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Archives for July 2011

The Choice of Quality (Part 1 of 2)

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Nutmeg)

As I drove through my subdivision on trash day, I noticed that two more homes had piles of carpet at the curb. Since the summer began, there have been at least 3 other homes that have replaced or substituted the carpeting in their homes. Though some of them may have chosen another flooring choice, e.g. hardwood, tile, etc., some are replacing the original carpet because it is threadbare.

Making the Choices

Looking back at the choices Paul and I made at the time we built our home, I am confident we chose correctly. After selecting our floor plan and elevation choice (essentially, the look of the outside including the slope of the roof), we had 2-3 pages of upgrades to consider. The choices were a bit overwhelming until we agreed on our maximum purchase price and evaluated our options.

In making our selections, we chose quality over convenience or decoration. Our upgrades included:

  • Mud sink for the garage,
  • Large appliances,
  • Extended (tall) cabinets,
  • Fireplace with mantel,
  • Tier 2 carpet pad and carpet, and
  • Microwave with hood over the range.

All the upgrades we chose cost us less than having to remodel our house with these items. By choosing the best quality upgrades, we used our time wisely.

On a side note: One upgrade I really wanted was the matching crown molding for our kitchen cabinets. However, the price was outrageous and would have exceeded our agreed upon price. That choice also could easily be added at a later time. So, I sacrificed my heart’s desire, and by-passed that upgrade.

As the house was being built, Paul and I would stop by to watch the progress. On one occasion, we met our cabinet installer. After talking with him and thanking him for his work, this installer gave us his business card. We informed him that we were interested in the crown molding and might contact him in the future.

A few weeks later, I received a call from our builder asking us to please remove the crown molding left in the house. On our next visit to the house, Paul and I saw our crown molding. Our cabinet installer GAVE us the crown molding for our kitchen cabinets.

I cannot express the emotions I felt realizing that we chose wisely. The crown molding I desired was given to us free of charge saving us $750. What a blessing! I enjoyed writing that thank you note and am still appreciative of that gift.

The Results of the Choices

In the years we have lived in our house, all of these quality choices continue to serve us well. I am thankful we opted for the upgraded carpet pad and carpet. With continued cleaning and care, these carpets will continue to meet our needs. Though we paid more for these choices at the beginning, I am more aware of the benefits to paying a bit more for quality to save money (replacing the carpets), energy (moving everything out of each room), and time (waiting for the project to be completed) in the long run.

Next week in part 2, I will explain how our decisions of quality in other areas continue to save us money, energy, and time.

Question: What is the best quality choice you have made? Please add your answer by clicking the Leave your Comment button below.

Event: Arriving Etiquette

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Nate42)

Have you ever received an invitation with the time listed and wondered when to arrive at the event? Just because the time is listed does not necessarily mean that is the time to arrive. Let’s consider four different events:

Wedding

As you open a wedding invitation and read about the happy couple’s intention to marry on a predetermined day, you will find that the ceremony will be at said church at 5:00 p.m.  The time indicated is when the bride is scheduled to walk down the aisle. Since you will need to be seated prior to the bride’s descent, plan to arrive 15-30 minutes prior to the listed time. If you arrive at or after the listed time, you may not be granted entrance into the ceremony.

Remembering back to one ceremony Paul and I attended, we arrived 30 minutes early to find decorations still being placed and no attendees. At first, I thought I had misread the invitation. Locating the invitation in my purse, I consulted the time. The wedding was to begin in less than 30 minutes. So, Paul and I took a seat and waited. At the time listed on the invitation, the lights were dimmed and the preliminary elements began.

That event was the only wedding I have ever attended that truly began at the appointed hour. The bride made her entrance 30 minutes after the time listed on the invitation. Though it happens, this scenario is not the standard. My recommendation is to arrive between 15 – 30 minutes prior to the listed time.

