http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en
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Today's topics:
* Ask Amy: "Urge daughter to protect heart, wallet" - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/baf7bd5758fb02f8?hl=en
* replacing the blower motor on my car - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e2ed89c096a191e5?hl=en
* shoe soles - 3 messages, 3 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/5686a6ae36818499?hl=en
* Scandalous video reason Divorce Madonna and Ricchi - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/08a44f156119fe49?hl=en
* $10 ain't what it used to be - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/88a2760a91d12abc?hl=en
* I think I'm throwing in the towel - house reappraisal - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e3e20997903e48b2?hl=en
* Solar window coverings, again - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e84b0011de70feec?hl=en
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TOPIC: Ask Amy: "Urge daughter to protect heart, wallet"
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/baf7bd5758fb02f8?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Oct 22 2008 3:31 pm
From: "Rod Speed"
lenona321@yahoo.com wrote:
> My only question is, how often do couples who plan to MARRY do what Amy suggests?
> I'm guessing a large percentage don't.
Corse they dont. Hardly anyone is that stupid.
Thats not what marraige is about.
> http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/32373354.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUHPYDiaK7DUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
>
> By AMY DICKINSON
>
> Dear Amy: My daughter is in her mid-20s and has been in a relationship
> for a year with a never-married (we think) guy who is at least 12
> years older than she. It's her first serious relationship.
>
> Our daughter is a successful businessperson who owns her own condo and
> car and has money in the bank. She is talking about giving up her
> condo and moving in with him.
>
> He owns his own place, but he has a huge mortgage and lost his job
> about eight months ago. He has been forgoing buying health insurance,
> so he must not have money saved up.
>
> We've yet to meet him. There has always been some excuse why we
> haven't met.
>
> We've asked her to go slowly and think about where this relationship
> is going and what she's doing, but we fear it may be too late. Aside
> from the emotional pitfalls, we are afraid that in this economic
> climate she is going to commit financial suicide.
>
> What can we say to her?
>
> HEARTSICK MOM
>
> Amy says: You should continue to urge your daughter to be careful and
> cautious -- all the time realizing that she is an adult and thus
> responsible for her own disasters, romantic and otherwise.
>
> Before cohabiting, your daughter should consider pursuing a prenuptial
> or "cohabitation agreement." This process would require both parties
> to fully disclose their financial situations and negotiate terms in
> which they choose what to commingle and what to keep separate.
>
> The process of disclosure and negotiation is an important one -- not
> only for the necessary truth-telling, but because this is an important
> test of both parties' ability to realistically make choices on their
> own behalf and on behalf of the relationship.
>
> It can be an eye-opener.
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TOPIC: replacing the blower motor on my car
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e2ed89c096a191e5?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Oct 22 2008 4:01 pm
From: Jeff
NotMe wrote:
> "OhioGuy" <none@none.net> wrote in message news:gdlacf$ps0$1@aioe.org...
> | Back in May I noticed that our car's blower was squealing whenever I
> | put it on the high setting. I was unable to remove the blower (it is a
> | squirrel cage type) because the alternator is too close, so I simply
> | made a vampire tap (drilled a hole) on the front of the motor casing,
> | and squirted in some WD-40. The squealing stopped for a while, then
> | came back. Over the next few months, the fan seemed to be slowly dying,
> | but it worked ok on low or medium without any noise.
>
> NEVER EVER use WD40 as a lubricant. A good general purpose light duty oil
> is what's sold for air tools.
Many people think it's not a particularly good "Water Displacement"
either. All that can be said of it is that it must have been better than
the first 39!
Jeff
>
>
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TOPIC: shoe soles
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/5686a6ae36818499?hl=en
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== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Wed, Oct 22 2008 5:03 pm
From: Al Bundy
On Oct 21, 9:59 pm, E Z Peaces <c...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> Footwear often has a tread that might provide better traction in mud but
> also brings dirt into a house. I'm much more concerned with traction on
> wet wooden steps or a wet garage floor of sealed concrete. I've owned
> shoes and boots that had aggressive treads but were dangerous on wet
> surfaces. Tires have ratings for traction on wet roads. Why don't shoe
> soles have similar ratings?
