emails requesting information about how to reduce their medical costs and a few people had suggestions. For example:

Earthclinic.com offers users folk remedies for a variety of ailments. It is a comprehensive resource with remedies for everything from acid reflux and Alzheimer's to wrinkles and yeast infections. Yes, many of these remedies were probably used by your great grandparents and many of them may help. However, please be cautious and use common sense when trying them as not many of these types of cures have been methodically tested. (Albeit they haven't been tested because testing is generally funded by pharmaceutical companies and what pharmaceutical company would want to pay for tests that may ultimately cause them to lose money.) When deciding which remedies to try, please consider the consequences if things go wrong and research to try to understand the scientific basis of the claim.

For example, it is commonly acknowledged that the slime found under the bark of the Willow Tree can be ingested to treat a variety of aches and pains. This makes sense as the slime found under the bark of the Willow Tree contains acetylsalicyclic acid ~ the main ingredient in aspirin. So... if you want to suck on the bark of the Willow Tree to treat your premature arthritis, you probably won't do any harm. If you have your child slurp it down to treat a headache, you could kill them if their headache is a symptom of Reye's syndrome.

Another common folk remedy is to ingest colloidal silver, a natural antibiotic, to avoid having to get a prescription for antibiotics. In fact, proponents of colloidal silver use claim that it is an effective treatment against ear infections, infectious diseases, parasites, chronic fatigue, acne, warts, hemorrhoids, etc. It is true that silver is antibiotic and studies have shown colloidal silver to be effective. In fact, colloidal silver is the main ingredient of the burn cream used in hospital burn units. Making it yourself or using more than your natural health practitioner recommends, however, can lead to serious and permanent side effects. Go ahead and experiment. Just be aware that you may spend the rest of your life as a smurf if you aren't careful about process and dosage.

Folk remedies can be a good thing. But... be sure you know what you are doing.

More medical savings ideas will come later! :-)

Comments?

Mother's Day

On Mother's Day, flowers and lunch would be lovely, but in reality, I really just want more space and more time. It seems that the more stuff I collect, the more time and energy I have to spend maintaining it. As such, I would love some coupons from the husband and kids for helping clean up the clutter. If you feel the same way and decide to get a jump start on your work, the City of Minnetrista is holding their semi-annual recycle/clean-up day tomorrow Saturday May 9, 2009 from 8am - 3pm at Minnetrista City Hall. Unlike clean-up days in some cities, you do not have to be a resident of Minnetrista to participate.

But what if the woman you are honoring has no clutter and you haven't ordered the flowers or made reservations yet? When you are done bemoaning the fact that she did not pass on the organization genes, you can quickly do something else to let her know you love her. For example:

• The Minnesota fishing opener is this weekend. If you have an outdoorsy mother,declare her queen of the boat/dock. Bait all her hooks and remove all her fish. And, when you get home, clean them and fry them while she hits the shower.


• If poetry is her thing, peruse the work of Nicholas Gordon who offers his series of Mother poems on-line for free.


• Get sentimental. Visit your local thrift store and purchase an old picture with an amazing frame. Remove the picture and replace it with one of you and your mom. Accompany it with a handwritten letter (remember these?) telling her your favorite memories with her and/or why you love her.


• Make weeknights easier for her. Throw together a pan of lasagna or other one-dish dinner for your mom to put in her freezer. Or, if she is alone most of the week, bake it ahead of time and divide it into single serving microwaveable containers.


• Acknowledge her needs. Visit your local thrift store or look around your house for an interesting container. Fill it with dirt, add a Thyme plant from the local nursery and add a coupon for an afternoon of work.


• Help her be a kid again. Whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough, place it in a container, and tie a spoon into the bow.


• While not the cheapest idea, if you have a mom who is always on the go, show up early, 'steal' her car, fill it with gas, give it a good vacuum and take it through the car wash.


• The musical mom may appreciate a custom Mother's Day song which you can download to make a customized CD.


• For the woman who has survived breast cancer, help her make a sassy in-your-face statement by whipping together a "fight-like-a-girl" bra purse.


