Hoarders is a show that’s as disturbing as it is fascinating.  So why do people love watching this show?  Are we just sick individuals who like to watch the dysfunction of others or are we simply fascinated by the manifestation of the human psyche as it collides American consumerism.

There is some debate as to whether hoarding is hereditary as a mental illness or simply the result of socialization or trauma.  As you watch the show it’s clear that hoarding is the result of poor parenting, mental illness, personal trauma and behavioral issues that manifests itself in compulsion.  At first I felt terribly guilty at what seemingly seems to be a tv-peep show of human suffering until I had the realization that I was watching because the show hits a little too close to home.

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-Stuff to Save Yourself With. 

This includes a mini fire extinguisher, tool kit and first aid kit.  If you’re like me who is trying to install a shelf with a candle nearby, and is prone to acting without thinking…or measuring.

And for you ladies that have a man in your life- keep this stuff around for when HE  puts the shelf up nearby an open flame.

-A Bottle of Red Wine & a Bottle of Chilled White Wine.  

Do you even have to ask why?  People will want to hang out with you, especially so you can show off those snazzy new shelves.  Be prepared.  Well, and if they don’t want to hang out with you, you are so stocked for a party-for-one.

-A Wallet List.

Make a list of all the credit cards and other documents your have in your wallet with account numbers and phone numbers to report them if lost or stolen.  Do this now.  Like NOW.  Your martini-impaired brain will only fail you.  (I would know.)

If you have OneNote on your computer, you can have this information password protected, or you can go the old-school route and put it on paper in a very safe place (with some information coded).

-Emergency Contact Information.

Keep a list of emergency contacts in your planner or wallet.  In your living space you should also have a list of numbers to call in case something goes awry that you may not be able to google in a pinch:  landlady, roomies phone numbers, boss’ cell phone,  favorite Chinese Restaurant that delivers (emergency!).  Also, email information to a close friend or relative that you can count on in case something happens.

-A bottle of Seltzer Water, White Vinegar & Baking Soda.

If the wine is too strong, you can water it down and make it taste good.  If the wine is plenty tasty on it’s own and ends up overtaking your capacity to gauge hand-to-mouth distance, you’ll be prepared with a stain remover.  Dab with seltzer water and later with a baking soda mix.  Clear up clogged drains with vinegar/baking soda or brighten your whites with this mixture!

-The Perfect Shade of Red Lipstick.

Trust me, even if you only wear it on special occasions, with the right shade, you will be a SEXY BEAST.  My personal favorite?  Apple Berry Lipstick by Mary Kay- it looks great on everyone!

-Renters Insurance.

My building caught on fire a few months ago.  For. No. Reason.  Like seriously, they never figured it out.  What didn’t burn on that side of the building got flooded out by the firehoses.  Heck, even your hot sordid affairs in the bedroom should be insured!  You can pair your renter’s insurance with your car insurance for a greater deal and pay as little as $8 a month for $15k of coverage.

-Family History.

Most of us have no idea what our family medical history is.   Just asking someone in your family about your genetic history of significant illnesses and problems could be vital information for your doctor and could help you make better judgement calls on your behavior and diet day-to-day.

-AA Batteries.

Beyond the *obvious* reasons you might need these (which was NOT where I was going with this originally), you should be prepared to power your favorite devices- like for the clock on the wall that is ticking away how much time you have left until you’re confined to spinsterhood!   Don’t be caught off guard ladies!

Oh, and one more thing:  

When you go to bed at night and put on your pajamas, ask yourself,  Would I want to be found or rescued in this?

See my story here.  If the answer is no, BURN THEM and opt for something you’d be proud to be seen by hot firefighters in.  Trust me, this has happened to me three times (well, not the dead part).   Learn from my ugly-flanneled shame, and dress to impress- you never know when you’ll need emergency assistance.

I’m not a foodie, nor a diet/healthy eating blogger, but as frugality blogger and busy student, I still have to eat.  I wish I had more time to think about food, but the busier I get, the less I am able to fuss over it:  buying it, preparing it, lugging it around to eat when famished.

