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 Printers Recycle Recycled 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 6, 2016

I’m always on the look out for investment books I haven’t yet read. I pick up a lot of them at garage sales for 25 cents to a $1. One I obtained in that manner is “The Sound Mind Investing Handbook” by Austin Pryor. My copy has a copyright date of 2008. Much of the information in it is basic personal finance guidance (with a biblical twist).

401K 100

401K Money Emergency Fund Goals 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 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

MARCH 8, 2016

After a number of years of ‘making do or doing without’ a person discovers ways of doing things that work – using minimal resources. Here are a few things I’ve come up with or utilized over my 67 years on the planet. Shower stalls. If the sealer around the bottom of your shower (the one between the tiles and the shower base) starts gathering mildew, don’t rip out and redo the sealer until you try bleach.

Work 100

Work Frugal Cleaning Green And Frugal 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 31, 2015

It’s soon to be 2016, and like every year, you hope that it’s going to be the best year you’ve ever had. Most of us go into the New Year with high hopes. We set New Year’s resolutions and goals and sometimes even make small “investments” (like gym memberships) to work toward achieving them. Most resolution setters don’t make it past January, and by the time the first quarter of the year is over, we’ve forgotten about our resolutions all together.

2016 100

2016 Making Goals Building 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 14, 2015

Do you want to be happy? Most members of the human race do. The pursuit of happiness is common across the globe. Why is that? Is there a greater purpose in the human desire to be happy? I think so. It seems to me that seeking happiness is built into our evolutionary requirements. I think we are hard wired to seek happiness. Darwin agreed, according to Psychology Today article Happiness: ultimately it’s genetic!

Psychology 100

Psychology San Francisco Evolve Goals 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 16, 2015

In my Grandma Rie’s Money Camp this year, I started teaching the grand kids about selling – how to do it and how advertisers sell to us. On the how to sell side, we covered topics such as: Finding the right customers for your product or service. Getting to know what those right customers want and need. Showing the customers why what you are selling meets their need or want.

Money 100

Money Toys Soda May 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 11, 2015

We purchased a vacation condo in a local resort area in 2006 (yep, right before the crash). My sister-in-law and her husband had one that they used and rented out and indicated that it was doing well. That gave me the idea to start looking around for one too. I wanted a place for our family to gather – adult children and grandchildren along with us.

Vacation 100

Vacation Rent Taxes Grandchildren 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 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

APRIL 22, 2015

'Most of the time, it’s better to be attractive than it is to be non-attractive. Much to the chagrin of this barely average-looking guy. Attractive people have a certain pull. I once spent three hours over at a female friend’s house setting up her internet. She showed up in my office one day, gave me the sweetest smile she could muster, and I was putty in her hands.

Re-use 100

Re-use At&T Psychology Makeup 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 16, 2015

'Millions of people live with chronic pain on a daily basis. Although some medications can help, when pain is ongoing they may not seem like the healthiest solution. If a condition is predicted to deteriorate, sufferers may want to avoid prescription medication, as a tolerance can build up limiting choices and leaving no solution for when the pain worsens.

Cycle 100

Cycle Hobby Activism May 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 17, 2015

'I bet your gut response was YES. When I was growing up (poor), Mom and Dad raised me to think that we were better off financially than our neighbors. Accordingly, I learned to think we were a middle class family. Although that probably wasn’t true, by the numbers, it was true for us psychologically. After all, we were just as good as the next family, right?

Polls 100

Polls New York City Debt Wichita 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 12, 2015

'If you’re interested in earning a higher salary, learning new skills and having a greater chance at landing your dream job, going back to school is a great way to achieve those goals. And if you only have a high school education, it’s well-known that getting a bachelor’s degree will allow you to earn more throughout your life than if you stopped at the high school level.

Student 100

Student Frugal College Education 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

'I retired four and a half years ago from my job as a software project manager. Part of my reason for retiring was that I wanted more flexible work hours and wanted to do something different. If you are retired, you want to have more than one source of income available. That way, if one dries up, you have others to fall back on. Here are some opportunities with which I have personal experience.