• If her heart is set on flowers, give her seed packets and an afternoon to plant them or hit Costco where they have huge hanging baskets of flowers for around $12.

But however you spend it... Have a Happy Mother's Day!

Affordable and Fashionable Clothes

My son is a skateboarder who skateboards three to six hours a day depending on whether he has school or not. His waist is bigger than his backside and his calves are so developed he can't pull fitted jeans over them. To make matters worse, he keeps ripping holes in odd places - like the upper thigh, the crotch, and the back pocket. My daughter weighs less than I did - ever, is about 5'10", and is still growing. Keeping the kids clothed can be very expensive not to mention keeping them clothed in items that won't make them mashed potato targets in the lunch room. However.... I have some solutions that have worked for our family. Maybe they will work for yours. :-)

1. Get clothes from friends and family.

Okay... I know the selection isn't that great and that your kids won't be too interested in gramma's old sweatshirt with the cardinals on the front. But... the price is right! And, your kids are far more willing to wear things when you hand them a scissors and tell them to go ahead, be creative and re-style it. Yup. Cut it up. Tear it. Rip it. Paint it. Add a ribbon. Cut it shorter. Add fabric and make it longer. This slash and wear approach admittedly does not work well for my son who thinks this is insane but my daughter has had great fun taking people's old jeans and turning them into long denim skirts and purses. She has had a blast ripping lace off of someone else's old nightgown and adding to a too-small tank to make a feminine cami. She has transformed a black geek-squad t-shirt into a fun halter shirt that ties in the back, a couple of old concert tees into an a-line skirt and a children's Cars shirt into a bandeau top. This type of thing takes only a little bit of imagination, a pair of scissors, some safety pins and a library card. The public library is full of fashion / alteration books. My daughter's favorite is entitled Generation T: 108 ways to transform a T-shirt by Megan Nicolay (albeit there are several designs she is not permitted to attempt as they are suitable only for Hennepin Avenue after dark.)

2. Purchase clothes at garage sales.

Yes, I know. In some communities, shopping at garage sales is not exactly considered classy. But ... your neighbors aren't paying your bills and if you are going to pay for clothing, the cheapest clothes can be found here. If you live in an area where garage sale shopping comes attached with a stigma, do not think of items as 'garage sale clothes.' Rather recognize them for what they really are - 'certified pre-owned clothing which was washed ten times to guarantee no pilling or shrinking.' Look for big neighborhood sales and for sales in upscale neighborhoods. Make sure you examine things carefully before purchasing them. Missing buttons and fraying seams are easily fixable. Broken zippers, however, can be much more problematic.

3. Purchase clothes at thrift stores.

Thrift stores offer a better selection of items than at garage sales and you don't have to spend an entire morning looking for signs posted on corners. Prices and quality of items vary widely and you will need to shop just as carefully as if you were shopping at a garage sale. Like garage sales, thrift stores offer a variety of merchandise. You can pick up new jeans, a new book, and new Tupperware with one stop. Additionally, many thrift stores are associated with charities and your purchase supports their programs. For example, Bethesda Thrift Shop in Hopkins supports the programs of Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services and The PROP Shop in Eden Prairie funds the local emergency services / food shelf organization People Reaching Out to Other People.

High-end thrift stores are more expensive but are excellent places to find specialty items. If you have teenagers (or like designer clothing yourself) make sure you stop by Plato's Closet. The prices are in line with Target or Walmart but you get Abercrombie, Aeropostale, Baby Phat, Billabong, Ecko, Express, Hollister, J. Crew, Seven, Sketchers, Quiksilver and more. And.. it is 'cool' to shop here. If you are looking for business clothing, the Clothes Mentor may have something for you.

4. Purchase clothes at consignment shops.

Consignment shops tend to have the most expensive "certified pre-owned clothing" you can buy; however, the quality and selection is excellent. Consignment shops are also one of the best places to get discounted business clothing. If you are looking for a specific item, a consignment shop owner may be able to watch for it for you saving you money and time.

