TIRESOME TUESDAY

Aloha kãkou! (Hello Everyone) How are you this tiresome Tuesday morning? Me… well not real groovy actually, but like Gloria Gaynor “I will survive” LOL! Congrads to my mom on the new additions to the edible yard and to Tabitha, no I have actually never been to Hawaii. My grandmother and Uncle lived there for about 15 years I think though… that was the closest I got LOL! But it’s a lovely place I’ve been told.



I wasn’t feeling particularly great yesterday and that made me not feel so crafty. But I did manage to pump out a couple of things. The first was more Beer cap earrings. No my DH did not drink this beer, he went for a walk and found them in the parking lot around the corner! Nothing like free materials! I gave them a nice long soak & scrub in a bleach bath, and then wham… cute little earrings. LOL DH was so proud, he snapped a picture with his phone and sent it to everyone he knows and they are already wanting to buy some LOL!



This is the “master centerpiece” LOL. It will either go on Madison’s table (which is where SHE wants it LOL) or the gift table. I really never intended to make this, but looking at all the “spare parts” I started piddling LOL. DD says she loves it when I piddle because I come up with the coolest things LOL! She almost choked me with the bear hug around my neck when she saw it! I think it came out kinda cool, right?

Alright kids, you know I am always looking up (or thinking up LOL) some tips for you about Frugality. I was reading some of the yahoo headlines this morning and this one hit me on the head like a ton of bricks… particularly because I just got a new phone (but paid cash luckily). However, I actually thought this was a good article and wanted to feature it as your frugal news for today!

4 Things That Are More Expensive Than You Think
Mark Riddix
Friday, June 11, 2010

Have you ever given much thought to the real cost of an item, compared to the listed retail price? A perfect example is if you chose to buy a new computer on credit. The real cost of the computer would be the purchase price and the interest that you have to pay. The true cost of an item can often go unnoticed and consumers end up paying much more than they bargained for. Here are four things that are more expensive than you might think.

Active Trading

You might believe that it would be exciting to become a daytrader because you can get rich by aggressively buying and selling stocks. All you have to do is buy an investment and sell it for more than you paid. That sounds pretty easy! There are even television shows, software and blogs devoted to helping you with your daytrading. So, should you start actively trading your account in hopes of getting rich? Not if you want to hold onto your hard-earned money.

The only person who is guaranteed to get rich from your constant buying and selling is your stockbroker. Brokerage firms absolutely love customers that actively trade their account. The brokerage firm makes money regardless of whether a stock increases in value or decreases because they charge commissions on every buy and sell order. You could end up paying thousands of dollars a month in commissions, just for the privilege of trading stocks.

Once you see how quickly these commissions eat up your investment return, you won't be in such a rush to quit your day job. This is of course not to say that some don't realize significant profits through day trading, but commissions build up quickly.

Refinancing

Do you remember the refinancing boom of the 2000s? Lots of realtors and loan officers were advising clients to take money out of their homes by refinancing. The theory is that you can get some extra cash by taking the available equity out of your house by extending the years on your payments. Sounds great! Who couldn't use some extra cash to pay off credit card debt or refinish the basement?

Not so fast! Refinancing can cost you more than you think. Not only are you extending your mortgage obligation for more years; you are also draining the equity out of your home. As the recent financial crisis showed, housing prices are not guaranteed to increase. When housing prices drop precipitously as they have over the past few years, you could find yourself owing more money on your new loan than your house is even worth. There is nothing worse than paying a mortgage on a home that you are upside-down in.

Late Fees

Late fees are like little pests that drain your finances and rob you of financial freedom. Creditors are famous for adding late fees to any bill paid after the due date. Late fees may be added to a bill that is one hour late, one day late or one week late. Credit card companies can charge fees up to $35 for late payments, in addition to the interest. Most utility companies charge late fees of $5-10. Cell phone providers, internet carriers, cable and satellite providers will all hit you with at least $5 late fees. Too many people ignore the detrimental effects of late fees by thinking it is only $5 or $10 bucks. Add these little late charges together, and you could be losing hundreds of dollars a year. Over a 30-year time period, you could easily be losing thousands of dollars to late fees. Imagine what that money could be doing for you if you had placed it in your 401(k).

Credit Card Purchases

Credit card purchases should come with the following cautionary warning: This purchase will cost you more than the price advertised! Most credit card users end up paying way more than the stated purchase price. The only exceptions are people that pay their bill in full each month.

