Watching these shows always makes me want to go clean out my closet.

At first, you don’t understand how people get to that point.  And I still don’t understand how anyone can stand to live among rotting trash.  But I guess you just get used to it and then you stop noticing the smell and the flies.  But then I start to think about the things that I own.  How many storage boxes do I have in my closet?  How much stuff is saved under my bed.  It’s not trash, but is it really stuff I need?  On some level, maybe I’m saving it so I don’t have to spend money later.  And that’s frugal.  But at the same time, it’s a little bit wasteful too.

So here’s my challenge.  I want to get rid of 5 things a week for the next month.  And maybe for the month after that.  See how much I can pare down.  It will be nice to be free from some of this stuff that I have accumulated, and it might make organizing my closet a whole lot easier.

What do you do with your change?  Do you spend it immediately?  Throw it into fountains?  Put it into socks and use as a weapon (I had a friend who kept a nickel filled sock by his bed to swing at any bad guys who might happen to break in)?  Save it all for a rainy day?  Or do you never ever use cash and thus never have any change to deal with?

I’ve got a couple of trips coming up over the next few months, so I think it’s time to tighten my pursestrings so that I can afford to go and not worry about every single penny.

What really impresses me is the old train stations.  Union Station in D.C. is gorgeous (at least part of it is) and it just makes me think of the days when people put on their fanciest clothes to travel by train, because it was the only way to travel.  I guess there is something romantic about the railroad, and it’s clearly an important part of our history.  Doesn’t mean I’m going to be taking the train to New Orleans anytime soon though!

All the heat reminds me of my days in college.  We were in the midwest, where it got super hot in the fall and spring and super cold in the winter.  My dorm was built in the late 1800’s, and we definitely didn’t have air conditioner.  So we went for the next best thing – a giant bowl of ice sitting in front of a fan.  It’s amazing how great that feels.  I still set it up in my apartment from time to time when I really want some cold air blowing on me.  Of course, then I have to keep the cats from spilling the bowl of water (they like to drink from it), but it’s a great feeling for not a lot of money.
What are your favorite “stay cool” tips?

This weekend, I volunteered with a Great Pyrenees rescue.  I love big dogs, but with my schedule, I just can’t have a dog.  I’m barely home.  There is a great doggy daycare near my apartment complex, but it’s $20 a day, and well, an extra $400 a month PLUS all the normal dog expenses just isn’t in the budget.  Plus I just don’t think I would have the time to properly give to a dog.  So instead, I volunteer with a rescue and help out where I can.  One thing that was very sad was all the dogs who were abandoned for financial reasons.  I think we can all understand the current economic climate, and sometimes people have to give up their pets because it comes down to feeding your pets or feeding your kids.  But many times,  these people gave up their pets because they simply didn’t realize the financial implications of getting a dog.

First off, there’s food.  I hate to tell you, but cheap dog food typically isn’t great for your dog (or cat or whoever).  It’s just like human food – if it’s super cheap, it’s probably full of junk that’s just going to make you fat.  That’s not to say that the most expensive food is the best – but do your research.

Next, you’ve got “preventative maintenance,” as one of my friends calls it.  Annual vet exams, vaccinations, heartworm prevention, flea prevention, sometimes even teeth cleaning (depending on your dog).  You should also get your dog spayed or neutered unless you plan to breed (which is a whole different financial situation).

Then there are grooming costs.  These could be minimal (buy a brush and some shampoo and toss the dog in the bathtub) or not so minimal (taking the dog to the groomer).  Again, do your research.  If you’re getting a giant furry dog, chances are that grooming is going to be very time consuming and you might want to consider paying a professional.  If you’re getting a small short haired dog, it might be easier for you to do yourself.

What happens to the dog when you go out of town?  Do you have to board the dog somewhere?  Do you have to pay a house sitter to come in?  Can your dog stay with a friend for free (maybe you reciprocate and care for their dog when they’re out of town).

Those are just the normal expenses.  You have to be prepared for any illnesses or accidents as well.  Vet bills can be expensive and you need to be prepared.  Even a minor issue, like a chipped tooth from when your dog decided to gnaw on a rock (it happens) can run you a few hundred dollars.

Now, with all these expenses, is it worth it?  I think so.  I wish my life allowed me to have a dog, but it wouldn’t be fair to the dog.  My cats are perfectly content to have the apartment to themselves all day, but a dog would need a bit more attention.  But if you are going to get a dog (or any pet), be aware of what you’re getting into.  Don’t let your dog be another dog at a rescue.

And if you’re looking for a dog, check out the local shelters and rescues!  Lots of great dogs out there who desperately need homes.

One thing I did while back in my hometown was close my old bank account.  I’m not sure why it was still open, to be honest.  When I moved, I left my local bank for a larger, national bank.  I loved the services of the local bank, but I wanted to have ATM access in the city where I lived.  That account sat open and unused for three years.  Sadly, I had cleared out all but the minimum required to keep the accounts free, so there wasn’t a ton of interest earned – plus I’ve been checking in on the account every month when doing my Net Worth update, so there were no fun surprises.  That’s the downside to keeping a close eye on your money – you aren’t pleasantly surprised when things have grown more than you thought.  On the other hand, there are no negative surprises either, so I guess it’s worth it.

I just noticed that Mint.com now has an Android application, so one of the things I want to do today (once I get everything else checked off my list)  is check that out.  Anyone using that?

(Yes, I made my home gym the one by my work.  I used to be able to go at lunch time.  The ability to take a slightly longer lunch and work later was taken away by a boss, so I was just going straight from work to the gym, then metroing home all disgusting.)

While talking to a friend about the gym, I made a comment about this and she told me that I should be asking for the discount based on my job.  She had the same discount and was paying $5 less for her membership AND she got to use all the gyms at any time.  Clearly, I should be getting this same discount.

So I went in.  I asked.  And they immediately gave me the discount with no questions.

Thinking about it, I realize that I’m often hesitant to ask for discounts, even when I know they’re deserved.  Sometimes it depends on my mood.  When the coupon scanner at the grocery store won’t take my coupon, sometimes I’m willing to stand in line at customer service to get my money, but sometimes I’m just not in the mood. Sometimes I’m willing to take the cable company to task about the ridiculous rate they charge for substandard service.  Sometimes I just want to ignore it.  I should start to get better about asking for discounts and making sure that I am paying the proper rates for things.   I tend to avoid conflict, but most of the time, we’re not talking about conflict at all – just normal customer interaction.  Just by asking at the gym, I get a better service for $5 less.  That’s $60 a year I just saved.  I wonder where else I could find money.