Articles from October 2009
October 31, 2009 | Posted by Clair Schwan
Here’s a cold weather tip for you. Don’t let winter’s freeze and thaw cycle cause the garage door seal to freeze to the concrete floor when the temperature drops overnight. Use table salt to reduce the chance of having your car captured inside the garage simply because of variations in temperature. Whether it’s wind piling [...]
Categories: hints and tips | 
Tags: cold weather tip, hints and tips, self reliance, tips | 
2 Comments »
October 30, 2009 | Posted by Brad Chaffee
Do you embrace self-improvement? People seem to be too busy to reflect upon their shortfalls, but is that healthy? Frankly, I think it is the number one cause of denial. Think about it. When you do not take the time to reflect on your actions, it makes it difficult to realize there is a problem, [...]
Categories: self improvement | Tags: self improvement, self reflection, self reliance | No Comments »
October 30, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
On November 1st, the sun will rise on streets filled with shattered pumpkins. More of the now-useless decorations will festoon garbage cans across the nation. For one brief night the Jack-o-lantern holds court, then is cast aside. This is sad. Pumpkins are an important food source, and a Jack-o-lantern is the first of many possible [...]
Categories: cooking and recipes | Tags: cooking from scratch, hints and tips, self reliance | No Comments »
October 29, 2009 | Posted by Clair Schwan
Making your own fireplace starter is a good way to make use of household waste, and place yourself on a bit more of a self reliant footing. It’s easy to do and provides a great homemade product that starts a fire very nicely in a wood stove, fireplace or other wood heating appliance. The steps [...]
Categories: home energy, how to | Tags: fire starter, fireplace starter, heating with wood, homemade, self reliance | 2 Comments »
October 28, 2009 | Posted by Joan Crain
Winterizing your home and car will give you peace of mind if freezing rain, sleet, blizzards, and heavy snow are common in your neck of the woods. Since winter in North America, where I live, is just beginning, now is a good time to prepare for the worst, while hoping Mother Nature will be gentle [...]
Categories: emergency preparedness, hints and tips | Tags: emergency preparedness, hints and tips, self reliance | No Comments »
October 28, 2009 | Posted by Kristen
Basic cooking skills are some of the most valuable tools a frugal person can have. People who don’t have some general knowledge of cooking end up having to spend a lot of money to eat what is often inferior food. A person who doesn’t cook has to rely on restaurant food, takeout food, fast food, [...]
Categories: cooking and recipes | Tags: basic cooking, self reliance | No Comments »
October 28, 2009 | Posted by Clair Schwan
What is it? Clearly it’s a tool of some sort. Before I show you the answer, let’s take a look at this antique. Made entirely of iron, it’s a set of tongs with sharp points. The interesting part is unlike most tongs we’re familiar with, these have no handles. Instead, there are rings on the [...]
Categories: tools, what is it? | Tags: firewood, self reliance, skidding tongs, tools, what is it? | No Comments »
October 27, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
I’ve discussed the pleasure of loving what we own. Another key to our happiness is being able to let these possessions go when necessary. I have always felt that transience enhances beauty and value. Flowers are more beautiful for their brief life; the joy of a bunch of balloons is enhanced by the shortness of [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: healthy attitudes toward possessions, self reliance, simple living | No Comments »
October 27, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
I adhere to the principal that happiness comes not from owning what you love, but from loving what you own. Compared to most Americans we have very little; what we do own we take pride and pleasure in. We try hard not to take any of it for granted. At the risk of overusing a [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: appreciating what you own, self reliance, simple family living | No Comments »
October 26, 2009 | Posted by Brad Chaffee
Have you ever considered using debt consolidation, or any of the similar buzz words, to eliminate debt? Some call it debt solutions, debt relief, debt settlement, or even debt help, but regardless of how pretty the gift wrap is, they are the same. You pay someone else to eliminate your debt. That doesn’t sound like [...]
Categories: personal finance | Tags: debt consolidation, do it yourself, pay off debt, self reliance | 1 Comment »
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