Category Archives: Frugality

Simplicity

Posted on June 2, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Consumerism, the cultivation and expansion of wants in a limited world is the antithesis of wisdom. It is also the antithesis of peace and freedom. Every increase of wants tends to increase one’s dependence on outside forces, over which we cannot have control, and increased conflicts with our neighbors in an already over-crowded world.

My friend Frank from England recently bought the most expensive 17 inch MacBook Pro and upgraded to the latest iPhone. After a month he still hasn’t figured out how to make a phone call or use the camera on the iphone. He carries the MacBook around, but actually uses a public computer in the UBC library. He signed up for the fastest Telus broadband internet package. Setting up his MacBook to use Telus service, I discovered his whole building already had free high-speed cable internet.

I could understand his behavior if Frank was rich, but he’s retired on a fixed pension scraping enough money together to pay for his lunch. He asked me how an electrical engineer like myself could be satisfied with a basic Nokia cell and a used $300 Dell laptop that’s already 3 years ago.  It’s does everything that I need I replied.  “But you don’t get to show off to all your friends.”

Maybe because I’m an engineer, I delight in taking something suboptimal and finding the way to squeeze the most juice out of it. Instead of spending money on a yearly exotic vacation, I like to  find a creative way to have a great vacation in my own province.

A big house means more things to fix, more rooms to clean, rent and more things to worry about. How can I find a small cheap place in a great location and make it a comfortable place for the family to live?

A car means insurance payments, gas, parking and repair bills. A used bicycle will get you around. My favorite part of the day is cycling even if it’s to work. Plus each kilometer you pedal makes you healthier.

Traveling on expense account I was able to eat in expensive restaurants. I usually ended up feeling awful after the rich food. A diet with lots of vegetables and fruit with only a little meat is more satisfying and will save you from an early heart attack and cancer. It’s the cheapest life insurance you can buy for your family.

I could cultivate a taste for expensive wines. But why not be satisfied with home-made wine instead.

Basically the more elevated your wants are, the less free you become. You end up like a dog harnessed to a cart chasing after a carrot from a stick. Never able to be satisfied.

The Stoics recommended that life should be as close as possible to Nature. For millions of years man has been walking. So we can assume that doing lots of walking every day will be good for us.

Man is a hunter and gatherer with a diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts and occasionally meat. Pretty much the diet doctors recommend as well.

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Posted in Freedom, Frugality, Simplicity, Stoicism

Why I don’t use Ebay? One word Craigslist

Posted on September 15, 2010 by | Leave a comment

I like selling stuff on my local Craigslist, vancouver.craigslist.ca. Craigslist ads are free (except job postings). No EBay listing fees, commissions or shipping fees – people come and pick the stuff up. And pay you cash. What’s not to like?

This week I sold an Oxbow snowboard for $50 and a pair of 180 Head Supra Skis for $40. $90 in my pocket for 20 minutes listing the items and a few emails. If I had sold the times on EBay I’d have to spend time wrapping a snowboard/skis to ensure they didn’t get damaged, arrange shipping and pick-up. And then I’d need to wait for payment.

EBay uses PayPal (it bought the company) to process payments. I haven’t had any problem with PayPal, but i have heard stories about issues with buyers claiming items never arrived. or being damaged or not the same as described in the auction.

With Craigslist the buyer comes over and confirms the item is ok before committing to the purchase and handing over the cash. Besides I like dealing face-to-face with local people. Mark who bought my snowboard had the same size feet as me, so I was able to throw in my snowboard boots as well. I gave Chris the downhill skier. a pair of Scott poles.

Craigslist does have some weaknesses. As a buyer it can be a little creepy visiting houses and apartments of people you’ve never met. I’d recommend bringing a friend along or meeting at a convenient bus stop or public place. Another frustration is trying to contact people who have already sold an item but didn’t remove their listing. Other sellers list an item but don’t give a picture or price unless you email them.

As a seller the most common issue is people not showing or calling at the last minute and wanting you to hold an item for another day when you have 12 other potential buyers. Other people will try to barter you down on price even after you’ve agree on a firm price ahead of time. Count your money carefully. It’s easy for the buyer to say,”Alright, $90.” and hand you a wad of bills. After the customer leaves, you realize he’s shorted you $10 or $20.

Overall I’d highly recommend Craigslist. I have made a little extra money helped the environment by recycling stuff,

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Posted in Business, Frugality, Income, Simple Living

Eurailing

Posted on September 15, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Eurailing will change your life or at least your perspective on life. It was on a Eurail pass at a train station in Nice that I met Chika and Iako, rode to Roma and ended up in Yokohama Japan. Eurailing can be a great adventure for people of any age. If you’re young take a break before settling down to a career. For families it makes Europe affordable. And retirees, start your second youth.

Eurail passes can pay for themselves. By traveling on overnight trains you can save on 10-15 nights of hotel stay. Be sure to buy some food and drinks at the market before the train-rideThe trick to get a good night’s sleep is to show up an hour early for your train and grab a whole compartment for you and your buddy. If the train isn’t too busy, fold down the seats to make a comfortable private sleeping compartment. Otherwise learn to make yourself comfy sleeping sitting upright.

