>From: Simple Times <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 11:54:52 -0800 >Subject: Simple Times -- Vol. 4, No. 11 -- January 12th, 2002 >To: "Simple Times" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows sub 104 >List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >List-Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >List-Owner: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >X-URL: <http://members.aol.com/dsimple/times.html> >Reply-To: Debi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >X-Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >X-RCPT-TO: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >The Simple Times >________________________________ > >Vol. 4, No. 11 -- January 12th, 2002 >Circulation: 20,600+ >http://hometown.aol.com/DSimple/ >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Copyright 2002 Deborah Taylor-Hough >ISSN: 1527-1269 All Rights Reserved >________________________________ > >To subscribe, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To unsubscribe, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >________________________________ > >Your email guide for saving your time, money and sanity! >________________________________ > >IN THIS ISSUE: >-- "Dear Readers" >-- Simple Living Quote >-- Just Say No! >-- A Crash Course in Creative Frugality >-- Don't Save Any Money >-- Letters to the Editor / Reader Tips >-- Assorted Information (archives, retrieving back issues, etc.) >________________________________ > > << O U R S P O N S O R >> > >Get your free credit report online, by fax or mail. >Always private and always secure, click here to get >yours FOR FREE at ConsumerInfo.Com! >http://by.advertising.com/1/c/33942/21016/133600/133600 > ><A HREF="http://by.advertising.com/1/c/33942/21016/133600/133600";> AOL users >click here </A> >________________________________ > >Dear Readers, > >Hope everyone's having a great New Year! > >Simply Yours, > >Debi >(Deborah Taylor-Hough) >Editor, Simple Times Email Newsletter >Author, "Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a >Month," and "A Simple Choice: A Practical Guide for Saving >Your Time, Money and Sanity" (Champion Press) >________________________________ > >SIMPLE LIVING QUOTE > >"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." >--William James (1842-1910) > >________________________________ > >"JUST SAY NO!" >Copyright 2001 Lorrie Flem >Used with permission. All rights reserved. >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >We've all heard the line, "Just say no." In fact, it is becoming >so common that the good idea has worn off and it's nearly >become devoid of meaning. I know this to be true because of >my own life. I didn't say no... > >Recently I wrote a friend an apology for not sending her a thank >you note for a baby gift. As I was explaining how horrid I was >with anything requiring an old-fashioned paper and pen, I was >struck by the sadness of my words. I can type so much faster >than I can write -- at least if you want to read what I wrote! But a >typewritten note or email can never convey the warmth of a hand- >written note. > >Why don't I have time to write a note slowly enough so you can >read it? I couldn't even find a piece of stationery to be honest >with you -- and honest with you I must be. Ouch. Why don't I >have time to vacuum? Why didn't I sit and play with the baby >more today? I lead a life that's too complicated to take full >pleasure in. I'm robbing myself! > >Last night I read a book that brought it all sharply into focus for >me. I read Deborah Taylor-Hough's book on simplicity, "A Simple >Choice: A practical guide for saving your time, money and sanity" >(Champion Press). The Lord's been strongly convicting me >(read bashing me over the head with numerous 2"x4"s to get >my attention!) that I need to slow down. If I don't have time to >read a story unless it is on my schedule, then I don't have time >for the important things in life. > >How awful I am that I've let things get this bad -- I'm behind in >absolutely everything except my time with the Lord. My house >is overflowing. My calendar has too many things in it. We're >eating too many dinners I know I've just thrown together and >not really spent time joyfully preparing. I can barely keep up >with the laundry, and if I am caught up with it, then I'm behind >on something else! > >What an unpleasant feeling, yet at the same time I realize I'm >so blessed to have these wonderful problems. I'm counting my >blessings because I know I could easily be in need of so many >things. Instead, I'm battling with overabundance. > >I'm going to be prayerfully cutting back on some duties and >getting rid of extra junk. I have a goal. I want to have my >children see my face instead of the back of my head at the >computer, or the side of my head that isn't attached to the >phone. I'm so looking forward to this. Thank you, Deborah, >for a book of exhortation, a book that reminded me that >some of life's simple pleasures are rich in joy, a book that >helped me refocus, slow down, and smell the roses. > >I'd taken on some responsibilities that were deceiving -- they >appeared to be things that were truly important and not over- >whelming. As is often the case, there was a tremendous >amount of time and work required and before I knew it, I was >buried. And the truth is, too much of anything -- even good >things -- is bad. > >On September 11th, the USA experienced a horrific act of >terrorism. For Americans, the really important things in our >lives became easier to see. It was like thirteen years ago >when my daddy was killed in a plane crash. I remember the >dead feeling inside of me. I felt devoid of emotion. It was as >if life