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OJenni!
07-10-2011, 11:09 PM
Really? Why do you HAVE to have a house, i find that interesting. I CAN'T do basement suites. Can't and won't. They are too dark, not enough natural light and trigger my depression. Plus the idea of living in someones basement would make me feel like shit about myself. So I'm interested to know why you have to have a house.

I live in a basement. For me it really depends on the basement and house, most basements I under no circumstances will do....I was 100% against basements until I saw this one.

mine is partially above ground and I have my own private entrance. I have 2 medium size windows in my living room (about 40 wide by 25 high) then one in my bedroom and one in my bathroom.

I have a full kitchen with a brand new counter top and tile that is maybe 5 years old. The rest of the apartment is either tile (in the bathroom) or laminate flooring.

The landlord does not live upstairs (thank god), what's upstairs is 3 other apartments (its a large house). My parking spot is literally right outside my door, which is nice because i can hear when people are in the parking lot (there are 6 spaces total), it makes me feel safe parking my car.

The landlord is a nice lady and her husband that own several buildings in the area. They are very understanding and keep up their property very well. They know about my 3 pets (2 dogs and one cat) and are very cool with it.

The rent is cheap...$700 including parking and utilities (electric and heat). I pay my own phone and internet costs.

That said the apartment does have its down sides. Its an old house...which means the electric wiring is not in good shape and since I am in the basement I am the only person with access to the breakers and quite frankly i have to deal with them whenever the apartments upstairs are having issues. I myself have never tripped the breaker, but the people on the 4th floor keep on doing it.

Its also very humid down here. I had to buy an air purifier because I fear mold in this apartment (so far I have not seen any).

It can be very cold down here in the winter.

Its is cold down here in the summer too, which is good in the way that I never have to use air conditioning BUT its so fucking cold I have to use a heater some nights.

khakigirl
07-11-2011, 01:50 AM
Wahh I was hoping this would be in my area! I really need to get my hair cut, but I don't want to pay a lot. I thought about going to the local cosmetology school but I'm afraid they'll fuck it up.

They won't. They have a teacher standing there pretty much the entire time so if they even start to do anything remotely wrong, the teacher will step in and tell them to stop. Also, you can just ask for the student who is closest to their goal. That means they have done the most haircuts/colors/etc so they will probably be the most skilled as well.

BlankStare
07-11-2011, 07:45 AM
Wanted to contribute some of my own thrifty ways:


Healthy foods that are cheap: Oats, Eggs, Bananas, Rice, Collard Greens, CHICKEN, Watermelon, potatoes. I buy these things every week, and the recipes are endless. (check out allrecipes.com)

I also cancelled my television service and got ROKU boxes for $50 (for those of us who do not use xbox, ps3). I can watch anything on netflix, hulu plus, and they have other stations that are free on there that I haven't checked out yet. Also, SIDEREEL.COM.. more extensive than Hulu for TV shows, oh and its FREE. Watch damn near every show that's ever aired.

Someone said above that they get their internet for $20 thru comcast. I use the same tactic as her. I call them every few months and tell them I am switching if they can't give me a promotion. Be aggressive. Cable shouldn't cost $100/month unless you have 10 people in your house streaming movies 24/7.. this will also save you electricity in the long run, because your TV is not going to constantly be on.

Remember: Baking soda is your friend. You can use baking soda for toothpaste, deodorant, rash cream/bug bite relief, heart burn, mouth wash, carpet freshner, a cleaning agent for tubs/sinks.. the list goes on.. if you have Baking Soda, you will never need to buy another cleaner again. Bleach mixed with water is as good of an anti-bacterial cleaner as any $4 16oz. bottle of chemical hell is. Duct tape is awesome, too!

Recycle YOUR OWN stuff instead of letting the township make that money! Take your cans, bottles, newspapers, etc. to the recycling place yourself and get the money for it instead of letting the town make money off of your trash. I have personally made $20-$100 a month taking my stuff to recycle. Usually around $10/month though.

