save money tip #5 : make things & do not buy things

Making things is almost always less expensive. 

• Make breakfast
• Make your own coffee or tea 
• Make lunch 
• Make dinner 
• Make a card for a friend 
• Make a salad to bring to a pot luck 
• Make your own clothes 
• Mend your own clothes 
• Make your own toys
• Make your own beer
• Make your own fun! 

It can be hard to break the spending cycle so I suggest that you quit cold turkey. Just stop spending on stuff. 

This month only buy food - and I mean ingredients, not meals out. Just try. 

Okay, I get it - it's hard. You think you need to buy stuff - to be happy, to show your friends that you like them, for a whole munch if reasons.

Here is my thinking. 

We live in San Francisco. Everyone has a small place to live and no one wants more stuff cluttering up their life. We can bring something we made - because there are cultural norms for bringing stuff to parties and to people houses. Going to a party, bring a piece of art, a poem, a salad. 

Feeling blue? Normally buy things to feel better? Don't. Don't even window shop. 

• Go for a walk. 
• Call a friend. 
• Make tea an take it to the local park - sit and watch the trees. 
• Say hi to a neighbor. Offer to help them with something. 
• Go to the beach. 
• Pick up trash in your neighborhood. 
• Go to the library and check out a book, or a movie, or a dvd. 
• Make dinner at home and take it to the park/beach. 

Try it - buy nothing but food for one month. See how great it feels and how fat your wallet feels! 

joy and fun : free stuff to do # 2 - hiking rules!

Looking for something fun and amazing to do that doesn't cost anything? Go on a hike!

If you live the the San Francisco Bay Area then you are surrounded by excellent hikes.  Som of my favorites are listed below. I'll come back to add, but please feel free to mention your favorite hikes in the comments.

A great resource is the Bay Area Hiker website: http://www.bahiker.com/
Folks post updates on trail status and flora and fauna they have seen on the trail!


In San Francisco

• The Presidio is a national park in a city! And it's pretty spectacular, check out the trails here. 
• Golden Gate Park 
• Lands End 
• Mount Sutro Preserve - part of UCSF 

In the East Bay the East Bay Regional Park District has an amazing chain of phenomenal parks in the East Bay hills. You pretty much can;t go wrong at any of the parks, some of my favorites include Redwood, Sibley and Huckleberry Parks. http://www.ebparks.org/

save money tip #4: closet shopping

Looking to save money?    Is your pain point shopping?


Get the same sort of kick by closet shopping - go home and spend an entire afternoon going through your closet and making new outfits. You will absolutely discover some piece of clothing you had forgotten. Mix it up - layer weird things, add scarves, jewelry, socks - just try stuff out.

Remember to take pictures of the outfits that work so you can remember them when you are getting ready in the morning!


While you are here, get rid of all clothes that do not fit, look bad, or you hate. No matter who gave them to you, or what concert you wore them to - donate them now. You will feel much better.

I promise you won't look like a clown! 

sorry for being mia

So sorry for being missing in action! I have great stuff to write about and post, so we should see some action here soon.

- dasLael

save money tip #2: cook your dinner

Save money and learn a new skill: cook your own dinner.

Plus sides:

• saves money 
• you know what you are eating
• healthier 
• make extra for lunches 
• fun! 

But don't just listen to me, listen to Michael Pollan too! He has a lot to say about why eating less processed food is important, why cooking with your family is important and why its better for you and the planet. 

And: saves money.

So get thee to a website or the library, check out some recipes and get cooking!  

save money tip #3 & joy and fun tip #3: friends

Friends are fantastic. They are so fun and wonderful - they make you laugh, they listen when you cry, they like to go do the same things you like - in a word: fantastic.

And what is funner than friends? Nothing.

They are cheap or free - so make plans to see your friends. I know we all live busy important lives but I would encourage you to take the time to see your friends. Go for a walk, meet at the playground or park, take a hike, picnic on the beach.

We live in a transitory place - people move to and from here all the time. Get in the habit of making new friends your whole life long. It's a great skill and a hard one as the years march on. People who make friends are happier and live longer. 

So go see your friends today, - nourish those connections. Say hi to a mom at the playground and make a new friend too.

joy and fun : free stuff to do # 1 - libraries rule!

I've been focusing on how to save money a lot since I started the blog - but I want you to have a great life too. And I want you to know they aren't mutually exclusive. The only joy in your life isn't from spending - honest. There are amazing things to do that are free - everywhere, no matter where you live. So with that in mind, I'll be posting free things to do! Free!

First off: go get a library card. There you are: free books, free CDs, free movies.

Also: free activities! 

Writing workshops, rhyme time for toddlers, musicians, events, you name it.

There is also a reading challenge every summer for kids - with prizes! A cool book bag, stickers, journals, fun stuff! (also: free)

Have fun!