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 29, 2016

For years, Audi engineers have been looking for a fuel that has zero negative impact on the environment and can also be integrated into existing Audi engines, and transmission and exhaust parts. Even independent inventors and companies alike have launched countless efforts to develop such a game-changing fuel using components like vegetable oil, algae, and organic waste.

Fuel 100

Fuel Plants Cleaning Re-use 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 18, 2016

For the past 8 years, I have owned and rented out a property in the Branson, MO area. As sort of an insider, I have seen ways that “in the know” folks can save on their vacation rental stays. When I say ‘vacation rental’ I am talking about renting a condo, house or cabin directly from the owner or from the owner’s property manager.

Vacation 100

Vacation Saving Money Money Rent 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 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

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 19, 2015

Sometimes I wonder if I am invisible – to marketers that is, especially direct mail marketers and to companies whose services we already use. I am typically the one in my household who makes the purchasing decisions, who does the research and legwork to figure out the best product for the house. I am typically the one who contacts the product and brand representatives.

Women 100

Women Finance Personal Finance Money 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 22, 2015

'Exercise is one of those things that you’re either committed to and gung-ho about, doing it anytime you can and feeling bad anytime you can’t, or the complete opposite. The advantage of being addicted to exercise is that you’re probably fit already and all you need is to tone it down a little. But if you belong to the opposite crowd, those who drag themselves to the gym or fall asleep lacing up their running shoes, then you have bigger fish to fry: lack of motivation.

Motivation 100

Motivation Couch Garage Advantage 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 22, 2015

'We took our 10 year old Grandson on a road trip last summer. We drove for two days straight to get from the Midwest to Virginia, where we toured Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, Fredericksburg and two of our founders plantations. For the drive, his parents allowed him to use his Kindle to read or play games. They have installed parental controls which restrict the times of day he can use the device as well as the time he can spend playing games vs reading books on it.

Parenting 100

Parenting Kids and Family Phones DVD Players 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 19, 2015

'I absolutely love traveling. I love backpacking, camping, hiking , trips to the beach, driving cross country and almost anything that involves me packing up my stuff and heading off into the sunset. Vacations are supposed to be fun activities, where you can relax, unwind and recharge. But sometimes, vacations fail to produce the fun were expecting and stress us out.

Vacation 100

Vacation Clothes Clothing Travel 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 20, 2015

'Northeastern University Online. Go Green and Save Money by Using Free Online Calculators Benefits of Online College Courses The Green Option That Saves You Money: Paper Magazines vs… The Financial Benefits of Online College Sustainable Gift Giving this Holiday Season The post The Evolution of Sustainability appeared first on Prairie Eco-Thrifter.

College 100

College Calculators Green Saving Money 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 19, 2015

'Would you like to end 2015 with a bigger bank account than you currently have? I know I would. Yet, too often we make excuses not to save money, or we feel like our budget is just too tight to save. But it doesn’t have to be. There are tricks you can use to save more money even IF your budget is very tight. Consider these strategies: Save all of your change.

Money 100

Money 2015 Emergency Fund Bills 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 14, 2015

'You’ve sent out so many CVs that paper manufacturers are struggling to keep pace with you. Your covering letters have moved from boastful declarations to tear-stained notes of begging. The draw of daytime telly has lured you into an unemployable abyss, to the point that you like to think of Jeremy Kyle as a mate. But now is not the time to shrug your shoulders and accept a lifetime of dole payments, Everyday Value baked beans and Flog It!

Hunts 100

Hunts Unemployment Pace Travel 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 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 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

NOVEMBER 20, 2014

'My travel a330 (Photo credit: Wikipedia). My husband and I love to travel, but in the early years of our marriage, we couldn’t travel as much as we would have liked to because we thought it was too expensive to travel. There was the gas, the hotel, and the restaurants to pay for. We thought eating in restaurants was a main attraction of travel because you get to try local foods.

Travel 196

Travel Family Hotel Making 196

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 19, 2014

'#139813570 / gettyimages.com. It’s recommended that we do at least half an hour of exercise each day but if you’re anything like most people, this turns out to be an exception rather than the norm. It can often feel impossible to fit exercise into your day when you feel that time is completely against you but with some forward planning and determination, it can be easier than you think.

Fitness 178

Fitness Motivation Goals Lunch 178

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 13, 2014

'#87984987 / gettyimages.com. Increased blood pressure is one of the common illnesses of the 21 st century. It has many causes but sedentary lifestyles, poor diet and stress play major roles in this dangerous condition. The medications used to lower blood pressure have been shown to have adverse side-effects and many patients wish to avoid them. Here are 4 ways to reduce your blood pressure without drugs.

Activism 195

Activism Ranges Work Cycle 195

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

'One of the things I’ve noticed in recent weeks is that my work benefits from organization. I’ve been a little out of sorts because I just packed up and moved across the country. We’ve been putting our new apartment together, and figuring out where everything goes. One of the last things that we put together was my office, so I had to work in relative disorganization for a couple of months.

Organic 210

Organic Organization Office Supplies Couch 210