Lost Art of Cooking, Extra Income, Furnish a Home Cheap

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

Http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1.       The Lost art of cooking

2.      Ways to make extra income – without a lot of work

3.      Two simple ways to keep your online searches private

4.      Kids bowl for free this summer

5.      Decorating and furnishing your home on the cheap

Life Expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.

--Doug Larson

Cooking at home…stretching your food budget

   Thank goodness some of our garden produce is harvestable as the cost of food and everything else continues to rise.  For those on fixed incomes or without a steady paycheck, inflation is hammering lifestyles.

Using coupons and shopping for sale items only helps contain some food budget costs.  As we’ve reported on in the past, extreme couponing and shopping at extreme discount grocery stores helps to reduce the dollar squeeze.

More people are rediscovering the somewhat lost art of cooking at home.  One of the keys to saving money from cooking at home is to buy larger portions of roasts, chickens, and other food stocks when on sale.  If you have children, you already know food vanishes quickly.  However, even households with only one or two people can save money through preparing a larger meal and then freezing the leftovers for future meals.

For instance, if you cook a large roast, leftovers can be turned into pot pies, soups, stews, add-ons to rice, pasta and vegetable stir fry’s and more.

Leftovers can also be used for lunch at the office instead of a daily trip to a fast food eatery.  No doubt many restaurants are hurting due to lower patronage and their own rising costs.  I don’t know how many of the fast food restaurants still offer dollar items on their menu.  The tight economy must also be hurting the incomes for servers at sit-down restaurants.  A 15% tip used to be the norm but experts now say you should tip 20%.

Cooking at home used to be the domain of women in our society but no longer.  More men have taken over that task in many households.  Indeed, I’ve run into many women whose idea of cooking focuses on the four main food groups…take-out, frozen, microwave and canned! (I once had a gal invite me to dinner and was surprised at why her mashed potatoes didn’t turn out, after all, she had boiled the pot of spuds four times and they didn’t mash)!

Cooking skills were traditionally handed down from mother to daughter, in my case, it was mother to son.  In pursuit of the American Dream of more stuff we seemed to have skipped a generation of handing down these skills.  Too, the lack of skills might also be attributed to the feminist movement’s backlash against stereotypes and/or the push toward fast food consumption.  It’s apparent that lifestyle has had a negative effect on our children, especially with our obesity problem.

There are 100s of DIY cookbooks, TV shows and online videos showing folks how to cook cheaply at home so there is no real excuse for not trying to learn.  Aside from being a money saver, it ‘serves’ as excellent family time.

My favorite all-purpose cookbook is the pre-1974 Joy of Cooking as it provides many variations and background information on food.  Remember, a recipe is merely a guide, feel free to experiment and adapt.

  How many of you cook at home?  The Frugal Gourmet offers dozens of related videos, free and online:   http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=frugal+chef&n=21&ei=utf-8&fr2=sg-gac&tnr=20&js=1

Like humans, many of our pets are now obese.  Trim pets down by replacing high calories biscuits with plain rice cakes.  Dogs like these fat-free treats.

PM’s Betty Shocker Roundup of useful stuff…

Ways to Make Extra Income - Without Much Work

In this economy, with escalating food and gas prices and stagnant wages, who wouldn't want to make extra money on the side? The trick, of course, is creating an additional revenue stream that requires little time or energy, as our lives are already jam-packed with work and responsibilities. For Seth, the solution is renting out his extra room. So popular is his listing, he has travelers asking to book his extra room in 2013. It's easy money, Seth says, considering the task requires no heavy lifting or much time out of his day. It's also a lot of fun, Seth says. He often hangs out with his guests, showing them around New York City and inviting them to outings with his friends.