**Buy OUTLET Savers** I love these. As you know, your tv, computer, toaster, etc. all pull a current even when not in use. At night, they turn off and save you money on all the 'ghost' electricity. Also, look up KILL A WATT.. great product that tells you just how many watts you are using. You can save LOTS of money here.

STOP using your dryer and going to the laundry mat. If you stay up on it (and I've got more than just myself to wash for), you can wash your clothes in the tub and dry them on a drying rack or an indoor or outdoor clothesline. I use the tub method at least once a week. The cheapest laundry detergent? Borax mixed with Arm&Hammer washing soda. **this also goes for the dishwasher, ladies.. don't run it**

If you use gas to cook or heat your home, then PLEASE buy an electric griddle and when you can afford one, a tabletop oven. Gas is more expensive to use than electricity. A good electric heater is a great investment for winter.

Replace as many of your light bulbs with COMPACT Fluorescent bulbs. *Tip* Don't put lamps near your thermostat. It will make the thermostat think the room is hotter than it actually is, and it will work harder to cool your house. I keep my thermostat set on 74 degrees all summer, and turn it up to 80 when I am not home. Cut my electricity bill by $75/MONTH going from 69 degrees up to 74 degrees.

It doesn't matter where you live; apartment or house.. you can always grow your own herbs, fruits, and veggies. I do a co-op with my mother and cousin.. once a week we each take a turn taking care of the garden, and we all split the goods. We have corn, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, blueberries, raspberries, and potatoes. All very easy to grow.

I know we all love to buy fancy stuff for our bodies. Honey can be used for skin moisturizing, and acne treatment. Honey and bananas are also great as face masks. Look up some recipes, find one you like, and pamper yourself on the cheap. Also, buy some Africa's Best hair oil, and give yourself a hot oil treatment every once in a while! Put a few drops in the tub! Love this stuff.

Stop buying bottled water and get a damn filter, already. It's the same thing, and it's better on your wallet and the environment.

Learn how to do your own nails! I promise, it's not hard.. and it's waaay cheaper than spending $20 (plus tip, of course) every two weeks for a refill. I also like glue-on nails.. be cynical if you must, but if you buy a good brand and good nail glue, they can last two weeks!.. just make sure to always have a repair kit with you in case one decides to fly off.

Make your own clothes! There's lots of youtube tutorials on how to make sexy clothes you can use for camming. Go to thrift stores and fabric stores, and make your own tube dresses and bikinis. It takes literally 15 minutes, and you will like them more than buying.

:) Have fun saving! :)

HaydenBlue
07-11-2011, 10:43 AM
Wanted to contribute some of my own thrifty ways:

...Bleach mixed with water is as good of an anti-bacterial cleaner as any $4 16oz. bottle of chemical hell is. Duct tape is awesome, too!

Better than bleach or any other cleaner out there. Cheap Vodka. Dead serious ladies.

Oprah did an episode where celebs were going back to their old jobs. Kristie Alley used to clean houses for a living. What was the only thing she used? Cheap Vodka. Cleans. Shines. Disinfects.

It's non-toxic for children and pets. It disinfects. It cleans. It dries quickly. The smell does not linger, you don't have to worry about leaving windows/doors open because your breathing in harmful fumes.

And fuck it. If you're having a bad night take it out do a couple of shots while you're mopping the kitchen floor with it. Win-win all around.

BlankStare
07-11-2011, 11:18 AM
And fuck it. If you're having a bad night take it out do a couple of shots while you're mopping the kitchen floor with it. Win-win all around.

^^That definitely is a win win! LOL
I saw that episode and forgot all about the vodka! I wonder how many parts water to vodka?
Bleach is still cheaper, unfortunately not as safe for the kiddies (or anyone for that matter)

OJenni!
07-11-2011, 12:14 PM
If you absolutely insist on buying luxury clothing and purses (and don't want to deal with going to multiple thrift stores spending hours a day trying to find stuff) I would check out consignment stores. We had one in Toronto called The Paper Bag Princess where all their items are authenticated before they put them on the rack. You had to make an appointment where the sales rep would show you around the store and help you find the item you wanted. I purchased a LV purse and a pair of Chanel sun glasses there a few years ago. I think I spent like $400 for both items. The purse was originally like $1600 and the glasses were about $600 (I know this because I saw the exact same items in luxury stores prior to going to the paper bag princess).