5. Purchase new clothes on sale or clearance.

Be aware that when stores offer items on sale claiming a certain percentage off, the percentage has been calculated using the highest price charged for that item. To determine if the sale item is a bargain, do not compare the clearance price to the price you would have paid for the item full price. Compare it to the price you would have been willing to pay at a thrift store or garage sale. For example, if a shirt was originally $50 and is on clearance for 50% off, you will be paying $25 for it. If a similar shirt could be purchased at consignment shop for $15, a thrift store for $8 or a garage sale for $4, the purchase of the sale item is not saving you money. It is costing you an extra $10, $17, or $21 respectively. However, if that same shirt is on sale for 70% off and you would pay $15 for it, the sale price is equal to a consignment store purchase. If the shirt is 90% off and you would pay only $5 for it, the store is offering almost as good as a deal as the garage sale.

6. Purchase clothes at full price.

Ummm.... nobody does this.

So... how do you know if something will fit you when you shop at garage sales? You can't exactly pull up to the house a week later and knock on their door asking for a refund or store credit. Zafu can help you find the best brands for your body type and will alert you to the worst brands for your shape. Log into the website and set up a profile by providing your height, weight, measurements and style preferences. They compare it to their database of brands and user comments to make recommendations for the jeans, bras, pants, and accessories that will fit you best. Record the names, measurements, sizes, color preferences and favorite brands of all of your family members in a small notebook. Keep the notebook in your purse or car along with a tape measure to measure clothes without tags.

Happy hunting!

Home Remedies

This weekend was Confirmation Sunday at our church and one of the kids accidentally spilled some of the communion down the front of their white robe. Yup - huge purple stains. People were lamenting leaving their Tide pens at home and some debated running to a store between services to purchase one. Oddly, no one knew about the "hydrogen peroxide as stain remover" trick. They were amazed the purple lifted right out using an inexpensive first aid kit standard. (Simply dab on the peroxide and the bubbles lift the stain right out. Blot with water once the stain is gone to prevent continued bleaching of the fabric. This works best on whites as the peroxide may remove die from colored items.)

Yesterday was gorgeous so I hit the gardening store after church. People were filling their carts with rabbit/deer repellent at $16 per spray bottle. Apparently they did not know about the much cheaper homemade version that is just as effective as commercial chemical repellents. (Mix 1/4 c eggbeaters with 1 c water. Mix well, place in a clean spray bottle, spray on plants and let dry. Repeat every 30 - 60 days.)

When my gardening was done, I washed dog nose prints off my sliding glass door with homemade glass cleaner (fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water.) As I was putting the mixture together, the neighbor kids watched in fascination. They didn't know you could "cook" window cleaner.

These recipes and formulas take less time and money to whip together than selecting a specialty commercial item from the store. Why have they become a novelty?

Do you have other tried and true homemade fixes that you are willing to share?

A Time for Everything

Every time we turn on the television or open a newspaper, we are hit with a barrage of advertisements claiming that the advertiser has the "Lowest Prices of the Year! Today Only!" We make a purchase only to find the same product advertised two months later for a third less than what we paid for it. So, how do we shop ahead for needs and gifts when we are never sure if it is really the best deal? While there are always exceptions, the following is a calendar of sorts listing the types of sales to expect in department and specialty stores throughout the year.

January ~ Continuation of after-Christmas sales; lingerie, accessories, luggage, stationery, white sales, winter clearance of shoes, boots, clothing, furs, ski clothing and gear, knitting, needlework and craft supplies, linens, electronics, computers, small appliances, athletic shoes, exercise equipment, Christmas clearance chocolate, toiletries, fragrances, cosmetics, beauty treatments, semiannual furniture sales, soda, diet foods, frozen finger foods. This is an excellent month to get good prices on houses, motorcycles and boats as there is less of a market for them in the middle of winter.

February ~ Storewide Presidents' Day sales, housewares, fabric, hosiery, electronics, preseason sales of new model barbecue grills (this means they will also be clearing out last season's models at bargain prices), outdoor furniture, lawn mowers, post-Valentine's Day chocolate, steak and seafood. This is also an excellent month to buy houses, motorcycles and boats.

