Category Archives: Environment

Will Google Enable Us To Finally Go Paperless?

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Even though I consider myself to be frugally “green”, I’m guilty of still receiving plenty of paper from mail statements that show my brokerage account activities and other important documents.  I also would buy paper at the store (notebooks and such) to doodle ideas on and keep track of things such as list and research on various topics.

While the doodling my ideas on paper is still something that I will continue to do, the other forms of paper use are starting to go on the decline because my increase use of Google Documents.

How I Started Using Google Documents

One day, I was taking my lunch at the library, when I tried to log into a site that required a login and password (I have at least 100 of these).  Sure enough, I couldn’t remember what either my account name or password was (grrr).  This is when I started creating a spreadsheet of low risk online sites that I would record certain data about the various site names and URLs that I’ve visited, along with the corresponding accounts and passwords.  By doing this, I instantly have this information at my virtual fingertips without having to carry around a notebooks of passwords (never a safe thing to do).

Sometimes, I would be in my “Sites, Accounts and Passwords” google spreadsheet and I will notice a site that I haven’t logged onto recently but that I knew was a good site.  So in that way, it also helps me remember things too!

Evolution of A Google Documents User

From my extremely useful passwords spreadsheet, I started using google documents for number crunching, to-do list, and other things that formerly existed in a paper form.

Perhaps the biggest impact is that I started putting my business information and systems into the spreadsheets.  There is nothing better than having access to your business information at all times.  You could be in the doctor’s office, waiting to pick up your kids, etc and at the same time be working on your business documents or planning something important.  This is a win-win.

Future of My Google Documents Use

The awesome thing about the google documents is that they use a JavaScript type language to script out task.  The scripts combined with a time/scheduler in google enables things to run automatically.  This is very powerful!  You could create simple applications in google documents that could make your life much simple.

All in all, this is a great way to go especially when you consider that Google Documents is free (vs Microsoft Office).  I’m sure in future, my paper usage will continue to decline…

Have you every tried Google Documents, and what is your take on their office suite?

Going green,

MR

Is Our House Too Cold?

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In the winter, my wife sets the thermostat at 67 to 69 degrees.  My wife will wear multiple layers of clothing to keep warm, but even then, often her hands are ice cold.

At night, our bedroom is colder than the rest of the house, so my wife will cover up with about 4 blankets.  The kids (especially my daughter) and friends that come over to visit are constantly complaining about how cold it is.

So lately, I’ve been thinking… Is it worth it?  After all, doesn’t it lessen our enjoyment that we derive from our house when everybody (except me) is freezing?

Here the funny thing, I’m not as sensitive to the cold (most of the time, I’ll go around in shorts and a t-shirt), but I’m the one that’s always trying to sneak the thermostat up a few degrees so that it reads over 70 degrees.  Kind of ironic huh.  Here I’m the guy turning up the thermostat temperature, but I’m the one least affected!

I’m sure that most likely, my wife grew up in a house where her family would keep the heat down to save on cost.  It’s funny how things we learned as a child sometimes linger with us for a long, long time!

I think the entire family would enjoy a warm cozy house.  Perhaps I’ll have a  discussion with her about buying a programmable thermostat.  That way we can have a house that is nice and cozy when everybody is away but then have the programmable thermostat drop a few degrees (maybe 5) during the night when everybody is wrapped in a few layers of warm blankets already.

This would be a win-win because everybody (including my wife) would enjoy a warmer house, but at night it would drop a few degrees to save some money!

What I would really like to do is sell my current house and then go down south (east or west coast), and consider buying a house with cash, or putting all the money in investments and have the dividend payment pay the mortgage.  I can imagine looking at little house plans now, looking to pick the perfect one…  But this is just a dream…

What is the optimal setting for your thermostat at home?

-MR

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Watching NFL Football, The Best and Worst Value For Your Money

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Today, I’d like to talk about the value of being entertained by NFL Football games.

First, I’d like to talk about the value of buy a ticket and going to the actual football game at the stadium! 

Attending a NFL football games in a stadium can be incredibly expensive versus the value gained!  

  • What happens if your team loses?
  • Is it really worth waiting in the traffic driving to and from the game?
  • Does your stadium vendors take all credit cards?  My team’s stadium only takes Visa, but I own mostly MasterCard credit cards…
  • Do you like to buy small $5.00 plastic cups of beer?  I don’t…
  • Did I mention the cost of  the hotdogs?  Talk about a monopoly…
  • At least the crowds are always so courteous and respectful (lol)
  • Often time, you can only go with a family member or few friends.  After all, who else can afford it?  I can’t…

If you are younger, perhaps it would be a better experience to just tailgate before and during the game?

Now we’ll consider the best value of the NFL entertainment.

  • At home Football parties!  If these are rotated between your friend’s houses, it can be a great time!
  • Fantasy football!  For some, this will make football very enjoyable (I know I do via this game).  Being at home means you can sit on the waiver wire (am I being too obsessive…, perhaps a bit)
  • This can also be a great family experience.  We all root for our home team.
  • Buying beer, pop and food at home (for a party) is much cheaper than the cost of stadium food!
  • No long drives home!
  • You can invite all your friends, and their friends over.
  • You can root more loudly, and laugh more fully!

So I guess it comes down to how you value your NFL football viewing experience! 

It’s definitely worth going to the stadium a few times just to experience the raw enthusiasm and emotions of the crowd. 

Everybody has their own individual take on the it, but as a frugal personal finance blogger, I go for what I consider the maximum value!  So I usually pass on going to the stadium (unless I can go for free, thanks to richer friends)!  Besides, I have a better time at home with friends, where it’s affordable. 

Am I missing some additional value to be gained by going to the statium?    Please do tell…

Occasionally, we go to the home high school football stadium games where we support our high school team, perhaps that’s enough stadium experience for us.

-MR

Family Fun Night Goes Frugal

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Our local school system implemented a “Family Fun Night” throughout the city schools!

No homework was to be assigned from any of the teachers, and the kids were encouraged to do something with the entire family.

So at first, my wife suggested going to eat and then doing something.  Next, I said “well how about going out to a movie”. 

 

Then we asked our kids what they wanted to do.  

My son wanted us all to do to the park and build a fort in the woods.  By “build a fort” he means a spot in the woods that would be cleared and a few pieces of dead wood be leaned against smaller trees.  So we wouldn’t be building with a hammer and nails per say…  Since it was cooler out by that point in the day, my wife wasn’t so keen on this idea.

My daughter didn’t want to go out at all, she had started playing the WII Petshop video game.

 

Family Plan

So I suggested sitting down and playing Yahtzee (I knew my wife would like that, besides my kids are too young to play Texas hold-em poker).

In the end, my son convinced everyone to go down in the basement and play a quick game of darts, followed by a crazy game of ping-pong.  We started playing a regular game, but then we started hitting 2 balls at the same time.  It was plain crazy!  There were some hilarious moments where both my son and daughter would end up on the floor crying because they were laughing so hard.

My wife and I had our share of chuckles too.  So I can honestly say that it was a great experience for the entire family.

As the kids went to bed, my son mentioned a few times that this was one of the best Family Fun Nights ever…

The real beauty, was the fact that we all derived value out of the experience and the entire experience was totally free! 

Another win-win!

-MR