But renting out a room in your home to a stranger isn't for everyone. What about renting out your car? Car-sharing companies, such as RelayRides, JustShareIt and GetAround, help car owners rent their vehicles to neighbors and visitors by the hour, day or week. (Don't worry: Insurance is included). Car owners can set their own rates, and the potential to make money is strong. Car owners at GetAround, for example, can earn about $2,000 per year, according to the company. At RelayRides, the company says average car owners earn between $200 and $300 a month.

http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113150-10368-1-ways-to-make-extra-income-without-much-work?ywaad=ad0035

Related Note:

The mystery shopping industry has its fair share of dishonest companies, according to career expert Tory Johnson, author of the New York Times best-seller "Will Work From Home". She recommends only working with certified marketing firms and avoiding job postings that require you to pay any upfront fees. The Federal Trade Commission also suggests visiting the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website for a database of mystery shopper assignments.

Two Simple Methods to Keep Your Online Searches
More Private and Confidential

'Encrypted' Google search: The non-default, but more secure way to use Google

What's good:

It's simple to start. Once you're on the Google website, add an "S" in the browser url just after, "http." In other words, change "http" into "https": https://www.google.com/. This encrypts the connection from your computer to Google's servers, by using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection. (By convention, urls that require an SSL connection, or have it as an option, start with https instead of http.)

If you're on a public Wi-Fi, and someone is electronically eavesdropping ("sniffing"), that person or software program will only capture the encrypted message, not the search terms you're typing into Google.

The encrypted connection should keep your searches confidential even from your ISP

When you click to the third-party destination website, from the search engine results page, the destination website doesn't know that you came from Google – or what search term you used to reach the site.

Ixquick.com: The privacy-centered search engine

What's good:

They are a search engine that advocates your privacy.

They don't record your IP address. Run the same "Pizza" test, and you'll see that no local pizza joints appear in the search results.

They don't use unique session cookies, which can be used to identify you and track you.

They don't log or record your activity on their search engine.

They have an encrypted option, just like Google. Add an "s" in the browser url just after, "http": https://www.ixquick.com/.

The encrypted option keeps your search confidential from electronic eavesdroppers and your ISP

Note: Ixquick has a relationship with Google called Startpage.com. Apparently, it's for those who wish to use Ixquick privacy features while receiving only Google's search results. The original Ixquick.com search engine works just fine and serves search results from multiple search engines. So you typically receive a broader base of search results.

Tech problems?  Sign up at Weebly.com, a free service that includes step-by-step instructions for creating and maintain your website, plus support services.

Chia Seed - Once valued so much that it was used as currency, this unique little seed has exceptional nutritive and structural benefits.

Chia, is familiar to most of us as a seed used for the novelty of the Chia Pet™, clay animals with sprouted Chia seeds covering their bodies. Little is known, however, of the seeds tremendous nutritional value and medicinal properties. For centuries this tiny little seed was used as a staple food by the Indians of the south west and Mexico. Known as the running food, its use as a high energy endurance food has been recorded as far back as the ancient Aztecs. It was said the Aztec warriors subsisted on the Chia seed during the conquests. The Indians of the south west would eat as little as a teaspoon full when going on a 24hr. forced march. Indians running form the Colorado River to the California coast to trade turquoise for seashells would only bring the Chia seed for their nourishment.

http://www.living-foods.com/articles/chia.html

Spend less on outdoor electricity by replacing floodlights with solar-powered lighting.

Kids bowl for free

Lanes nationwide are offering two free games for kids all summer.  Signup to get a voucher at:

KidsBowlFree.com

Avoid Pre-made and save…

We enjoy the convenience of cut up chicken, pre-made hamburger patties, salads, etc.  However, you can save money by making your own.  Buy hamburger in bulk and shape patties, then freeze.  Buy whole chickens, cut them yourself.  If you enjoy fresh fruit salads, you’ll really save by slicing them and you can use the rinds and other discarded parts in your compost pile.

Get Prescription eyeglasses for as little as $7 a pair…

Check out Zennioptical.com

Our favorite DIY pet, equine and farm animal supply house

 http://www.jefferspet.com/Default.asp?&camid=

Keep your home cooler by using white shingles or white roofing material and install an attic vent.