Planning and researching can be a big part of the fun. I recommend Rick Steve’s Europe through the back door for a some ideas on different ways of exploring Europe.

Take advantage of Europe’s market to sample local favorites and save money.

Stay at camp-grounds instead of hotels to save money. The Bois de Boulogne campground right in the heart of Paris is only 16 Euros for 4 people.

Eurail flex-passes make the best option for most people. Flexipasses are good for travel 10 days in or 15 days in 2 months valid in 22 countries in Europe. Passes are less than $1000 for the adventure of a lifetime.

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Posted in Frugality, Get A Life, Life, Little Pleasures

Frugal living in Tokyo, Vancouver and San Francisco

Posted on September 15, 2010 by | 2 Comments

Before settling down I lived pretty frugally in Tokyo, San Francisco and Vancouver, Vancouver BC is a wonderland of mountains, oceans and haunting misty forests that makes playing outdoors easy (except during the rainy winter). You can spend the morning skiing and be kayaking with seals in the afternoon. Tokyo is fascinating because it’s so different from Canada. And San Francisco offers you a buffet of California living.

Unfortunately all these cities sit at the top of most expensive cities to live on the planet. Here are some ideas on how to live well on a budget.

The most important thing you can provide your family is good health. If you are a self-employed parent your biggest worry is one of your children getting sick. What if your son is born prematurely and needs to spend months in a juvenile intensive care unit or Jane suffers head trauma in a skiing accident. Both Canada and Japan have excellent national health care plans. In Japan the health care premium is based on your previous year’s income. So if you’ve just arrived with a new working visa you’re covered for free the first year. In America, health care benefits are provided by your employer so you want to be working for a relatively large company.

After looking after your family’s health, shelter is the next priority. In popular cities with low vacancy rates you’ll need to use all your resourcefulness. It takes very little carpentry skills to turn a 1 bedroom into a 2 bedroom or a 2 bedroom into a 3. Learn how to make a frame of 2×4′s and shoji screen to divide a room. Bunkbeds are an efficient way to maximize free floor space. If you have a large family use benches around the dining table to avoid a clutter of chairs eating up your floor space. Use a futon bed that folds into a sofa during the day to add another bedroom.

Think about the heating expenses before the cold weather hits.My friends in Ottawa (the 2nd coldest capital city on the planet) spent $900 for their hydro alone one January/February, Does your unit have a fireplace? Keep your eyes open for wooden pallets. Break them up and use them for firewood.

Transportation. Buy bicycles and a Burley bike trailer instead of a car. I spend an average of $80 for a used bike in good running order. Besides getting you around, you’re ensuring your family is active and healthy. I’ve moved apartments and carried tons of groceries in my Burley trailer. Take advantage of the waste in the city. There are three bakeries close to my house. On rainy days when business is slow they end up throwing away bags and bags of bread. Talk to the owner and they might be happy to give you a free or cut-rate deal.

Guerrilla gardening. You’ll meet some cool people and your kids will learn about nature. Hike around and get to know the apple trees, cherry trees, blackberry bushes, fiddleheads, chanterelle mushrooms spots in the region.

Keep your eyes on the bins. At my complex I’ve salvaged lamps, 2 desks, fans, coffee makers, futon frames, 2 working computers, wifi router, an armoire, DVD players and even a deep freeze. Besides saving money you’re helping the environment.

I’d like to hear your ideas for living frugally. Drop me an email or leave a comment.

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Posted in Frugality, Simplicity, Travel

Linguine with Clam Sauce

Posted on November 17, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Seafood makes a nice change when the family is getting tired of beef, pork or chicken. This recipe serves 6 for about $10 (I use my own home-made wine to keep the cost down). Preparation time is 20 to 25 minutes. Super easy clean up.

Ingredients:

2 cans of clams

1 cup of cream

5 cloves of garlic

10 mushrooms (white button mushroom. Add a couple of chanterelles to give it a little more flavor.)

3 tablespoons of olive oil or use a couple of slices of bacon

1 cup white wine

900 grams of linguine

Pepper to taste

Parsley (garnish)

Parmesan cheese (optional)

Put a large pot of water on the stove to boil.

Start the sauce. Add the oil or bacon to a fry pan. While waiting for the oil to get hot, chop the garlic and mushrooms. Open the cans of mushrooms and drain the water (I find it too salty). Brown the mushrooms, add the garlic and let it get brown as well. Add the clams. Add the cream and white wine. And let it all heat up. Enjoy the aroma!

When the sauce is bubbling away nicely, turn down the heat a bit. Add the cream to thicken it up.

Let the sauce simmer while you get the linguine ready.

Throw your pasta into the boiling water. Wait until your linquine get soft.

Taste the sauce and add pepper and salt to taste.

You’re done. Plate the linquine and spoon a generous amount of clams on top. Scoop some sauce and drizzle all over the noodles. Sprinkle a bit of parsley and Parmesan cheese on top.

A meal fit for a king! Enjoy.

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Posted in Cooking, Frugality, Good Things