Son 100

Son Vacation Money Cleaning 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 19, 2015

'During the winter, it becomes especially important to care for your skin. With the heaters blowing warm air around, it’s common to end up with dry skin, and that can lead to other skincare issues. The good news is that there are plenty of skincare remedies to be found right in your kitchen. Here are some of my favorite skincare remedies — found right in your kitchen. 1.

Kitchen 100

Kitchen Soda Baking Steep 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 28, 2015

'We’re a few weeks into the new year. If you’re like many people, you made New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you vowed to give up smoking or go to the gym every day, or lose 50 pounds. How are you doing with your goals? Are you still motivated, or have you given up already? Chances are, you’ve already given up and are back to your old behavior. If so, you’re in good company.

Goals 100

Goals Contest Win 2015 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 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 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 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

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 30, 2014

'#117046655 / gettyimages.com. The proverbial saying ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’ is used by many a parent in denying some wished for item to their children. Well, kids, your parents lied to you – money does grow on trees. The trees are your investment accounts. A money tree starts out growing slowly, so small at first that you don’t even think it is there.

Virginia 160

Virginia Money Real Estate Growing 160

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 24, 2014

'#108286649 / gettyimages.com. This summer, we joined a homeschooling group. I met Stacy and liked her immediately. She is a mom to three kids, like me, and her kids are close in age to mine. She has a bubbly personality, and she takes an active role in the homeschool group. She hosts three different activities at her house every month for the group, and her children are also involved in several extracurricular activities.

Women 160

Women Kids and Family Menu Planning Menu Plans 160

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 18, 2014

'#476805823 / gettyimages.com. I have an older brother who has no spouse, no children or other heirs. We are both in our sixties now and have been through the deaths of both Mom and Dad, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and more. I am his closest living blood relative, we have no other siblings. We have jointly handled our parents estate but we have never talked through (with each other) how we want our own estates handled by the other.

Grandchildren 162

Grandchildren Brother Aunt Donation 162

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 16, 2014

'Four years ago, I started my main blog. Since then, I have branched out into several different areas of online entrepreneurship – everything from ecommerce, to niche websites, to other blogs and freelancing. When I speak to most people about my online ventures, they are interested, but when I tell them that I do it all on the side of my day job, most of them would say that they don’t have enough time and leave it at that.

Building 167

Building Television Televisions Bricks 167

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 11, 2014

'The other day, at the office, I had a crazy busy morning. I was in meetings, on calls, and rushing to and from commitments until the afternoon. After eating lunch, my whole body felt heavy. I wasn’t as active as I was in the morning, so sitting at my desk doing some head-down work was making me sleepy. I felt so sluggish that I desperately wanted to take a nap and come back refreshed.

Food and Drink 172

Food and Drink Lunch Lunches Music 172

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 28, 2014

'Are you a grandparent? Chances are, if you have kids, you will become one some day. That first grandchild is so exciting. Your kid is having a kid! It connects you to the future. Here are four things I learned after having grandchildren. They aren’t my children! My Aunt and Uncle used to take each of their grandchildren on a trip when they reached the ripe old age of 8.

Grandchildren 160

Grandchildren Parenting Kids and Family Couch 160

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 22, 2014

'We have been told for decades by health professionals and exercise physiologists that, for exercise to be effective, we need to be active for a minimum of 30 minutes on most days of the week. The experts even say that for weight loss and fitness, this needs to be increase to 45 minutes to an hour each session. New research has busted this belief and the advantages of micro exercise are hard to refute.

Advantage 174

Advantage Fitness Activism Pace 174

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 21, 2014

'When I was 9, my dad, who worked a factory job, was laid off. This was in the 1980s, deep in the recession. He couldn’t find a job for another two years. Money was very, very tight. For the first time in my parents’ lives, they had to rely on food stamps. They were embarrassed to use them, but they didn’t have much choice. After all, they had two children and themselves to feed.

Plants 160

Plants Gardening Garden Home and Garden 160