March 2009

Buy!

March 24, 2009

If you’re still employed and you have some cash, now could be the time to invest in real estate. And not just because it’s cheap. The better reason is that when inflation happens, the real cost of interest on a loan drops. Let’s say you have a loan at 6 percent. If the inflation rate [...]

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Make It from Scratch Carnival

March 24, 2009

Hurrah! It’s time to host the Make It from Scratch Carnival. Once again we have some splendidly tempting recipes, clever crafts, and useful gardening ideas. I hope you enjoy all these offerings as much as I have. Editor’s picks are flagged with adoring little red hearts:* Foodies * It’s Frugal Being Green Baking Day: Pecan [...]

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w00t! A lagniappe!

March 23, 2009

Over at MSN Smart Spending, Karen Datko has kindly featured my recent rumination about whether to hang onto the stocks, bonds, gold, and cash in my IRA or cash it in and pay off the mortgage in the house my son and I are copurchasing. Nice exposure… Thanks, Karen!

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Use caution when making DIY laundry detergent

March 22, 2009

Many of us have begun making laundry soap with Fels Naptha soap, borax, and washing soda. If you’re doing that, please take a look at what’s in Fels Naptha soap. Turns out the stuff contains mineral spirits, a petroleum product. It can be highly irritating and apparently should not be used as a regular laundry [...]

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Is it time to punt?

March 22, 2009

This month’s statement from Fidelity shows another $10,000 loss in my big IRA, despite my financial advisors’ having moved as much as possible into conservative investments, gold, and cash. At the age of 63—damn! soon to be 64!—I’m watching my retirement investments melt away. That IRA has dropped in value from a high of $326,000 [...]

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Anna’s Biscuits

March 22, 2009

Here’s an old family recipe: it came from my mother’s best friend, an amazing Pennsylvania Dutch cook. What makes these unusual is the addition of egg to the batter. You need: 2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons double-acting baking powder (such as Calumet) 4 generous tablespoons butter, margarine, or Crisco 1 egg Milk [...]

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