March ~ Storewide spring sales, china, glassware, crystal accessories, silver and stainless flatware, floor coverings, do-it-yourself home improvement equipment, pre-Easter fashions, frozen food and boats.

April ~ (Starting Easter Sunday) outdoor furniture, garden supplies, summer table accessories, rugs, eggs, ham, cheese, mustard, ready-made dough, dinner rolls, frozen pies, cake mixes, frosting, pie crusts. After-Easter chocolate and other clearance (in March if Easter occurs then,) sleepwear, lounge-wear, yard goods, trimming, patterns for summer fashions, vacuum cleaners, diamond and gold jewelry, watches, tires, car-care supplies. Watch for fresh hams on clearance after Easter as they can not be frozen and sold by the store. They can be purchased and frozen by you. :-)

May ~ White sales, baby needs, gifts for brides and graduates, summer housewares including picnic gear, hot dogs, ground beef, hamburger and hot dog buns, condiments, salad dressing, chips, ice cream, popsicles, soda, bottled water, party supplies, home furnishings, luggage, Mother's Day sales of jewelry, small accessories, scarves, Memorial Day sales, summer fashions, sporting equipment, outdoor furniture and gear, grilling supplies (charcoal, lighter fluid), vacuum cleaners, cookware.

June ~ Summer appliances, golf, tennis, fishing and camping equipment, sport shoes and clothing, swimsuits, luggage, floor coverings, Father Day sales, men's furnishings, accessories, games, tools, small leather goods, ice cream, popsicles, soda, bottled water, ice tea.

July ~ Storewide Fourth of July sales in nearly every category of merchandise especially swimwear and fashions, semi-annual furniture sales, hot dogs, ground beef, hamburger and hot dog buns, condiments, salad dressing, chips, ice cream, popsicles, water, soda, grill supplies, party supplies. This is the best month to buy a new computer as stores clear out their showrooms to make space for new models released in August and September.

August ~ Final summer clearance sales, early fall accessories, stationery and school supplies, toys, continuation of fur and semiannual furniture sales, pool supplies, outdoor toy clearance, outdoor furniture, pre-Labor Day sales of back-to-school wear, cereal, breakfast bars, peanut butter, jelly, lunch meat, cheese, yogurt, chips, snack cakes, cookies, soda, bottled water, drink boxes. This is also the best month to buy a new computer as stores clear out their showrooms to make space for new models.

September ~ Storewide Labor Day sales on fall and some winter fashions, school equipment sales, computers, calculators, briefcases, major housewares sales of the year, cutlery, gadgets, tools, gifts, casual china and glass, small and large appliances (new models come out in September and October so you can get great deals as stores try to clear their showrooms), do-it-yourself home equipment and tools, grills, lawn mower clearance, grill supplies, party supplies, hardware, paint and wallpaper, home entertainment equipment, cereal, breakfast bars, peanut butter, jelly, lunch meat, cheese, yogurt, chips, snack cakes, cookies, hot dogs, ground beef, hamburger and hot dog buns, condiments, salad dressing, canned fruit and vegetables, soups, soda, drink boxes. This is also a good time to purchase a new car as companies start getting new products and need to clear their showrooms.

October ~ Columbus Day sales of outerwear, fall fashions, home furnishings, large appliances, lawn mowers and grills on clearance, floor covering, tires and other car-care supplies, infant needs, pre-season ski sales, canned fruit and vegetables, dried fruit (raisins, apricots, cranberries), soups. This is a great time to purchase an air conditioner as demand is down.

November ~ Halloween clearance candy and costumes (stock up to fill Christmas stockings, decorate gingerbread houses or create a "dress-up box" Christmas gift). Election Day and Veterans Day are associated with the two major pre-winter sales of outerwear for the whole family, fall and winter fashions and accessories, curtain and drapery sales, lamps. Pre-Thanksgiving Day sales of china, glass, tablecloths, silverware, pots, pans, serving pieces, small appliances, turkey, butter, cheese, baking supplies, pie crusts, ready-made dough, dinner rolls, frozen pies, cake mix, frosting, pie filling, spices, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, marshmellows, soup, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, disposable baking pans, cookware. Post-Thanksgiving Day sales (in reality the start of the Christmas shopping season) furs, skates, skis, sleds, bicycles, electronics, tools, carpeting and flooring. Watch for the fresh turkeys to go on clearance the day after Thanksgiving as the store can not sell it frozen; however, you can buy it cheap, take it home and freeze it. This is a great month to purchase a new air conditioner as the demand is down.