The Nanny State Update…

Safe Sex
California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health has fined Hustler Video $14,175 for not using condoms in pornographic videos it produced. Another production company, Forsaken Films, was fined $12,150 for not providing condoms to performers.

Meanwhile, the federal government continues to waste money on some of the most bizarre things imaginable. For example, the federal government actually gave money to the National Institutes of Health to study the effect that the size of "a certain part of the body" has on the sex lives of gay men. Can anyone think of a reason why the federal government would want to throw money away on such frivolous studies when millions of Americans can't even find jobs right now?

Reason.tv: Battle for Brooklyn--Eminent Domain Gone Wild
Battle for Brooklyn , a documentary about one man's fight to stop a private developer from using eminent domain to take his home, recently opened in select theaters in New York City after a successful film-festival run. Reason.tv sat down with co-directors Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley to discuss eminent domain abuse and political perceptions of their film. Galinsky and Hawley insist their film is not a polemic, but rather an all-too-common story of a single person fighting an injustice against figures whose power and influence dwarf his own.

Many believe that a big reason for all of this chaos in America today is the decline of the American family. In 1960, married couples accounted for 75 percent of all households in America. Today, they account for just 48 percent of all households.

The Parting Shot…Decorating – Early Attic Style

   It’s a rarity that we ever buy new furniture.  Most items we own have been found at auctions, garage sales and thrift stores.  Much of it was in ‘like-new’ condition when we found it and represent a huge savings over a visit to the furniture store.  Besides, they add a unique flavor or character to our home.

You may not be comfortable with the use of pre-owned furnishings in your apartment or home, so I’ve listed a few online sites that will still save you money.

ConsignmentPal.com helps you locate local consignment buyers.  The furnishings often come from manufacturers, interior designers and high end retailers.

OldHouseJournal.com provides a directory of stores that sell architectural salvage; very useful for fixer-upper homes.

Habitat.org/restores One of our favorites…from Habitat for Humanity, these resale stores sell building materials and home goods for 50-90% off retail.  Many are new or gently used.

Another source to investigate:  model home builders and realtors; especially those who use ‘stagers’ to decorate the home.  Once a model home is sold, the furnishings they used to decorate the model home are often available at deep discounts.

That’s all for this issue from your frugal friend, the Poor Man!

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A Shallow Planet Production

Swap, Exchange, Barter - Get More Free Stuff

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1.       Swap, Exchange or Barter-Save Money

2.      A negative credit score may not be a bad thing

3.      More of doing good for others

4.      The true rate of inflation

5.      Get more free stuff

“When they took the 4th Amendment, I was quiet because I didn't deal drugs. When they took the 6th Amendment, I was quiet because I was innocent. When they took the 2nd Amendment, I was quiet because I didn't own a gun. Now they have taken the 1st Amendment, and I can only be quiet."
-- Lyle Myhr

Free toiletries…good for bug-out kits

For nearly a decade I was a road warrior, traveling to as many as 12 states during a 30-day period (this was before they allowed children on airplanes).  I spent a lot of time in hotels.  The better the hotel, the more toiletries and other goodies were stocked in your room every night.  (The Chattanooga Hilton and the Pointe Tapatio Resort in AZ had the nicest in-room bar and snacks).

Since I packed my own favorite brands of shampoo, toothpaste and the like, I would bring home bags of these sample sized toiletries.  They were great for my twice annual vacation to Ocean City, MD but I always had boxes of these sitting around the home.

 When I became a volunteer board member for the Salvation Army, it dawned on me these could be used in their efforts at helping the homeless.  So, two or three times a year we began donating a few boxes to the shelters.  We also began a campaign of donating day old bread and other grocery items to them.  We had approached the store managers of the various grocery stores we patronized and the managers agreed to sell large trash bags filled with food for a whopping $2 a bag.

Now, it has dawned on me these sample packs are ideal for inclusion in bug-out kits for the entire family.