Dinner Party

When you are invited to a dinner party at 6:00 p.m., plan to arrive between 6:00 – 6:05 p.m. Your host or hostess is preparing for your visit. If you have made arrangements to arrive earlier to help, then assist your hostess at the appointed time. If you have offered to help, but the hostess has not accepted your offer, then please do not arrive early.

Most hostesses have scheduled their time to have the meal prepared at the set time. If you arrive early, your hostess may not be ready and will feel the need to entertain you rather than complete her preparations. Please be considerate of your host by arriving at or a little after the time given.

Open House

Receiving an invitation to an open house event, you will notice the parameters for the time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Your host or hostess is offering this event where you are welcome to arrive between 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Give yourself a minimum of 30 minutes to interact with your host and hostess and enjoy the benefits of the event they planned.

Please do not arrive 5 minutes before the end of the event (without extenuating circumstances). Not only is this behavior rude, it is also disrespectful to your host and hostess. Since your host has taken the time to invite and prepare for your attendance, your lateness ignores the kindness extended to you. Please plan and arrive no later than 30 minutes before the end of the event.

I have attended many baby showers with an open house time frame and have found arriving too early means sitting around waiting for others. Usually I plan to arrive around the middle of the time frame. In this case, I would arrive around 3:00 p.m., allowing time to visit, participate, and exit within the framework of the event.

Birthday Party

In the invitation, the host usually sets a framework for the party. If so, then please arrive within 5-8 minutes of the scheduled time. If this party is for children, then the host or hostess probably has a planned schedule. Arriving late may cause the host or hostess to adjust the schedule to accommodate you. If you get lost or know you will be late, please inform the host or hostess of your situation.

If the invitation only lists the start time, then plan to arrive within 5-8 minutes of that time. Your host or hostess is expecting your arrival before commencing the activities.

These are just four types of events where knowing when to arrive will help the attendees as well as the host and hostess in executing a successful event. The window of time to arrive at these events is between 30 minutes prior to the appointed time and up to 8 minutes after the scheduled time. Taking note of the type of event and the etiquette associated with that event will keep you arriving within the allotted time to fully enjoy the planned activities.

For more information on party etiquette, you can visit Syndi Seid’s Advanced Etiquette. She even has an Etiquette Tip of the Month. Come back next week for etiquette on departing from these same four events.

Question:  What do you do when you arrive early to an event? To add your answer, please click on Leave your Comment at the end of this post.

Cleaning: Use Both Hands

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (atf300)

Have you ever considered how you clean? If someone asked me this question, my response would be: “Yes, I clean top to bottom and right to left.” But after watching someone else clean, I will now add to my previous answer, “with both hands.”

My Observation

Recently, I had the opportunity to observe someone clean a store’s glass windows. These windows were rather tall, and the washer was concentrating on the lower half. She kept her right hand busy with all these tasks:

  • picking up the glass cleaner bottle from her cart,
  • spraying the glass,
  • placing the glass cleaner bottle back in the cart,
  • picking up the squeegee, and
  • working the squeegee in a zigzag motion from the middle of the pane to the floor.

Though her right hand was busy, she kept her left hand on her hip without utilizing it. I kept waiting to see if she would switch hands, but she did not. She was not in any rush, for she would stop to watch customers and to rest her right arm. (That right arm must have been quite tired.)

My Response

While watching her, I was thinking how this process could be improved to use her time wisely with the least amount of effort. These are my tips:

1. Use both hands. Hold the cleaner in one hand and the squeegee in the other. When one shoulder, arm, or hand gets tired, switch those products to the other hand.

2. Stay focused. Look at the window and keep working. As you complete a section, begin the next.

3. Continue to work from top to bottom. If you start at the bottom, you will likely need to re-do some or the entire lower portion when you clean the top.

Though I do not anticipate cleaning tall windows anytime soon, I will be emptying out my dishwasher, putting away folded laundry, and stacking grocery items in my pantry. So, as I accomplish these household tasks, I plan to use both hands, stay focused, and continue to work from top to bottom.