Let's say you bought a cell phone for $200 on your credit card and your annual interest rate is 18%. If you don't pay the balance off immediately than you are going to be paying interest on your cell phone purchase. Your $200 cell phone purchase can cost you well over $300 if payments are delayed. Most likely you will not even have the same cell phone a few years later. You could end up owing hundreds of dollars on a $200 item that you don't even use anymore.

The Bottom Line

Small purchases may not appear to be a big deal initially, but over time these little items will end up costing you a whole lot more than you think.

See… Just another tip to help you achieve financial freedom! Ok, as we switch gears now, I think about how you need a craft today… something interesting and fun. Something exciting and new… and of course something totally recycled! I found this instructional for a belt and thought it was pretty neat. You can also do different lengths and make bracelets and headbands and such. So check it out and I hope you like it!



Craft Idea of the Day: Soda Can Tab Belt

Materials:

Soda can tabs(112 makes a 35inch belt)
1cm wide Ribbon or cord

Directions:

Cut the cord into 2 lengths they should be about 10 ft long each. Tie the two cords together about 8 inch in from the ends.

Step 1:

Thread the cords through each hold of one tab.

Thread on a second tab so it overlaps the 1st tab.

Push the cord back through the holes of the second tab and the holds of the first tab. As shown in the picture below.

Step 2-3:

Turn it over and cross over the cords.

Thread the cords (now crossed over) through a third tab.

Push the cord back through the holes of the third tab and the holes in the second tab.

Keep using this pattern until you have a belt big enough for your waist and just knot it when you get to the end. Leave enough cord or ribbon to tie the belt and cut off any remaining cord.

Ok my precious peoples LOL… its time for some kaukau (food). Now I told you that I was going to bring you Luau foods this week. What is the first thing you thing of when you think of a Luau? Yep THE PIG! Now unless you are planning to dig a big hole in your backyard (I know my landlord would SO freak…) I would imagine you could try to do this on a grill or over an open campfire or something. BUT I also am bringing you a classic Hawaiian dessert commonly found at Luau’s! Eat & Enjoy!



Kalua Pig

Ingredients:

1 dozen burlap bags
firewood
about 40-50 imu(round, porous) stones
kerosene
1 pig dressed
five handful Hawaiian(coarse)salt
4'by 4' piece of chicken wire
6-8 dozen ti leaves
4 banana trunks

Directions:

Imu or underground oven:

Dig oblong hole 4 1/2' long by 3'wide and 2 1/2' deep.

Make it larger if pig is larger size. Lay kindling in bottom. Put long stick upright in center of imu. Lay firewood around it using 3-4 bags of wood. Cover wood with imu(round, porous) stones, about 40-50, more if necessary. Make a lighter by wrapping rag around end of long stick. Dip in kerosene. Light. Remove center pole and light kindling through the hole. Burn till wood becomes glowing coals and stones are very hot.

The pig:

1 pig dressed.

Slit between shoulders and ribs to backbone and up to head, being careful not to cut through the skin.

Rub one handful Hawaiian(coarse)salt in slits. Rub 4 handfuls salt inside pig. Put hot stones in slits and opu(abdomen), as many as they will hold. Tie the 4 legs together.

Line 4'by 4' piece of chicken wire with ti leaves. Place pig on it. Then cover hot stones in imu(pit) with 4 banana trunks that have been cut 2' long and crushed with the blunt side of an ax. Lay netting containing pig on banana stalks. cover with 2 dozen banana leaves or 6-8 dozen ti leaves.
Completely cover this with:

1 dozen burlap bags. Cover bags with sand. Allow pig to cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours according to size. Remove sand, bags, leaves, and stones inside pig. Put pig in large container. Cut in generous servings. Serve at once



Haupia

This coconut pudding, haupia, is a staple desert at every Hawaiian luau.

Ingredients:

2 cups coconut milk
1 cup whole milk
6 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 tsp vanilla (if desired)

Preparation:

Pour one cup of coconut milk into a saucepan. Combine sugar and cornstarch stirring into coconut milk. (Add vanilla is desired) Heat over low stirring consistently until thickened.

Add remainder of coconut milk and whole milk and continue to heat until thickened. Pour into 8 inch square pan and chill until firm.

The recipe can be easily modified for personal taste using more or less sugar and cornstarch.

LOL I hardly think the DD would want that monstrous beast at her Momona 'Umi Kumaono (Sweet 16 party) LMAO! But I think it’s cool! LMAO! Okie dokie everybody… time for me to skidaddle so that I can help mom get to therapy today! I hope you have had a blast and maybe a virtual island adventure LOL. And I hope you decide to come back for another visit tomorrow! Take care and see you then… HUGS!