>
> Static electricity is another problem. Polyurethane soles are popular,
> but without an additive, polyurethane is such a good insulator that the
> wearer may get static shocks. I would certainly avoid such shoes when
> buying gasoline. Why don't shoe soles have static-drain ratings?
The properties of a shoe are probably well known and documented within
the shoe company. The hardness of the rubber is measured on a
durometer scale and correlate with wear and softness of feel. They
know this and the static properties. I guess publishing such things
would suggest warranties beyond the general "fitness of purpose" and
create unnecessary liabilities.
If they can add warning signs on ladders such as "NOT MADE FOR BREAK
DANCING" , why not mention anti slip properties indeed?
== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Wed, Oct 22 2008 5:45 pm
From: E Z Peaces
Al Bundy wrote:
> On Oct 21, 9:59 pm, E Z Peaces <c...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> Footwear often has a tread that might provide better traction in mud but
>> also brings dirt into a house. I'm much more concerned with traction on
>> wet wooden steps or a wet garage floor of sealed concrete. I've owned
>> shoes and boots that had aggressive treads but were dangerous on wet
>> surfaces. Tires have ratings for traction on wet roads. Why don't shoe
>> soles have similar ratings?
>>
>> Static electricity is another problem. Polyurethane soles are popular,
>> but without an additive, polyurethane is such a good insulator that the
>> wearer may get static shocks. I would certainly avoid such shoes when
>> buying gasoline. Why don't shoe soles have static-drain ratings?
>
> The properties of a shoe are probably well known and documented within
> the shoe company. The hardness of the rubber is measured on a
> durometer scale and correlate with wear and softness of feel. They
> know this and the static properties. I guess publishing such things
> would suggest warranties beyond the general "fitness of purpose" and
> create unnecessary liabilities.
>
> If they can add warning signs on ladders such as "NOT MADE FOR BREAK
> DANCING" , why not mention anti slip properties indeed?
I believe there are ANSI ratings for various properties of industrial
footwear. For people working around several hundred volts of
electricity, there's a rating that requires very low leakage under
several hundred volts. For people working around explosives, there's a
rating that requires low resistance to prevent static buildup. There's
also an in-between rating to give some protection from electric shock
and static buildup.
Apparently ANSI has no rating for wet traction. Avon once produced a
motorcycle tire called the SM MkII. The rubber provided high mileage
and the grip on dry pavement was mediocre. On wet roads, the grip was
much better than many other tires.
I have a $10 pair of shoes called Slip Guard. The rubber feels hard and
tough, like a truck tire. In dry weather they feel clumsy and cheap,
but they hold very well on wet, sealed concrete. I wish all my shoes
gripped as reliably.
== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Wed, Oct 22 2008 6:23 pm
From: "Rod Speed"
Al Bundy <MSfortune@mcpmail.com> wrote:
> On Oct 21, 9:59 pm, E Z Peaces <c...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> Footwear often has a tread that might provide better traction in mud
>> but also brings dirt into a house. I'm much more concerned with
>> traction on wet wooden steps or a wet garage floor of sealed
>> concrete. I've owned shoes and boots that had aggressive treads but
>> were dangerous on wet surfaces. Tires have ratings for traction on
>> wet roads. Why don't shoe soles have similar ratings?
>>
>> Static electricity is another problem. Polyurethane soles are
>> popular, but without an additive, polyurethane is such a good
>> insulator that the wearer may get static shocks. I would certainly
>> avoid such shoes when buying gasoline. Why don't shoe soles have
>> static-drain ratings?
>
> The properties of a shoe are probably well known and documented within
> the shoe company. The hardness of the rubber is measured on a
> durometer scale and correlate with wear and softness of feel. They
> know this and the static properties. I guess publishing such things
> would suggest warranties beyond the general "fitness of purpose" and
> create unnecessary liabilities.
Or they rightly consider that few of the consumers would even
know what the numbers mean, and would care even less.
> If they can add warning signs on ladders such as "NOT MADE FOR
> BREAK DANCING" , why not mention anti slip properties indeed?
