Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 18, 2017

A lot of people are very dissatisfied with their job, are you one of them? I recently learned that one of my own vehemently hates his job, so this one is for you CAH. Doing something every day that you dread, something that makes you fume, something that makes your stomach churn and your sleep restless is extremely bad – for your health, for your family, for your friends and for your life.

Work 133

Work At&T Goals Kids and Family 133

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 8, 2017

My spouse and I have gained quite a bit of experience planting bushes, trees and flowers over the years. Our two biggest experiences were in planting thousands of pine seedlings from the state nursery on our 40 acre farm (in our younger years)and planting around 3000 spring flowering bulbs on our current 6 acres. In between we have planted everything from rose bushes to azalea bushes to fruit and nut trees to vegetable plants and grass.

Finance 133

Finance Growing Flowers and Plants Gardening 133

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 31, 2016

I’ve recently been reading up on survival preparedness in case of a loss of power for lengthy periods of time. Residents of developed nations are dismally dependent on electricity to make it through their days. Without power, nothing works – for most of us – no lights, no heat, no air conditioning, no entertainment, possibly no communication, maybe even no running water.

Green 113

Green Plumbing Home and Garden Food and Drink 113

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 22, 2016

It wasn’t so very long ago that most North Americans were self-sufficient. Many families remember a time, not too far gone, when their ancestors lived in a rural community without the benefit of electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, central heat or air conditioning. Instead they had a well, an outhouse, a wood burning stove for heat and another for cooking.

Canning 100

Canning At&T Gardening Garden 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 20, 2016

When it comes to going on holiday, it is important that we indulge ourselves with luxury. These vacations are where you are able to escape everyday reality, unwind and recharge your batteries. Not only this, but it is also a fantastic opportunity to see and explore amazing areas of the world and soak up a unique culture. Although it is important to indulge in luxury whilst on holiday, it is also important to ensure that your trip is as eco-friendly and green as possible.

Holiday 100

Holiday Recycle Recycled Recycling 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

Over the weekend, during a family visit, I had a conversation with one of my nephews – a thirty something husband, father and CFO of a small company. He is a wanna be entrepreneur and has had several ideas but has so far not acted on any of them. His latest idea would allow him to make money while satisfying a lifestyle change desire. He and his family currently live in a home in a suburban subdivision.

Real Estate 100

Real Estate Money Bank Banking 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 4, 2016

The divide between those parents who feel an allowance is beneficial and teaches money management and those who feel it just creates a sense of entitlement is huge. The debate has raged for years and the end is not in sight. My view is that an allowance can be a chance to teach budgeting, opportunity costs and delayed gratification – if done right.

Making 100

Making Budgeting Budget Kids and Family 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 28, 2016

Many businesses around the world want to prioritise sustainability in their business. For businesses that operate with large cashflows and profits, they are in a position to allocate budgets and resources towards developing more sustainable solutions without any significant impacts to their business. However, many small to medium size businesses that want to make a difference are unable to prioritise sustainability simply because the costs outweigh the benefits to them, as well as the difficulty

Office 100

Office Recycle Recycled Recycling 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 17, 2016

Stress is bad for you. That’s old news. However, what we aren’t always aware of is how many of our health problems that are affecting our everyday lives are rooted in chronic stress. We are proponents of getting to the source of the problem and addressing it directly, but sometimes it’s not really an option. Whether it’s a rough patch at work, a messy divorce, or a different troublesome scenario, life cannot be avoided.

Bath and Body Works 133

Bath and Body Works Birth Control Cycle Work 133

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 18, 2016

Once again, Spring is approaching. As I was doing some yard work a couple of days ago, I noticed my neighbor tilling up a vegetable garden spot in his back yard – a sure sign of spring! Here are 4 thrifty gardening tips for you if you are planning a garden this year. Tip # 1 – Go thrifty on seeds and plants. Save your seeds. If you buy organic non-hybrid fruits or vegetables, you can save your seeds and plant them, year after year.

Thrifty 100

Thrifty Gardening Garden Flowers and Plants 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 14, 2016

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome refers a painful condition where compression of an important nerve leads to throbbing pain in hands and fingers. The pain can be contributed by repetitive movements over a course of time. Other reasons could include fluid retention. Symptoms to help identify the condition include numbness or a burning sensation in the problem area.

Simple 100

Simple Home Activism Cameras 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 11, 2016

Furniture is expensive, no doubt about it. In spite of the expense, some of the newer furniture is much less well made than older pieces. Whether you are just starting out; wanting to freshen up your own older items; or furnishing a second home, furniture buying can make a big dent in your budget. But there are ways to save – consider used furniture.

Re-use 100

Re-use Used Furniture Furniture Recycle 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 4, 2016

What do you think it takes to get rich? Some would say luck – as in winning a lottery. Others might point out the importance of a good education. Many would mention the need for a high and steady income. Still others might hint that an inheritance would do the trick. Of course, some would say that you would have to invent an incredibly popular new thing (like the iPhone) to get rich.