If you’re like me, when  times get busy it’s nearly impossible to get to the store regularly to buy fresh fruits and veggies that will bruise and ruin in your bag all day, much less eat them before they go bad in the veggie drawer of the fridge.

When you’re busy (and especially, stressed) it’s the most important time to load up on healthy foods that will give you energy and boost your immunity.    And it doesn’t have to over-the-top expensive; often you can buy things on Amazon for a much more affordable price, especially if you use an Amazon promotional code for the foods you’re purchasing. 

Here are my tips and tricks to eat healthy when you’re busy and broke:

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I am NOT a fan of aliens, seeing how the X-Files terrorized me as a child, but today I’m not talking about spaceships and martians.

I’m talking about the real U.F.O.s you need to worry about when it comes to your money and those are…  

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Frugality is two-fold:  First, frugality forces us to make the most of what we have.  

Second, frugality requests us to clear away anything we do not need and distracts us from our ultimate goals.

If you’re one of the more seasoned readers of frugality, one of the most touted pieces of advice for those of us seeking to live a more frugal life, is to clear away our cr*p.

Doing so helps us make better use of things we have, and avoids the accumulation of things we don’t need or want.

The more cluttered your life, the more you spend either:

A.) Buying tuppers to organize “stuff”    or    B.) Replacing things you forgot you already owned or cannot find.   =that is not frugal.

This week I’m taking a good hard look at what I have in the apartment.  I already got rid of two small bags of clothes as I transitioned from winter to spring clothes, and now I’m going through what I’m bringing out to wear for warmer weather and donating whatever doesn’t fit me or no longer suits my taste.

It’s surprising how therapeutic this process can be.  Not only are you allowing yourself to let go of what those things represent-  which are usually very silly.  Typically, when we hold onto things we no longer use, it’s an emotional thing. We can look at an item and lovingly remember acquiring it.  Granted, that shirt from your vacation never gets worn out anymore because it makes you feel frumpy, but that resort was so much fun!  These emotions can also include the fear of letting go, guilt or shame that you never used it or no longer use it, or even sometimes the worry that if you don’t hold onto it, you’ll need it someday (or you keep it to honor the thoughtfulness of the giver).

Sometimes we hold onto things out of hope too.  We get a serious case of the “somedays”- even when those things we hope to do no longer serve us.  If you haven’t read that best seller by now, will you ever read it?  Do you even want to anymore when you’d rather just watch the movie?   We hope that we’ll finally use that exercise equipment, but the shame that we haven’t used it yet doesn’t propel us to action, it just makes us feel worse.  Ditching the idea and the false hope behind it can be freeing.  You don’t HAVE to finish or start anything- give it to someone who will and don’t let your guilt or your “someday” projects keep you from focusing on what you actually want to do.

I took 10 minutes today (Yes, that’s all it took) to look around the room, from where I’m sitting right now, and without even having to move my tush- I was able to list  5 videogames,  5 books and a few unused things on Amazon.com

I took an additional 5 minutes to bag some clothing items I no longer use, and will take them to the donation bin by the church.

In total- 20 minutes made me feel so much freer and will undoubtedly make me about $50 richer so I can pay off those summer clothes I just bought.

 

Simply put, frugality is about clearing out the junk to make way for what matters most to you.

For me, it’s more about striving for authenticity and personal focus than coupon clipping and stocking up on ketchup.  Frugality combines both the appeal of minimalism, the clarity of being in tune with what surrounds you, and the love we all have for shiny, new fun things in moderation.  Doing frugality right doesn’t mean a mad dash to find something on sale, it means slowing down to find out what really matters to you, and directing your energies to getting without losing out on your money or your life.

My hope for you is that you’ll take 20 minutes to clear out your clutter today, make a few dollars (or donate your things so a charity can make a few dollars).

Put that money towards your long term goals:  taking an art class, buying a gift for a friend, contributing to your savings, paying off a credit card.  

Whatever makes you happy,  make room for it in your life!