December ~ Holiday fashions, infant and toddler clothing and gifts, gourmet foods, ham, butter, cheese, baking supplies, pie crusts, dinner rolls, frozen pies, cake mix, frosting, pie filling, cookie dough, spices, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, soda, disposable baking pans, aluminum foil, plastic wrap. After-Christmas sales like half-price or more Christmas cards, tree trimmings, gift wrap, toys, holiday candy, cakes and cookies, giftware, small home furnishings, electronics, computers, tools, winter clothing. This is also a great month to buy an air conditioner, lawn mower or grill as the demand is down.

SAVE at the Living Green Fair

The Annual Living Green Fair is a FREE family-friendly event that will be held this weekend (May 2, 2009 from 10:00am - 6:00pm and May 3, 2009 from 10:00am - 5:00pm) at the MN State Fair Grounds. The Living Green Fair features exhibitors, vendors, workshops and demonstrations highlighting choices we can make in our every-day lives that are healthier for people and the environment, save us money and time, and improve our overall quality of health and life. Topics covered include: transportation, energy, remodeling, yards and gardens, arts and culture, agriculture, outdoor living, lifestyles and recreation, household products and practices, music, fashion, food and cooking, renewable energy, and more! Take the bus for FREE and you won't even have to pay for parking. So many resources. So much information. And, the price is right! (Just remember to pack a lunch or bring some of the $$ you would have paid for parking so you can eat in the Expo Food Court...Chipotle, the French Meadow Bakery & Cafe, French Crepes, Island Noodles, Galactic Pizza, Smokey's Charbroiler or West Indies Soul Food. Yum!)

Bling

Need (alright ... want) some upgraded jewelry that looks decent but won't break the bank? Visit the SilverJewelryClub where you can pick up promotional sterling silver jewelry for $6.99.

The SilverJewelryClub advertises that they "are a jewelry manufacturing company based in Los Angeles" which "for more than two decades ... have been selling ... jewelry to retailers and wholesalers." They offer promotional pieces of jewelry (both men's and women's) to the consumer for free, except for the cost of shipping and handling, to build a "rapport with jewelry lovers." Jewelry is pretty light and I am sure they have added their costs to the "handling" portion of the fee. However, $6.99 is $6.99 no matter what you call it. I have ordered pieces from this company and, like most silver, the pieces do tarnish over time if you do not store them away from air in the ziploc packaging they arrive in. SilverJewelryClub also advertises that their pieces contain amethysts, garnets, citrine, peridot, blue topaz and other gem stones. Frankly, I have no idea if these stones are genuine. However, I do know that the settings are secure, the stones look good, and it's inexpensive.

Please be aware that there is an extra charge ($4) for chains for advertised pendants. Also, when considering the purchase of a ring, please be aware that it comes only in the size advertised. Each piece is available for purchase for only 15 minutes and if you miss it, you can order it for discounted prices (ranging from $39.99 - $159.99) from their full catalog. But... what they don't tell you is that they frequently cycle the same or similar pieces of jewelry through their 15-minute promotions over a number of days. If you keep watching, it will come back. Happy shopping!

Disposals vs Compost

Eek! A reader just tipped me off to another water guzzler. The Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the average garbage disposal uses one gallon of water every minute. Composting would be a much better way of getting rid of your food waste Reduce.org explains all the science behind effective composting; however, if you just want the bottom line (we all have days like that) RethinkRecycling.com has a quick and easy recipe for:

COMPOST: A Recipe for Good Clean Dirt
Courtesy of Hennepin County Environmental Services Department

Like a simple recipe, your compost pile needs the right ingredients in order to produce the best results. In general, add three parts of dry ingredients (leaves, dry grass, or shredded paper) to one part wet food waste. The optimal moisture feel for compost is best described as being similar to a wrung-out sponge. In addition, you will want to add equal amounts (by inches, not weight) of green and brown ingredients for the right amounts of nitrogen and carbon to provide adequate protein and energy for the microbes that will work to break your waste down into dirt.