Now I don't buy luxury items often, infact my main purse is a purse I bought 11 years ago for $20 at a local "goth" store. But I do enjoy my luxury items for special occasions.

khakigirl
07-11-2011, 01:13 PM
Wanted to contribute some of my own thrifty ways
*snip*

Awesome tips but I did want to mention that most dishwashers are more efficient (all things considered) than handwashing as long as you run a full load and you don't rinse (aka pre-wash). I've now lived in an apartment with a dishwasher for 2 years now and I have never pre-washed and I have had no problems with dishes coming out dirty.

bubblegumbitch
07-11-2011, 02:52 PM
^^that's why i always hand rinse and pre-scrub my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, takes me like 10 min to do it. very lil effort.

BlankStare
07-11-2011, 10:40 PM
Awesome tips but I did want to mention that most dishwashers are more efficient (all things considered) than handwashing as long as you run a full load and you don't rinse (aka pre-wash). I've now lived in an apartment with a dishwasher for 2 years now and I have never pre-washed and I have had no problems with dishes coming out dirty.

Yes, newer machines use roughly 4 gallons of water to run.. which is efficient if you are doing a large amount of dishes. However, if you have a double sided sink, and use one side for rinse and the other for wash- hand washing can be even more efficient than that.
It also can be more efficient than hand washing- IF you skip the pre-rinse/heat dry/disinfect/air dry part of the cycle. But still uses electricity that you wouldn't use hand washing. It also depends on whether you pay for water, or if you have a well.. and of course, on your hot water tank. I also like to recycle my 'grey water' for watering plants and such.. so it's a win-win for me.
It depends on your whole set-up. Plus, (and this is one of my bigger concerns) is that when these things break, they just end up in a landfill. :(

khakigirl
07-12-2011, 05:40 AM
Yes, newer machines use roughly 4 gallons of water to run.. which is efficient if you are doing a large amount of dishes. However, if you have a double sided sink, and use one side for rinse and the other for wash- hand washing can be even more efficient than that.
It also can be more efficient than hand washing- IF you skip the pre-rinse/heat dry/disinfect/air dry part of the cycle. But still uses electricity that you wouldn't use hand washing. It also depends on whether you pay for water, or if you have a well.. and of course, on your hot water tank. I also like to recycle my 'grey water' for watering plants and such.. so it's a win-win for me.
It depends on your whole set-up. Plus, (and this is one of my bigger concerns) is that when these things break, they just end up in a landfill. :(

Even the "tree huggers" say that it's a toss-up on which is more efficient: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/01/built-in-dishwasher-vs-hand-washing-which-greener.php

I agree, though, it depends on your setup. I have an older dishwasher but according to the manual, it uses 6 gallons of water total. The average faucet (NOT low-flow) uses 2 gallons per minute. So if it took more than 3 minutes to wash dishes by hand, I'd be using more water.

As for the appliances breaking and going into the landfill, recycling appliances is HUGE in my area. There's a guy I know that has no job but goes around picking up broken appliances and recycles them for cash. He makes enough to live off of doing that and most of the parts get recycled and reused.

BlankStare
07-12-2011, 06:17 AM
^^ Yes, I have done a lot of research on it beings I am one of those 'tree huggers' lol

If you are washing dishes by hand you should not be running the water constantly. Fill your sink up with 1 gallon of water. I keep my old milk jugs and use them for measuring out my water use. Hand washing can be much much more efficient if you are taught the proper way of doing so.

but, not all of those parts are able to be recycled (especially most of the plastic parts)

If they were manufactured in the way of clean production standards.. that would be nice, too. Not to mention the waste from detergents.. best to get environmentally friendly detergent in a plastic container that has the recycle sign on the bottom.

