A combo for today…a five dollar vacation

Hi Everyone!

Happy First Day of Spring!  This is one of my favorite days of the year.   I hope yours is going really well.

Today I wanted to do a bit of a combination of posts today – combining this week’s Not me Monday and Tips on Tuesdays.   I’m doing this for two reasons:

1. The tip I wanted to share today is not mine originally
2. I’m a little overwhelmed with lots of projects going on – so yes, this is a bit of a cheat to combine these two.

A few years ago I read an article in Real Simple Magazine.  I wish I had the exact article or at least the magazine issue to reference, and while I don’t have that information – the lesson learned from the article really stuck with me.

Basically, the article talked about a guy who saved every five dollar bill that ever made it into his wallet and after a couple of years, he was able to take his family on a great vacation.  I want to say to Disney or someplace like that.

I love this idea because it shows how the little bit adds up over time. And by sticking to something, the payoffs are really great.

After reading this article, I starting doing my own version of this.  And while I’m not saving for anything in particular, I collect one dollar bills and place them in an envelope in my office labeled “the dollar fund.”

I don’t typically have a lot of cash in my wallet, I normally use my debit card and/or working from home, I don’t find a huge need to have cash on me.  But every few days, I’ll clean out my wallet and any dollars go right into my envelope.

Like I said, I’m not saving for anything in particular – but boy is it nice to have a few dollars available should you need them.

 

For example:

• we pay our son $2 a week for his allowance
• I bought a box of Thin Mints from a Brownie who knocked on my front door last weekend
• whenever we are a couple of dollars short for the babysitter
• if I’m feeling like I want to treat myself to a Chai before a meeting.

The fund sometimes adds up and I’ll have upwards of $50 in there.  But it probably sits around $25 on any given day.

It has really come in handy.

Do you have a secret stash like the $5 vacation fund or like my dollar fund?  Please share!

Happy Monday and Tuesday to you!

~Amy 

 

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25 Tips of Christmas – #23 – Creative uses for old things

#23 – Getting Creative 

I love Real Simple Magazine.  I read it from cover to cover each month.  So I thought I would share some tips they are offering as part of their New Uses for Christmas Things.   You can see the entire list here –  http://www.realsimple.com/new-uses-for-old-things/new-uses-christmas/diy-gift-wrap-00100000072888/index.html?xid=weeklynews-12-21-2011

Here are a couple of my favorites:

#6 – Stretchy Bracelets as Wine Charms

#9 – Paper Clips as Wrapping Paper Holder

#12 – Luggage Tag as Gift Label

#22 – Book as Misleading Gift Box

#23 – Cookie Cutters as Ornaments

#32 – Oranges as Mini Snowman

#42 – Scarf as Christmas Tree Skirt

Question of the day – what fun and different things do you use old things for the Holidays?

~Amy