Question: What tips or tricks have you discovered from watching someone clean well or poorly? Please share your answer by clicking the Leave a Comment link below.

Home Ownership: Property Taxes

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If you are following the list of items in the home ownership category, you may notice that property taxes were not included in that list. You are right!

Usually property taxes would be housed with the tax documents located in Box 3. However, after using this system for a number of years, I have found that when I need these tax documents, I look in the home ownership file first. If I don’t find it there, then I look in the tax file.

To assist me in using my time wisely, I have chosen to move the property tax documents from the tax file to the home ownership file. Making this change is my personal preference. If you would look in the tax category first, then place these documents there. Find a system that works for you that will allow you to use your time wisely.

Continuing with our filing system under the home ownership category, we have added our deed(s) and homeowner’s (or renter’s) insurance documents. Behind these documents, I have included the following property tax papers:

1. The current property tax notice. This is an annual statement sent from our county.

2. Copy of tax payment. Since this payment is made by our mortgage company from our escrow account, I make a copy of the mortgage statement showing that the taxes were paid. In the event I need to prove that the payment was made, I have the copy of the receipt with the tax notice.

3. Notices of Classification, Appraisal, and Assessment of Real Estate Tax. These documents list our home’s assessed value for tax purposes. Any countywide reassessment changes will be included on this form.

These items are organized with the current year on top and paper clipped together. (I like using paper clips rather than staples. The staples leave marks when I need to replace documents. The paper clips do come off periodically, but overall, they work great.) I then place these tax documents behind the insurance paperwork for easy access when needed.

Next week we will continue adding documents to this category of home ownership. I hope you are taking steps to getting your paperwork organized. It is a process that is worth your time and energy.

Question: Do you prefer using staples or paper clips to keep your documents together?

Back to School: Sale Supply Lists

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Rebeca Falco)

As summer is winding down, the back-to-school sales are gearing up. Viewing the Sunday fliers, I am bombarded with sales from large retail suppliers competing for my attention and business. Sorting through the advertisements, I could spend 1-2 hours creating the perfect list of needed items at the best prices to stretch my hard earned dollars.

The Search

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a master list of all the school supply sales from all the major retail stores? Well, I have some great news for you  . . .

THERE IS.

The Find

Jenny Martin at southernsavers.com creates a master list of all the school supplies from all the stores. You can see this week’s deals (ending today) by clicking on this link. Armed with this master list, you can find the best prices on all your school needs.

Next week, Jenny will post another list. When I see her list, I will post the link on my Facebook page. (Are you following me on Facebook? If not, click on the Facebook icon in the right sidebar, like our page, and “talk” with me. I would love to hear how you are using your time wisely.)

The Timesaver

Having your created list, you are ready to hit the stores. What if you could get most or all of your items at the same store? A one-stop shopping trip would be a huge timesaver.

Hmm . . . have you heard that some stores, like Wal-mart, offer price matching? (You see where I’m going. Isn’t this exciting?)

If your store price matches, then take your list and all your sales ads with you while shopping. Here is how my shopping trip looks:

1.  Choose to shop at Wal-mart since I have price matched successfully with them in the past.

2.  Take my list and gather the items. The items need to be the same brand, size, and count as the price matched item.

3.  Sort the items by the price matched advertisement. To make the checkout process as organized as possible, keep all the items to be price matched from the Walgreens ad together, then all the Kmart ads, then the Target sales, etc.

4.  Go to checkout placing the sales ad with the group of items to be price matched. Let the cashier know you have price matched items. Then help him or her by locating the new price from your ads. Be calm, courteous, and don’t be afraid to ask for a manager if the cashier does not honor a sale price.

5.  Share your savings with your frugal friends, including Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page or leave a comment on this post. 🙂

Keeping your shopping trips to a minimum and maximizing your savings can both be accomplished by using your time wisely when creating your shopping list and choosing a store that price matches. I wish you a great shopping experience as you preparing for your family’s up-coming school year.

Question: What stores price match in your area?