Speaking of samples…I rarely see samples being distributed by manufactures anymore.  We used to get them in the mail or at the grocery stores.  Yes, you can get small samples sometimes online. Today, we’d love to see some generous samples of good coffee as the price for coffee has gone through the roof.  The Gillette Company pioneered the best sampling program in the early 1900s when it would give away samples of its safety razors.  Of course, it made a ton of money by selling the actual razor to its customers.  A smart example of marketing from the good old days!

To get more life (and flavor) from your dried spices, store them in airtight containers and keep them away from heat sources and direct sunlight.

 

PM’s Useful resources for living better…

Save Money by Swapping, Exchanging or bartering

Over the years we’ve plugged the idea of barter as a means of saving cash.  Why not turn a summer BBQ into a ‘swap party’?  Some might call this re-gifting.  Choose a theme, perhaps swapping gifts or clothing, children’s toys, books or other item  When you invite friends, tell them the price of admission is something to swap.

Here are some online resources to consider:

·        Exchange clothing and accessories at:  DigNSwap.com, SwapStyle.com  or for children’s clothes, try ThredUp.com

·        Can’t sell your home?  Consider an even exchange from these sites:  DomuSwap.com, Pad4Pad.com, or OnlineHouseTrading.com

·        Get out of a car lease at these sites:  SwapALease.com (transfer fees apply)

Secret supermarket saver…pay attention to items featured on the front or back cover of your grocer’s circular.  That’s the primary area that ‘loss leaders’ are posted and usually provide the best value.

Get more free stuff

This site compiles lists of giveaways and coupons in a convenient location…clothing, food, entertainment, etc.

www.MrFreeStuff.com

If You Get a Negative Credit Score, It Isn't Necessarily Bad News.

Some lenders may opt to send score reports to all of their applicants, because that is a less complex way to comply with the regulations, said Nessa Feddis of the American Bankers Association. So simply getting a score report won't necessarily indicate that you received a worse deal than any other applicant.

Your Credit Report May Be More Important than Your Score.

You already are allowed to get your credit report for free, and that's where all the important facts of your credit history are located. The data in your credit report provides the basis for those credit scores. Everyone should regularly check their credit reports regularly, to make sure they are error-free. To do that, go to the official website, AnnualCreditReport.com. There you'll find links to your reports at the three big credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. If you're getting ready to borrow big -- say buy a car or refinance your home -- get all three at once. If not, you may find it more useful to get one every four months, rotating, because you're allowed one free peek a year at each one.

Soothe aches and pains  by filling an old sock with a cup of uncooked rice; tie a knot in the end and microwave for 30-seconds and then use the warmth to stop the pain.

What's the True Rate of Inflation?  From our friend Steve with many sites of interest

We don't really have an answer to that question. One thing we do know (some of us) is that the true rate of inflation is not found in the CPI or other government measures. In his book Bad Money, Kevin Phillips explains how inflation data has been manipulated in various ways, in order to show a lower rate. This may have been done in large part to reduce federal outlays for cost-of-living increases in Social Security. New rules for computing the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, were put into place starting in 1997.

For example, the old standard of a fixed basket of goods was eliminated in favor of a flexible approach that took into account "substitution bias," which, it was claimed, had made inflation appear higher than it really was. The idea that if the price of juice goes up, people's cost of living doesn't go up by an equal amount, since many will just substitute a cheaper alternative, like sugary drinks. If aluminum prices rise, you can buy tin pans, so your personal cost of living doesn't rise much. Using this principle, things that are going up in price are now given less weight in the index - precisely because they are going up.

Some of us find this to be strange logic for computing the level of prices.

In addition, there were now "hedonic" adjustments for product quality. This is based on the theory that even if your cable television costs more, you are getting more channels, and hence more pleasure for your money. Therefore, the reasoning goes, we can't apply the entire cost increase of many products and services to calculating the CPI, since...