Ingredients:
Vegetable and fruit scraps, rinds and peels
Coffee Grounds and filters
Tea leaves and tea bags
Egg shells
Nut shells
Plant trimmings
Fresh Grass and leaf trimmings

Hair

Dried grasses and leaves

Straw

Woodchips

Twigs and branches

Sawdust

Shredded Newspaper

corncobs and stalks

1. Place bin in a convenient location for easy access.
2. Add materials and ingredients and lightly mix.
3. Keep the pile moist but not wet.
Turn the pile with a pitch fork or shovel at least monthly.

WARNING: Do not add fats or animal products to your compost pile including: butter, cheese, or dairy products; meat or bones; gravies or sauces; or, pet wastes.

For more information about composting food and yard waste, please visit http://www.rethinkrecycling.com/ or call Hennepin County Environmental Services at 612.348.3777.

Save $$ on your Water Bill

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that, on average in the United States, 183 gallons of water are used per person per day. Adding just one person to your household for the summer (based on 90 days) can add 16,470 gallons of water to your bill! The following is a list from the University of Minnesota Extension Service of some typical water uses and the approximate water use generated:

Washing machine 50—60 gallons/load
Bathtub 30 gallons half full
Shower 5 gallons per minute
Toilet 6 gallons/flush
Sink 2 gallons brushing teeth
3—5 gallons shaving

The Extension Service suggests reducing the quantity of water used by changing to a more efficient toilet, turning off the water flow while brushing teeth and shaving, and shortening showers.

Your utility bill could also be too high because you have a plumbing problem. To determine this, go to your meter (most meters will be located in your basement utility room or outside your home) and write down the number listed. If you notice that the small red circle on the dial face is spinning and you are not knowingly using water, you likely have a plumbing problem. After reading the meter, use no water for at least two hours. Take a second reading. The numbers should be the same. If the reading has changed, something on the property is pulling water through the meter.

The Minnesota Rural Water Association (MRWA) reports that a low-flow toilet that runs continuously can use as much as 4,000 gallons of water per day and a standard toilet that runs continuously can use as much as 11,520 gallons of water per day. If you are billed $2.99 per thousand gallons of usage, a continuously running toilet could result in a quarterly water bill for over $3,000.00. To check your toilet for leaks, remove the lid from the tank, flush to clear the water in the bowl, drop in one leak-detecting dye tablet or a few drops of food coloring (start with five drops to see if the water darkens enough) and then wait 15 minutes. If colored water appears in the toilet bowl without additional flushing, there is a leak. This type of leak is typically associated with the plunger ball, flapper valve, and/or the rubber gasket at the bottom of the tank.

Make sure all faucets turn off completely. According to the MRWA, a slow drip can use as much as 5,000 gallons per month. A steady stream can mean a water usage increase of 21,000 gallons per month adding $260.00 to your quarterly water bill. Check all indoor & outdoor faucets for leaks or drips. Worn washers or O-rings can cause your faucets to leak. If the leak can't be fixed, you may have to replace the faucet. Remember, if hot water is leaking, this not only costs you in water usage but in energy usage as well. Your shower head should be checked to be sure that it doesn't drip. If it does, it should be repaired or replaced.

Check to make sure that the water level float is not stuck open on your water softeners, water filters, water heaters, and automatic pool fillers. Water softeners use 40—60 gallons of water per recharge cycle. If it continuously cycles through, it could be disastrous for your utility budget. Be sure these items are adjusted to be recharged only as often as needed for the amount of water actually used.

Paperback Swap

I try to be "good" and hit the library sales and garage sales. when indulging my tendency towards bibliophilia. However, I can't always find what I want and I never seem to find a good sale when I need (okay, okay... want) a new book. If this sounds like you, consider signing up for PaperBackSwap. Register for free by simply typing in your name, a mailing address, and an email address. Then, use your two free book credits to order some new gently used books.

