Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 25, 2017

Why is money so important? It is after all, just a way to trade for the things we need or want – much easier that trading objects. Money has taken on a role bigger than just trade. Money has power. Money has the power to get you out of bed everyday. Most of us like to eat, stay warm and eat a nice meal once in awhile. I order to do so, we must earn money (at least most of us must).

Money 138

Money Staying Warm Tools Vacation 138

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 23, 2017

When I was a young adult, out of college and into my first years of marriage, I cringed at the thought of getting money from my parents. I felt it would give them control over me in some fashion and fiercely wanted my independence. I wanted to prove myself. I thought there would be ‘strings’ attached to the use of the money. Daughters and sons of very wealthy families sometimes want to disown the family wealth in order to prove themselves.

Money 124

Money Family Parenting Kids and Family 124

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

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 25, 2016

Prevention is better than having to deal with a problem due to negligence. If you are looking to improve how you handle waste management, you should be using ways that help you keep the amount of waste at a low level. The more waste products you generate will cost you –unless you have your own means of safely disposing off the waste. Waste is found everywhere from your home, office to schools and other social places.

Simple 100

Simple Recycle Recycled Recycling 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 25, 2016

The Christmas season is upon us, along with Hanukkah and other seasonal holidays. There are plenty of expensive events and activities to attend during this season – attending a play at a live theater or perhaps a symphony concert from your city’s professional orchestra. These are lovely ways to celebrate the season, but at $20 per person and up they can add up fast if you are trying to enjoy the activity with family.

Inexpensive 100

Inexpensive Activism Holiday Home and Garden 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

You might remember an earlier article of mine, explaining the importance of home insurance. I wrote a little snippet about a neighbor’s vacation home that burnt to the ground, and sadly, the homeowners weren’t adequately insured. In this day and age, it’s pretty uncommon for homeowners to lack insurance as most lenders and mortgagers required a pretty stringent policy.

Insurance 100

Insurance Equal Real Estate Building 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

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 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 19, 2016

The dollar store is on my way home from work so I seem to stop there at least once a week to pick up a few things. It is actually a great place to buy every day household items such as cleaning products, wrapping paper, greeting cards, and any arts and craft supplies. People may make fun, but we should actually be spending more time shopping at dollar stores and getting items for a dollar, rather than spending more in big box stores and drug store chains where you really have to open up your w

Dollar Store 100

Dollar Store Storing Shopping Craft Supplies 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

NOVEMBER 12, 2015

You probably go to your doctor for an annual wellness check up. Most folks visit the dentist once every so often to get their teeth cleaned and checked, but do you do a routine checkup once a year? Wait, you say, aren’t both of those routine checkups? What I mean is, do you annually set aside time to look at how you are spending your time to decide if your routines and habits are working for you, or against you?

Health 100

Health Painting Money Finance 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

JULY 13, 2015

Before you get ready to shove those kids of yours out of the nest, here are what I consider to be (based on my experience as a person, a Mom, and a Grandma) the most important things you (or someone) should teach them about personal finance. I’m following a long range plan for camp content in my Grandma Rie’s Money Camp and it includes all of these, focusing on different things at different ages.

Personal Finance 100

Personal Finance Finance Debt Money 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 29, 2015

In the 1940’s Conrad Richter wrote a series of books about the settlers that pioneered and tamed the Ohio wilderness. The main character was Sayward. As a teen, she walked from Pennsylvania with her family, carrying all they owned on their backs to the Ohio wilderness. They built their own cabin, hunted their own food and she eventually began to chop down the ‘big butts’ of trees so she could plant a garden and have domestic animals.

Kids 100

Kids Kids and Family Money Ohio 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 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 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

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 25, 2014

'#483599283 / gettyimages.com. We are constantly being admonished to “drink more water daily” by health and fitness experts and with good reason. The human body consists of over two thirds fluid and so it makes sense that we need replenish what is lost through perspiration, respiration and urination on a daily basis. The body’s fluids transport oxygen and nutrients to where they are needed, regulate body temperature, remove waste and create a cushioning protection for internal organs and joints.

Drinks 165

Drinks Food and Drink Work Transportation 165

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 23, 2014

'This country has a lot of veterans. Many of them are not maimed, don’t have PTSD, aren’t in the poor house and don’t qualify for many of the benefits defined for US service member veterans. My spouse is a veteran. He is not maimed or damaged by his service in any way. He served during the Vietnam war, but did not fight in the war or go to Vietnam.

Military 162

Military Grandfather Education Los Angeles 162

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