Continues here...
http://www.thesecretinformationsite.com/true-rate-of-inflation.html

Prevent rust by sprinkling a handful of uncooked rice in the bottom of your garden supplies box as it will absorb the moisture…works for tool boxes too!

The Nanny State Updates

 

A frightening incident that happened down in Tennessee. A team of firefighters actually stood by and watched a house burn to the ground because the homeowner had not paid his fees. The following is an excerpt from a report by a local NBC affiliate about this incident....

Imagine your home catches fire but the local fire department won't respond, then watches it burn. That's exactly what happened to a local family tonight.

A local neighborhood is furious after firefighters watched as an Obion County, Tennessee, home burned to the ground.

The homeowner, Gene Cranick, said he offered to pay whatever it would take for firefighters to put out the flames, but was told it was too late. They wouldn't do anything to stop his house from burning.

New Passport rules being proposed…

The General Accounting Office (GAO) has on several occasions investigated the department’s procedures for processing passport applications and found them dangerously wanting. In 2009, for example, the GAO “easily” obtained passports using counterfeit documents. A 2010 investigation also yielded passports despite numerous discrepancies and suspicious indicators within each application (including, for example, photos of the same investigator on multiple applications; a 62-year-old applicant using a Social Security number issued in 2009; passport and driver’s license photos showing a 10-year age difference; and the use of a California mailing address, a West Virginia permanent address and driver’s license address, and a Washington, D.C., phone number in the same application).

Specifically, the department is proposing a new passport application, Form DS-5513. It would require the name and address of your every employer, as well every supervisor’s name, and the address of your every residence.

If you’re over 50, get neighborhood bargains by entering you zip code at: Sciddy.com – Savings rate averages 15% on everything from pet services to travel.

More of ‘Doing Good’ for others…the Parting Thought

After obtaining free parts from FreeCycle.org, Jordan Grant, a National Guardsman from MO, began building computers as a hobby.  Soon he had lots of them so he started giving them away to people of limited means.  He provides an average of three a month and feels such an investment in his community is worth his while…

Brenda of ON, Canada is a volunteer at a local food bank.  She noticed an elderly woman who came by weekly to pick up groceries.  The old woman struggled to carry the bags of food so Brenda went to purchase a wheeled cart for her.  She chatted with the cashier as she paid for the cart, explaining the purpose of the purchase.  The cashier was impressed, so she let Brenda have the cart for half price!

Charity gardens provide backyard bounty for those who need it most.  There is a growing movement in America among folks who grow fruits and vegetables and donate them to food banks and soup kitchens.  If you have a vacant piece of property, consider either growing crops for charity or allowing low income people to grow produce on a designated plot; a terrific community effort that provides long term relief.

That’s it for this issue from the ‘Yes, we can’ Poor Man

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Keep our services free, visit our sites…

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New self sufficiency books added weekly

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A Shallow Planet Production

What You Don't Know About Charities, Freebies, Fix for US Jobs

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1.       Things you might not know about charity donations

2.      How others are doing good in their community

3.      Legal assistance options

4.      A Fix for US Jobs

5.      Lots more free resources to help boost your life

Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman.

--Proverbs 21:19

Donating to charity - things you might not know

Last week’s issue brought a few questions from readers regarding “ItsDeductible” and the overall concept of donating to charity.  Most of the questions centered on “why do these charities now charge so much for stuff they get free?”

If you’re a thrift store shopper you’ve no doubt noticed a significant uptick in prices charged on items at the Salvation Army, Goodwill and other non-profit stores, especially if you’re shopping for a used vehicle at what’s become another fundraising channel for many of these groups.

The reasons vary but it boils down to this.  First and foremost, these groups are a business, a big business and they pay their CEOs accordingly.  The CEO of the Arizona Goodwill, for instance, is reportedly paid more than $354,000 annually.  The person running the Salvation Army makes a fraction of that.