Once you request a book, the member owning the book will mail it to your home for free. Add to PaperBackSwap's database of books by creating your virtual bookshelf. Just type in the ISBN (found by the UPC symbol on each book) of all of the paperback, hardcover, and audio books you are finished with. If another member requests a book from you, you simply wrap it up, take it the Post Office and mail it at the media mail rate (significantly lower than regular postage.) You earn one credit and can choose a new book for every book you mail to someone else.

PaperbackSwap offers a similar service at seperate websites for movie fanatics and audiophiles.

The Samurai Appliance Repair Man

Fixitnow.com is an amazing resource for do-it-yourselfers (and DIY wanna-bes.) It offers Appliance Repair FAQs for dishwashers, garbage disposals, dryers, general appliances, icemakers, microwaves, ovens, ranges, refrigerators, stoves, and washers. Topics addressed range from "How do I load my dishwasher most efficiently" and "Where have all the tradespeople gone?" to "Eek! My washer is full of suds, won't drain, and is throwing an LD error code" and "How do I replace the motherboard in a GE refrigerator." If you can't find what you need in the FAQ tutorials, the Samurai Appliance Repair Man offers a forum offering interactive repair assistance. And, if you need a part to complete your repair job, while you are always welcome to peruse your local hardware or appliance parts store, you can just click on the link to RepairClinic.com and have parts shipped right to your door. RepairClinic.com also offers DIY assistance from the RepairGuru; however, the RepairGuru is all business and is not as amusing as the Samurai Appliance Repair Man. Fixitnow.com also offers troubleshooting help for air conditioners, dehumidifiers, freezers, and trash compactors, subscriptions to an appliance repair newsletter, and a series of calming Appliance Repair haikus. The only fee for using this service is a requested donation to the United Samurai Beer Fund.

The Samurai Appliance Repair Man does offer house calls but, as he resides in New Hampshire, this may not be a money saving idea for the typical southwest metro area MN resident. Become a fan on Facebook and or a follower on Twitter though. It will be almost a good - and it's free!

Twin Cities Free Market

So...What is the Free Market?

The Free MarketSM is a listing service connecting free, reusable items with people who want them. It is part of an effort to reduce the amount of reusable goods being thrown away.

How does the Free Market work?

The Free Market website allows you to see what items people in your community are looking for or what items people have to give away, and how to reach them so you can make an exchange. You can add your wanted or available items to the list, so you can be contacted by someone who has an item that you need or someone who is interested in an item you have to give away. Typically, the person requesting the item will make arrangements to pick up the item directly from the person giving it away or to meet at an agreed upon place to complete the exchange.

What kind of stuff can be exchanged?

Below is a sample of categories and items you can list and may be able to find through the Free Market:

• Appliances (air conditioners, microwaves, washers & dryers)
• Children’s Items (bunk beds, cribs, furniture, toys)
• Electronics (answering machines, cameras, computers, TVs, VCRs)
• Furniture (chairs, couches, desks, dressers, tables)
• Home Decor (carpets, lamps, rugs)
• Home Renovation (cabinets, countertops, lumber, shingles, sinks, tiles)
• Lawn & Garden (dirt, lawn furniture, lawn mowers, patio bricks, wood chips)
• Marine Equipment (boats, sailboats, motors, trailers)
• Musical Instruments (band & orchestra equipment, music stands)
• Pet Equipment (aquariums, cages, dog houses, food bowls)
• Recreation & Exercise (bicycles, camping, exercise & sports equipment, ski machines)
• And much more!

So, is there anything that can not be listed?

There are actually very few items that cannot be listed on the Free Market. These items include: Household hazardous wastes (paint, pesticides, etc) • Safety items (bike helmets, car seats) • Live animals • Plants • Motor vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles etc. Any title-bearing vehicle) • Firearms • Items for sale • Advertisements for services • Garage sale advertisements • Bulletin board or chat-style listings or running threads of commentary.

Explanations are excerpts from the Twin CIties Free Market website at http://www.twincitiesfreemarket.org/index.cfm.