Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Organize...

In a continuing quest to organize my craft supplies, I am also getting rid of some old stickers and supplies I no longer use. The problem is that I have a small supply (compared to many) and I really want to expand my art work... not reduce it. One of the key issues is the storage for all of my fibers (for the Far Flung Craft Business). Plus I really like the thought of being a Mixed Media Artist. The problem is I live in 1500 square feet of poorly planned apartment with my husband, my two kids, my nanny and my two pets. I also work for a major international MNC, from a 8X10 room in my house. This room also serves as the guest room/storage room and studio for my art/crafts.

SO... how do I survive? I actually need to accumulate more stuff for Far Flung Craft I have some really new fabric that I want to make new Frou-Frou kits with. The problem is I fear that this fabric will be a hit (not a bad problem I know) but I worry about supply. SO... How do I solve the age old dilemma of storage?

I will get back to you on that....

K

Friday, July 22, 2005

First Aid Kit

Also in connection with the London Bombings. I strongly suggest that we all have first aid kits in our homes for personal use. I know that I don't have one...and I am often hard pressed to find a bandaid, let alone some serious stuff if someone hurts themselves.

With Due Credit to Tenzicut at Down To The Roots and Organic Gardening and Homesteading Yahoo Group.... Here is what you should have in your first aid kit.

Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. A first
aid kit should include:

Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes (Bandaide or the cut to
size ones)
2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6) (Telfa)
4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6) (Telfa)
Hypoallergenic adhesive tape (Porus Tape 1" & 1/2")
Triangular bandages (3)
2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls) (Kling)
3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls) (Kling)
Scissors (Good ones, don't skimp)
Tweezers (get good ones.. dont skimp)
Needle (I like 22 and 25 gauge syringe needles to take slivers out,
they are less painful, do a better job and are sterile)
Moistened towelettes (Snag some from KFC?)
Antiseptic (polysporin as well?)
2 Thermometers in cases (If you live where it is very cold,
sometimes digital ones don't always work)
Tube of KY or other lubricant
Assorted sizes of safety pins
Cleansing agent/soap (Hibitane)
Latex gloves (at least 2 pair) in small, medium and large (keep in a
ziplock baggie and labeled)
Sunscreen (may I recommend Nature's Gate brand?)
CPR Face mask.. contact a local EMT?
Ace bandage
Anti-diarrhea medication
Antacid (for stomach upset)
Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison
Control Center)
Antihystamine such as Benedril
A stash of any prescription medications anyone in your family uses
Laxative
Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

I am going to go get mine this weekend.

Simply K

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London

Religion, rights, anger, hate. Bombs, death, fear. Survival, war, bigotry. I keep thinking of Elvis Costello, what ever happended to peace love and understanding?

My son, Declan, was born only weeks before 9/11. I am saddened by the world my children are inheriting.

Peace to everyone in London. My friend Steve, I owe you a long overdue note. I hope you are well.

So, here are the lyrics to one of the greatest songs....

Peace Love and Understanding by Elvis Costello

As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.

I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?


So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?


Here is to more peace love and understanding.

Simply,

K

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Tuesday, July 19, 2005

A little Savings....

Here is a lesson on compound interest for those of you who need a reminder.

Lets say you invest a total of $1000 US per month for 5 years. Your total principle would be 72,000. Nice chunk of change.

Simple interest, a flat say 4% per year would give you an additional 480 per year on your principle. Plus, now here is the beauty baby.... compound interest kicks in here. You get $ on the interest you have already saved...including interest on the interest. ( I just love saying interest on interest...) It is kinda fun :-)

So, assume again... 12,000 a year in savings (a goodly amount for sure)....5 years... compound interest at 4% on 72,000 principle you have earned 10, 195 in interest... YUP. 10,000 in interest at only 4%.


Now, lets look a loans. Mom and I were talking the other day about the value of paying off debt, before making a savings plan. The key to that philosophy has to be what debt you pay off. Now, if you are paying on a mortgage at say 5%... does it make sence to pay it down before saving money... NO. I am no math wiz, but I know this to be true.

However, lets look at commercial credit for example. Lets say you have the annual American's debt load on a Visa Credit Card. According to a report on PBS, the average American has 6900 in commercial credit debt. At an interest rate of (I am being nice here) of 11%. I have actually read figures that the actual debt rate is closer to 16,000 and the interest rates are really more like 15.9%. Also, lets look at the minimum payment (say it is $100). First the BIG assumption is that you are not going to be adding ANY additional debt.

So, lets look at some numbers.

First, paying the minimum amount a month only. 100 bucks. Guess how long it will take to pay of this debt....By making minimum payments only, it will take you 33 years and 7 months to pay off your credit cards.


Based on your current combined balance of $6,900.00, you will pay a total of $9,914.93 in interest. NICE business if you are the credit card company. OK... Now, lets say you pay 500 dollars a month....If you pay $500.00 a month, it will take you 1 year and 3 months to pay off your credit cards.


Based on your current combined balance of $6,900.00, you will pay a total of $439.34 in interest.

OK, so finally, lets say you pay 1000 a month. This is what you would have put in savings. If you pay $1,000.00 a month, it will take you 8 months to pay off your credit cards.


Based on your current combined balance of $6,900.00, you will pay a total of $193.69 in interest.

So, now if you lose 8 months worth of compound interest...what does that mean for investments?

So, you take the remaining 4 months, put it into our savings at 4% a year. Then you add the 12,000 a year for 5 years. You end up with 64,000 in principle and 72,462.32 total saved after compound interest.

I argue, that while your total is decreased, the huge disservice is to pay the minimum on the high level loan. In fact, you would pay out a HUGE amount of interest to the bank. Probably the best tactic to take is to split the difference. Get half of your "investment" income and pay down the high interest debt and put the other half in savings. One last calculation to prove this fact. Lets say you paid 500 per month on your credit card debt. It takes you just over a year to pay it off. But for simplification, lets say you are able to scrape, save and cut back on expenses so that you are able to pay it off in one year and still put 500 bucks a month into savings.

Total investment the first year, 6000. Thereafter 12,000. Total period 5 years.

Prinicple and Interest...74,895.62. But the beauty is really in the next number.

Just sit on that 74K. Don't add another dime. 4% interest for 20 years. $164,106. Simply add an additional 100 a month for 20 years....200,783. Or, instead, keep the same principle, don't add, but increase your interest rate to 6%..240,200 at the end of the period.

Get that high debt paid down, get some money in savings. Good goals.

Simply,

K

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Back from vacation..

Armed and ready for our new plan...a refreshed start on simple living, budgets and healthy lifestyles....

A quote to start the day.

"To live content with small means. To seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion. To be worthy not respectable, and wealthy not rich. To listen to stars and birds and babes and sages with an open heart. To study hard, think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions. Never hurry.
In a word, to let the spiritual, the unbidden and the unconscious rise up through the common. This is my symphony."
-- William Henry Channing, 1898
 
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