Save a Little Here. Save a Little There.

How often are you face (plagued) with making decisions regarding your pocketbook. In today's world, keeping on budget is referred to as 'wealth management.' My! What a fancy-shmancy term for safeguarding the nickels and dimes when you're deciding between the 8 oz vs 16 oz cans of creamed corn or when you look at the wall and you see a landline that only rings for spam callers. The corn differential might be a differential of a penny or two.

And as for the landline? That phone costs me $238.44 per year. It doesn't make calls outside my area code (my choice) and it pretty much only receives calls from two friends who still have the number or computerized, robotic, auto dialers. It's a relic. I don't give the number out because it's attached to where I live... and that's nobody's business. Oh, and when I opened it up, I was able to give the Bell Company a different name under which I asked them to list it. For those who are unfamiliar with telephone books, numbers can be either listed or unlisted. Listing your number is the standard practice. Having an unlisted number costs more.

Then there are things that might make you scratch your head in wonder as to, "Why on G*d's green earth is that man just pissing his money down the toilet?" "Like what," you ask? Well, let's see. I have a car that's nine years old. I change the car oil every three months or 3,000 miles (whichever comes first). It's usually the three months that comes first. So, pretty much, each time the season changes, I take my little FIAT in for a new reservoir of fresh, synthetic oil. Even the manufacturer doesn't recommend such high frequency. But I have done it since I bought the car. While doing it, however, I also get the opportunity to have the car inspected. They look at the brakes, the tires, the other fluids. They check the wipers, the lights, and anything else that strikes their fancy.

Why the obsession? What problems did the Chevy Vega have? | AHG Auto Service

My first car was lemon. It required an oil change with every fill up. In fact, sometimes it needed oil before it ran out of gas. I still have a small car and don't really give it much thought. I generally drive alone or with one other person. I like the fuel economy. And I'm not ready to give up my stick shift so a hybrid just wouldn't work.

I've learned over the years that any purchase should be considered based on quality and price. A higher price doesn't necessarily guarantee that a product is superior to another. And while considering whether something is the superior choice, what factors are you looking at to make the determination?

My money comparisons are usually based on restaurants or supermarkets. Sometimes also gas stations, but that's less frequent.

What kind of oil to buy? What brand?

Choosing pasta can be a consideration. I generally just go to Trader Joe's because it's always $0.99 for a pound box. (I suspect the cheap pasta is kept at that price to keep people coming through the door).

Produce?

And then there are skin products such as soaps, toothpaste, body lotion, facial applications...

These days I have been looking at mini-vacations. How about a long weekend get-away? I'm going to Palm Springs for a long weekend. It's cheaper there in August. What about the hotel? I usually stay at an economy facility; clean bed and air conditioning in a room that has WiFi. I'm not spending the bulk of my time in the room.

I'm sure I could write more on the subject. Maybe I will revisit this again in later postings.