had become black and white. It had lost its color. How >easy it was at that time to see what was important. I could >effortlessly distinguish between things that would bring a >fleeting joy, and ones that were eternally essential. I want to >distinguish between what is of lasting value and what is not worth >my time. > >Have you have been feeling like this? I challenge you to make >some changes along with me. I want to have time to go for walks, >read with my family, and laugh and play together. I am going to >be wearing my hat labeled "Mommy" more often and less wearing >the others labeled: church, gym, email, etc. Let's spend more >time on what's eternally important. Let's band together and >reclaim time to stop and smell the roses. > >"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands >the foolish one tears hers down." --Proverbs 14:1 > > >SUBMITTED BY: Lorrie Flem >--Lorrie homeschools her family of seven in Washington, the >evergreen -- and often wet -- state. She is the publisher of TEACH >Magazine (a quarterly publication for Christian moms), a convention >speaker, and author of two books, "What's For Dinner, Mom?" >and "Welcome Home, Daddy!" For a sample issue of TEACH, >send $3 to: TEACH Magazine, 18016 West Spring Lake Drive, >Renton WA 98058 Be sure to mention you read her article in >Simple Times when you write! >________________________________ > > << O U R S P O N S O R >> > >Would you reach out to needy children? Right now, all over >the world, children are crying out for help. Please answer >their calls by becoming a Save the Children Sponsor. Your >gift will help make a lasting difference in the lives of children >in crisis. Please don't wait… Become a Sponsor today! >http://by.advertising.com/1/c/33942/38176/133600/133600 > ><A HREF="http://by.advertising.com/1/c/33942/38176/133600/133600";> AOL users >click here </A> >________________________________ > >A CRASH COURSE IN CREATIVE FRUGALITY >Copyright 2002 Nancy Twigg >Used with permission. All rights reserved. >http://www.countingthecost.com/ > > >When the economy is slow and times are lean, struggling >families have two choices: continue spending like nothing >is wrong, or adopt a new attitude of thriftiness and simplified >living. The first option can lead to credit card debt and >bankruptcy fast, but the second can be enjoyable if you >use a little creativity. > >Whether your family was hit hard by the recent economic >downturn or if the slowing economy was merely a blip on >your financial radar, either way you can benefit from a >crash course in creative frugality. Creative frugality is the >art of using ingenuity and inventiveness in your efforts to >economize. It's not merely saving for the sake of saving; >creative frugality is making a game of getting the most >for the least outlay of cash. > >Most people understand what creativity is, and they have >a good idea what it means to be frugal. But the idea of >putting the two together is a little hard to grasp. To get >you started in the right direction (or to help you refocus >if you're already headed down the frugal pathway), here >is a week's worth of challenges to stretch your abilities >to think and act in creatively frugal ways: > >SUNDAY -- For at least one day this week, challenge >yourself not to spend any money on anything. Enjoy >the feeling of keeping your cash in your wallet. > >MONDAY -- When you do spend, put yourself on a >"cash only" system. Give your credit cards and even >your checkbook a rest by buying only what you can >pay for with cash. > >TUESDAY -- Try not to purchase anything this week >at full price. Use coupons, buy on sale, or simply delay >your purchase until you can get the item at a discount. > >WEDNESDAY -- Put off a trip to the grocery store as >long as you can this week. Be creative in using up >what you already have in your pantry. > >THURSDAY -- Surf the Internet for new ways to save >money. Sign up for a free e-mail newsletter or >discussion list that will provide ideas and encouragement. > >FRIDAY -- For the next seven days, don't spend any >money on entertainment. Brainstorm with your family >to come up with things you can do that are free: visit >a library, do some mall-walking, or read some good >books. > >SATURDAY -- Look for ways to save gas and give >your car a break this week. Combine errands, do >business online or get some exercise by walking >to places that are within walking distance. > > >SUBMITTED BY: Nancy Twigg >--Nancy is the editor of the Counting the Cost ezine. >Having fun stretching your dollars is what the fourth >annual National Creative Frugality Week, January >20th - 26th, is all about. Occurring one month after > the week of Christmas, this event encourages >families to give themselves and their budgets the >gift of ingenuity in looking for ways to cut corners >without cutting out any of the fun. For more infor- >mation on creative cost-cutting, visit Creative >Frugality Week founder, Nancy Twigg, online at >http://www.countingthecost.com/ >________________________________ > >WHATEVER YOU DO ... DON'T SAVE ANY MONEY! >Copyright 2001/2002 Leo Quinn >Used with permission. All rights reserved. > > >Whatever you do, don't save any money! > >No, that's not a misprint. � Even though falling interest rates >are good when you want to get a loan, they are bad for >people with savings accounts. In this economy your best >investment, the best place to put your money, is into >paying off debts. � Think of it as investing in your debt >because that's exactly what you are doing. > >If you put $1,000 into a bank savings account earning two >percent, at the end of a year you will have $1,020. If you >carry a $1,000 balance on a credit card with a nineteen >percent interest