Source:

http://old.mbconf.ca/mb/mbh3601/salary.htm

  Like any other business they have expenses and overhead and given current market conditions, the charities are capitalizing on demand (higher the demand, the higher the prices).  When it comes to auto sales, they charge as close to Blue Book value as possible to cover their towing and other costs while maximizing revenue.

If you shop thrift stores in order to find items worth reselling, your profit margins have been cut dramatically from these recent price hikes.  It is ironic how often store managers will place a printout of what an item is selling for on eBay next to a ‘collectible’ piece and then price it at the same or slightly lower than featured on eBay. They seem to forget they’re quoting the asking price, not what the item actually sells for.

Goodwill and Salvation Army, for instance, often charge more for used clothing than what you can pay for new clothing, especially if you shop sales at many discount stores.  Ironically, a huge profit center for these organizations is the bulk sales of used clothing to ‘rag’-vendors, who in turn, sell or donate them to third-world countries.

I’ve always maintained that Americans own enough clothing to outfit the entire planet, yet it is a common sight to see women, on sale days, with one or more shopping carts over flowing with clothing.  In Arizona, this was especially common among Mexicans who send these garments back to relatives in Mexico.

How Do I Handle Deductions for Non-Cash Donations to a Charity?

There are rules for non-cash donations such as property or outdated clothing, household furnishings, or office equipment.

For property owned for more than a year, the deduction is usually equal to the property's fair market value. Appreciated property can be deducted at the full fair value of the property, meaning that you are never taxed on the appreciated amount.

Donated goods must be in "good condition or better," according to the IRS. You must have a receipt for the goods from the charity to claim a deduction. If you donate non-cash items with a total value of more than $500, you must file Form 8283 with your return. You may need a qualified appraisal if you donate an item or a group of items with a value of more than $5,000

Is it worth your while to shop thrift stores?  I believe it is, as ultimately, you are helping charities, which in turn, help others who are in need.  In this issue we’re going to point out how some Americans are helping fellow citizens through good works.

Clumsy?  Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop away. (Source:  Martha’s Other Hints)

 

PM’s ‘Betty Shocker’ Emporium of useful stuff…

eBay to Require More Generous Return Policies in SR2 Announcement

eBay's second round of changes for the year will roll out
beginning August 22 and will be the last seller update for 2011.
Sellers will get an extra 25 characters in their titles, and eBay
told sellers it would begin requiringmore generous return
policies early next year that include longer timeframes and
cash-back options.
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y11/m07/i12/s00

Don’t throw out the water from the fish tank – pour it on your garden as a fertilizer.

Call overseas – free

Freephone2phone.com gives you 10-minutes of free talk to landlines in 50 countries – listen to a few short ads, then connect.

Cheap Textbooks

Cut the average $1,000 annual book bill for college kids by using these sites:  Bartelby.com, Gutenberg.org or rent them at: Chegg.com or CampusBookRentals.com

Compare Costs – Compare checking account plans at banks and credit unions at:  FindaBetterBank.com and BrightScope.com compares 401(k) plans and financial advisors.

For the Right Kind of Legal Problem, Public-Interest Law Firms Are a GREAT Option

If your case has serious legal, social, or political implications, it might be of interest to a non-profit public-interest law firm. If a public-interest firm takes up your case, you could enjoy free representation from a staff committed to more than just raking in the cash.

If you’re battling against a coercive government agency, for example, you might consider bringing your case to the attention of the Institute for Justice (202-955-1300; www.ij.org), which helps people whose property, civil, or constitutional rights have been violated by government bureaucrats.

The Rutherford Institute (434-978-3888; www.rutherford.org) defends civil liberties and property rights, including the rights of small businesses. The Institute has offered its legal resources to individuals and businesses whose Constitutional or civil rights have come under attack.

If someone from the government is trying to shut you up or invade your privacy, the American Civil Liberties Union (888-567-ACLU; www.aclu.org) may be able to help. The ACLU takes on some bizarre and questionable cases for sure, but they will often defend freedom of speech to the end, whether you’re an anti-war protestor or a high school student or a neo-Nazi or an Ordinary Joe. Contact the ACLU if you think your First Amendment rights are being infringed.