Also, you are very lucky to have an energy star rated appliance in your place. MOST ALL landlords will settle for the cheap pieces of crap. And if you don't have $600-$1000 to spend on one of these appliances, then it is definitely cheaper to wash by hand... but if you DO have that type of money, it would be best to invest in a low-flow faucet :)

And your water can be recycled when you wash by hand! This cannot be done with dishwashers... recycling greywater is very very important if you can do it.

If you have more than 5 people to wash for, then perhaps the dishwasher can be more efficient. But any less than that- it is better to do by hand and be taught how to conserve water and energy by hand washing.

prettygreeneyes
07-12-2011, 03:11 PM
They won't. They have a teacher standing there pretty much the entire time so if they even start to do anything remotely wrong, the teacher will step in and tell them to stop. Also, you can just ask for the student who is closest to their goal. That means they have done the most haircuts/colors/etc so they will probably be the most skilled as well.

Yeah, I went to cosmetology school, I've seen some fucked up hair :P But that's a good idea to ask for someone who is almost ready to graduate.

bubblegumbitch
07-12-2011, 04:26 PM
^^me too! make sure that she is the best student cuz those are the ones that usually do they're best.

sammii
07-12-2011, 04:28 PM
Yeah, I went to cosmetology school, I've seen some fucked up hair :P But that's a good idea to ask for someone who is almost ready to graduate.
Are you working at a salon? Was cosmetology school expensive? Sorry for the OT, but after I finish my bachelors degree, I think I'm probably going to go to cosmetology school.

prettygreeneyes
07-12-2011, 05:00 PM
^ Nope, I didn't finish, I attended cos school for 5 months. I was going to a shitty school and it was not a good fit. It was quite expensive and I didn't feel like I was getting a good education, so definitely be very picky about the school you go to - don't just go to the one closest to your house like I did.

I'm happy with what I'm doing in college now, though, so I guess it worked out for the best. But I wish I would have gotten my esthetician license instead of wasting time and money on doing hair, I would have finished faster and been happier with that.

bubblegumbitch
07-12-2011, 05:20 PM
Are you working at a salon? Was cosmetology school expensive? Sorry for the OT, but after I finish my bachelors degree, I think I'm probably going to go to cosmetology school.

i got my cos license and i worked in a salon for 3 yrs. i went to a tech school while i was in high school still and got all my cos training done for free.

when the economy went down hill, it was getting bad financially in the salon cuz ppl were waiting longer to get hair cuts done and also not getting many chemical services done (which is where you make the most money) and on top of it i was making more money than my manager and she was getting extremely jealous of me (even tho my checks were still not that great) and kept writing me up for stupid shit to try and get me fired. i had just started to dance at the club like a cpl of months before i quit, so dancing really saved my life financially.

to be honest with you, right now is really not the right time to go into the cos industry, there is more and more salons shutting down esp. in my area and less and less commission based salons around and more booth rental salons (which means you gotta pay a chair rental fee to wrk there, which isn't even worth it if you don't have the clientele to back it up) it is very hard to get hired in a salon fresh out of cos school also. (cuz most salons don't wanna take they're time to invest in a newbie and would rather have someone with an established client base) it took me like 8 months to find someone who would hire me as a newbie and this was back in 2005.

right now would be a total waste of money to get into it. don't get me wrong i absolutely love doing hair but the money just isn't there to really make ends meet, so it would just not be worth it.

Zinaida
07-19-2011, 11:50 PM
I know a lot of strippers that decided to become cosmetologists.....and they're all broke. I wouldn't go to cosmetology school unless you are extremely serious and extremely passionate about it, because in order to make good money doing it you're going to have to find probably most of your own clients yourself. Building and maintaining your business falls completely on you. You're running your own business basically.

KitanaBlades
08-04-2011, 06:24 PM
Found something pretty cool....concerning the cable...
Anyone ever heard of a Roku before I go ahead and tell anyone about it?