Do you know the key to saving gas milage?

SLOWING DOWN
Every day I make my 10 mile commute which takes about 45 minutes on the average. I choose to take the alternative route which route's you through some local communties. The road speed is 25 and 35. You would think it's the autobon in Europe the way these people drive. I've already gotten caught speeding on this road so needless to say I don't anymore. My max is 5 miles over the limit. You would think I'm standing still with the way these people pass me. Every time I see those big old SUV's race past me I think there goes the planet. Around here the big the better to one up the neighbors. Experts agree that driving an even speed and not speeding will reduce gas consumption and save you on gas milage.
What I find ironic is these people are speeding to get to a job they probably hate. Me, I love my job. Can't wait to get there. As a thrift store manager I'm part of the 3'R's . Reduce, recycle and reuse. I know I'm helping the environment for the most part. I still have to throw out stuff that is just not sellable. but at least the people were making and effort to save it from the landfill.
So remember. SLOW DOWN. Not only will it save you on gas, it will probably save your life some day.
Mary

Miracle worker

The best $3 I ever spent was on a box of Mr Clean Magic Eraser's. Here's what I've used to clean with my magic erasers.
- smoke & dingyness from an unvented gas cooking stove on the walls on the house we once rented.
-crayon, pencil,lipstick off walls. You have to be careful with the type of paint if you scrub to hard ,you scrub the paint off.
-that last little burnt mark after you've cooked scalloped potatoes in a casserole dish.
-the yuk off burner pans
-my silver cranberry spoon. Took the tarnish off like that.
-takes the soot off candle chimney's
I'll be adding as I think of what I've used these things for.
Mary
Below is link to the miracle pads I use.

Batteries

As I sift though the junk on my desk , I'm astounded by the number of dead batteries. This makes my commitment to trying to go green a farce. I found in the pile of junk a battery charger I bought to use with my digital camera. (Actually It's my store's camera, since I take most of the pictures for the organization, I end up with one for the store.) I go though batteries like water when I'm taking taking pictures, which I've been doing alot lately for my store's squidoo lens. (www.squidoo.com/hopestreasures) The rechargeable batteries I bought for the camera are long since gone. but I'll go out and buy another 4 and use them for my camera. This should save some money. I've searched the ads and found target has 15% off these batteries this week. And I have a 5 off gift card i can use. I'll let you know the final cost later. This is not rocket science think about how much we spend in batteries a year and the product going to the landfill. NO more I say.

Updated 1/2/08 My batteries cost me nothing because my darling son bought them for me. They were priced at 9.99 for 4 and I did have my $5 off gift card. so he only paid $5.
Mary

with the last post is an important safety precaution

There are several things you SHOULD NEVER BUY SECONDHAND without first checking with www.cpsc.org.
- never ever buy car seats, boosters seats for the car. Once these have been involved in an accident they are no longer warrented by the mfg. In order words the mfg will no longer guarentee they will protect your child in an accident. I do not take car seats in my store for this reason alone.
- never buy a crib before you have check the www.cpsc.org to see if it's on a recall list.

As a general rule my store does not take these. but if someone has a crib and I can visually see that it is unsafe. I will take it and then have staff take a sledge hammer to it.

Baby items are a catagory I do not believe in saving money on. It is best to buy new and send in that registration card. The registration card will allow the mfg to contact you in the event of a recall. Walmart and Target both have some really good buys on these items.

Now baby clothing from thrift stores is another story. Both my babies grew up on thrift store clothing. Why spend $20 for a pair of gap jeans for a 6month old when in my store I can get them for $2. You do the math. One area balances the other out.

I have to plug my job. -Because it is the most important thing you will ever read.

I work as a manager of a thrift store. Since 2003 I have worked in nonprofit retail thrift stores. My biggest money saver is the thrift store. I never buy new unless I absolutley have to. Case in point. Daughter needed white shirt and black pants and black shoes for chorus. We went to several stores looking for white shirts. Do you know how to difficult iit was to find a white shirts for a 12 year old. Settled on a ladies small from JC Penney. It's a little big but it will do for her concerts (which there are only 2 this year) cost on sale was $11. I could buy 3 shirts for her in my thrift store for that price. Sent hubby out this weekend to buy black pants. He went to 4 stores and found nothing. I told my clothing sorter and she pulled set aside every small pair of black pants she came across. The last pair was the winner. It was a ladies size 0. cost $4.99 instead of the $20 plus I would have spent at the mall. I have it easier since I just have to tell staff what I'm looking for and IF they come across matching items they will set it aside for me to look at it.
My point is check your local thrift store. Get to know the staff. Be nice in your requests and don't get upset if they don't find anything. My kids were raised on thrift store clothes. Here in Northern Virgina the quality of merchandise I get in, allows me to only allow the high end stuff to get to the floor. And I'm still overflowing.
Looking for a spare part. Check the thrift store. It doesn't hurt to ask. I had a lady in yesterday tell me that the local drama dept had just cast for it's spring production. She was looking for the big skirt that goes under a wedding dress. I remembered seeing one in the back. And she bought it for 9.99.
The key to any store is how you ask.
Mary - Happy shopping

FYI - Ever wonder what people do with all those gift sets you give them for Christmas. Guess who ends up with them. To get them a lot. So thrift stores are also great places to pick up New items.

Who is the everyday Women?

I've spent a lifetime on reading books devoted to saving time and money, these books are all very nicely written and have many good techniques but most don't apply to the Everyday Woman. She is the mom who spends 40-50 hours a week working with a husband who works a 40 hours a week job. They have kids and never enough time to enjoy life. Because by the time they get home they are too tired to do anything. The Everyday Woman is also the single mom raising 2 kids working 2 jobs to make ends meet. Both have a simple need. More time and money for themselves and their family.
I started writing ideas about money saving in a book several years ago. With the advent of the blog, I've now dusted off that book and am pulling my thoughts from it.

You see I am that EVERYDAY WOMAN.