Goals 100

Goals Friends And Family Sale Money Activism 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 31, 2015

Many people, approaching or in their forties, despair – thinking their life is over now that they are sooooo old. As someone now in their sixties, let me tell you that your forties are a really great phase of life! Behind you are years and years of mastering the skills associated with your growing body; learning how to behave to get along in your society; hour upon hour in school being educated; days and months of becoming proficient in a trade or career; and seemingly endless hours of pra

Money 100

Money Kids and Family Home and Garden Parenting 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 29, 2015

There are few healthier and better ways to save money than organically growing your own fruit and vegetables in your own garden. This allows you to not only take constant care in monitoring the growth of your produce, but it also lets you strictly supervise the cost of producing your goods, which you’ll find is significantly cheaper than purchasing them from the local grocer.

Grow Your Own 100

Grow Your Own Growing Saving Money Money 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 28, 2015

You raised your kids and now they are gone! Empty Nesters at last. After years of worry, expense, teaching and fun you are free of the legal and financial responsibility related to your off spring. After years of hard work, assume you are now in the peak of your earning years and have managed to amass a sizable estate. You can, if you want, take those hard earned assets and enjoy the ultimate lifestyle, or you can decide to start a tradition of annual gifting, from one generation to the next.

Giving 100

Giving Taxes Son Money 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 16, 2015

Making the world a better, healthier, and more sustainable place for future generations is certainly no easy task; if you’re researching environmental law programs , you’ve taken the first step toward making a difference. There are myriad environmental issues fighting for our attention – one of the biggest being energy consumption and its environmental impact.

Vermont 100

Vermont Appliances Building Saving Money 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 15, 2015

One of the most difficult challenges in life is when your partner isn’t on the same page you are. In some cases, this might not be a big deal. Your partner might not like the same movies you do, so you go to a movie once a month with your friends. Maybe you don’t care about playing video games, so you quietly read a book while your partner enjoys video game time.

Health 100

Health Video Games Activism Goals 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 14, 2015

'Recycling is great for the environment and we should all be doing it (in spite of my title), but reusing is even better. When you can reuse or re-purpose an item, you are not only saving it from the landfills, but you are also saving the expense and energy which would have been expended when you recycle. Of course there are personal benefits as well – you save money by not buying or by buying used and you save money by not paying sales taxes for a new item.

Reuse 100

Reuse Recycle Recycled Recycling 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 7, 2015

'Happy New Year! You know how they say that how you ring in the New Year is a good indication of how your year will be? Well, that’s probably because many of us wait until we have a fresh start, like that of a New Year, to put our goals into action and start working on our resolutions. Since we just celebrated the New Year, now is the best time to clean up your finances.

Goals 100

Goals Financial Goals New Year's Budgeting 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 1, 2015

'Years ago, I lacked self esteem – although I had lots of encouragement from my parents I was a shy girl, who felt inferior to others. Over the years, with effort and with each ensuing success, I have gained self-confidence. It helps me be happier and it helps me step up to challenges. Neel Burton, a psychiatrist and author of Psychology Today article Building Confidence and Self-Esteem puts it this way: “People with long-term low self-esteem generally see the world as a hostile pla

Building 100

Building Aunt At&T Psychology 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 29, 2014

'Change is inevitable, yet we humans seem hardwired to resist it. I did for years. Many years into my career, however, I learned 3 things about change. Here they are. Successful people embrace change. One of my biggest work opportunities came as a result of embracing change. I was a manager of a technical staff who needed to be ready at any time of the day or night to fix computer glitches and other bumps in the night for our clients.

Software 186

Software Work Election Airline 186

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 28, 2014

'The holidays are, hands down, one of the most environmentally unfriendly holidays of the year. Pair that with Thanksgiving right before it and it makes me squirm just thinking about it. Christmas comes fraught with environmental issues. Not only are consumers in a mania to get their kids a whole bunch of poorly made, plastic toys manufactured in plants that pump a ridiculous amount of chemicals into the air, but also, households ramp up their carbon footprints by using more water, cleaning prod

Green 167

Green Christmas Food Waste Leftovers 167

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 25, 2014

'We are gearing up to close down the year. Have you wrapped up your finances for the year? Here are items you probably want to take care of before the calendar year ends – if they affect you. Get business expenses paid. If your business is run on a calender basis (as mine are), you want to get all of your expenses paid out before the end of the year or you might lose beneficial deductions.

December 178

December Taxes Converse Money 178

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 22, 2014

'Over and over again I hear the same thing: People claiming they don’t have time to do something important, like work out, make extra money, or any other important cornerstone of life like building meaningful relationships. But more often than not, that same person spends at least a half hour if not more time in front of the television each day.