Because thats a hell of a lot harder to specify in a way that will be any use to consumers.
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TOPIC: Scandalous video reason Divorce Madonna and Ricchi
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/08a44f156119fe49?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Oct 22 2008 5:08 pm
From: Al Bundy
krystinaca...@gmail.com wrote:
Madonna page featuring
> exclusive Madonna videos, Madonna photos, and Madonna news,Madonna
> videos, Madonna news, Madonna photos, Madonna videos, Madonna gossip.
> Scandalous video reason end-marriage Madonna and Ricchi
As Elizabeth Taylor used to say, "After a good night's sleep, I get up
in the morning and I feel like a new man."
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TOPIC: $10 ain't what it used to be
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/88a2760a91d12abc?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Oct 22 2008 6:56 pm
From: "ares"
mass mailing; a new one opened nearby.. thought it was a promotion.
ares
"James" <j0069bond@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:26287c0a-458c-423b-94ea-5c5161b25a95@s50g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
On Oct 16, 5:29 pm, "ares" <a...@verizon.net> wrote:
> I did the Kohl's thing too.... cool.
> ares
>
> "clams_casino" <PeterGrif...@DrunkinClam.com> wrote in message
>
> news:DZNJk.1683$_B6.1043@newsfe12.iad...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Received a $10 off coupon in the mail from Kohl's. Found a $36 shirt on
> > clearance with 60% off that ended up at $4.40.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Do they mass mail those coupons or do you have to be a customer?
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TOPIC: I think I'm throwing in the towel - house reappraisal
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e3e20997903e48b2?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Oct 22 2008 8:19 pm
From: websurf1@cox.net
On Oct 22, 12:29 pm, phil scott <p...@philscott.net> wrote:
> On Oct 21, 10:53 pm, "Bob F" <bobnos...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > "OhioGuy" <n...@none.net> wrote in messagenews:gdlm40$4ns$1@aioe.org...
> > > I've got a meeting tomorrow about the 2008 reappraisal of our house for tax
> > > purposes. So many houses are vacant that our city has jacked up the values
> > > for those of us who are actually paying taxes to try to make up the
> > > difference.
>
> > > The thing is, the city simply used a sample of similar properties that
> > > people overpaid for to determine the values of OUR properties. They farmed
> > > this out to a third party company which simply drove by and took a picture of
> > > the outside of our house, then used a computer program to determine that the
> > > true value of our house should be 45% higher than the price we paid for it 5
> > > years ago.
>
> > > This is despite the fact that average sale prices for our zip have DECLINED
> > > 19.4% over the past year. (according to trulia.com, July-Sept 2007 vs
> > > July-Sept 2008) So somehow they are saying the value went up enough over the
> > > past 4 years to still be up 45% after a 19.4% drop this year. That's
> > > amazing - considering that Ohio never had a housing bubble, and houses have
> > > been fairly stable.
>
> > > Granted, we didn't overpay for our place. We got it at fair market value,
> > > and paid the asking price of $46,000 for our 2,500 square foot duplex. (6
> > > bedrooms, 2 bathrooms) It sounds low compared to many parts of the country,
> > > but it LOOKED bad. It had water damage to the drywall, and lots of things
> > > needed painted and spackled, but everything was structurally solid.
>
> > > Anyway, guess who is hearing my complaint? Yes, it is the third party
> > > company who the city farmed the appraisal out to. I'm SURE they will be quite
> > > fair and unbiased in hearing me.
>
> > > Of course, I've looked at the taxes being paid by many of my neighbors, as
> > > well as the prices paid for their homes. Most of them evidently either
> > > overpaid, or are paying higher taxes than I am. Evidently they never
> > > successfully complained about the taxes when given the opportunity.
>
> > > My chances look pretty bleak. When I saw duplex after duplex in the area
> > > with even higher taxes than ours, and sales prices higher than ours, I began
> > > doubting whether I'd be able to make any traction to my argument. I also
> > > decided not to spend the $600 on having a new appraisal done, since it looked
> > > like it would probably just be money down the drain.