If you’re battling a labor union, let the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation (800-336-3600; www.nrtw.org) know about your case. Right to Work attorneys may be able to argue your case free of charge; if not, they can provide you with basic information about your rights and the types of strategies you might pursue for beating the union bosses.

Ease a dry night cough by sprinkling the pillowcase with apple cider vinegar.

Acts of Kindness – How others are helping…demonstrating our CAN DO philosophy!

·        Repair old bikes and give them away to the needy.  Tom Hillebrand of Wis., a retired architectural designer, finds old bikes, repairs them and provides them to children and even folks without a car who otherwise couldn’t get to a job – 138 bikes so far.

·        Build a local tool library.  Aided with a $20,000 local grant Patrick Dunn and friends opened the West Seattle Tool Library, a DIY center offering workshops and loaning tools from a stock of 1,300 manual and power tools…people come in to build everything from a chicken coop to home improvements.

·        Building free bus shelters in Texas is what non-carpenter Omwali Lumumba does to help area kids withstand the heat.  All have benches and he places motivational flyers in each.  Much of his material is donated and he gets more from the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore (habitat.org/restores) which sells donated building supplies.

Source:  Popular Mechanics-August 2011

What might you do to make an impact on your local community?  Share your story with us and get a free copy of our new CD ROM - Poor Man’s Practical Guide to Self Sufficiency

Wipe down cutting boards weekly with vinegar to clean, cut grease, and absorb smells.

The Nanny State Updates

20% Drop in Housing to Cause Recession in 2012, Says Gary Shilling

Gary Shilling, President of A. Gary Shilling & Co. and author of the Age of Deleveraging says another recession is brewing -- no matter what action the Fed takes. "Economic growth here and abroad is slipping, making a 2012 recession a distinct possibility," he writes in his July newsletter. And, "when you have slow growth it doesn't take much of a shock to throw you in negative territory."

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/20-drop-housing-cause-recession-2012-says-gary-161445494.html

Sneaky Dog Owners…after a New Hampshire apartment complex required dog owners to submit a DNA sample from their pets, so that unscooped poop can be traced.  Some residents are saying this is ridiculous but the complex says “I’m sure those are the people who are doing this.”

39% of Americans say the US economy is in permanent decline, up from 28% in October – CBS News

 

A Fix to restore American Jobs – the Parting Shot

If the country would like to generate more jobs for people, they must also create more businesses with openings for people to take. That is why The Huffington Post has shared a few ideas on how the government can help entrepreneurs jumpstart job creation.

1) A 30 percent refundable tax credit for members of accredited angel groups for investments in U.S.-based startups. This credit would be refunded in the first fiscal year the investment is made.

Encouraging angel investment is not only good conceptually, but there’s precedence for its ability to increase funding for innovative companies. In British Columbia, where a similar program was instituted, 80 percent of angel investors who received the credits increased the amount of their investments. Ultimately the program also benefited taxpayers, with every $1 of angel tax credits resulting in $1.41 of additional tax revenue from the recipient companies.

2) 100 percent exclusion on corporate income tax for qualified small businesses on their first taxable year of profit and 50 percent exclusion on the following two years of profit.

The idea behind this recommendation is that if a fast-growing company is able to avoid all its corporate income taxes for a year and pay at 50 percent of its regular rate the next two years, it can invest that precious cash into the business and grow more quickly.

3) Reducing the time it takes for SBIR/STTR grants to be approved from the current average rate of six to 12 months, to three months.

Beyond the technical progress it allows, what’s even better about these government grants is that they don’t need to be repaid and don’t dilute ownership in a company. It’s simply money companies need to continue developing cutting-edge technologies. And when an entrepreneur is working feverishly to get a new technology through the commercialization process, time really is money. Speeding up the process to know if you have up to $1 million on the way just makes sense.

That’s it for this issue from your humble public servant, the Poor Man

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