rate and you pay the minimum monthly >payments, at the end of one year you will have paid $190 >in interest. > >If you get $1,000 in a tax refund, a small inheritance, or from >somewhere else you now have a choice to make. � You can >earn twenty bucks in a savings account or save $190 by >paying off that credit card. � Keep in mind that your twenty >bucks is taxable income so you'll be left with $15 or so >after taxes. > >Do you need a savings account for emergencies? � That >savings account may be causing those emergencies! � >Think about it this way... > >If you are earning money in a savings account at two >percent and paying anything over two percent on your >debts, you are sliding backwards financially and you'll >never get ahead. � It's basic mathematics. If you earn >twenty bucks for five years in your savings account, >you'll have $100. � If you pay $190 in interest on your >$1,000 credit card after five years you will have paid >$950 in interest charges. > >In other words you have wasted, lost, burned or flushed >$850 by having a savings account ($950 - $100 = $850). >OUCH! > >What can you do? � Pay off that credit card and use that >as your emergency fund. � It's not the best way to do it >but it's better than earning two percent and paying any- >thing over two percent. So, while the stock market is >on its roller coaster and the economy is challenged, >your best investment -- bar none --� is your debts! � � >Get them paid off! > > >SUBMITTED BY: Leo J. Quinn, Jr. >--Leo Quinn is a financial educator from the Albany, NY >area. � For the last five years he's been showing people >how they can get completely out of debt (including a >mortgage) in under ten years. � He's been stunning >audiences by showing them that paying off their >highest interest rates debts first and/or paying extra >on more than one debt is the slowest way to get rid >of those debts. � He has a special offer for Simple Times >readers at: http://www.LeoQuinn.com/simple.html >________________________________ > >LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / READER TIPS >Submit you favorite tips for simplifying your life, >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Re: Making the bed >I HATE to make the bed, it will just get messed up >shortly since I nap often. When I moved, I got a bed >frame with head-and foot-boards, with balls on the >corners. I now put the sheet and blanket over the balls >and tie them there by wrapping and tying string around >the part of the foot-board just below the ball. Easy: >One flip and the bed is made. Also, I just love the >new clickable-article feature. I am sure it will be >cropping up in many newsletters. >--Lynne C. > >Re: Personal reminders >People always say, "Why didn't I think of that!" when I >sheepishly tell them that I email myself with important >things to do each day. I put the main things to notice >in the subject line without any message in the body, >and since I faithfully check my email, and am online >everyday, I always see what needs to be done. This >works better for me than my calendar! Hope this >makes sense and helps somebody. Meanwhile, I'm >trying to be better about checking my calendar like >most people do! >--Donna Savage > >________________________________ > > << O U R S P O N S O R >> > >Did you see the movie, The Lord of Rings -- The Fellowship >of the Ring, and can't wait to find out what happens next to >Frodo, Sam and company? Don't wait two years to finish the >story ... read the original books now! > ><A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0618002251/simplepleasuresp/";> >CLICK HERE: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy</A> >________________________________ > >Find thousands of unique products for a simple lifestyle from ><A HREF="http://www.qksrv.net/click-752730-308662";>Lehmans.com</A>. >________________________________ > >Feel free to forward this newsletter to your family and friends. :-) >________________________________ > >SIMPLE TIMES RECOMMENDED BOOKS >Book list for frugality and simple living >Go to: http://members.aol.com/DSimple/books.html >________________________________ > >DEBI'S RESOURCES AND BOOKS > >A Frugal, Simple Life >http://members.aol.com/dsimple/ > >Bright-Kids E-zine -- fun and easy educational ideas for families >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >A Simple Choice: A Practical Guide to Saving Your Time, Money and Sanity >http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891400495/simplepleasuresp/ > >Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month >http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891400614/simplepleasuresp/ > >Frozen Assets Discussion Group >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/frozen-assets >________________________________ > >SIMPLE TIMES ARCHIVES >To receive a listing of back issues with table of contents and >instructions for retrieving, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >________________________________ > >SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION >To subscribe, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Feel free to forward this entire newsletter to anyone you think >might be interested in simplifying their busy lives. The Simple >Times Email Newsletter is a private mailing list which isn't sold >or shared with anyone else. > >To unsubscribe, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >________________________________ > >A special thanks to Larry Wilson, Gary Foreman and The Dollar >Stretcher resources for making this mailing list possible! ><A HREF="http://www.stretcher.com/";>http://www.stretcher.com/</A> >________________________________ > >---
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