>
> > > The only thing I can really argue at this point is that the sales prices of
> > > other homes in the area are rather general and meaningless when compared to
> > > the actual sales price of THIS property back in October 2003. I can argue
> > > that the current appraisal value of THIS property should be based on the SALES
> > > PRICE of THIS property, adjusted for inflation and the current housing market.
>
> > > Think I'll get anywhere with that one tomorrow?
>
> > > Sure, I do have 3 or 4 similar duplexes I've found in the area that sold for
> > > between $25K and $45K in the past 5 years. However, all I can do with that is
> > > highlight how they simply jacked the appraised values up a lot on those
> > > properties as well.
>
> > > Anyone have any suggestions for me to try tomorrow?
>
> > I think it is generally refered to as an assessment rather than an appraisal.
>
> > What I did was to call the assessors office and have them send me what they
> > consider "comps". Then I searched the counties database for recent sales near
> > Jan 1 of this year, which is the time the assessment is for. I found a few
> > properties which were as similar as I could find to my house and lot, then
> > looked at them and noted how they were better than mine, and how mine was
> > obviously worth less (old kitchen and bath, fir floors instead of hardwood, no
> > view, etc), and proposed a value for mine based on those values. I got
> > significant reductions for both my house and my rental.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> on the view issue.... in New hampshire starting a couple of years ago
> is the 'view tax factor'... one guys taxes went from $500 a year to
> $3500.. because he had a killer view... so he got a 'view assessement
> factor of 7'
>
> that is 7x the assessment if it had no view.
>
> this mess wont stop until bloated govt has eaten the tax payers alive
> and the tax base collapses entirely.... meantime cops are retiring at
> 100,000 to 1150,000 a year or more...
>
> Phil scott
When I first heard about that, I thought that it wasn't unreasonable,
since the "view" is usually a selling point, and increases the value
of the property.
Later I realized: Wait a minute. If the view increases the value of
the property, that's already included in the property value!!!
Let the trees grow, and kill the view, I guess.
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TOPIC: Solar window coverings, again
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e84b0011de70feec?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Oct 22 2008 8:23 pm
From: websurf1@cox.net
On Oct 21, 11:20 am, James <jl...@idirect.com> wrote:
> On Oct 21, 1:54 pm, Jeff <jeff@spam_me_not.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > turtlelover wrote:
> > > Back in July, there was a discussion about how to insulate windows
> > > against the cold.
>
> > > Now that fall weather has arrived, has anyone tried the solar blankets
> > > or the Carol Wright "solar curtains?"
>
> > I think that will be most effective against solar heat gain. That may
> > be a mixed bag at keeping the room warm. At least that's the case with a
> > friend who has metallic curtains.
>
> > I've been using bubble wrap on windows that benefit from solar gain,
> > reflectic (foiled bubble wrap) or polyisocyanuraturate sheets cut to fit
> > in windows I don't look out. On some, I've even just stuffed in some
> > more conventional insulation.
>
> > On windows I need to look out of I've made some interior "storm
> > windows" out of vinyl shower curtain liner. Transparent and durable.
>
> > All this has made a huge improvement in heat loss, but it may not be
> > aesthetically satisfactory to some (or most).
>
> > I have an old house though, and a lot of windows, so I needed to do
> > something.
>
> > Jeff
>
> > > We caulked around the outside of our windows in the summer, and have
> > > done so for the inside recently. Still cold.
>
> > > Thanks for any insight,
> > > Turtlelvoer- Hide quoted text -
>
> I'm looking at magnetic storm windows.
>
> You can do it yourself, with a kit. You install a metal strip around
> the window, buy plexiglas cut to fit and install magnetic molding
> around the plexiglas. The magentic fit should keep it airtight, and
> the plexiglas itself has better thermal resistance than glass.
> Magnetite is what I am looking at.
>
> James
There also used to be (and maybe still is) a product for the inside.
You tacked this plastic film around the window trim, then gently
heated it. It shrank tight so it didn't show much, but it made
another layer of air. It should work some.
I'm using pleated window shades to stop some drafting, though my issue
is heat gain in summer, not loss in winter.
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