Television 167

Television Televisions Couch Watches 167

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 21, 2014

'Most people know deep down that riches are not measured by dollars alone. Having lots of money doesn’t make you rich, it just gives you options. But what does make a person rich? Most folks would say: good health, loving family and friends. While I do agree with this assessment, there are a few more things that I feel make our now living generations richer than previous ones, no matter what our bank accounts look like.

United States 162

United States Money Plumbing Mobile Phone 162

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 18, 2014

'Minimalism is a way of life. Minimalists like to limit their possessions, which frees them to spend more time on the things that are truly important to them. After all, if you’re not busy earning more money to buy stuff, and you don’t have to clean and organize that stuff, you have a lot more time on your hands. Apparently, minimalism goes beyond simply owning fewer possessions and also encompasses anything that can be clutter in our lives, including the internet.

At Home 169

At Home Home Phones Library 169

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 16, 2014

'(Photo credit: Wikipedia). You probably don’t want an extra 5 pounds of fat for Christmas, do you? Yeah, neither do I, but with eggnog and hot chocolate and candy laying around everywhere, not to mention the several feasts that happen around this season, get togethers with friends over long and decadent dinners, and all of the baking that suddenly appears at the office, it can be nearly impossible to stave off the extra weight if you aren’t careful.

Holiday 157

Holiday Office Green And Frugal Cookies 157

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 15, 2014

'Are the men around you angry? Mine sometimes is. One of the things that seems to bother him is that he sees a male dominated world disintegrating. Men raised in earlier times think it is necessary for some things to remain solely for men. Things like joining the service, working in construction, being an airline pilot, going to space, becoming a CEO and etc.

Equal 162

Equal Women Mens Work 162

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 14, 2014

'The email sat in my inbox for a few days unopened and unread. From the subject line I knew exactly what it was, but I wanted no part of it because I knew the effect it would have on my family’s budget. It was the email that arrives each November informing me that the information regarding our health care coverage options for the next calendar year was available for review, and the enrollment period would be opening soon.

Health Care 187

Health Care Budgeting Budget Gasoline 187

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 11, 2014

'I always loved Christmas as a child (what kid doesn’t?!), but I love it even more now that I have kids and get to watch their joy. If I’m not careful, I could easily spend a lot of money making their Christmas memorable, but I don’t have to. Whether you’re on a budget or simply want to spend modestly, there are plenty of low-cost ways you can enjoy the holidays with your kids.

Christmas 174

Christmas Kids Lowes Kids and Family 174

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 9, 2014

'The other day, I woke up, and got straight to work. I powered through until lunch and got all of my work done on my to-do list in just five hours. This is work that I thought would take closer to ten hours, but because I was productive and got down to it with hardly so much as a breath of a break, I got it done in half the amount of time – without sacrificing quality.

Work 180

Work Simple Motivation Cleaning 180

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 8, 2014

'Back in my teens and early twenties, Mom used to yell at me about not carrying enough cash. She envisioned me running out of gasoline and not being able to get home. At the time, I didn’t have credit cards so it was a valid concern. Either I would be walking or using my last quarter in the pay phone to call home and beg someone to come get me.

Used 180

Used Credit Cards Gasoline Consumer 180

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 7, 2014

'(Photo credit: Wikipedia). If you haven’t already heard about peer lending, it’s likely that you soon will. The largest loan company, Lending Club, is getting ready to issue stock on the New York Stock Exchange and the media are already all over the story. Online lending has jumped over the last year. It took Prosper Marketplace eight years to originate its first billion in loans.

Debt 188

Debt Personal Finance Finance Credit 188

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 4, 2014

'#152891501 / gettyimages.com. The advantages of homemade baby food are numerous, nearly endless. Making homemade baby food is beyond easy, it really doesn’t take much time and baby will choose it over that jar of flavorless mush any day, and that doesn’t even begin to hit on the nutritional benefits of home preparation. Some major benefits of homemade baby food include: · Lower cost baby foods. · Higher nutritional content since food is freshly prepared for baby. · Paren

Homemade 167

Homemade Baby Food Parenting 167

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 2, 2014

'#BA60380 / gettyimages.com. We live in a fast-paced society where everyone is busy and living at a hectic pace. This hectic pace of life can easily lead to stress and it is important to know ways to avoid burnout. What is burnout? Burnout is described as physical, emotional and mental exhaustion which leaves people unable to cope with their daily lives.

Simple 186

Simple Pace Food and Drink Work 186

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 1, 2014

'Here we are, just weeks left in 2014. If you’re like me, you’re scratching your head and wondering how time went so quickly. The New Year brings a chance to make a fresh start and improve our lives. One of the best ways to do that is to set realistic goals. In fact, one of my favorite things to do at the end of December each year is to set financial goals for the new year.

Goals 209

Goals Financial Goals December Motivation 209